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diff --git a/old/51176-0.txt b/old/51176-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 34f5df1..0000000 --- a/old/51176-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4012 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The captivity, sufferings, and escape of -James Scurry, by James Scurry - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The captivity, sufferings, and escape of James Scurry - Who was detained a prisoner during ten years, in the - dominions of Hyder Ali and Tippoo Saib - -Author: James Scurry - -Release Date: February 11, 2016 [EBook #51176] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY, SUFFERINGS OF JAMES SCURRY *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - THE CAPTIVITY, SUFFERINGS, AND ESCAPE, OF JAMES SCURRY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration: JAMES SCURRY.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE - - CAPTIVITY, - - SUFFERINGS, AND ESCAPE, - - OF - - JAMES SCURRY, - - WHO WAS - - DETAINED A PRISONER DURING TEN YEARS, - - IN THE DOMINIONS OF - - HYDER ALI AND TIPPOO SAIB. - - Written by Himself. - - “No flowery words adorn this artless tale, - Here simple truth alone is to be found.” - - _LONDON_: - HENRY FISHER, 38, NEWGATE-STREET. - - 1824. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - PREFACE. - - [Illustration] - - -Hyder Ali Cawn, and his son Tippoo Saib, have long been distinguished, -and not less detested, throughout every part of the civilized world, for -the cruelties which they practised on their prisoners of war, during -their dominion in India. Of their unexampled barbarities, many accounts -have been published in England; and the enormities which these -narratives record would have staggered credulity itself, had not the few -mutilated wretches who have escaped their tyranny, furnished evidence by -their appearance, that a faithful detail of facts could leave but little -room for exaggeration. - -In addition to those tales of horror which have been submitted to the -public eye, there are others, equally affecting, on which no written -register has ever conferred its honours. These, while the unhappy -victims whose sufferings they record were alive, obtained for a season a -local circulation; but no sooner had they found a refuge in the grave, -than these tales began to fade in the recollection of tradition, and -gradually to retire into oblivion, where they also have found repose. To -some few a more protracted existence has been allotted. One of these has -just fallen into the publisher’s hands; and he conceives he shall -promote the cause of humanity by giving publicity to the unvarnished -narrative. It was written by JAMES SCURRY, lately deceased, who actually -endured the cruelties which he describes. - -In some prefatory papers connected with the history of his sufferings, -Mr. SCURRY observes, that the following account was partly written -during his passage from India to this country, and partly after his -return to the arms of an affectionate mother, who had long thought him -dead. He also states, that his narrative might be considerably enlarged, -were he to delineate the various scenes he has been called to witness; -but having some doubts as to the exact period of their occurrence, and -the circumstances connected with them, he has omitted the relation -altogether, that nothing might furnish an occasion to impeach his -veracity. Respecting the geography and natural history of the country in -which he was detained a prisoner, he adds, that he had no opportunity of -making sufficient observations; and to give an accurate account of the -manners and customs of the inhabitants, would require talents to which -he lays no claim, and a period of time that would include nearly the -life of man. In apologizing for any inaccuracies or inelegancies that -may appear in his language, the author justly observes, that from about -the age of fifteen to twenty-five, being detained a prisoner, he was cut -off from all means of improvement; and having but little hope of ever -revisiting his native land, he had no inducement to make the attempt, if -the means had been placed within his reach. Indeed, such was the -malignant vigilance with which all the prisoners were watched, that had -he been detected in committing any thing to writing, the discovery would -most probably have cost him his life. - -For the particulars which follow, respecting the narrator’s early life -and family connexions, the publisher is indebted to his widow and son, -who reside in London. From the same source he has also obtained those -concluding branches of Mr. SCURRY’s history, which trace him from his -return to England to his death, which took place in 1822. - -JAMES SCURRY, the author and subject of the following memoir, was born -in Devonshire, of which county his more immediate ancestors were -natives. His father in early life entered into the marine service, in -which situation he spent nearly all his days. During his career, he was -engaged in many arduous enterprises, and was always noted for his -valour. He was at the battle of Bunker’s Hill, in America, where he was -exposed to unexampled danger. On one occasion, being sent out on a -foraging party with seventeen others, they were attacked by about four -hundred Americans. A dreadful conflict ensued, in which sixteen of their -little party fell. Only he and another survived, and they were taken -prisoners. On being liberated, he again returned to the service, and, in -consequence of his heroism, was promoted to the office of -paymaster-sergeant. Towards the close of life he became an inmate of -Greenwich Hospital, where he died, leaving a widow and two children, one -of whom was the subject of this narrative, and whose awful captivity -being known, is supposed to have shortened his days. The other, a -daughter, was married to a Mr. Dannan, then in the excise, but since a -port-gauger at Exeter, with whom the hardy veteran’s widow died, about -thirteen years since. - -It appears that at a very early period JAMES SCURRY went to sea. His -widow and son think he could not have been much above seven years old, -when he entered on his first voyage. He was a considerable time on the -coast of America, and in the West Indies; was employed to carry powder -during the time of action; and he amused the sailors with playing the -fife when they were disengaged. How, or in what manner, he obtained a -knowledge of reading and writing, they do not know, nor are they -particularly acquainted with the transactions of his early days. Having -given this brief introductory statement, the Editor now proceeds to the -author’s own affecting narrative. - -*⁎* In several places throughout the following pages, where the word -“Patam” occurs, it is used for Seringapatam. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. I.....PAGE 13. - - Sails in the Hannibal—Visits St. Helena—Returns to England - with the East India Fleet—Revisits St. Helena—Cruise off - the Cape of Good Hope—Much alarmed—Take two Prizes— - Ordered to India with Despatches—Violent Storm—Captured - by the French—Treated with Inhumanity—Actions between - the English and French Fleets—Attempts an Escape— - Perilous Situation—Pursued—Retaken—Threatened with - Death—Gagged—Kept in Irons—Landed at Cudalore—Given up - to Hyder Ali. - - CHAP. II.....PAGE 48. - - Marched to Chillembroom—Famine in the Place—Punishment of - some who attempted to escape—Imprisoned—Put in Irons— - Provisions scanty and bad—Conducted to Bangalore— - General Treatment—Starvation—Inhuman Conduct—Comic - Accident—Prisoners divided into three Parties—Sorrow - at Separation—Sent to Burrampour—Imprisoned and in - Irons—Nearly starved—Sent again to Bangalore—Marched - to Seringapatam—Heads shaved—Treacherous European— - Compelled to submit to the Mohammedan Rite—Afflictive - Situation—Ablution—Death of Hyder Ali. - - CHAP. III.....PAGE 69. - - Accession of Tippoo Saib—Compelled to learn Military - Exercise—Without Food two Days—Cruel Treatment for - Complaining—Ears bored, and marked as Slaves—Peace - concluded—Left unclaimed by the British—Fate of some - English Officers—Defeat and Capture of Colonel Bailey. - - CHAP. IV.....PAGE 93. - - Behaviour of Tippoo towards his Prisoners—Conduct, Defeat, - Treatment, and Death of General Matthews—Fate of the - Malabar Christians—Execution of English Prisoners— - Exhibitions at Seringapatam—Offenders devoured by Wild - Beasts—Modes of Punishment—Despotic Cruelty—Human Ears - and Noses exhibited in the Public Market—Author and - Companions compelled to take Wives—Mode of Procedure— - Marriage Ceremony—Visits Hyder Ali’s Tomb—Situation - described. - - CHAP. V.....PAGE 125. - - Description of Seringapatam—Ferocious Games—Observations on - Lions and Tigers—Sent to Mysore—Tyranny of Tippoo—War - with the Nizam—Author put in Irons—Misery of his - Condition—Fate of some Bramins—Author separated from - some Companions in Misfortune—Marched to Chitteldroog— - Disturbed by Snakes—Expedient to procure Money—Anecdote - of a Fanatical Native—Visited by Apes—Singular Snake— - Forlorn Condition. - - CHAP. VI.....PAGE 168. - - War renewed with the English—Bangalore taken from Tippoo— - Author and Companions entertain some Hopes of Escaping— - Seem zealous for Tippoo—Obtain Confidence—Trusted with - Arms—Gain Military Employment—Storm a Fort—Meditate an - Escape—Make an Effort—Compelled to Return—Take their - Final Departure—Progress of their Journey—Accidents— - Enter some Mahratta Forts—Alarm—Danger—Seasonable - Relief—Reach a Hospital, under the Care of an English - Doctor—Kindly received—Visit the Mahratta Camp— - Hospitable Treatment—March with the Army—Military - Progress—Extraordinary Death of a Sepoy—Repair to - Madras—Sail for England, and arrive in safety. - - CHAP. VII.....PAGE 218. - - State of Seringapatam prior to the Siege—Fortifications— - Natural Advantages—Military Force—Besieged and Captured - by the British—Death of Tippoo—General Carnage—Riches - found in the City—Many of Tippoo’s Jewels yet concealed— - Progressive State of the Arts in his Dominions. - - SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER....PAGE 250. - - Repairs from the Downs to London—Receives all his Arrears of - Pay—Indiscreet Expenditure—Personal Appearance and - Manners—Visits his Friends—Affecting Interview—Mental - Improvement—Superintends a Grocery Concern in Plymouth— - Marries—Commences Business for himself—Forms other - Engagements—Wreck of the Dutton East Indiaman—Employed - as a Diver on the occasion—Repairs to Wales—Sails in a - Privateer—Revisits Wales—Dangerous Passage—Returns - to Plymouth—Manages some Mines—Illness and Death— - Conclusion. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. I. - - _Sails in the Hannibal—Visits St. Helena—Returns to England - with the East India Fleet—Revisits St. Helena—Cruise off - the Cape of Good Hope—Much alarmed—Take two Prizes— - Ordered to India with Despatches—Violent Storm—Captured - by the French—Treated with Inhumanity—Actions between - the English and French Fleets—Attempts an Escape— - Perilous Situation—Pursued—Retaken—Threatened with - Death—Gagged—Kept in Irons—Landed at Cudalore—Given up - to Hyder Ali._ - - -In the year 1780, when a boy about 14 years of age, being a native of -Devonshire, I sailed from Plymouth Sound in his Majesty’s ship Hannibal, -of 50 guns, commanded by Alexander Christie, as convoy to the -outward-bound East India fleet; and, on our arrival in a certain -latitude, our orders were to separate; the fleet steering for their -different destinations, and the Hannibal for St. Helena, at which port -we were to wait, to convoy back the homeward-bound East India ships. In -this island we lay about three months, during which period we were -joined by his Majesty’s ship Prothée (formerly French) of 64 guns, which -ship was also to accompany the homeward-bound fleet. After an anxious -expectation of many weeks, their arrival was announced by signals from -the hill, stating their number to be fourteen sail; comprising eleven -Indiamen, and three sail of the line. This was a great satisfaction to -us, as we well knew we should shortly proceed for England. The next -morning they came to an anchor in St. Helena Bay, when we found them to -be a very valuable fleet, under the command of Commodore Gardiner, of -the Belleisle 64; the other two ships of the line were, the Asia of 64, -and the Rippon of 60 guns. Some days elapsed in preparations for our -return to England, such as watering, &c. &c. when our Commodore’s signal -was hoisted for weighing, which duty was executed with cheerfulness and -alacrity, and particularly so by the crews of the Belleisle, Asia, and -Rippon, which had been in India a long time, and consequently they were -very intent on seeing Old England once again. - -Our voyage was pleasant, until we arrived in the chops of the channel, -where our Commodore received intelligence that a very strong French -fleet were cruising for the purpose of intercepting us. On obtaining -this news, we bore away for the west of Ireland, and fortunately escaped -them. Our fleet came to an anchor in Creak-haven, whence our commodore -sent off his despatches for Government; and after lying here about ten -days, we received orders to unmoor and steer for England, where we all -safely arrived, after a very pleasant passage, without sustaining any -damage. The Indiamen left the Downs for the Thames, and the men-of-war -for their different ports, as per orders. Our ship steered for -Portsmouth, from whence, after two months’ refitting, we were ordered to -convoy the outward-bound fleet to the same latitude, and then proceed to -St. Helena as before, there to wait the arrival of the homeward-bound -fleet, in order to take them under our protection as soon as they -arrived. We had a tolerable passage out, and left the Indiamen in the -same latitude as on the previous voyage, shaping our course for the -island, where we safely came to an anchor. - -The fleets from India were not expected for some time; and after -inspecting our rigging, taking in water, &c. our captain, to fill up the -intermediate space, resolved to cruise off the Cape of Good Hope for a -few weeks. We had not been but a very few hours in sight of the Table -Land, before our man at the mast-head descried a fleet consisting of -eight sail, apparently large ships, right in our wake; this was a cause -of some little alarm, particularly as we had a large reef of rocks -ahead, which we could not weather. We were assured of their being -enemies, and supposed them to be ships of the line, standing towards us -with all the sail they could crowd. We were close hauled, and, as I -observed before, could not weather the reef of rocks ahead. What could -be done, my good reader, in this crisis? Our captain consulted his -officers, and the result was, to tack and stand toward them; in fact, we -had no other alternative, for we were upon a lee-shore, and the extreme -point of the rocks was bearing upon our weather bow. - -Our crew were called aft, and informed of the situation of the