My mare was a great
favourite with him, and he begged, as a most particular favour, that I
would leave the care of her entirely to him. Knowing his skill, I
consented, when, to my astonishment, he told my bearer to bring him some
warm water and half a bottle of brandy, with a little bran. He mixed the
whole together, milk warm, and gave it to the animal, who drank every
drop and neighed for more. This dose threw the mare into a violent
perspiration, and the groom then set to, with three other men, and
rubbed her well down with straw. She had not drank the warm mash long
before she lay down on some clean straw, which had been prepared for
her. The groom then commenced thumping her with his clenched fists all
over, and shampooing her, which she submitted to with apparent pleasure.
He then had her shoes removed and her feet pared and washed in warm
water, and wisped dry. After this he made her get up, and rubbed her
well over with his hands, and in one hour she looked as well as ever. He
then gave her another mash, and clothed her for the night, and she slept
well. On the following morning she was quite fresh. Having other
horses, I gave her a rest; but she was so frisky that I was obliged to
mount her before half the march was over.

The main body of the army was not able to reach the cavalry the next
day, the distance was so great; nor did they till a late hour on the
following day, when the property taken, such as cattle, &c., were sold
in the bazaar. On the succeeding day we moved on, but learned that the
hunted parties of the Pindarees had fallen into the hands of General
Donkin's division, with another portion of their baggage. Thus they were
handed from division to division. Such was the judicious plan of the
most noble the Marquis of Hastings, that, whichever way these marauders
turned, they were sure to fall into the hands of their enemies. Thus
harassed, they dispersed, in tens and twenties, all over the country,
when the country people took courage and made head against them, and
attacked them wherever they could find them; so that, at last, they
sought refuge in any little fort that would give them admittance.

Things being in this state, we were directed to proceed against the fort
of Dhamoony, a fort belonging to the Nagpore rajah, who had violated his
treaty with the company. The keeledar of this fort would not submit to
the proposals of the Company, but had received instructions from his
refractory master