Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/275

Book VIII. his designs against himself, but concealed his persuasion, and wisely refrained from claiming the English guarantee until the danger should come nearer. These coincidences prevented Clive from entertaining any suspicions of the real motives of Jaffiers conduct towards Ramramsing, before he returned to Calcutta; but Ramramsing, as soon as he heard of the confinement of his brother and nephew, assembled his force, which consisted of 2000 horse, and 5000 foot, and wrote to Colonel Clive, that if he were attacked he should seek refuge wherever it was to be found; which his country well afforded by the jungles or thickets with which it is covered, and the mountains to which it adjoins. He however proffered to pay a lack of rupees as a present to Meer Jaffier, and even to make his obeisance to him in person if Clive would warrant his safety. Clive immediately recommended the reconciliation to the Nabob, who at the same time received intelligence, that the people of Purneah, under the command of Ogul Sing the Gentoo, whom Surajah Dowlah had appointed to govern this province after the defeat and death of his cousin Seid Hamed, had taken up arms, and proclaimed a brother of Seid Mahomed, on hearing that the Nabob had given the government to his relation Coddum Hussein, whom they dreaded for his character of rapaciousness and tyranny.

Both these insurrections arising under the standard of Gentoos drove the Nabob from all the dissimulation with which he had, intended to conceal his purposes, until he had cut off Roydoolub, and the other principal heads of the nation; and in his vexation he openly perhaps not unjustly, imputed both rebellions to the practices of Roydoolub. He immediately commanded 6000 horse and foot to march with Coddum Hussein to Purneab, and 500 horse with Cojee Haddee to Midnapore; both divisions were to set out on the Gth of October, and Cojee Haddee proceeded; but the troops appointed to Coddum Hussein, abetted by their officers, refused to move until they had received their arrears, and clamoured other discontents. The city was in agitation. Roydoolub assembled his force, and would no longer visit the Nabob; who a few days after received intelligence from