ship; but -it is a well-known truth, that whatever the danger may be, English -seamen are always ready, yes, and proud, to run any risk, or face any -kind of danger, for good officers; to say nothing of their innate -courage, of which they have given proofs to the world. About we went, in -order to run the gauntlet, as it is commonly phrased, for we were -convinced to a man they were all ships of war. As we were now head to -head, we neared each other very fast, and in the course of an hour or -two, to our no small surprise, we perceived them tack, and stand from -us; this was by no means an unpleasant sight, but the cause of a rapid -transition in our view; for, prior to this, we were thinking that many -(if we should have the good fortune ultimately to escape) must have -fallen; but now, the prevailing idea was, prizes and prize-money. At -this time our ship sailed remarkably well; consequently, we neared them -fast, and soon made them out to be six stout merchantmen, under convoy -of two frigates, which we were positive were no match for us, having as -brave a crew as ever went to sea. The two frigates hove their -main-top-sails to the mast, in order to receive us between them, which -corresponded with our intentions. We were now within gunshot, with a -large French ensign and pennant flying, and our lower deck ports close. -Had we continued this a while, the two frigates must have been ours; but -our captain ordered our lower-deck ports to be hauled up, the French -ensign and pennant to be struck, and the English hoisted, which was done -in an instant; but no sooner done, than the French frigate Bellona was -under a press of sail. This frigate could, without much difficulty, have -been taken by us; she had money to a very large amount on board, for the -troops at the Mauritius; it was the same frigate that did so much -mischief to our trade in the East Indies, afterwards; but profit and -honour are often at variance. The other we captured, together with a -valuable merchantman richly laden; they were all bound to the Mauritius, -or Isle de France. This frigate struck immediately on the first shot -being fired, but, to the disgrace of the French captain, he ordered his -weather landyards to be cut away, when all her masts went overboard. She -had nine chests of money, with other valuables, among which was a handle -of a sword valued at £5000, designed as a present from the king of -France to his black majesty Hyder Ali Cawn: these treasures we took on -board our own ship. - -With our two prizes we bore away, and arrived safely with them at St. -Helena, where we learnt that a sanguinary affair had taken place at St. -Jago, between Commodore Johnson and Count de Suffrein; each chief had -the command of five sail of the line, but the latter had the advantage -in point of heavy ships. Commodore Johnson, not looking for an attack -from any quarter, did not, perhaps, take that precaution he otherwise -would have taken; two or three of his best ships being inside of several -of the Indiamen. In this situation, the French Admiral came upon him -unexpectedly, and made a desperate effort to destroy the fleet. The -effect of this affair was, the capture of one of our Indiamen, (which -was afterwards recaptured,) and the dismasting of the French ship -Hannibal of 80 guns. It was very strongly reported at the time, that if -one of our captains had done his duty, she must have been taken. After -this sharp and well-contested conflict on both sides, the French steered -direct for the East Indies, and the commodore took another route. On -leaving St. Jago, he directed his course to the Cape of Good Hope, where -he gained intelligence of a valuable fleet of Dutch East Indiamen, -homeward-bound, lying in Soldanah Bay: thither he repaired, and was not -long in taking and destroying the whole. Shortly after this, he arrived -at St. Helena with five valuable prizes; several of our ships had also -arrived, and we only waited for one more, which was hourly expected, to -weigh for England; but, to our no small surprise and mortification, we -were very unexpectedly and precipitately ordered off to the East Indies -with despatches to Admiral Hughes, and to reinforce his fleet. - -The beginning of December, 1781, we got under weigh, and sailed, with as -favourable a breeze as ever blew from the heavens for the space of a -month, when we were overtaken by a gale, which nearly terminated our -voyage and existence together: the heaviest sea I ever saw, struck us on -our beam; the long-boat in the waist, and our barge on the booms, were -stove to pieces; two feet of water at the same time were rolling on our -lower deck, so that both officers and men were seized with -consternation. But not to dwell on a subject, which many must have -experienced whose business leads them to sea, I shall pass it by, -observing, that Providence, whom both the winds and the seas obey, was -better to us than our fears; the storm ceased, the waves subsided, and -we proceeded on our voyage. - -According to our calculations, we were within five days’ sail of Madras, -when we discovered a large fleet of ships, which, by signal, we soon -found to be enemies. We ran for it, they chasing us with their fleetest -vessels; but by trimming, wetting our sails, and favoured by the -approach of night, we fortunately got clear of them. This, however, was -of short duration, for on the second morning, by supposed bad -management, we found ourselves so enveloped as to preclude the -possibility of an escape; particularly so, as Le Heros, the French -admiral’s ship, about two leagues on our lee quarter, brought the breeze -with her, while we lay becalmed; and when sufficiently near us, she -opened her fire, and continued it until the shot of two more -line-of-battle ships, one on our weather quarter, and the other on our -bow, began to tell: resistance was now useless, and our captain very -prudently struck his colours. The enemy instantly hoisted out his boats, -boarded us, and separated our crew amongst his fleet. I do not know how -far it was countenanced by their officers, but although taken in a -man-of-war, many of us suffered by theft, which I presume was never -tolerated by our officers to their ships of war. - -About three months prior to this, the crews of the two prizes we took, -which I before mentioned, amounted to more than our crew; and I can -positively aver, they were treated with every indulgence: when on board -our ship, I felt for their distressed situation, and every day gave one -or another of them my allowance of wine, or what else I could spare of -my provisions; but I am sorry to say, we met with very different -treatment from them in return. If they are on a par with English seamen -in point of personal courage, which I very much doubt, sure I am that -they are not in point of humanity. - -A circumstance, however, occurred, very much in my favour, which -exempted me from the common lot of my fellow prisoners. A captain of the -engineers, whose name was Byrus, particularly noticed me, and through -his influence I had permission to sleep on the poop, which is no small -privilege in that climate, while our seamen were every night counted -down into the hold. We were on board their ships during two severe -conflicts with our own fleet, commanded by Admiral Hughes. At those -times we were all sent into the hold, but we should not have remained on -deck, I presume, had we our choice. Many of us losing our clothes when -taken, nothing remained to fill up the crevices of the cables on which -our men slept; and I think, that stones would have been preferable to -such a bed. From the commencement of each engagement, in some ships, the -prisoners were not thought of till twenty-four hours after the -termination of the affair; and all this time they were without water. In -this situation were many, and the reader may easily judge of our -condition; the hatches down, the natural heat of the climate, the -darkness and contractedness of the place, together with the smoke of the -lower-deck guns descending through the gratings in columns, nearly -suffocated several; and such was their extreme thirst, that several made -use of their own water! But in this case the remedy was worse than the -disease, for instead of allaying thirst, it excited it more strongly. - -The second action was stubborn and bloody; the two fleets fought nearly -the whole day; and in this affair they were well matched, the French -having twelve sail of the line, and the English eleven; though in the -former they had twelve, and we only nine. Night, together with shoal -water, put an end to this sanguinary contest; and the fleets being near -the island of Ceylon, parted as by mutual consent, and came to an -anchor; perhaps apprehensive of greater danger from rocks, &c. &c. The -next morning presented both fleets to view,—about four miles and a half -distant from each other; here, no doubt, the minds of all in both fleets -were more or less occupied, from admirals to the cabin-boys: here were -complicated scenes of distress; masts, yards, carriages, bodies, or -trunks of bodies rather, floating in every direction! Our fleet appeared -to have had the worst of this severe conflict; two of our line-of-battle -ships were nearly dismasted, and one was aground: the French suffered -materially in men and rigging, but not in their lower masts. Eight days -elapsed in repairing their damages; at the expiration of which time, the -enemy was ready, and getting under weigh, stood out, and then tacked, -and stood in, offering our fleet battle; but Admiral Hughes, from his -recent losses and crippled state, was too wise to accept any overture of -the kind; and very prudently lay close, until he had put his ships[1] in -the best condition he could. The place where this sanguinary battle -terminated was Battecalo, but the seamen named it Bloody Bay, which -perhaps it will long retain: its distance from Trincomalee, the -principal sea-port in the island of Ceylon, is about sixty miles. - -After this affair, the French fleet steered for Tranquebar, a Danish -settlement on the coast of Coromandel. Here Captain Byrus solicited the -French admiral for leave to go on shore on his parole, being sorely -afflicted with the stone and gravel: he included me in this request, but -it was not granted; nor was his own, till after several applications, -and a rapid increase of his disorder shamed them at a refusal. He was -lowered down the ship’s side while I stood on the gunwale; the tears -trickled down his manly face, though he strove to hide them, and his -eyes spoke parental affection: for my own part, I was truly sorrowful, -and felt, and still feel, all that an affectionate son ought to feel for -a worthy parent. - -I informed my reader, in a preceding page, that I had permission, -through this gentleman’s influence, to sleep on the poop. I could swim -very well, but the ship lay at least two miles from the shore, and I -knew I had a heavy surf to contend with, should I reach it; these were -weighty considerations, but I was resolved to try it, and thought it -prudent to inform two of our officers, a Mr. Western, who was taken in -the Chaser, and another young gentleman, whose name was Covey. They both -dissuaded me from any attempt of the kind: but my affection for Captain -Byrus, to whom I was conscious, could he have seen me, it would have -been a balm in his afflictions,—together with an idea of liberty,— -induced me to form a resolution, which is not easily shaken. -Accordingly, when night came, I laid myself down on the hencoop as -usual, waiting an opportunity of stealing down to the mizzen-chains. In -order to accomplish this preparatory step, I conceived it essentially -necessary to watch very minutely the quarter-master and sentinel, who -were pacing it slowly on the starboard side. It was done; I found myself -in the mizzen-chains, the spot I had been some time watching to gain, -but no sooner was it gained, than fear seized me; the darkness of the -night, the appearance of the sea, which was very rough, and the distance -I had to swim, staggered my resolutions, and I cowardly sneaked back -again to my coop with as much caution as I had descended to the chains. -Here I lay an hour, revolving what was to be done; hope and fear swayed -alternately; I knew the danger was great, and now for the first time the -sharks, which infest the whole coast, came into my mind. No language can -describe my sensations at this crisis; I had used the most solemn -asseverations that I would go that night; and, thought I, what will -those young gentlemen think, should they see me in the morning? This, -with the hope of seeing him, whom of all men, next to my father, I most -revered, got the better of my fears, and resolution once more resumed -her seat. I cautiously gained the mizzen-chains again, and determinately -lowered myself into the water by the main sheet. As soon as I was fairly -in, I swam under her stern, and instantly dived, going under as far as I -could, in order to elude the vigilance of the watch on the poop: the -darkness of the night favoured me much, for when I came up, I could -scarcely see the ship; and in this case I was well assured they could -not see me. I had nothing about me but a silk handkerchief with two -rupees, all my treasure, tied up in the corner; this article was very -injurious to me, for as I had a side wind to cope with, it would -frequently blow over my face, and cause me to turn my back to the sea -till I got it righted again; nor could I by any means untie it, though I -often tried. Under those circumstances, I stretched toward the shore; -there was a Moor ship about half the distance, which vessel I reached -within, I suppose, ten or twelve fathoms, and here I had hopes of -resting; but here all my exertions proved fruitless, owing to the -handkerchief about my neck. I conclude I must have been under her -counter for at least ten minutes; and when I could gain a yard or two -the handkerchief would be blown over my face: here I nearly exhausted my -strength, without gaining my point, and I was under the necessity of -relinquishing the hopes I had entertained of resting, turning my back to -the wind, and treading water in order to recruit my strength. - -I was soon astern of this ship, and knew not what to do; in fact, I -could do but one thing, and that was, to go the way the wind and tide -drove me; I knew there were many vessels inside the French fleet, and as -I considered myself in the direction of them, I was not without hope. -Twenty minutes, or thereabout, brought me alongside of a large ship; I -swam astern of her, keeping as near as I could, where, to my no small -consolation, I found a boat: I got hold of the gunwale, and, after -resting myself some time, made a sufficient effort to see a man in her -stern-sheet, asleep: I called, he awoke, and with the utmost humanity -hauled me into the boat; Here, thank kind Providence, I found a -resting-place; and after a while I proposed to this merciful man (for -such I found him) to go on board; he immediately hauled the boat under -the ship’s stern, and with