Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/711

 Chap. XII.] MASSACRE AT PATNA. 677

Meer Cossim, while his troops were thus fighting, had kept aloof from ad. irea. danger within the fort of Monghir, venting his rage and gratifying his savage nature by several atrocious murders. Among his victims were Ramnarain, who had never been released from the prison to which he was consigned when Mr. Defeat of Vansittart shamefully abandoned him, and two members of the famous banking cossim. family of the Seits. As if these murders had inspired him with courage, he made bold to quit his fort and joined his army, which had now taken up a .strong position at OudanuUa or Oondwah Nullah, a strong fort situated near the right bank of the Ganges, eight miles south of Rajamahal. Meer Cossim is said t(^ have had 00,000 men within the entrenchment, which was defended by 100 pieces of cannon. The British barely mustered in all 3000, and yet with these succeeded in both capturing the fort and storming the entrenchment. After this defeat Meer Cossim's temporary courage forsook him, and he hastened back to Monghir, followed by the wreck of his army. The British pm-sued, invested the fort, and after a short siege compelled, or, as it has been alleged, bribed it to surrender. Meer Cossim had previously placed himself beyond the reach of danger, and was residing at Patna when he learned that Monghir had fallen. He had for some time been meditating a lioriid massacre ; for Major Adams, when advancing vipon that fort, had received a letter from him, in which, after an ominous allusion to his prisoners, he concluded thus: "Exult not upon the success which you have gained, merely by treacher}' and night assaults, in two or three places, over a few jemidars sent by me. By the will of God you shall see in what manner this shall be revenged and retaliated." The only answer that could be returned was to denounce his brutality, and threaten it with signal vengeance. He cared not, for the fall of Moncrhir had made him desperate, and he issued the inhuman order to butcher all the prisoners. It was at once executed to the very letter by Suraroo, who, by his own hand Massncre.it and that of his emissaries, slaughtered every one of the prisoners except Dr. Fullarton, whose professional services had caused Meer Cossim to except him. The number of Englishmen thus murdered in cold blood exceeded 200. Among them were Mr. Ellis, who almost merited his fate, and Mr. Hay, a member of council, and the fellow - deputy of Mr. Amyatt on the absurd mission about jirivate trade.

Meer Cossim, aware that he had placed himself beyond the pale of mercy, (lid not await the arrival of the British at Patna, but hastened to cross the Caramnassa, which formed part of the boundary between Behar and the terri- tories of the Nabob of Oude. The garrison he left made a spirited but unavailing defence, and the town was taken by stown on tiie Hth of November. Thouo-h there was now little hope of overtaking the blood-stained fugitive, the pursuit was continued ; and the British army, early in December, encamped on the banks of the Caramnassa in order to watch the motions of Meer Cossim, who had assumed a more formidable appearance than ever in consequence of having