employed in the collections, the people our own plunderers. will be freed from the oppressions of Hastings to Josias Du Pre,–9th March, 1773. We have lately been much troubled here by hordes of despriate adventurers called Sannyasis, who have overrun the province in great numbers and committed great depredations. The particulars of these disturbances and of our endeavours to repel them you will find in our general letters and consulations, which will acquit the Government any degree of blame from such a calamity. At this time we have five battalions of Sepoys in pursuit of them, and I have still hopes of exacting ample vengeance for the mischief they have done us, as they have no advantage over us but in the speed which they fly fiom us. A minute relation of these adventures cannot amuse you, no: indeed are they of great moment, for which reason give me leave to drop the subject, and lead you to one in which you cannot but be most interested, etc. “Hastings to Purling— dated, 31st March, 1775-para I-Gleig's Memoirs of Hastings—267 Vol. l.” In my last I mentioned that we had every reason to suppose the Sannyasi Fakeers had entirely evacuated the company's Such were the advice I then received, and their usual possessions. progress made this highly probable. But it seems they were eithcr disappointed in crossing the Burramputrah river, or they changed intention, and returned in several bands of about 2000 or 3ooo appearing unexpeectdly each, in different parts of the Rungpoor and Dinagepoor provinces. For inspite of the strictest orders issued and the severest penalties threatened to the inhabitants in case they fail in giving thtelligence of the approach of the Sannyasis, they are so infatuated by superstition as to be backward in giving the information, so that the banditti are sometimes advanced into the very heart of province before we know anything of their motions ; as if they dropped from heaven to punish the inhabitants for their folly. One of these parties falling in with a small detachment commanded by Captain Edwardes, an engagement ensued wherein our Sepoys ga.e way. Captain Edwardes lost his life in endeavouring to cross a Nuliah. This detachment was formed of worst of our Purgunnah Sepoys, who seemed to have behaved very ill. This and I heard of their depredations from every success elated the Saanyasis, Captain Stewbattalion of Sepoys, who was before employed against them, vigilant wherever he could hear of them, but to no pnrpose. They were gone before he could reach the places to which he was directed. I ordered arother battalion from Burrampoor to march immediately to cooperate with Captain Stewart, but to act separately in order to have the quarter in those districts. art, with the nineteenth ᎳaᎦ in the pursuit better chance of falling in with them. At the same time I ordered another battalion to march from the Dinapoor Station through Tyroot and by the northern frontier of the Purnea province, following the track which the Sannyasis usually took, in order to intercept them