his assistance I got up the ladder, walked to -the waist, and sat down on the booms; but I very shortly was saluted -with a volley of oaths from the mate, who was apprised of an English boy -being in the ship. I was not sixteen years old at this time, but it -would avail nothing with this monster in human shape: my naked -condition, a dark night, a rough sea, and a coast infested with -ferocious sharks, made no impression on this brute, for I cannot give -him the appellation of man. I solicited, I entreated, to stay a few -minutes longer; but it was unavailable, for he swore if I did not -instantly leave the ship he would throw me overboard! This roused me to -a state of desperation; I called him a monster, ran to the gangway, and -sprang into the sea. Judge of this wretch, reader, when I inform you he -threatened to throw a six-pound shot at me when in the water! I fear the -poor merciful man in the boat was punished for his kindness to me; but -surely “there is another and a better world!” - -Once more I had to contend with the watery element; it still remained -dark, and blew fresh. I had taken the precaution of untying my -handkerchief in the boat, and tying it round my waist. The ship I had -just left was a small Danish East Indiaman, and I knew, by her -situation, that there was another about three quarters of a mile in her -wake; this thought animated and gave me hopes. I had no great cause for -exertion, the wind and tide being both in my favour. The day was now -breaking, and seeing the ship, I swam alongside of her. The men were -beginning to wash decks, and on perceiving me they threw out a rope, -which I laid hold of; they hauled me about a yard from the water, but -not possessing strength enough, I was under the necessity of letting go; -they immediately made a running bowline knot, and threw it to me; this I -got under my arms, when they drew me, to my great joy, on board. Here I -was treated with the utmost tenderness and humanity; but my comforts -were transient. After being refreshed with the best they had, I was put -into the carpenter’s cot: my recent exertions soon helped me to sleep; -but a few minutes after I was awoke, and informed that a French barge -was making direct for the ship I was then in, and I soon saw she was -from the ship that I swam from, Le Flemand of 50 guns; this to me was -alarming indeed. I was hurried down the fore-hold by these humane Danes, -and stowed away between the cable and the deck, and I thought all was -well, for their search would have been in vain; but the mate betrayed me -to the French lieutenant, who desired him to produce me; he learnt where -I was, and ordering me on deck, I was obliged to obey. The Danes, I -remember, pitied me very much, and inveighed severely against the mate. -I was taken to the quarter-deck, and by the French officer ordered into -the boat: I had on then a jacket and trowsers, and was stripping myself, -to restore them to the merciful man from whom I had them, but the poor -fellow refused them, and the tears gushed from his eyes at the time: -here the sweet milk of humanity was visible indeed! I was now -peremptorily ordered into the boat, and I have every reason to believe -that the crew, had they not been awed by the officer, would have put an -end to my existence before I reached the ship; and when we came -alongside, I never saw a vessel manned to give another three cheers more -numerous; they shouting and exulting as if they had taken a first-rate. - -I could not at this time assign any reason for their extravagant -conduct; but in the course of the next day I understood, that it was -firmly, though erroneously believed, throughout the ship, that I had -taken a bundle of letters from the English officers on board, to Captain -Byrus on shore I was handed on the quarter-deck, and surrounded by -numbers; the captain, who was at breakfast, being apprised of my -arrival, came up: his countenance was at all times terrific, but now -particularly so. After some conversation with his officers, I was -ordered on the forecastle; when there, I was informed by a Welshman, who -belonged to the ship, that I was to be hung at the yard-arm, if I did -not immediately confess. Every means of intimidation was made use of; -and when they found it ineffectual, I was ordered to the galley, where -both my legs were put in irons, my arms tied behind me, and an iron bolt -was forced into my mouth in such a savage manner, that the blood ran -from both corners. In this situation I remained about three hours, when -they took the gag from my mouth, and untied my arms. Both legs, however, -still remained in irons, and in this condition I was kept by these -_humane_ Frenchmen, with an allowance of rice and water once in twelve -hours, and that after their blacks were served, for they had in each -ship from forty to fifty to do their dirty and heavy work, until we were -all landed at Cuddalore. - -But notwithstanding the treatment I received, they were incessantly -soliciting me to enter into their service. I was, and ever shall be, at -a loss to know, what kind of an acquisition I should have been to them; -but so it was: they used every means to induce me; officers would come, -day after day, I supposed sent by the captain, with promises and fine -words; but it was useless. - -One day I was taken out of irons, and conveyed to the captain’s cabin; -here the Welshman was, who had been sent for by the captain as an -interpreter; the captain appeared all affability, and the Welshman was -desired to ask me, how I dared swim from his ship? I told him I should -dare do it again, if I had an opportunity, and a prospect of success; at -this he paused, and looked at me with mild attention; the Welshman was -now desired to resume the subject of entering into the French service, -with great promises from the captain himself, if I would consent; and to -enforce this argument, a Dutch cap full of dollars stood by him: I -requested him to tell the captain that I should never think of any thing -of the kind, and begged to be troubled no more on that subject. This -closed the conversation, and he with indignation ordered me to my former -situation, during which period not an Englishman was permitted to come -near me. At length we were all, to the number of 500, taken in the -different ships by their fleet, landed, as before observed, at -Cuddalore, after being on board their ships six months. - -The air and soil were witness to our joy at meeting; but alas! how -transient! Our troubles, which we now supposed were drawing to a close, -were just commencing! We were shortly escorted and sent to -Chillembroom,[2] one of Hyder Ali’s strong forts. Here a dreadful famine -raged; and our provisions consisted of bad rice and carrion beef; this, -with the saltpetre ground on which we lay, was the cause of the loss of -numbers of our men. I have seen many stout fellows taken one hour, and -dead the next. Their disorder was the cramp, and, when seized, their -distortions were such, that they scarcely retained the shape of human -beings.—What cause induced the French admiral to deliver us up to this -unprincipled barbarian, we never could discover. We were equally at a -loss to conceive, why we were abandoned by the English, when they might -have demanded us. I can only attribute it to the deplorable state of -British affairs in India during this period. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. II. - - _Marched to Chillembroom—Famine in the Place—Punishment of - some who attempted to escape—Imprisoned—Put in Irons— - Provisions scanty and bad—Conducted to Bangalore— - General Treatment—Starvation—Inhuman Conduct—Comic - Accident—Prisoners divided into three Parties—Sorrow - at Separation—Sent to Burrampour—Imprisoned and in - Irons—Nearly starved—Sent again to Bangalore—Marched - to Seringapatam—Heads shaved—Treacherous European— - Compelled to submit to the Mohammedan Rite—Afflictive - Situation—Ablution—Death of Hyder Ali._ - - -We were here about two months, when a circumstance took place, which we -then considered very fortunate, but soon to our sorrow found it the -reverse. Nineteen of our men, with Lieutenant Wilson of the Yarmouth, -effected their escape; they had a few blankets among them, of which they -made ropes; and by this means, availing themselves of a dark night, -descended to the ditch over a stupendous stone wall; but they knew -nothing of the country, or which way to steer. Nineteen of them were the -next day brought in with their arms pinioned; and the other, our -boatswain’s mate, was drowned in attempting to cross a river. Lieutenant -Wilson was stripped, and flogged with tamarind twigs very severely, when -they plastered his back over with sugar, and exposed him to the sun, by -way of finishing the punishment due to his crime; the men were put in -irons. In consequence of this affair, in a day or two after, we were -marched to a strong prison, and the whole of us put in heavy leg-irons, -with a scanty miserable allowance; and the guards were doubled. In this -situation we remained two months, when an order came from Hyder Ali to -march us from thence to Bangalore; in consequence of which, our irons -being knocked off, we were coupled two and two in hand-irons. This being -done, we were marched out of the fort, not knowing our destination. In -this case there was no distinction, except that the officers were kept -separate; for all were linked, both officers and men. We had the painful -sight of seeing them pass us in irons; a state of degradation which -affected many of us, and myself for one. Our first lieutenant and the -lieutenant of marines, named Carthew, were brothers; these worthy men -were coupled together in a double sense, viz. fraternal affection, and -strong bolts of iron. They were, however, released from bondage in the -year 1784, and are, I believe, both still living, one an admiral, and -the other a clergyman. - -We soon understood that our destination was Bangalore; our march -commenced, and a severe one it was: several had no shoes, which was no -small misfortune; many being coupled together whose tempers were by no -means congenial, was another source of evil, and particularly so after a -heavy day’s march. It frequently happened that we were kept, though I -believe, not designedly, without food for many hours after reaching the -ground on which we were to sleep; and wo to the poor weary wretch who -should attempt to sit down to rest himself, for in this case he would be -sure to have the application of the but-end of a musket between his -shoulders: in short, no butcher ever drove oxen with more cruelty than -we were driven. In order to prevent a surprise, we were taken by the -most unfrequented ways; and one day, in a most dreadful abyss on the -margin of the road, we heard the noise, as we supposed, of a -rattlesnake, which alarmed us all; but if it was such, it must have been -of an enormous size, otherwise it could not have made the noise it did. - -A curious circumstance took place at one of our halting spots, which -were mostly under trees, and which, though alarming at the time, was -very laughable afterwards. Two of our men, about one o’clock in the -morning, were preparing their rice coffee, in order to be ready for the -morning’s march; when taking their cudgeree-pot off the fire, it broke, -and scalded one of them, who gave a terrible roar, which was mistaken -for a tiger’s by those near him, who were not half awake. This induced -them to bawl out,—a tiger! a tiger! which was quickly communicated to -the whole, as they were successively roused from their sleep. Our -officers, being near us, took the alarm also; and such a scene of -confusion ensued, as would require an abler pen than mine to describe. -All were intent on personal safety, but all were not of one mind; hence, -one hauled this way, and another that, till twenty or thirty pairs came -in contact; numbers fell on each other, while some endeavoured to haul -their weaker partners up into trees. The guards were running about like -madmen, not knowing the cause of this hurly-burly; and I am persuaded to -this day, had we not been ironed, the guards would never have entered -our thoughts, and many would have been miles distant in a very short -time. Several had the marks of this dragging business, on their wrists, -for months afterwards. Smith, our corporal of marines, being the only -man out of irons, and who could talk Moorish well, was sent for by the -chief of the guard, who, I believe, was as much frightened as ourselves; -but when he understood the cause of all this confusion, he was highly -pleased, for he was apprehensive of something worse. Many of the guards -were at a considerable distance at this time; but the panic gradually -subsiding, the tom-toms were sounded, the horns were blown, the guards -collected, and we composed ourselves to sleep, wondering at what had -happened. - -At the expiration of twenty-one days, under many distressing -circumstances, we reached Bangalore. Here we were halted, and after -three days, the Mohammedan and Brachmin grandees came from the fort, and -separated us into three parties. The division I was in was sent to -Burrampour, three days’ march from Bangalore. I do not recollect ever -seeing a day of more sorrow. On parting, the tears flowed copiously from -many, and grief was portrayed in almost every countenance. When we -reached the place of our destination, prior to entering the prison, our -hand-irons were knocked off, and leg-irons substituted. They gave us -rice for the first eight or ten days, when they changed it to ragee, the -flour of which is nearly as black as coal. This, no doubt, occasioned -the death of numbers of our poor fellows, who died in excruciating -agonies, which I think would not have been the case, had they had -medical assistance; but they might as well have asked for mountains of -gold, as any thing of this nature. - -Here we remained three months, at the expiration of which time, being -all ordered out to muster, the youngest were selected from the rest, to -the number of fifteen, myself one; our irons were knocked off, and we -were put for that night in the prison, as usual. This was mysterious to -us; we knew not what to make of it. The next morning, we, the fifteen -boys selected, were sent off to Bangalore, where we were told we should -be taken good care of. We sorrowfully parted from our companions, and, -after three days’ march, arrived at the spot. Here we met with more -English youths, who had been taken, in like manner, from other prisons, -and sent hither also. We were exceedingly glad to see each other, and, -of course, mutual inquiries took place as to the cause of our being thus -collected; but we were all equally ignorant, and a kind of gloomy -pleasure was the result. We now mustered fifty-two boys, the oldest -seventeen, and the youngest (a Mr. Randal Cadman, whom I shall have to -mention again) twelve. The first of their operations was, searching us -for knives, scissars, &c. and such as they found, they very -goodnaturedly took from us; they then sent us several legs of mutton, -with cudgeree