Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s15.2

v4.c56.s15.2

The defender of Aligarh and his men knew the exact worth of Perron's words. That craven General's one thought now was how to withdraw his family and treasure from Agra and escape to British protection without being hindered by his deluded troops. This he effected by bribery and lying. His former subordinate James Skinner tells the story thus: Perron after fleeing from Aligarh, had removed his family and effects from Agra to Mathurā, where he himself was, with his bodyguard of 800 cavalry mounted from his own stable and 500 Mewātīs. Here 4,500 horsemen of Fleury's corps joined him after the failure of their raid in the Doab. On learning of Bourquien's revolt in Delhi, Perron had recourse to a stratagem. He told the cavalry that he would go immediately to Delhi and punish Bourquien for his treachery. Distributing three lakhs of rupees among the risāladārs for their troopers, he crossed the Jamunā that evening with his bodyguard, telling them to follow next morning. . . . Perron after crossing to the east bank . . . gave the Mewātīs Rs. 5,000 desiring them to keep the boats in their own hands during the night, instead of returning them to the west bank for ferrying the cavalry over. But he made a forced march of 20 kos in the night and reached Sāsni in the morning, whence he wrote to General Lake that he had resigned Sindhia’s service, and begged for a safe passage home through the British territory. [Fraser, i. 272-274.]