Unable to endure the stifling heat of the houses, the men came out to cool themselves in the open by the big tank. They seated themselves upon the broad low wall that surrounds the tank. The slumber they vainly courted on their charpoys overtook them in the delicious coolness induced by the evaporation of the water. They sank into deep sleep, and rolling over the hard stone-bed fell into the tank, from which there was little chance of escape without assistance.
(1790) 'Buried a gentleman, Jortin,—— having been shot by another gentleman,—— Williams, last evening, both of them belonging to the 52nd Regiment. No salute fired at the grave.'
(1791) 'Buried John Williams, Invalid Artillery, who was killed this day by a piece of wall falling down in Sindamoni Gate.'
(1793) 'William Hendrick, Artillery, buried by his companions without my knowledge.'
(1802) 'Buried by Serjeant Lutter the two following Europeans, who were that early morning killed by the old rotten battlements in Sindamoni Gate which tumbled down on them. Johann Neumann, Pensioner German, Thomas Phipps, Invalid Artillery. His woman or wife was also killed.'
The Hindu King who built the fort used sundried bricks, upon which white ants and weather left their destructive mark. The fortifications became so unsafe as to necessitate either the rebuilding or the demolition of the dangerous parts.
We have no record of the circumstances attending the death of Jortin, whose name was probably Jordan. Duels at that period were of frequent occurrence. The stories of the quarrels have one feature in common, the triviality of the reason assigned for resort to arms. Not only was there the useless loss of life, but, more often
