“This made me change my route immediately.  The mountains of Tibet[134] appeared to me a safe and eminently suitable asylum until the arrival in the Ganges of the forces which we flattered ourselves were coming.  I therefore directed my route in this direction, but found myself suddenly and unexpectedly so close to Murshidabad that for two days together we heard the sound of the guns fired in honour of the revolution which had taken place.  It is easy to judge into what alarm this unexpected and disagreeable proximity threw me.  However, we arrived safely, on the 10th of July, at the capital of the Raja of Dinajpur, who wished to oppose our passage.”

This was the Raja Ram Nath, whom Orme describes as “a Raja, who with much timidity, was a good man.”

“We made it in spite of him, threatening to attack him if he showed any further intention of opposing us.  I do not know what would have happened if he had had a little firmness, for we learned afterwards that he had always in his service a body of 5000 infantry and cavalry.  The persons whom he sent to us had at first suggested that I should pretend I was English, assuring me that by that means all difficulties would be removed; but I thought this trick too much beneath a man of honour for me to make use of it, and, in fact, I objected to pass for anything but what I really was.

“I found here a French soldier, who had been at the battle of Plassey, where the brave Sinfray,[135] at the head of 38 Frenchmen, had fought like a hero for a long time, and had retreated only at the order of Siraj-ud-daula, who, seeing himself betrayed and the battle lost, sent him word to cease fighting.  This worthy gentleman afterwards took refuge in Birbhum, the Raja of which country betrayed him, and disgracefully handed him over to the English in October last.”

Courtin is somewhat unfair to the Raja (apparently a Muhammadan, as he was called Assaduzama Muhammad),[136] for this Prince was an ally of the English, and had offered Clive the assistance of his forces before the battle of Plassey.  It could be no treachery on his part to pick up fugitives from the battle, like Sinfray, and hand them over to his allies.  I may as well quote one of the Raja’s letters to Clive, received 28th October, 1757:—­

“Before your letter arrived the French were going through, some woods in my country.  I knew they were your enemies, therefore I ordered my people to surround them.  The French being afraid, some said they were English, and some Dutch.  In the meantime I received your letter that if I could apprehend them I should send them to you, therefore I have sent them.  Surajah Dowlat has plundered my country so much, that there is hardly anything left in it."[137]

Courtin continues:—­