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 Chap. X.]

MAJOR COOTE'S EXi'KlJlTION.

589

The Fort of Monohib.— From Bacon's Oriental Portfolio.

again on the 13th, and in five days reached Bhaugulpore, a distance of sixty-five ad. 1:57. miles. Here it was ascertained that the French had passed Patna, which is fifty- five miles in advance, four days before. Major Coote might now have been justi- ^'^*^

~ ailrniices to

fied in abandoning the pursuit as hopeless ; but he was of a character not to be Mongiiir deterred by ordinary obstacles, and by the 21st accomplished twenty-five miles more, which brought him to Monghir The detachment had expected to find a resting-place within its fort — a place of considerable strength, situated on a precipitous rock, washed by the Gan- ges; butthegaiTison, instead of admitting them, manned the walls, lighted their matches, and gave

such unequivocal proofs of hostile intentions, that it only remained to make a circuit and continue the march still farther westward. Coote was now so near Patna that he was determined to reach it at all hazards, and was still pressing- onward when he encountered an obstacle on which he had not calculated. The Europeans became mutinous. It required all Coote's enei'gy to maintain them uisiwidpro- in discipline. As they mui'mm*ed at their hardships and fatigues, he endea- voured to shame them into their duty by putting them into the boats, while he himself continued to marc'i at the head of the sepoys. In this way he proceeded to Futwa or Futtooha, which is within ten miles of Patna. Hitherto Ramna- rain, though perfectly aware of his approach, had taken no notice of it, but two letters were now received from him apologizing for the escape of the French, and ascribing it to the want of timely notice. It thus appeared that, however hostile Ramnarain's intentions miglit be, he was not yet prepared to avow them. The boldness of Coote's march, with a mere handful of men. for above 200 miles through a country known to be unfriendly, had perhap.s overawed him. On the 2Gth the whole of the detachment, as well as the boats, reached Patna, and took up their station at the Company's factory, a spacious building, situated on the bank of the Ganijes. outside but close to the western wall of the city. Ramnarain having made himself acquainted with tiie exact strength of the detachment, and probably also with the mutinous spirit which part of them had manifested, was now less disposed to profess friendshi]), and, on frivolous pretexts, declined to receive the visit which Coote had proposed to pay him

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