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which they fly from us. A minute relation of these adventures can not amuse you, nor indeed are they of great moment, for which reason give me leave to drop the subject, and lead you to one in which you can not but be most interested, &c. Hastings to Purling—dated 31st March—7775—para 1 Gleigs Memoirs of Hastings —267 Vol.1.
In my last I mentioned that we had every reason to suppose the Sannyasi Fakeers had entirely evacuated the Company's possesions. Such were the advices I then received, and their usual progess made this highly probable. But it seems they were either disappointed in crossing the Burramputrah river, or they changed their intention, and returned in several bands of about 2000 or 3000 each, appearing unexpectedly in different parts of the Rungpoor and Dinagepoor province. For in spite of the strictest orders issued and the severest penalties threatened to the inhabitants in case they fail in giving intelligence of the approach of the Sannyasies, 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 provinces before we know anything of their motions; as if they dropt 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 gave way. Captain Edwardes lost his life in endeavouring to cross a Nullah. This detachment was formed of the worst of our pergauna Sepoys, who seemed to have behaved very ill. This success elated the Sannyasies, and I heard of their depredations from every quarter in those districts. Captain Stewart, with the nineteenth battalion of Sepoys, who was before employed against them, was vigilant in the pursuit wherever he could hear of them, but to no purpose. They were gone before he could reach the place to which he was directed. I ordered another battalion from Burram-
