VISIAPOUR.
Buz Buzia
F o r t .
at Amednagur in that kingdom, in his winter quarters in 1707,
aged 90. He died with the penitence of a long fuccefsful robber,
juft on the point of being turned off the ladder *.
Vijiapour was conquered by Aurengzebe in 1686. “ The
“ king prefented himfelf before the viitor in chains of iilver,
“ and humbled himfelf to the duft more with the demeanor
“ o f a captive rebel than a vanquilhed fovereign. It was for
“ fome time reported and believed that Aurengzebe had put
“ him to death t.” After this, hiftory is iilent in refpect to the
unfortunate monarch.
I n ow quit thefe hiftorical points, and refume the topographical.
Some miles below Calcutta, on the banks, of the
Ganges, Hands a mud fort, Buz Buzzia, vulgarly Budge Budge.
Thefe are very frequent in many parts o f India, and are often
the retreat of the better fort o f people, in any diftrefs, or in
cafes of delinquency. They are chiefly the property of the
Zemindars, or hereditary owners o f land, who are almoft at
perpetual feuds with each other. Mr., Hodges gives a view of
one in tab. XX. vol. ii. at Peteter, near Chunar Gur\ they
are often of confiderable ftrength. That in queftion was, in
the campaign o f 1756, fufficiently ftrong to make fome refinance
againft Admiral Watfon and Colonel Clive, in their way
to the retaking o f Calcutta. T he guns had been filenced by
our ihips, but the garrifon continued to difcharge their fire
arrows and mufquetry. It was determined to ftorm the place
* Memoirs of the Mogul empire, tranilated by Jonathan Scott, Efq. vol.ii. p. 8..
f Orme’s Fragments, p. 210.
at
G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N .
at approach of day, which was impatiently expeCted. The
tranquillity o f the night was fuddenly difturbed by loud acclamations
o f joy from the ihore, and news was brought that the
fort was taken. It feems that one Straban, a common failor,
animated by grog, ftrolled away towards the fort, fcaled the
breach, and found feVeral o f the garrifon fitting on the platform.
He gave three huzzas, and cried “ tbe place is mine.” The
Moors immediately attacked our hero, he defended himfelf till
his cutlafs broke in his hand; at that very inftant he was joined
by two or three more ftraggling comrades who had heard his
triumphant ihouts. The noife reached the army, who without
order, or without any attention to difcipline, rallied in pell-
mell; and thus a fort with eighteen cannons, from twenty-
four pounders downwards, and forty barrels of gunpowder,
was put in our poflefiion.
I t was neceflary to fhew difpleafure at this notorious breach
of all order. The victorious Straban was brought before the
admiral in form of a culprit. Our commander aiked how he
dared to commit fuch an aCtion ; the late hero flood fcratching
his head, and twirling his hat, and at length confefled “ to be
“ fure it was I that took the fort, but I hope that there was no
“ harm in it.” The admiral with difficulty kept his countenance;
but at laft, with much feeming anger, ordered him
away. As Straban was going out o f the cabin very fuiky, -he
muttered out, fwearing a great oath, “ If I am flogged
“ for this, I will never take another fort by myfelf as long
“ as I live.” It may be imagined he was readily pardoned, but
Y ql. II. J X x he
RiDrcuLous.
C a p tu re of.