Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/289

Book VIII. and Kisnagur had accepted the tuncaws given on their districts, they had hitherto paid nothing; and Omarbeg, as Phousdar of Hughley, declared that he had no means of satisfying any part of the 6,500,000 rupees charged on him, excepting by giving a quantity of salt, which when sold might produce two lacks. On this, Clive wrote to Roydoolub that he should send his troops to ask their money of him, and signified to the Nabob that he might spare the English five out of the seven lacks he was to receive from Ramnarain. The Nabob replied, that this very sum was appropriated, to pay the Mogul's tribute at Delhi, but offered bills on Ramnarain for two lacks, payable at 50,000 rupees a month, which Clive was contented to receive. The to and fro of these official discussions had brought the time to the 18th of March; and the Nabob having now nothing to March, fear from foreign enemies before the end of the rainy season in September, resumed his first views of giving the government of Patna to Meer Cossim, but, still afraid to venture whilst the English troops remained in Behar, resolved to outstay them, and became as anxious to send them away as he had been to bring them with him. Knowing their want of money, he thought the more he should delay to supply it, and postpone their other business, the sooner they, themselves would become desirous of departing, to save expence to no purpose. Clive, suspecting this cunning, insisted that Roydoolub should immediately give security for the deficiency of the Hughley tuncaws; but Roydoolub was on the point of making a visit of devotion to Guyah, a town of great sanctity and pilgrimage, situated at the foot of the mountains, 60 miles to the south of Patna. He set out on the 19th of March, and Clive resolved to remain until he returned: but on the first of April sent forward the main body of the English troops on the road to Bengal, with orders to proceed slowly. They were augmented by 1000 Sepoys, who had been levied in the Bodgepore country, where the natives are much hardier than in Bengal, and even more than in any part of Behar. On the 7th, Roydoolub