Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.25.1

19.25.1

I was at that time standing on the wharf of the English factory, and looking at the runaways that were crossing the water; Mr. Amyatt was standing close to me, looking with his glass; and on distinguishing an English paleky, he concluded that it must be some wounded officer which they were bringing back. At last the boats arrived, and the men landed; but as they had fled in a panic, every-one of them reported that the English were undone, and that Qhadum-hassen-qhan had gained the victory. As they were unanimous in their report, fear and anxiety seized not only Ram-narain, and the whole of the inhabitants of the city, but the English of the factory themselves, who listened to every explosion in great apprehensions of what might happen. I was with Mir-abdollah, my friend, and some others, close to Mr. Amyatt, and endeavouring to encourage that gentleman and the rest by some observations of mine. "I took notice that these "men gave no detail at all; that they seemed overcome with "fear; that the smoke on the other side of the water was kept "up; and the report of cannon and musquetry continued. How "then could those runaways know that the English were defeated? If they have been defeated, who are those then that go on actually with the engagement?" After saying these few words, I went to Mir-abdollah's house, and standing on the terrace with a number of others, I was listening and looking. At this very moment a great explosion rent the air.