পাতা:বঙ্কিমচন্দ্রের উপন্যাস গ্রন্থাবলী (তৃতীয় ভাগ).djvu/৭৩

[ లి ] in case they marched that way. This battalion after acting against the Sannyasis, if occasion offered, was directed to pursue their march to Cooch Behar, where they are to join Captain Jones and assist in the reduction of that country. Several parties of the Sannyasis having entered into the Purneeh province, burning and destioying many villages there, the Collector applied to Captain Brook, who had just arrived at Panity near Rajmahal, with his newly raised battaiion of light infantry. That officer immediately crossed the river and entered upon measures against the Sannyasis, and had very near fallen in with a party of them, just as they were crossing the Cosa river, to escape out of that province. They arrived on the opposite bank before their rear had entirely crossed, but too l-te to do any execution among them. It is apparent now ihat the Sannyasis are glad to escape as fast as they can out of the company's possession, but I am still in hopes, that some of the detachments now acting against them may fall in with some of their parties, and punish them exemplarily for their audacity. It is impossible but that on account of the various depredations which the Sannyasis have committed, that revenue must fall shot in some of the company's districts as well from real as from pretended losses. The Board of revenue, aware of this last consideration, have come to the resolution of admitting no pleas for a reduction of revenue but such as are attended with circumstances of conviction and by this means they hope to prevent, as much as in their power, all impositions on the government, and to render the loss to the Company as inconsiderable as possible. Effectual means will be used by st tioning some small detachments at propor posts on our frontier to prevent any future incursions from the Sannyasi Fakeers, or any other roving banditti, a measure which only the extra-ordinary audacity of their last incursions have manifested to be necessary. This will be effected without employing many troops, and I hope that in no future time the Sannyasis shall again suffer from this cause—“Hastings to Sir George Colebrooke—dated 31st March, 1775.” The Sannyasis threatened us with the same disturbances from the beginning of this year as we experienced from them the last. But by being easily provided to oppose them, and one or two severe checks which they received in their first attempt, we have kept the country clear of them. A party of horse, which we employed in pursuit of them, has chiefly contributed to intimidate these ravagers, who seemed to pay little regard to our Sepoys, laving so much the advantage of them in speed, on which they entirely rely for their safety. It is my intention to proceed more effectually against them by expelling them from their fixed residence, which they have established in the north-eastern quarter of the province, and by making. severe examples of the Zeminders, who have afforded them protection or assis- tance—Hastings to Lawrence—20th March, 1771. : “r