DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0159
1803-07.
Nagpoor.
135
tance of twenty-five miles from tfiis. Colonel Doveton, witfi
two regiments of cavalry, 900 infantry, and 9,000 Nizam’s
troops, is at Teusa, on tfie Wurda, west of tfiis. Tfie Eaja is
making preparations, but slowly. We sfiall have sucfi anotfier
winter as tfie last, or worse; but I am now accustomed to tfie
Pindarrees, and do not trouble my fiead about them furtfier
tfian being very vigilant, and particular about intelligence.
Some of their marcfies are next to incredible. Wallace states
tfiem to have marcfied six days ancl nights without any regular
fialt, to surprise Omrauty. Yet sucfi was their speed and
bottom, tfiat tfie very day tfiey were beat off from Omrauty, a
party of tfiose wfio attacked it arrived at Bozar, sixty miles
from that town, and in eigfit days from tfie time they left tfie
hills till tfieir return tfiey plundered the wfiole left banks of
tfie Wurda, down as far as Warnee Cotta, nearly opposite
Cfianda, sending parties as far east as Cooee, whicfi is fifteen
miles E.S.E. of tfiis place. Tfie alarm of tfie Court and city
was beyond belief, ancl I tfiink far beyond tfie occasion. The
Pindarrees migfit fiave surprised Nagpoor if tfiey fiad chosen,
but they never sfiowed a fiearty disposition to try it. Tfie row
made me idle, and I amused myself witfi translating tfie
“ Mesnavee ” of Meerza Nusseer. I send you wfiat I clid witfi
some stuff I made before. I tfiink the translation as near as
can be witfiout being disagreeable. Tfie rest of tfie verses
in tfie original are no amplification of tfie subject, but con-
ceits and allusions to Persian stories. Even of tfie lines I
have translated half tfie thought is generally left out. I have
kept tfie description and abandoned the conceit, as wfien the
sky is said to be a chamber garnished witfi quicksilver, and
tfie eartfi a girl in a green gown, I tfiougfit it best to make
“ tfie clarkness of tfie olcl man’s day ” sentimental, than to
leave it occasioned by tfie loss of trutfi.’
Tfiere is a considerable cfiange in tfie tone of Mr. Elphin-
stone’s correspondence about tfiis date. Tfie progress of the
war callecl for constant watchfulness on the part of tfie Resi-
clent, ancl questions for cliscussion with the Court were occa-
sionally of high importance. When terms of peace were
Nagpoor.
135
tance of twenty-five miles from tfiis. Colonel Doveton, witfi
two regiments of cavalry, 900 infantry, and 9,000 Nizam’s
troops, is at Teusa, on tfie Wurda, west of tfiis. Tfie Eaja is
making preparations, but slowly. We sfiall have sucfi anotfier
winter as tfie last, or worse; but I am now accustomed to tfie
Pindarrees, and do not trouble my fiead about them furtfier
tfian being very vigilant, and particular about intelligence.
Some of their marcfies are next to incredible. Wallace states
tfiem to have marcfied six days ancl nights without any regular
fialt, to surprise Omrauty. Yet sucfi was their speed and
bottom, tfiat tfie very day tfiey were beat off from Omrauty, a
party of tfiose wfio attacked it arrived at Bozar, sixty miles
from that town, and in eigfit days from tfie time they left tfie
hills till tfieir return tfiey plundered the wfiole left banks of
tfie Wurda, down as far as Warnee Cotta, nearly opposite
Cfianda, sending parties as far east as Cooee, whicfi is fifteen
miles E.S.E. of tfiis place. Tfie alarm of tfie Court and city
was beyond belief, ancl I tfiink far beyond tfie occasion. The
Pindarrees migfit fiave surprised Nagpoor if tfiey fiad chosen,
but they never sfiowed a fiearty disposition to try it. Tfie row
made me idle, and I amused myself witfi translating tfie
“ Mesnavee ” of Meerza Nusseer. I send you wfiat I clid witfi
some stuff I made before. I tfiink the translation as near as
can be witfiout being disagreeable. Tfie rest of tfie verses
in tfie original are no amplification of tfie subject, but con-
ceits and allusions to Persian stories. Even of tfie lines I
have translated half tfie thought is generally left out. I have
kept tfie description and abandoned the conceit, as wfien the
sky is said to be a chamber garnished witfi quicksilver, and
tfie eartfi a girl in a green gown, I tfiougfit it best to make
“ tfie clarkness of tfie olcl man’s day ” sentimental, than to
leave it occasioned by tfie loss of trutfi.’
Tfiere is a considerable cfiange in tfie tone of Mr. Elphin-
stone’s correspondence about tfiis date. Tfie progress of the
war callecl for constant watchfulness on the part of tfie Resi-
clent, ancl questions for cliscussion with the Court were occa-
sionally of high importance. When terms of peace were