Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/40

34 preparing to ford it with the same spirit of defiance as he had shewn in the rest of his march. The success of this operation depended on preventing the enemy from following them into the ford through the avenues of the town; and eighty of the bravest Pitans, excellently mounted and in complete armour, were selected for this important service, under the command of their general Mustapha Khan, whom Zainfdee Hamed and Meer Jaffier joined as volunteers. This intrepid troop maintained their post until Allaverdy with the main body had crossed the river; when they likewise began to retreat; and cutting their way through the enemy, all but fifteen escaped, and passed the ford. As soon as they arrived, Allaverdy continued his march to Muxadavad, which he reached the next day: his first attention, after this gallant retreat, was to reward those who had so bravely seconded his own perseverance and courage. Every soldier received a gratuity; all the officers promotion: Meer Jaffier, who had signalized himself at the passage of the river, additional pensions; and to Mustapha Khan he presented a million of rupees. To Zaindee Hamed he gave the first place in his affection, and from this time destined him for his successor; although he had given his only daughter in marriage to Nowagis Mahomed, the eldest of Hodgee's sons.

The Morattoes, as soon as they had gained sufficient intelligence, crossed over into the island of Cossimbuzar, and ravaged the open country; but did not venture to attack the capital; and the approach of the rainy season, during which the swelling of the rivers would have confined them in the island, deterred them from continuing on it more than three days. To preserve their horses, they encamped on the high lands of Berbohin, in the north-west part of the province. Here they were enabled to form proper resolution by the advice of one of the Soubah's officers, named Meer-abib, who had deserted to them; he was a man of scheme, method, and activity, had been deputy-governor of Dacca, and possessed much general knowledge of the province. Instructed by him, they collected