Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/357

Book V. suspicion of having embezzled some money; he persisted in his story; but the Colleries said, that the parcel was first discovered by them lying on some steps, near the place where they were washing, and that asking one another what it might be, they concluded it was something belonging to a person who had washed there in the morning, or to the Bramin himself who was then washing very near them: so they agreed not to touch it, and went away; but one less scrupulous than the rest, in hopes that it might contain something of value, returned and took it up. Mahomed Issoof, and the other Sepoy officer, declared they knew nothing of the matter. Poniapah the linguist interpreted the depositions, and gave it as his opinion, that the Bramin knew more of the letter than he had discovered. The next day the prisoners were examined again, when the Bramin was assured that is life should be spared if he would reveal the truth: upon which he declared, that the day before he accused the Colleries, he went to Seringham, in consequence of a message from the regent of Mysore, desiring to see him; when the regent offered him a reward of 100,000 rupees, if he would contrive to make use of the letter in question, so as to prejudice Mahomed Issoof in the minds of the English; he added, that he undertook the commission partly for the sake of the reward, and partly from desire to be revenged on Mahomed Issoof, who had been the principal author of his late imprisonment. The Colleries were again examined separately, and agreed, without any variation, in the deposition they made the day before; upon which they, as well as Mahomed Issoof, and the other Sepoy officer, were released, and declared innocent. However, suspicions were entertained that the whole truth had not been told, and that some person, of much more consequence than an insignificant writer, such as the Bramin, was at the bottom of this daring iniquity: the Bramin was therefore sent back to prison, and remained there several days, often urged to discover more; but still persisting in his second deposition. At length, major Lawrence finding that gentle methods produced nothing, determined to try the effect of terror, and ordered, Poniapah, the linguist, to acquaint him, that he must prepare to die the next morning, unless he confessed the