P annaha D ia mond
M in e ,
R ebellion or
AGAINST AU-
stESGZESZ.
ceeded only a hundred and forty miles of the deftined march.
The author of the War in Aßet, i. p. 61, affigns a very uncandid
reafon, intimating that he loitered on account o f the diamonds of
which this province is fo productive, at the mine at Pannab or
Puma, the Pannaß'a o f Ptolemy. The real fait was, that Leßie
offended molt notoriouily againft his inftruitions, and without
any view of advantage to himfelf, was perpetually interfering
with the quarrels o f the country chieftains; but it appears certain,
that the march to the river Cane might have been made
in ten days, the diftance from Calpy being nearly the lame as
that from Calpy to Rajab-Gbur. A refolution had been taken
to recal L eß ie; this event put an end to all enquiry, and the
command devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Goddard, whofe
ihining abilities and a&ive fpirit made him equal to any undertaking.
•
T h e army was now fet in motion with the expeited alacrity.
It palled Baßree, Cbokab, Goorgunga, Morullab, and Darrowab.
At the laft it fell in with a band of Pandurams, or wandering
Faquirs, the pelt o f Hindooßan. Thefe vagabonds, under pretence
o f pilgrimages, fometimes aflemble in armies of ten or
twelve thoufand, lay whole countries under contribution, rob
people o f their wives, and are guilty o f every enormity. They
ate generally naked, but go armed, and from their rude and
fqualid afpect make a molt dreadful appearance. It is remarkable,
that they admit any perfon of abilities among them, and
inltruCl their diftjples in any branch o f knowlege, which may
make them revered among the vulgar.
In the reign o f Aurengzepe, thofe wretches, under the conduit
o f a rich old woman, named Bißemia, aitually raifed a rebellion
lion. The old lady was in as high fame for her Ik ill in the art*
magic, as her lifter Hecate in Macbeth ; her inchanted pot was
the fcull of an enemy, in which her hell-broth, compofed of
owls, bats, fnakes, lizards, and human flelh, were boiled and
diftributed to her followers. Twenty thoufand o f this fanatical
band, led by Bijlemia, were oppofed by a general of the emperor’s,
who relifted her incantations by written fpells which
he put into the hands of his commander. His proved the more
powerful; a battle, or rather carnage enfued, in which the old
woman and her whole army were annihilated. Aurengzebe
met his general, and laughed with him at the fuccels o f hi*
fpells *.
T he band w h ich attacked Goddard did not exceed fo u r or
five hundred. T h e y drove aw ay tw o elephants and a few
camels, w h ich w e foon recovered, and k illed o r wounded
tw en ty o f the robbers. T w o thoufand more o f th ele religious
hovered in our rear, b u t th e y fled on th e firft appearance.of an
a ttack.
T he march was continued to Heerapour. A Vaqueel o r agent Hmia..*.
came in from BaUagee, one o f the two brothers before mentioned,
to propofe to Colonel Goddard to avoid in his march
Sagur, under the pretence that it would be o f great injury to
the country, and would frighten all the inhabitants out o f the
city, and that there was another road as good, but only a little
way about. Ballagee was the moil artful o f men, and propofod
this merely to engage the armies in difficulties, and according
* Dow’s Feriihta, iii. 384«
V ol. II. C ( to
HJ ft.