On BUNDALE CUND, the Territories of HINDIPUT. This country is extremely high and mountainous. From its commencement between Panna and Rewa, to near Chatterpoor, there is scarcely a patch of cultivation to be seen, unless at a few buzars on the side of the great road, which are the halting places of the merchants. Round these villages are some fields of corn, which are really the only ones you see from near Sahoul to Chatterpoor. The face of the country is rocky, and produces little herbage. The summit of the hills, though mostly rock, are covered with small coppice wood; but little or no grass, or shrubby thickets, in all this hilly country. I saw no timber trees that were fit for building, or scarcely to answer the common purpose of husbandry. This country is supplied with grain from the fertile banks of the Jumna and Ganges. Large droves of bullocks are daily passing towards the hill country and the Deccan with grain, sugar, and other articles of merchandize, viz. spices and beetlenut; and from that market great part of the Deccan is supplied. The merchants of the Deccan bring to Mirzapoor rock-salt, cotton, iron, and some few other commodities. Great part of the merchandize brought from the Deccan to Chatterpoor is on camels, which is a strong presumptive proof, that this country is not so mountainous as Bogale Cund and Bundale Cund. Hitherto I have only been speaking of that part of Hindiput's country, which is situated in and near the hills. I shall now advert to that which is between the hills and the Jumna. This part of his territories is much superior to them I have already mentioned. It is a fertile, well-cultivated country. The villages are better built than any I have yet seen in India. They are full of inhabitants, who are a brave and warlike race of people, and are either of the cast of the Brahmins or Rajputes. They commonly go armed with a spear and bow, both of which are of an excellent quality. This country is extremely pleasant to travel through, since, from the distance of six to nine coss from the great range of mountains, it is diversified with clumps of small hills, which are unconnected with each other, and form an agreeable prospest. It is almost an invariable custom with the inhabitants to build their villages at the foot of a hill, and you seldom see them in any other situation. Towns in BUNDALE CUND. Panna is a well-built pretty little town. The houses are in general built of stone, most of which are occupied by the Rajah and his dependents, and others are the property of merchants. Though Hindiput has a good house at Chatterpoor, and another at Rajegun, he principally resides at Panna. This place may be deemed a secure retreat for him, should his country be attacked by an enemy; for, being entirely surrounded by hills, the access is very difficult. Exclusive of this, the diamond mines being in the neighbourhood of the town, induce him to make it his residence, as great profits must arise therefrom. Chatterpoor is one of the first places for trade I have seen in India (Calcutta hardly excepted). It is a large place; the houses are of stone, and well built. The merchants of this place transact the greatest part of the business that is carried on between the Deccan and Mirzapoor. Here much of the goods brought from both places are laid up in warehouses, and transported as occasion may require. The number of camels and carriage bullocks that are employed on this trade are very great. Revenues of HINDIput. Little satisfactory can be said on this subject, and probability must be my only guide. He receives a round sum from the duties on merchandise passing through his dominions, and common fame speaks, that the diamonds that are brought to the Benaris market, are from the mines of Panna, from which it is easy to conceive they must produce a large revenue. Though the country between the hills and the Jumna is fertile, and capable of contributing bountifully towards supporting the Rajah, yet the people seem to possess so great a share of independency, that to oppress, or endeavour to introduce any innovation on their ancient privileges would be a dangerous step for the Rajah to take, as they are all soldiers from the time of their being able to carry a spear and bow. He has also two relations, Goman Sing and Coman Sing, who have each separate possessions in this part of the country, and they are not under the strictest obedience to him. The disposition of Hindiput is not deemed an amicable one. They accuse him of being severe and implacable. He has more than thirty men of consequence in prison, and his eldest son was obliged to fly from him, for fear of suffer ing the same or a worse fate; he is, however, permitted to live in the country between the hills and the Jumna, and his father allows him some villages for his support, and that of his attendants. Hindiput has a very elegant durbar, sits in great state, and has a numerous attendance, very respectable in their appearance, and who observe the greatest attention and respect towards him. The Rajah says, he is oppressed by the Mahrattas, to whom he declared he paid an annual tribute. His presence is not agreeable, being a tall thin man, extremely black, with a defluxion in his eyes. The mildness of his conversation, and obliging manner, would induce you to believe him a man of great humanity; but this is insinuated (as before observed), to be only a cloak to a cruel disposition. He has five or six pieces of artillery mounted on field-carriages, which I saw at Panna. They may carry a shot from six to nine pounds. He has several Europeans in his service employed making arms, &c. They reside at Callinger, about twentyfour miles to the nothward of Panna, where he keeps all his mililary stores. This fort is often mentioned as a place of great strength in the histories of Hindostan. It is deemed impregnable by the country people. Indeed its situation, which is on the top of a high hill, and surrounded with a wall of stone, must make it formidable even against a well-conducted attack. How much more so must it be to the armies of India, who have little skill in this branch of militry knowledge. In short, Hindiput is a very powerful prince; and though for want of intelligence when in his country, that I could depend on, with respect to the number of his troops, yet I may venture to affirm, that he can bring into the field three thousand horse and six thousand foot. His country is extremly well governed, which convinces me he is not wanting in abilities. His inhumanity to particular people may be overlooked, when we consider the policy and intrigues of an eastern court; how often do the nearest relations put the first springs in motion, by which a prince is carried off, and wade through more than regicides to secure a tottering throne. List of the GAUTS on the Ganges, Chandy Gaut.