Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th RegimentShipp, John
History
Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John Shipp: Late a Lieut. in His Majesty's 87th Regiment
Shipp, John
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Biography; Shipp, John, 1784-1834
Having made my report that the whole of the stores, baggage, &c, had
been safely got up the ghaut, I was still at the general's, when a
messenger came from Rajah Buckeet Bellee, the rajah of Hadjepore, whom I
have before alluded to; and the general requested I would escort him
into camp. I therefore rode towards the top of the ghaut, where I found
the rajah in waiting. The purpose of his visit was to make his peace
with the general, who was much displeased at his not having complied
with his requisition to furnish five hundred workmen to assist us to get
up the baggage. The rajah had with him five elephants, and twenty
horsemen, with spears, guns, &c. He was inclined to be affable and
jocular with me; but I could see through his dark eyebrows the more
inward workings of his heart. He broke silence by asking me if the
general was displeased with him. Knowing the character of the fellow, I
could hardly make up my mind to be civil to him, so I replied, "You had
better put that question to him who can best answer it. If the general
is not offended, he has good reason to be so." He then asked me what was
the object of our campaign, and I told him that he had better reserve
all these questions for the ear of the general himself, who, no doubt,
would be able to satisfy his nawabship. Finding that I was not quite so
elated with the honour of sitting on the same elephant with him, as he
had expected I should be, and that he could get no information out of
me, the rajah next admired my dress, and took a mighty fancy to my
watch, but I would not let it out of my hand. He winked to a man on
another elephant, and muttered something in the Mahratta language, which
I did not thoroughly comprehend, but which sounded something like, "it
won't do," or "he won't do." He then took a fancy to my whip, which I
permitted him to look at. Some person happening to speak to me just as
we arrived in the precincts of the camp, my whip was passed from one to
another, and all protested they knew nothing about it; so that I had but
little hope of ever seeing it again. On the rajah's, return from the
general, from whom he had met but a cool reception, he remounted his
elephant, with indignation in his eye, and vowing vengeance, if ever in
his power, against all Europeans. I had to see him out of the camp,
when, having proceeded to the extent of my orders, I demanded my whip,
protesting that he should be detained in camp until it was restored.
Every search was made, but no whip was to be found. I was not to be
hoaxed in this manner, so I persisted in having either my emblem of
office returned, or its full value paid to me. The nawab asked what it
cost. I said five gold mohurs; and, after some demur, and a good deal of
parleying, I pocketed that sum, and we parted, to my perfect
satisfaction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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