pots, water, salt, &c. but carefully prevented our having -any thing to cut it with. Nine of us formed a mess, and boiled one of -the legs, which was our portion; but when ready, we were at a sad loss -how to divide it, having been deprived of every instrument necessary for -that purpose. After a hungry debate, one, more sagacious than the rest, -procured a tile, with which instrument, and our exertions in tearing, we -reduced it with much difficulty into three parts; we then formed -ourselves into three parties, three in each, and, as we had made three -joints of it, each party took one; and after taking it in our hands, and -tearing as much as our mouths would contain, we passed it to another, -till our turns came again. This was a necessary invention, which the -rest were forced to adopt;—could you, my good reader, have done better? - -Three days having expired, we were sent for by the killadare, or -governor, who, after viewing us with apparent goodnature, gave us some -fruit; which kindness we could not account for, all was mystery still, -though we were repeatedly told that we were high in the estimation of -Hyder, and considered as his children. On this piece of information, -some were thoughtful, and some thoughtless. After a few days had -elapsed, we were marched off to Seringapatam, Hyder’s capital; but our -marches were easy, and our food was abundant. On the ninth day after we -left Bangalore, we reached the capital, where we were seated between two -gates for nearly three hours, and gazed at by innumerable multitudes, -who were passing and repassing through the place, and who had never -beheld such a sight before. From thence we were ordered to a tabla, or -square, where they continued their kindness to us; but we were all this -time quite ignorant of their base intentions. One month passed over our -heads very comfortably, when the guards being increased, we were ordered -out to muster. Near us stood a number of hodgams, (barbers,) who had -orders to shave our heads. This we positively refused, and they did not -use force, as this was only preparatory to something of greater moment. - -In the midst of these mysterious kindnesses, an European made his -appearance, clad, in the Mohammedan dress, with a large red turban, and -a formidable pair of mustaches. This man saluted us in a very -gentlemanly manner, but we looked on him with suspicion and surprise. He -gave us to understand, that he was sent directly from the killadare, to -use his influence with us in having our heads shaved, &c.; he also more -than intimated, that if we persisted in a refusal, they would take such -steps as would be very disagreeable to us, which no doubt was true -enough. He appeared to be our friend, and sincerely advised us quietly -to submit; which we did. This being done, they left us to ourselves -another week, when, one morning, the same barbers came, with twelve of -the most robust men I ever saw; these were some of Hyder’s _getiees_, -all from Madagascar, kept by him for feats of strength and agility, -which I shall, in the sequel, attempt to describe. Their appearance told -us plainly that something was going on, although we could not form any -opinion of the object which they had in view; but the arrival of -Dempster, the name of the European before alluded to, once more -unravelled the mystery. He addressed us in the most endearing, though -hypocritical, language, and gave us to understand, that we were to be -circumcised, and made Mohammedans of, by the express order of Hyder. We -were thunderstruck; but what could be done? He saw our agitation, and -playing off his persuasive artillery, his artifice and address had more -influence with us than the guards; in short, they forced each of us to -take a quantity of majum,[3] a drug well calculated to stupify the -senses and deaden pain; but it had little effect this latter way. - -A mat, and a kind of sheet, being provided for each of us, we were -ordered to arrange ourselves in two rows, and then lie down on our mats. -This being done, the guards, barbers, and those twelve men -before-mentioned, came among us, and seizing the youngest, Randal -Cadman, a midshipman, they placed him on a cudgeree pot, when four of -those stout men held his legs and arms, while the barber performed his -office. In this manner they went through the operation, and in two hours -the _pious_ work was finished, and we were laid on our separate mats; -where, with the effects of the majum, some were laughing, and others -crying; which, together with the pain, rendered our condition truly -curious and ludicrous. In the evening they placed several sentinels over -us, not for the purpose of guarding us from an escape, this being -impossible, for more reasons than one; but to protect us from the -bandicuts, a species of the rat kind, as large as young sucking pigs, -which they much resembled, and which were very numerous there. We were -soon convinced that this was an act of mercy on their parts, as those -creatures (lying in our blood as we were) might have done us -considerable mischief. In this state we remained two months, when, with -the exception of two,[4] we all got well. - -During our illness, or rather soreness, the clothes we had were taken -from us, and coarse habits given us; but we were not, even yet, -completely Mohammedanized, and therefore more evils were at hand. Four -large coppers were brought into the square, accompanied by facquars or -priests, worstards or schoolmasters, and a religious train,—to -consummate the business, and make us genuine children of the Prophet. -Each copper would, at least, contain one hogshead and a half of water, -which was made unusually warm. The reason assigned for this, was, as we -understood afterwards, that we had eaten a great quantity of pork in our -time, and consequently were very unclean. Here was no small diversion -for idle spectators, to see us jump out of the coppers half scalded; the -facquars, in the midst of their prayers, suspending their ceremonies, -and joining the guards in running after and bringing us back; for, by -the time two were taken, they would be in pursuit of two more, who had -made their escape from this terrific ordeal. In this we found some -advantage; for during our short absence the water naturally cooled, so -that we could at length stay in it until the prayers were finished by -the priests. This continued three days successively, in conjunction with -the confused prayers of the facquars, the threats of the guards, and our -own apprehensions at this mode of scalding. These preparations and -performances being ended, we were hailed as the children of the Prophet, -and the favourites of the Nabob. - -Now, exclusively of our mental feelings, we had every good in abundance; -and thus they continued to treat us for three months; but, alas! our -troubles had only just begun. About this time, 1783-4, Hyder Ali Cawn -died. The more immediate cause of his death was an ulcerated back; and -reports were then circulated in the capital, that towards the close of -his life, when the ulcer was rapidly spreading, he, by advice, ordered -several criminals at different times to be killed, in order to apply -their livers to his sore. It is, however, but just to state, that for -this I have no other authority than hearsay, though I have no reason to -doubt that it might be truth. - -We were now formed into a company, but having Dempster for our -commander, was no small mortification to us; knowing him to be a base -wretch, and a deserter from the Bengal Artillery. Dempster was a man of -considerable abilities, and, as we soon learnt, had been a chaplain to -one of the regiments at Gibraltar. This man, with a native named Abdel -Gunney, both formerly officers in the Company’s service, was at the -bottom of all the cruel treatment we received for the period of a year -afterwards. We were now, every morning and evening, paraded before the -palace in full Mohammedan dress; and this scoundrel would very -frequently march us up and down before the English officers’ prisons, -and particularly before that of the brave but unfortunate Colonel -Bailey, of whose end I shall have to speak very shortly. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. III. - - _Accession of Tippoo Saib—Compelled to learn Military - Exercise—Without Food two Days—Cruel Treatment for - complaining—Ears bored, and marked as Slaves—Peace - concluded—Left unclaimed by the British—Fate of some - English Officers—Defeat and Capture of Colonel Bailey._ - - -About this time, Tippoo Saib, who had succeeded his father, Hyder -Ali,[5] sent an order to the killadare of Seringapatam to incorporate us -in his four battalions of slaves—which was accordingly done; but we had -no doubt it was so done through the malicious insinuations of Dempster, -whom, after we knew, we treated with the most sovereign contempt. Here -each individual was supplied with a stick of about four feet and a half -long, as a substitute for a firelock; and our pay being shortened, we -led wretched lives indeed; fabrications being circulated, and groundless -complaints made against us, merely from a malignant antipathy. We did -not at this time know much of the language; and when questioned relative -to these complaints, many got severe beatings;[6] for our silence was -generally construed into guilt. - -Once we were kept without food for two days; and conscious we had done -nothing to deserve it, we sallied forth to the durbar, (a seat of -justice so called,) in order to exhibit a complaint of our grievances to -the killadare; but Abdel Gunney, to whom I have adverted, learning our -intentions, was before us, and intimated to the killadare to take care -of his person, for that we were coming in a body, and he knew not for -what purpose. This alarmed the governor; and we no sooner arrived, than -we were surrounded by a battalion of Sepoys, and our interpreter, Clark, -a lieutenant in the Company’s service, who had begun to speak, was -knocked down, and beaten in a most shocking manner. While he lay on the -ground, they put him in heavy irons, and took him away, nor do I -recollect ever seeing him afterwards. All this time we were secured by -the Sepoys, who had orders to prime and load, and to fix their bayonets; -and all this against fifty-two defenceless boys. Judge of our situation, -my good reader, at this crisis! We were seized, and each of us was bound -with two new ropes, confining our hands behind us; and, to make us -secure, a strong man enclosed our arms, and with his knee almost -dislocated our shoulders: many of us had the marks in our arms for some -years after. This done, we were wheeled to the right, then to the left, -by the myre, or adjutant, in broken English, who would frequently, in -the most contemptuous manner, cry out, “General Mathews,”—“Colonel -Bailey,”—“Captain Rumney,” and repeat the names of many officers they -then had in their custody, of whom I shall very soon give the reader an -accurate account. - -We were hauled in this degrading manner, until I and several more -fainted; when I came to myself, we were all seated on the ground. I was -bound between two lads, both midshipmen of the Hannibal, who told me, -when I fell they fell, with most of the rest; those who did not, -informed us, that so many falling, they were ordered to sit down. The -skin of our breasts was like a drum head, and I am conscious to this -day, if it had not been for the humanity of the durga, an officer equal -to a sergeant, in slackening the ropes about twelve o’clock at night, -very few would have survived till morning. This was done on his part at -a great risk: may God reward him for it! - -The next day we were ordered to be untied, one by one, and our heads to -be again shaved, which was performed; our ears also were bored, and a -slave’s mark was put in each of them. This being done, we were -prohibited from speaking to each other in English, under pain of severe -punishment. We were then marched, or led crawling, rather, to our -square, where they gave those who could immediately make use of it, some -food. Here we met every day, more or less, with severe treatment, until -the year 1784, when a peace was concluded between the East India Company -and Tippoo. This was a woful and heart-rending peace for us; but prior -to my saying any thing on that head, I shall introduce the condition and -fate of many of our brave officers; together with the fate of the -unfortunate brachmins, as it fell immediately under my notice. And -first, of Colonel Bailey, who was in leg-irons, with Captain Rumney, and -Lieutenants Fraser and Sampson. The three latter had their throats cut -at Mysore. Colonel Bailey appeared much emaciated; I rather think grief -was the cause of destroying his constitution; for when he was insulted -by Dempster, who took a pride in marching us before him, we could -frequently see the tears trickle down his manly face. He was alone, -after the captain and lieutenants were taken from him; but not long, for -he was removed also, and we supposed very secretly, for we never could -learn what became of him; and whether he died by poison, or a natural -death, we could not positively ascertain; but we could easily believe -the former. It may not be amiss here to say something relative to his -defeat. The circumstances which led to this melancholy catastrophe are -well known, therefore I shall only describe the manner, partly from the -Encyclopædia, and partly from information I received at Patam, from -several who survived that dreadful day. - -In order to do this, it may be necessary to inform the reader, that -Hyder Ali, after suddenly seizing the passes, which might have been -secured, poured through them an army of 100,000 men, among whom was a -large body of European troops under French officers, and commanded by -Colonel Laly, a man of great bravery and experience in war. Alarm being -given on the 24th of June, 1780, that Hyder’s horse were only nine miles -distant from Madras, the inhabitants instantly deserted their houses, -and fled into the fort, while the unresisted barbarian burnt the -villages, reduced the inferior forts, and prepared to lay siege to the -capital. It being now absolutely necessary to make some resistance, -measures were taken for assembling the troops; in doing which, an -express was sent to Colonel Bailey, at Gumuapenda, about twenty-eight -miles from Madras, to proceed from thence directly to Conjeveram with -the corps under his command, where the main body was to meet him; but -when the main body was under marching orders, the 1st regiment of -cavalry positively refused to move without money; and, as they persisted -in their refusal, they were made prisoners, and sent to Madras. The main -body, then consisting of 1500 Europeans and 4200 Sepoys, under Sir -Hector Monroe, with the train of artillery, proceeded towards -Conjeveram; and such were the fatigues of the march, that 200 men -belonging to the 73d regiment, were left lying on the road. On their -arrival, they found the town in flames, great bodies of the enemy’s -cavalry advancing on both flanks, and no appearance