-At this Gaut travellers go from Hurdwar into the country of Sirinagur. There is also a road from hence through the hills to Loldong and to Nidgeebabad, which is often frequented. This Gaut was in the possession of the rajah of Sirinagur before the Rohila conquest, but since then in the hands of the nabob of Owde. Byce Gaut.-At this Gaut pass the Fuckiers, and such people as resort to Hurdwar, for the purpose of ablution, from the countries to the south-east. Baun Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Suckaltall Gaut.-At this Gaut the Mahrattas crossed in 1772, on their rout to Patturgur. It is a large Gaut for merchants, who bring the produce of Cashmeer to Nidgeebabad, and also for such people of the northern part of the Rohilla country who may have business either to Dehly, to Lahore, or to Cashmeer. Chellower Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. from Hurd-war to Kenouge. Darnagur Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Sirjipoor Gaut.-Such people as travel from Chandpoor to the northwest pass at this Gaut. Jafferabad Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Muckdoompoor Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Surpoor Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Commundena Gur Gaut-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Tiggeroe Gaut.--Large, the public road from Amrowa and Rampoor to Dehly. Poot Gaut. For the convenience of the country people, Maundy Gaut-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Au-arr Gaut.-Large, for merchants who carry to Dehly spices, and such other articles of commerce, as are brought from the eastward. Chendousey is the mart, and a very large one. Anoopshier ། Anoopshier Gaut.-The public road from Bissowla, Owla, and Berrielly, to Dehly. Currumboss.-For the use of the country people. Rage Gaut. For the use of the country people. Ramgaut.-Small, resorted to for the purposes of ablution. Kirkabary Gaut.-Small. Sankery Gaut-For the convenience of the country people. Husseinpoor Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Chucklaw Gaut.-Large, frequented by merchants. Vanikura Gaut.-Small, for the convenience of the country people. Boora Gaut-For the convenience of the country people. Cauder Gaut.-Large, on the road from Bissowla, Owla, &c. to Agra, Furruckabad, and the westward. Suragepoor Gaut.-On the road to Furruckabad from the Rohilla country. Gurrua Gaut.-Not large, for the convenience of the country people. Dye Gaut.-Tolerable large. Chitchinee Gaut.-Small. Currenpoor Gaut.-Large, leading to Furruckabad. Suckerpoor Gaut.- -Tolerable large, leading to Furruckabad. Hydragur Gaut.Opposite to -Opposite to Furruckabad. Husseinpoor Gaut.-Small. Noushoreea Gaut.-Small. Gurrua Gaut.-Small. Gurgudgepoor Gaut.—Small. Buramow Gaut.-Small. Cussimcon Gaut.-Small. Burrampoor Gaut.-Small. Mewra Gant.-Large Gaut near Kenouge. Rage Gaut.-Opposite Kenouje, frequented by merchants and travellers. Mindy Gaut.-Much frequented by merchants and travellers. All the Gauts on the Ganges, which are frequented by merchants, provided a bridge of boats was thrown over, arillery and military stores may cross without much obstruction, as making the roads would not employ more than fifty pioneers a day. The heavy merchandise in that country is generally carried on hackries (small covered carts), and where those carriages can go, artillery meet with little difficulty. Indeed the banks of the Ganges from Allahabucy to Harelivar are so consolidated, and of such an equal height, that a proper place for throwing over can always be readily found. And if the nabob, who has excellent boats for the purpose, would be at the expense of providing them with instead of pursuing the tedious method of securing them with stakes driven to the bottom of the river, which the boats are made fast to, he might bring his boats to a convenient place, form a bridge in one day, and cross his army the next; instead of which they will now be eight or ten days in completing a bridge, according to the present mode, and which is not so secure as the other would be. Between Roeajaut and Hurdwar many fords are found in the dry season, by which an army may pass; but these fords are not permanent, and depend on accidental ridges of sand being thrown up during the rainy months, when the river is extremely rapid. These beds of sand may continue one dry season, but it is more than probable they are swept away the next rains, by the rapidity of the river, and are formed again at different places. 100 THE ROUTE OF COLONEL COLLINS'S EMBASSY TO DOWLUT RAO SCINDIAH. Time. From Futty-Ghur to Oujein, via Agra, Futtypoor, Byana, Ghurroul 14 5 1801 M. F. M. F. Deliah 34 ... 32 12 ་ Encamped on good From Futty-Ghurto Bever ground near Mr. belongs to Nabob Naser Mahomedabad Grant's Bunghla. Jung, of Furrukabad...The Good encamping county well cultivated............. ground near the vil-ince ceded to the Honorable Company: Muddinpoor Bunkeah Lulloopora Essa Nullah, ford Encamped near the the village...Wells. Encamped in a plain half-a-mile to the south...Wells, To the N. E. of From Bowjing to Bijithe Muckenpoor, the poor, six miles W. of Shektown of Mynpooree oabad, belongs to the Hon. ...Good ground of en Cullory AreemN.campment...Wells. Budowna ground... Pucka Wells. Encamped near the Bhoor-ka-Nugra town...Wells. Bijipoor, a small village near Murkension, and from thence to the Jumna, be longs toDowlat Rao Scindiah Encamped S. W. of Firozabad to the banks of Rajah-ko-Saric the forts on a small the Jumna, excepting near Ussinee spot of ground......the villages. Hazerutpoor Wells. Mahomedabad Yatimadpoor Mizam-ko-Suric[plain W. of the vil-j 11 20 Shaw-dera Cuttia From the old Sarie to Shaw-dora, a pass or deepdefile, the roads narrow and very bad...The Jerna river runs into the Jumna, about two miles from where you Encamped amongst cross it in the pass. |