Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 16.7.2

16.7.2

where with the money and jewels which he had found means to transmit thither by the channel of some Bankers of P8rania and Maldah, some time before his captivity, he made a shift to live comfortably; but soon falling into a melancholy state of mind, that incessantly preyed upon his spirits, he departed his life and went to join his departed father. We have left the Viceroy in full pursuit of the Marhattas, and at a loss to know where they might be. At this very conjuncture, there came a Zemindar of the hilly country, who represented—"That if His Highness would accept him for his "guide, he knew how to carry his victorious troops, by such secret "ways, as would enable them to surprise the Marhattas in their "retreats." His proposal was accepted; and the Zemindar being ordered upon an elephant, where he was watched, the army marched under his direction; but on the third day of the march it was found that the Zemindar had plunged a poniard in his own bowels. The man having been sent for, and asked the reason of his behaviour, he answered, "That having lost his way, and "fearing to be punished for it, he had thought it better to make "away with himself." This accident disconcerted the Viceroy, who unwilling to engage farther in an unknown, uninhabited country, thought it seasonable to march back; and he returned to Bardevan, where he took up his quarters in a seat and garden, belonging to Manic-chund, Divan to the Radja of the country.