of Colonel Bailey’s -detachment; the march of this body having been impeded by a small river, -swelled by a sudden fall of rain. On this occasion, the officer who -records this disaster, makes the following observation: “In this -incident we have a remarkable proof and example of the danger of -procrastination, and on what minute circumstances, and sudden springs of -the mind, the fortune and general issue of the war may depend. Had the -colonel passed over Trepuscore without halting, as some advised, and -encamped on the south instead of the north bank, the disaster that soon -followed would have been prevented, and an order of affairs, wholly -different from what took place, would have succeeded.” - -Hyder Ali having now raised the siege of Arcot, in which he had been -employed, marched towards Conjeveram, in the vicinity of which he -encamped, and in a few days offered battle. On the 6th of September, he -detached his son, Tippoo Saib, with the flower of his army, to cut off -the detachment under Colonel Bailey, who was now at Pernambaukham, a -small village, distant from the main body about fifteen miles; he -himself remaining near Conjeveram, to watch the motions of Sir Hector -Monroe. The detachment of Tippoo consisted of 30,000 horse, 8000 foot, -and 12 pieces of cannon: notwithstanding this superiority of numbers, -they were bravely repulsed by Colonel Bailey’s handful of troops, and a -junction was effected with a detachment under Colonel Fletcher, sent by -Sir Hector Monroe, on first hearing the noise of the engagement. This -junction was effected on the 9th of September, and the next morning -orders were given for the whole army to march, Colonel Fletcher’s -detachment being dispersed in different parts of the line. From the -moment they began to march, the enemy played off their rockets, which, -however, did little execution: but about ten at night, several guns -began to open on the rear of the English; Colonel Bailey, therefore, -after some manœuvres, caused his troops to form a line, while the enemy -cannonaded them incessantly with great execution. On this, Colonel -Bailey detached Captain Rumney with five companies of grenadier Sepoys, -to storm their guns; which service they would undoubtedly have -accomplished, had not their march been interrupted by a torrent of -water, which at that time happened not to be fordable. Captain Rumney, -therefore, returned about half-past eleven, when the guns of the enemy -were heard drawing off towards the English front, and a general alarm -was perceived throughout their camp, owing, as was supposed, to their -having received intelligence of the party that had been sent to storm -their guns; for, from their noisy confusion, and irregular firing, says -my author, one would imagine that a detachment of our men was among them -with fixed bayonets. At that critical moment, had a party of grenadiers -been sent against them, they might, without difficulty, have routed the -whole of Tippoo’s army. Having, about ten o’clock in the evening, -advanced about five hundred yards into an avenue, Colonel Bailey -remained there in perfect silence till the morning. Colonel Fletcher -being asked why Colonel Bailey halted? modestly replied, that Colonel B. -was an officer of established reputation, and, no doubt, had reasons for -his conduct. It cannot, however, be concealed, that this halt afforded -an opportunity for Tippoo to draw off his cannon to a strong post, by -which the English were obliged to pass; and, at the same time, of -informing Hyder of their situation, and suggesting to him the expediency -of advancing, for the improvement of so favourable a conjuncture. - -On the 10th day of September, at five o’clock in the morning, our little -body marched off by the right in subdivisions, having their baggage on -the left; and not many minutes after, six guns opened on their rear; on -which the line halted. A few minutes after, large bodies of the enemy’s -cavalry appeared on their flanks; and at the moment the pagoda of -Conjeveram appeared in view, and our men had begun to indulge hopes of a -respite from toils and dangers, a rocket boy was taken prisoner, who -informed them that Hyder’s whole army was marching to the assistance of -his son Tippoo. Four guns now opened on the left with great effect; and -so hot was the fire they sustained, and so heavy the loss, that Colonel -Bailey ordered the line to quit the avenue, and present a front to the -enemy; and at the same time detached Captain Rumney with ten companies, -to storm the enemy’s guns. Within a few minutes after this party had -left the line, Tippoo’s guns were silenced. Captain R.’s little -detachment immediately took possession of four cannon, and completely -routed the party that was attached to them. Captain Rumney, overcome -with fatigue, ordered Captain Goudie, the next in command, to lead the -party, and take possession of more of their guns; but in a few moments, -as they were advancing, a cry was heard among the Sepoys, of, Gora! -Gora!—Horse! Horse! The camp followers, whose numbers were nearly five -to one of the troops, were driven on part of our line by the numerous -and surrounding forces of Hyder Ali, who being informed of the situation -of Colonel Bailey, had left his camp without striking his tents, with a -view of concealing his march from General Monroe. A great confusion -among the troops was the unavoidable consequence of this unexpected -onset. The Europeans were suddenly left on the field alone, and at that -critical moment a part of Hyder’s advanced guard pressed on with great -celerity between our line and Captain Rumney’s party. The commanding -officer, therefore, apprehensive of being cut off from our little army, -judged it most prudent to retreat. Colonel Bailey, when he was informed -that an immense body of horse and foot was advancing towards him, and -that this was supposed to be Hyder’s main army, said, “Very well, we -shall be prepared to meet them.” - -Hyder’s whole force now appeared incontestably in view; and this -barbarian chief, who, as was observed of the Roman general by Pyrrhus, -“had nothing barbarous in his discipline,” after dividing his guns -agreeably to a preconcerted plan, opened from sixty to seventy pieces of -cannon, with innumerable rockets. His numerous cavalry, supported by his -infantry, driven on by threats, and encouraged by promises, and led on -by his most distinguished officers, bore down upon our little army, -without making the least impression; our men, both Europeans and Sepoys, -repeatedly presenting and recovering their arms, as if they had been -manœuvring on a parade. The enemy was repulsed at every attack; numbers -of their best cavalry were killed, and many more were wounded; even -their infantry were forced to give way; and Hyder would have ordered a -retreat, had it not been for the advice of General Laly, who informed -him it was too late, as General Monroe was most probably advancing from -Conjeveram; for which reason, nothing remained but to break the -detachment by their artillery and cavalry. Tippoo Saib had by this time -collected his party together, and renewed the cannonade; so that at the -same time the English were under the necessity of sustaining an attack -from both father and son. Two of their tumbrils were blown up by Hyder’s -guns, and a large opening was made in both their lines; they had no -other ammunition than grape; their guns ceased firing; and in this -dreadful situation, under a terrible fire, not only of guns but rockets, -losing great numbers of men and officers, they remained from half-past -seven till nine o’clock, when Hyder Ali, perceiving that the guns were -quite silenced, came with his whole army round their right flank; the -cavalry charged them in distinct columns; and, in the intervals, the -infantry poured in volleys with dreadful effect. - -Myar Saib, Tippoo’s brother, with the Mogul and Sanoor cavalry, made the -first impression; these were followed by the elephants and the Mysorean -cavalry, which completed the overthrow of the detachment. Colonel -Bailey, though grievously wounded, rallied the Europeans, and once more -formed them into a square, and, with this handful of men, he gained an -eminence, where, without ammunition, and most of his people being -wounded, he resisted and repulsed fifteen separate attacks; but fresh -bodies of cavalry continually pouring in, they were broken, without -giving way. - -Captain Lucas’s battalion of Sepoys, at the time when our men moved up -to a rising ground, was stationed to the right of the European -grenadiers; but that corps seeing the Europeans in motion, and perhaps -understanding that motion for a retreat, broke in the utmost confusion. -The Europeans, however, bravely maintained their reputation for intrepid -valour, and remained in this extremity of distress steady and undaunted, -though surrounded by the French troops, and Hyder’s cavalry, to the -number of 40,000. They even expressed a desire, though their number did -not exceed 400, of being led on to charge a battalion of Topasses, -(natives, so called from their wearing hats,) who lay about thirty yards -distant, and kept up an incessant fire with great effect. Many attempts -were made by the enemy’s cavalry to break this body of men; but, by -their steady conduct and courage, they were repulsed; until Colonel -Bailey, finding that there was now no prospect of being relieved by -General Monroe, held out a flag of truce to one of the chiefs of Hyder’s -army: but this was treated with contempt, and the chief endeavoured at -the same time to cut off the Colonel. The reason that the enemy assigned -for this, was, that the Sepoys had fired after the signal was hoisted. A -few minutes afterwards, the men had orders to lay down their arms, with -intimations that quarter would be given: this order was scarcely -complied with, when the enemy rushed in upon them with the most savage -brutality, sparing no age or condition in life, and, but for the humane -interposition of Laly and Pencron, who implored and insisted with the -conquerors, to shew mercy, the gallant remains of our little army must -have fallen a sacrifice to that savage thirst for blood with which Hyder -disgraced his victory. In this unfortunate action, near 700 Europeans -were killed on the spot. The loss on Hyder’s part was so great, that he -industriously concealed it, being enraged to think that the conquest of -so inconsiderable a body should cost him so many of his bravest troops. -He seemed, ever after, to consider the English with an extreme degree of -terror; insomuch, that notwithstanding his pretended exultation on -account of the present victory, he no sooner heard of Sir H. Monro -marching to attack him, than he left his camp in the utmost confusion, -abandoning great part of his tents and baggage, as well as a vast number -of the wounded. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. IV. - - _Behaviour of Tippoo towards his Prisoners—Conduct, Defeat, - Treatment, and Death of General Matthews—Fate of the - Malabar Christians—Execution of English Prisoners— - Exhibitions at Seringapatam—Offenders devoured by Wild - Beasts—Modes of Punishment—Despotic Cruelty—Human Ears - and Noses exhibited in the Public Market—Author and - Companions compelled to take Wives—Mode of Procedure— - Marriage Ceremony—Visits Hyder Ali’s Tomb—Situation - described._ - - -In a narrative of the sufferings of the English who survived that fatal -day, published by an officer of Colonel Bailey’s detachment, we find it -related, that Hyder Ali, seated on a throne or chair in his tent, -enjoyed the sight of the heads of the slain, as well as of the -prisoners. Colonel Bailey, who was himself dangerously wounded, was -brought into his camp on a cannon, and with several of his officers, in -the same situation, laid at the tyrant’s feet, on the ground, in the -open air. In this condition, they saw many of the heads of their -countrymen presented to the conqueror;—some of them by English officers, -who were compelled to perform that horrid task! In a little time, -however, Hyder ordered no more heads to be brought to him while the -English officers were present. - -A tent was then fixed up for the unfortunate gentlemen, but without -straw or any thing to lie on, though many of them were dangerously -wounded; and as the tent would contain no more than ten, the remainder -were obliged to lie in the open air. When the prisoners were removed -from place to place, they were wantonly insulted, and even beaten, by -those who had the care of them. I have heard a long catalogue of -sufferings, which I could easily believe to be but too true. There were -numbers of strange cures related by this gentleman, from whom I received -the account, which the reader may see recorded, if so disposed, by a -reference to the “Encyclopædia.” I was conversant with several while at -Patam, who were first circumcised, and, finally, put to death in -Bednore. In the narrations of this officer, what I particularly noticed, -was, an account of the brave Colonel Fletcher,—the tenderness and -humanity of the elephants,—and the almost unprecedented valour of a -battalion of cook-boys, who acted as such to the Europeans. The brave -Colonel Fletcher slew several with his own hand before he fell. - -As the elephants would not, with all the exertions of their keepers, -tread upon the wounded and slain, these, after the carnage was over, -were thrown into a hole in one promiscuous heap. From this heap, a -corporal, whose name was Sinclair, of the 73d regiment, who was -dreadfully wounded, contrived to crawl: he afterwards recovered, was -Mohammedanized, and was with us at Seringapatam. The battalion of -cook-boys above mentioned, fell, with few exceptions, three deep, as was -their position when standing. These brave fellows ought to have been -noticed, as well as the European prisoners, for they suffered much more; -I have often been an eye-witness to the cruelties with which they were -treated at Seringapatam; but they still continued true and loyal to the -English. - -Colonel Bailey’s detachment consisted of about 4700 men, of whom about -700 survived, and many of those severely wounded. None of them were -released; some of them died, and others were put to death; and only one, -whose name was Mackenzie, made his escape from Chitteldroog after I did. -Thus much for the brave but unfortunate Colonel Bailey. - -The next whose fate I shall endeavour to describe, is General Matthews, -who, with many of his officers and men, arrived prisoners at -Seringapatam (about the time of Colonel Bailey’s exit) from Bednore, or -Hyder Niger. They had surrendered by capitulation, but it was first -violated on the part of the general, relative to the treasures; this, -together with another circumstance which I shall presently state, was -the cause of his miserable end, together with that of many of his -officers. - -Onore, or Ananpour, a fort about two days’ march from Bednore, had been -stormed by part of his army, and all the inhabitants wantonly and -inhumanly put to death, and their bodies thrown into several tanks in -the fort: this was fresh in Tippoo’s memory. The cause of this cruelty -was, that two flags of truce had been sent, and both detained. How far -such conduct for such a crime could be justifiable, on the part of the -English, I leave to those of superior judgment. This was told me by -several, to whom I had, at times, opportunity of speaking; and had he -taken Hyat Saib’s advice, (the killadare of Hyder Niger,) and who gave -him no great trouble in the conquest of the place, he would have done -well; but it appears, from many circumstances, that it was to be so. It -was intended that he should die by poison,[7] administered in milk; but -as it did not operate, in their view, sufficiently expeditious, his -guards closed his existence with the buts of their firelocks. Perhaps -Tippoo, as a Mohammedan, considered this as a just retaliation for the -butchery at the before mentioned place. Several of his fife and drum -boys were Mohammedanized, and placed in the seraglio for the purpose of -castration; but this operation never took place: and many of his -principal officers left him for Bombay, prior to his being captured. -Such was the end of this ambitious and ill-fated general. But before I -close, it may be necessary to state the following circumstance, which I -conceive will corroborate what I have before observed relative to the -cause of his melancholy end. - -George Bush, of the Yarmouth, country ship, which was captured by La -Fin, French frigate of 40 guns, and James Forsythe, who were separated -from us some years after, but who finally made their escape, and joined -us in the Mahratta camp, were, with many more, sent direct to Hyder -Niger. In the course of their journey thither, they halted at Ananpour; -and being excessively thirsty, they were instantly led to one of the -wells, which, I am sorry to observe, the English had filled up some -years before with their slain. One James Duffee was then with the above, -and had been one of the storming party in this inhuman business; and -such was the indignation of the residents on this spot, that, had they -not been prevented by the guards, they would have sacrificed those -innocent men to their fury, from a remembrance of what had taken place. -I mention this circumstance, because I have seen an attempt to justify -this branch of the general’s conduct. - -Now followed the fate of the poor Malabar Christians, of which I shall -ever consider myself the innocent cause, in reading what was written by -General Matthews, as stated in the preceding note. Their country was -invested by Tippoo’s army, and they were driven, men, women, and -children, to the number of 30,000, to Seringapatam, where all who were -fit to carry arms were circumcised, and formed into four battalions. The -sufferings of these poor creatures were most excruciating: one -circumstance, which came under my immediate notice, I will attempt to -describe. When recovered, they were armed and drilled, and ordered to -Mysore, nine miles from the capital, but for what purpose we never could -learn. Their daughters were many of them beautiful girls, and Tippoo was -determined to have them for his seraglio; but this they refused; and -Mysore was invested by his orders, and the four battalions were disarmed -and brought prisoners to Seringapatam. This being done, the officers -tied their hands behind them. The chumbars, or sandal-makers, were then -sent for, and their noses, ears, and upper lips, were cut off; they were -then mounted on asses, their faces towards the tail, and led through -Patam, with a wretch before them proclaiming their crime. One fell from -his beast, and expired on the spot through loss of blood. Such a mangled -and bloody scene excited the compassion of numbers, and our hearts were -ready to burst at the inhuman sight. It was reported that Tippoo -relented in this case, and I rather think it true, as he never gave any -further orders respecting their women. The twenty-six that survived were -sent to his different arsenals, where, after the lapse of a few years, I -saw several of them lingering out a most miserable existence.[8] Some -time after our initiation, (about nine months,) many of the mechanics -were brought from their different prisons to Patam, and sent to his -arsenal, to their different employments; about eighty was their number; -they had a tolerable allowance, but were all circumcised. One, whose -name was William Williams, effected his escape, but was taken, and -treated as the above, with the exception of losing only one ear, with -his nose; which was executed before us, as a terror, no doubt, to -prevent our attempting any thing in the same manner. Most of those -unfortunate men were put to death; nine of them, including two -carpenter’s mates, belonging to the Hannibal, Archy Douglas, and another -whose name I have forgotten, were hung on one tree, because one of the -party, named Flood, a serjeant-major in the Company’s service, to pass -away a tedious hour, had been taking a sketch of the surrounding -scenery; this was the crime for which they all suffered death! - -The deserters had no lenity shewn them; most of them suffered also, and -among them was Dempster, whom I have named before, who was piked to -death in his hut; which we were very happy to hear, as this wretch had -been the cause of much cruelty towards us. Randal Cadman, who survived -those evils, (through illness,) although in the midst of them, escaped -on the night our troops, under Lord Cornwallis, defeated and followed -Tippoo’s army over the river into Sarragangam; we were then at some -distance from the capital, but saw him when we afterwards joined his -lordship. He was then all but dead; he survived, however, and from him -we had this information. He also informed us, that prior to his -lordship’s arrival, the principal street in Seringapatam, on each side, -was ornamented with paintings, such as, elephants whirling Europeans in -the air,—tigers seizing whole battalions of English Sepoys,—five or six -English officers supplicating for mercy at the feet of one of his -troopers,—and companies flying frightened at the charge of ten or twenty -of his horse: with a variety of other worse than silly representations. -But when his lordship had taken Bangalore, and was on his way to the -capital, Tippoo thought it prudent to order these daubings to be -cancelled.—But to return to the years 1783 and 1784. - -Shortly after the arrival of General Matthews, Tippoo, thinking his mode -of punishment towards those poor creatures who happened to fall under -his displeasure not severe or terrific enough, ordered nine large tiger -cages to be made, and placed opposite his kerconah, or treasury. They -were arranged there according to his order, and soon tenanted, each with -a large tiger. After the death of Colonel Bailey, we were paraded before -these ferocious animals, and had an opportunity of seeing them fed once -or twice a day; one of the nine was as black as a coal, the only one I -ever saw of that colour. They were all taken in the Curakee jungles, -which abound with elephants, tigers, wild boars, panthers, tiger-cats, -leopards, &c. and lie about twenty miles from Patam, and about ten from -Mysore. Those tigers, above stated, were designed for the punishment of -high crimes and misdemeanours: three of his principal officers, namely, -his head inchewalla, or general postmaster, his buxey, or paymaster -general, and another, were severally thrown to the tigers, and devoured -in an instant, all but their heads; for which purpose the tigers were -always kept hungry! These all suffered within the short space of four -months. - -Confinement, however, soon proved destructive to the animals themselves, -as scarcely one of them survived above eleven months. At this period, -there was a regular import of wild beasts at least twice a week, taken -from the jungles by himself, on his hunting excursions; to which -exercise, at one time, he appeared very partial. 1000 horse, 500 -pulligars, or pikemen, with some foot, formed his hunting party. His -tiger-cats, or leopards, would always accompany him, and with these he -used to course, as our gentlemen do with hounds. The elephants were -caught in pits; and the tigers and other wild beasts in cages, by -fastening, at the other end of the cage, a young pig, a lamb, &c. The -wild elephants, though he had numbers that were domesticated, and -tigers, were designed for his games, which I shall presently attempt to -describe; but I will first mention the manner in which he punished -criminals. Amongst numerous other instruments, he had a wooden horse, of -a full size, resembling those adopted for his cavalry, curiously and -infernally contrived, on the saddle of which were nine rows of sharp -spikes, about three quarters of an inch long. The machine was moved by -springs; and as soon as the culprit mounted, the horse, by some -mechanism, would rear on his hind legs, and then, falling with a jerk on -his fore feet, the spikes would enter the posteriors of the rider. The -time of riding was proportioned to the crime; though it was said, that -one of his horsemen rode this machine with such dexterity as to avoid -the spikes,—in consequence of which he was pardoned. I have oft-times -seen the horse, with its furniture, &c. but never saw a culprit on his -back, though I was at Seringapatam at the time that several were -punished that way. It was removed when Lord Cornwallis took possession -of Bangalore. - -But his most common mode of punishment was, that of drawing to death by -the elephant’s feet; the manner of which was as follows: the poor -wretches (for several were drawn at one time) first had their arms tied -behind them, above the elbows, and then a rope put about the small of -their legs, which was fastened to the elephant’s foot. This being done, -the criminals stood with their backs towards the elephant’s posteriors, -waiting sometimes an hour for an order for their execution. The distance -they stood from the beast was about six yards, and the first step the -elephant took would throw the poor unfortunates on their faces; thus -they would be dragged over rough and smooth ground till dead, and with -no faces left. There was a singular circumstance respecting one of his -elephants, called Immaumbucies, which, when young, and about the size of -a buffalo, came into Seringapatam with a herd of those animals. It was -the largest he had, and measured fifteen feet in height. He was much -caressed, and appeared sensible of every kind action; in fact, he was -more sagacious than any of his fellows, and wonderfully docile. This -incident transpired about fifty or sixty years prior to Hyder Ali’s -usurpation, when Seringapatam was in the possession of the Mysorean -chief, as sole monarch of the whole country. - -Some error, of no great import, was discovered in the accounts of -fifteen fine young Bramins, who were in one of his offices as clerks; -for which they lost the fore-finger and thumb of their right hands, all -except one, who was left-handed, and he had his left finger and thumb -cut off: but the sufferings of the Bramins in general were indescribably -cruel. Poor inoffensive men! Were they accused of being rich, it was -enough; and no small pains were taken to procure their accusation, -Tippoo’s emissaries and spies being in every corner of his kingdom. Once -informed against, all pleas were useless, and they were instantly -dragged to Seringapatam. On their arrival, they were sent for by the -paymaster-general, who would address them mildly, stating, that he had -received information they were worth a certain sum of money, which he -named, and that he wanted so much for his master’s services. If the -proposal was acceded to, all was well, and perhaps the Bramin would be -put in a more lucrative situation; but a denial, or a supposed -prevarication, was sure to be accompanied with the most exquisite -tortures. In this process, the first mode was, piqueting for a given -number of hours; then, if this was found of no avail, the addition of -scourging; if this also proved ineffectual, needles, fixed in corks, -were incessantly applied to their bodies, while still under the scourge. -This mode of punishment continued several days; and if all this could -not make them confess where their supposed riches were, they would be -then led to the large pagoda yard, and there put into cages of iron, on -half a pound of rice, and a certain quantity of salt, per day, but not a -drop of water, or any thing but those two articles. In this situation I -have seen them, with their souls looking through their eyes, and God -knows my feelings at the time; but a look of pity at them from us would -have been construed into guilt. They would thus linger a few days, and -expire in agonies. - -The situation of the oppressors and the oppressed, in pecuniary matters, -is, I believe, widely different now. It is generally believed in India, -that the Bramins are very tenacious of their money; which may be the -case, and I give it credit; but I am strongly of opinion, that numbers -of these inoffensive people suffered as above described, having no -property whatever; a strong information against them being a just ground -with Tippoo for all these cruelties. - -About this period, in the year 1785, he seemed more bent on barbarities, -than at any other time that I was in his country. It was not -unfrequently that two or three hundred noses and ears would be exhibited -in the public market, but to whom they belonged we could not learn. We -must, however, leave these tragic scenes awhile, and turn to something -less horrible. - -We were one day strangely informed, that each of us, who was of proper -age, was to have a wife; for this piece of news we were extremely sorry, -but there was no possibility of our preventing their designs. There -were, at this time, a number of young girls, who had been driven with -their relations out of the Carnatic, when Hyder infested that country, -which he almost over-ran, as already stated. Some of these poor -creatures were allotted for us; and one morning, we were ordered to fall -into rank and file, when those girls were placed one behind each of us, -while we stood gazing at one another, wondering what they were about to -do. At last, the durga gave the word, “To the right about face;” with -the addition (in the Moorish language) of “take what is before you.” -This, when understood, some did, and some did not; but the refractory -were soon obliged to comply. Thus they fed their vanity, by making our -first interview as ludicrous as possible, each being by this means -supplied with a piece of furniture, for which, however valuable in -general, we had neither want nor inclination. When this ceremony was -completed, we were ordered back to our square, and on our return with -our young black doxies, we had the bazaar, or public market, to pass, -where the crowd was so difficult to penetrate, as to separate us. This -laid the foundation for some serious disputes afterwards, many insisting -that the women they had, when they arrived at the square, were not the -same they had at first. This scene was truly comic, for the girls, when -we understood them, which was many months afterwards, had the same views -that we had; and were frequently engaged with their tongues, on this -score, long before we could understand the cause of their disputes. Our -enemies seemed to enjoy this in a manner that would have done honour to -a British theatre. Two months passed on, when the priest came to -consummate our nuptials; and the conclusion of the ceremony was as -curious as the beginning. The bride and her consort were led to an -eminence, with flowers round their necks, and seated; after which, their -thumbs were tied together, when the priest muttered something which we -could not comprehend, and we were married. They, however, gave us to -understand, that we were subject to pay eighty rupees to the cadi, in -case we divorced our wives, very few of whom exceeded eleven years of -age.