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parts of the Rungapoor and Dinagepoor provinces. For in spite of the strictest order issued and the severest penalties threatened to the inhabitants in case they fail in giving intelligence of the approach of the Sannyasis they are so infatuated by superstition as to be backward in giving the information, so that the banditti are sometimes advanced into the very heart of our provinces before we know anything of their motions; as if they dropt from heaven to punish the inhabitants for their folly. One of these parties falling in with a small detachment commanded by Captain Edwards, an engagement ensued wherein our sepoys gave way, and Captain Edwards lost his life in endeavouring to cross a Nulla. This detachment was formed if the worst of our purganna sepoys, who seemed to have behaved very ill. This success elated the Sannyasis, and I heard of their depredations from Every quarter in those Districts. Captain Stewart with the nineteenth battalion of sepoys, who was before employed against them, was vigilent in the pursuit, wherever he could hear of them, but to no purpose. They were gone before he could reach the places to which he was directed. I ordered another battalion from Burrampoor to march immediately to cooperate with Captain Stewart, but to act separately in order to have the better chance of falling in with them. At the same time I ordered another battalion to march from Dina poor station through Tyroot and by the northern frontier of the Purneah Province, following the track which the Sannyasis usually took, in order to intercept them in case they marched that way. This battalion after acting against the Sannyasis, if occasion