[9] The one who fell to my lot was a native of Arcot, and had been -driven with thousands more when Hyder and Tippoo spread destruction -almost throughout the Company’s territories. She was an affectionate -creature, by whom I had two children; one died, and the other I left in -the arms of its distracted mother. But I shall wave this subject for the -present, and resume it again, if possible, towards the close. - -About four months prior to the ratification of peace with the Company -and Tippoo, our circumstances were bettered, and we had liberty to walk -where we thought proper in the fort, and sometimes permission to go to -Sanagangam, about two miles from the fort, where Hyder Ali lies buried, -in a garden called Col-bog, or the Red Garden. We were taken to this -spot, with many more good mussulmen, to pray for the soul of the -deceased, when we had an opportunity of viewing his mosque. It is -situate in the centre of the garden, and in the centre of the mosque is -the tomb of this hero. It is a magnificent square building, with four -doors, east, west, north, and south; and is ascended by steps, on the -top of which, you immediately see, through the doors, his tomb, which, -when I saw it, was covered with black velvet, and a steel ball was -suspended over it, larger than a 42 lb. shot, of an amazing brightness. -Here are always a number of faquirs (priests) of the highest order, to -perform religious ceremonies, and keep the place inviolate. - -There is another garden worth notice, called Derea, Dowlah-bog, or, the -Rich Garden of the Sea; this is a most charming spot, nearly surrounded -by a lofty wall, at the foot of which runs the river. Here was a great -variety of fruits of the most exquisite flavour, lofty trees of a -sublime appearance, together with a representation of the defeat of the -brave but unfortunate Colonel Bailey: peace to his manes! Outside of -this delectable spot, and near the walls, is a vast tank, in which -numbers of large fish were kept (consecrated, I suppose, for they were -never disturbed) by the highest order of the faquirs, who had their -dwellings on the margin of the tank. But when the English took -possession, no doubt these fine fish were appropriated to some other -use. The Bramins had a spot also, directly under the fort walls, -containing a great number of very fine fish, which were daily fed by -them; but doubtless they also have long since been destroyed by some of -John Bull’s sons. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. V. - - _Description of Seringapatam—Ferocious Games—Observations on - Lions and Tigers—Sent to Mysore—Tyranny of Tippoo—War - with the Nizam—Author put in Irons—Misery of his - Condition—Fate of some Bramins—Author separated from - some Companions in Misfortune—Marched to Chitteldroog— - Disturbed by Snakes—Expedient to procure Money—Anecdote - of a Fanatical Native—Visited by Apes—Singular Snake— - Forlorn Condition._ - - -A brief description of Seringapatam and its environs may not be amiss -here. This capital of Mysore, (though Mysore itself, distant nine miles, -was, prior to Hyder’s usurpation, the seat of government,) is an island -in the midst of a continent, charmingly situated, and surrounded by the -Cavery river; distant from Madras 296 miles. It is about four miles in -length, and about one mile and a half in breadth across the middle, -where the ground is highest, whence it gradually narrows, and falls -toward the extremities.[10] At the west end there is a fort of very -considerable strength, about three miles in circumference, mounting at -least 190 pieces of cannon, including what were on the cavalices. Its -appearance, at about three miles’ distance, was calculated to strike -every beholder, being distinguished by magnificent buildings and ancient -pagodas,[11] contrasted with the more lofty and splendid monuments,[12] -lately erected in honour of the Mohammedan faith. - -At the east end of the island is the pettah, or suburb, called -Sanagangam, which was finished while we were there; it was beautifully -laid out, about half a mile square, divided into regular streets, all -very wide, and shaded on each side with trees, surrounded by a strong -mud wall. It was designed for merchants and troops, and possessed all -the beauty and elegance of a country retirement, and was dignified by -the mausoleum of Hyder. They were about erecting a new and magnificent -palace in the year 1787, the last time I ever saw it but one, which will -be noticed hereafter. We were all mustered before Hyder, in his palace, -once, but not seeing much of the interior, I am not competent to give an -accurate description. It is a very extensive building, flat-roofed, with -two wings, one of which is his seraglio, and the other his treasury. The -front of the palace was an extensive open place, supported by strong -pillars, where the killadare and his retinue sat to administer justice; -the palace door being about four yards behind them. Four beautiful -Arabian mares, two elephants, and two palanquins, were always in waiting -when Tippoo was in his capital; but he approved of the latter mode of -conveyance most: I never saw him on horseback, and only once on an -elephant. In his person he was majestic, about five feet nine inches and -a half in height, with large eyes, an aquiline nose, and remarkably -broad shoulders; his complexion was about two shades lighter than quite -black. In short, he must have been a very powerful man, though in my -opinion, contrary perhaps to most, not possessing any great portion of -personal courage. I have never seen but one striking likeness of him -since I have been in England. - -I was an eye-witness twice to his games, once before the peace of 1784, -and once after: the former will, I doubt not, be long remembered by our -gallant Sir David Baird, and many more of our officers, who were then -Tippoo’s prisoners, and in irons. The circumstance I allude to will be -presently mentioned, after I have endeavoured to describe his -performances. These games were something after the manner of the Pythian -or Olympic, and continued ten days without intermission. After the usual -preparations were arranged, which consisted of a strong rope network, -attached to stanchions fixed in the ground, forming a semicircle in -front of his palace, different descriptions of beasts were brought in, -viz. elephants, tigers,[13] buffaloes, and rams; then followed his -getiees, men who, being trained from their infancy to fighting, were -wonderfully active and strong; these were seated in different groups, -having come from different schools. The games commenced with the rams, -perhaps thirty or forty pair each day; their mode of fighting is well -known, and therefore needs no description: they would fight ferociously, -but were seldom suffered to be completely conquered. This being over, -the getiees would be sent for, who always approached with their masters -at their head, and after prostration, and making their grand salams, -touching the ground each time, they would be paired, one school against -another. They had on their right hands the woodguamootie, or four steel -talons, which were fixed to each back joint of their fingers, and had a -terrific appearance when their fists were closed. Their heads were close -shaved, their bodies oiled, and they wore only a pair of short drawers. -On being matched, and the signal given from Tippoo, they begin the -combat, always by throwing the flowers, which they wear round their -necks, in each other’s faces; watching an opportunity of striking with -the right hand, on which they wore this mischievous weapon, which never -failed lacerating the flesh, and drawing blood most copiously. Some -pairs would close instantly, and no matter which was under, for the -gripe was the whole; they were in general taught to suit their holds to -their opponent’s body, with every part of which, as far as concerned -them, they were well acquainted. If one got a hold against which his -antagonist could not guard, he would be the conqueror; they would -frequently break each other’s legs and arms; and if any way tardy, -Tippoo had means of infusing spirit into them, for there were always two -stout fellows behind each, with instruments in their hands that would -soon put them to work. They were obliged to fight as long as Tippoo -pleased, unless completely crippled; and if they behaved well, they were -generally rewarded with a turban and shawl, the quality being according -to their merit. - -There were, at this time, two men of prodigious size and strength; one, -who was called the nabob’s getiee, from Madagascar, challenged the -other, whose name was Yankertramen, from Tanjour, to fight with -creeses.[14] This being made known to Tippoo, he ordered the latter into -his presence, and asked him if he would fight his getiee with a creese. -He immediately answered in the affirmative, prostrating himself at the -same time; when ordered to rise, he humbly solicited that Tippoo would -take care of his family, should he fall: in which he being satisfied, -creeses were brought, and one was delivered to each; this attracted the -utmost attention of, I suppose, not less than 20,000 spectators. All -eyes were bent upon these two powerful men. They stood fronting each -other for the space of ten minutes; the nabob’s getiee looked terrible -at any time, but more particularly so now. He was not so stout as his -opponent, but he was daring, and appeared sure of conquest. Tippoo -watched them narrowly, to ascertain if any symptoms of fear were shewn, -or if either of them would decline the combat; but finding them both -staunch, his heart, perhaps for the first time, relented, and he -graciously ordered both of them presents, and to withdraw, and be -friendly with each other. - -Outside the semicircle, there would every day appear a man on lofty -stilts, with one of the Company’s uniforms on; at one time he would seem -to take snuff, at another tobacco; then he would affect to be -intoxicated; in short, it was intended as a burlesque on the English, -and to make them appear as ridiculous as possible in the view of the -numerous spectators. - -This being over, the tigers and buffaloes would be introduced, the -former in large boxes, as they were caught in the jungles.[15] The -largest had generally chains round their loins. I have seen one of these -last-mentioned tigers defeat nine buffaloes, each of which would have -been an overmatch for the fiercest bull I ever saw in Europe. He was -chained at the time, though he had full scope to reach his antagonist. -Many of the smaller ones were let loose singly on the pulligars, or -pikemen. One of these fierce creatures, although he had twenty or more -pikes in him at once, broke them, and sprung over their heads, killing -one man, and wounding two others. It appeared singularly strange to us, -that this tiger and another, which made their escape out of the ring by -surprising efforts, should both of them make direct for the prison in -which our officers were confined. The brave Captain Baird,[16] now Sir -David Baird, was there at the time, with many more of our unfortunate -officers, who, no doubt, if living, will remember this circumstance. - -Towards the close of the evening, would follow eight or ten pair of -these getiees, either of whom, had they one of their own holds of our -first-rate pugilist, would soon make him cry for mercy. In the evening -the elephants would be ordered in, when there would be lying on the -ground, a dozen or more supposed dead tigers.[17] The business of these -elephants was to trample on them, which the keepers could not compel -many to do, though they inflicted severe punishment on the refractory. -The stoutest elephant always appeared to me to be very uneasy at the -sight of a tiger! These games were concluded every night with fireworks, -some of which were superlatively grand and curious, exciting at once our -astonishment and admiration. - -At length, the fatal 1784 arrived; and now we had the painful knowledge, -that our destiny was irremediable! A peace was concluded with Tippoo by -the East India Company, and we had the mortification of seeing numbers -of our officers and men marched out of the fort for Madras, while we -were cut off from every hope of ever reaching our country or our -friends. The humane reader will be able to appreciate and judge of our -feelings under those trying circumstances. For my own part, it preyed -upon my mind for three months, to such a degree as to reduce me much; -and I can positively say, I never went to sleep till nature was -completely worn out and exhausted with grief and tears! - -One morning, we were all sent for in a great hurry, and seated on the -ground in front of the palace. An hour elapsed, during which period hope -and fear alternately succeeded. A few were quite sanguine that we were -going to be released. Vain imagination! We were escorted under a strong -guard to Mysore, nine miles from the capital, where we were separated, -and sent to different prisons. The spot I was in, was the fatal place -where Captain Rumney, and Lieutenants Fraser and Sampson, had their -throats cut;[18] and, about this period, Lieutenants Rutledge and -Spediman were Mohammedanized. The latter cut his own throat between the -Mysore gates; and the former, an amiable character, after surviving him -about three years, being suspected of correspondence with the English, -was sent to Nairandroog, or rock of death, perhaps as unwholesome a spot -as any in Asia. If this did not answer the end intended, that of putting -a period to his existence, it is highly probable that poison, or the -but-ends of muskets, did. This Nairandroog was the place to which the -afflicted Hindoos were sent by hundreds. - -Whether we were ever demanded by the English, or not, we could not -ascertain, seeing nothing of the kind in any public paper, after we made -our escape; but we supposed we were, and assigned that as the cause of -our being sent to Mysore in such haste. - -At this period, also, Tippoo laid siege to Mangalore, which was bravely -defended by Major Campbell, a king’s officer. Tippoo did not carry it, -for the French troops withdrew on hearing of the peace; but he hung the -killadare, or governor, who had surrendered the fort to the English. -This cruelty caused a remonstrance on the part of Mohammed Ali, the -killadare’s son, who had served with his father faithfully, and then -commanded six battalions of tolerably well-disciplined troops, clothed -in the manner of our Sepoys. His observations were received by Tippoo -with great indignation, and he ordered him to be beaten with a shoe or a -sandal, which is the greatest insult that can be given to a Mohammedan. -When this was communicated to the six battalions that he commanded, they -flew to arms, to resent the treatment of their chief; but, alas! they -were surrounded and disarmed, and nearly 2000 of these poor fellows had -their noses and ears cut off, and were then sent to hard labour; and in -order to degrade them more, they were dubbed with the epithet -“commutie,” or scavenger battalions. Their unfortunate commander was -sent to Seringapatam a prisoner, where he died of grief. - -The English commissioners who were here at this time, John Huddlestone -and —— Sadler, Esqrs. who are now living, and two of the Directors of -the East India Company, must well remember this circumstance; yes, and -other circumstances, of a more important nature, namely, the causes -which induced them, knowingly, to abandon a number of fine youths, -including many officers, with several choice mechanics, altogether not -less than 100 British subjects, for reasons peculiar to themselves, to -the most merciless tyrant that ever disgraced authority. I will not add -what was told us by many who went with them in their palanquins from -Seringapatam, from the impression, that it _might_ not be strictly true; -but this I can affirm, that we were not noticed; and the above-named -gentlemen, while the prisoners lived, were followed by the curses of -all. The few that did survive were about nineteen. - -Our lives were now at stake; we expected every hour to be our last by -poison, and coppers for that purpose were ready; but after keeping us in -the most alarming suspense for several hours, exposed to the scorching -heat of the sun, we were remanded to our prison. - -Tippoo’s force at this time was equal to any, single-handed, in India; -but the Company not pressing their demands, or from some other cause, -for which we could not account, our lives were spared. At the expiration -of six months, we were again joined, and marched back to the capital, -where we were put in a square by ourselves, wondering what they were -going to do with us next; our guards, however treated us civilly, which -we looked on as a good omen. A month elapsed, when we were again -incorporated in his four slave battalions, and promoted to habildars, -equal to a sergeant; each of us having a silver plate, value two rupees, -to hang upon his breast. We were now once more separated; myself and -about twenty others were removed into four of his Christian battalions, -which I have before mentioned, and sent to Chindroypatam, a town situate -about four days’ march from his capital, the rest remaining where they -were. - -Tippoo wished now to strengthen himself by an alliance with Nizam Ali -Cawn; in consequence of which, he sent his vackeil, or ambassador, to -demand his daughter in marriage to Abdel Killick, his eldest son. His -presents were not accepted, and his request was denied; in consequence -of which, an army was assembled of 100,000 men: they encamped near the -capital ten days, then struck their tents, and marched direct to the -Mogul’s territories, in order to chastise him for this insult. Our lads, -who were left in the before mentioned battalions, were taken by Tippoo -to this campaign. His marches were rapid, and he soon reached Idonia, a -strong fortress belonging to Nizam, to which he immediately laid siege; -and, after losing a great number of men, he got possession of the place. -One thing looked well in his character during this siege; opium and -bang, which are both much used by the Asiatics, and particularly in -their armies, he ordered to be collected, wherever found, and burnt in -the most conspicuous places in his camp. A few days after he had made -himself master of Idonia, he intercepted a letter from the Mahrattas, (a -designed thing on their parts,) stating, that they were in full march to -join the Nizam: this intelligence caused him to decamp with the greatest -precipitancy; and his retrograde movements were so rapid, both by night -and by day, scarcely halting four hours at a time, that numbers died of -fatigue. During the siege, two of our youths made their escape by -swimming across the river Tongabadra; the result was, the rest were -directly put in irons, and sent off to Patam. In their route to this -place, they were halted at Chindroypatam, the place in which we then -were; and on seeing their condition, and hearing the cause, it gave us -no small uneasiness, for we well knew we should partake of their fate. -The next morning they proceeded to Patam, and, three weeks afterwards, -we also were marched thither. - -On our arrival, we joined them, and remained three months in a state of -starvation. One of our lads, James Fletcher, died, merely from want of -food. Nor was it in our power to relieve him, however we might wish to -do so; as we had not enough, even of the worst kind, to suffice nature; -and we every hour expected death in one shape or other. While we were in -this wretched state, brooding over our misfortunes, calculating on the -worst, which we had every reason to do, who should make his appearance, -one morning, but the myre, the same who had bound us so unmercifully -some years before! He was by no means a pleasing object to us, for we -well guessed he came on no friendly errand. Having morosely ordered us -to pack up what we had, the guards, which were doubled, hurried us away -to the square in front of the palace. Here, being ordered to sit down, -the guards surrounding us, we remained four hours, under a scorching -sun, nor could we procure a drop of water, or stir one step from the -spot. Here was a scene indeed! our women in tatters, our children naked, -and ourselves nearly in the same state, without food, or any means of -procuring it; the women weeping aloud, the infants crying for -nourishment, and ourselves expecting to be massacred. Whilst under these -trying circumstances, four men approached us: on their appearance, -something like a glimmering of hope seemed to shed a faint ray; but, -alas! - - “How oft a day, that fair and mild appears, - Grows dim by fate, and mars the toil of years.” - -It was over! They approached us, but with baskets laden with irons, -instead of food. This was no time for appetite. Had loaves and fishes -been spread before us, disappointed hope would have destroyed nature’s -cravings. Oh! if Hogarth had been present at this crisis, what a fine -subject for his pencil! Exclusive of the women and children, whose cries -now became loud and strong, we were ourselves differently agitated; some -wringing their hands, others casting a piteous look toward heaven, and -not a few looking at our persecutors (who were now exulting) with a -manly defiance. After being ironed two and two, to which we were well -accustomed, we were marched out of the fort, to the distance of a mile. -Several poor Bramins were with us in heavy leg-irons, and in that -condition forced to walk, or stride rather, as fast as their unfeeling -guards could make them go. Our situation was bad enough, but theirs was -still worse; we were certain their fate was sealed, but there was still -room for a little hope on our parts. Here we were halted for the night, -as motley a group of miserables as ever met together. In the evening -they gave us a small portion of rice, and the next morning early we were -on our march; but for what place we knew not. The Bramins continued with -us—for we were halted when they were behind—for about six miles, when -their guards took another road, and, no doubt, they were soon murdered. - -About an hour after this, we were halted at a spot where three roads -met, and divided into three parties; when the division was complete, the -parties were driven one on each of those roads, and such was the haste -of the guards, that we were at some little distance before we knew we -were to be separated. Here we waved a final adieu to each other in this -world, as the sequel will shew. - -The next day, the party I was in learned that our destination was for -Chitteldroog, about sixteen days’ march distance; and our poor wives and -children following us, made the march more than wretched. We had every -day given us our poor pittance of rice, with chiliq[19] and salt. The -result of our journey was our grand subject; our wives were assiduous -and indefatigable in their endeavours, which was no small consolation to -us under the most dreary prospects; and such was their affection, that I -am inclined to think some of them would have braved death in our stead. -Every evening, when we came to a halting place, we were lodged in one of -the Hindoo pagodas; and in one of these a circumstance occurred which -may be worth relating. - -On one occasion, being asleep in a closely confined hole, we were -greatly alarmed, about two o’clock in the morning, by two large snakes -crawling over us.[20] It is impossible for me to attempt a description -of our sensations, particularly in the dark, and so crowded as we were. -I conceive our noise, aggravated by our fears, was the cause of those -creatures retiring; perhaps frightened as much as we were, as they -troubled us no more. We represented this affair to the priests of the -pagoda in the morning, who gave us a curious interpretation. When they -understood the story, they smiled at our foolish fears, and added, that -it was the most fortunate event that could have happened to us, and we -might consider it as a happy omen. I leave the reader to judge the -construction we put on their observations. - -Three days after this curious visit, we arrived at Chitteldroog, a place -situated on seven hills, and which might very easily be made -impregnable. Many poor unfortunate wretches were put to death in this -fortress, and several paid the debt of nature in the same prison to -which we were sent. One week passed, when the smiths came and knocked -off our irons; something was also added to our allowance: what a -contrast in our minds, now, and fourteen days since! Here we were again -distributed in four battalions, of the same description as we had joined -five years before in Patam. - -Of the other two parties, one was sent to Hyder Niger, and the other -marched back to the capital. One only survived at the latter place, viz. -Randal Cadman, whom I have before mentioned, and from whom we had the -information of the fate of the rest. Two made their escape from Niger, -of whom I have also spoken; and who met us at the Mahratta camp, with -two females belonging to their party, who gave them to understand, -amidst sighs and tears, that, shortly after they were gone, the rest had -their throats cut! that they had lost their husbands, and found means to -escape. They were in a wretched condition, but were seasonably and amply -relieved by these humane men. - -The confidence of the natives here, in our medical abilities, led -several of us to take an advantage of their credulity, necessity being -the prompter, for we were often in a state of starvation. One -circumstance, among many, may suffice. The punishment, in India, of -cutting off the nose and ears, is common, but they have a method of -substituting a piece of their forehead for another nose: this operation -is painful indeed! But to my subject: John Levesley, who had been taken -in the same ship with myself, and who was a presumed doctor, undertook, -for six rupees, to put a nose on a poor wretch’s face, who had lost his -own fourteen years before. The ignorant man, believing in the abilities -of this surgeon, consented to undergo the most painful operation, that -he might accomplish the business. Accordingly, to work Levesley went. -His first performance was, cutting a piece sufficiently large from the -shoulder, and forming it in the shape he wanted it; this done, he -immediately scarified the remains of the old nose, and sewed the part of -the shoulder on. It remained for three weeks with every appearance of -doing well; but, unfortunately, the stitches decayed, and the artificial -nose fell off. The poor man, as his only alternative, demanded his six -rupees; but he might as well have asked for Tippoo’s turban jewel. - -Here three tedious years rolled over our heads, during which period we -learned, that, previous to Hyder’s usurpation, this place was held by a -rajah or prince, happy in his subjects, having a district to himself, as -we were informed by some intelligent Hindoos; but in process of time, -Hyder got possession of this strong fortress. In consequence of this -revolution, a certain man of the cast of Bramins, whose covering I have -often seen, lay in one spot fourteen years: he uttered scarcely any -thing but imprecations against Hyder and his son Tippoo. The situation -he was in was so low, that it appeared to me strange how he escaped -destruction by inundations in the monsoon seasons. We were for three -years in the pettah, or suburbs; but all of a sudden, our habitation, -with the walls in which we were immured, being destroyed, we were -removed into the lower fort, during which time, about nine months, we -all saw this strange character, or the spot where he lay, rather; -hearing him speak frequently, and once or twice seeing his hands. We -often spoke to him, and sometimes he would reply, but at times he would -not. When he did speak, he would either use abusive language towards -Hyder, or ask for patamy.[21] We were informed that he had a guard over -him six months prior to our arrival, in order to detect the imposition; -but his supposed madness saved him, for the Mohammedans have a great -respect for all of this description. Many strange stories were told -about this singular person. All I shall add, is, that we were many -months near him, both by night and day, he still continuing the same -language, and lying in the same spot. We often laughed at the strange -stories relative to this man; but, from auricular and ocular -demonstration, we could not avoid believing some of them. - -This place abounds with apes of the largest stature I ever saw, the -ourang-outang excepted, and the natives do not injure, but rather -indulge them. This made them bold, which was by no means an addition to -our comfort; for we found it absolutely necessary to act on the -defensive; one of our meals out of two being generally taken from us by -these depredators; and such was their temerity, that a stout stick would -scarcely alarm them. In short, we were forced to oppose cunning to -cunning; they to steal our rooties, (cakes baked on a flat earthen pan,) -and we to hinder them. They might frequently be seen in multitudes on -their inaccessible hills, parading in squadrons; and various reports -were handed to us relative to these creatures, but I pass them by as -such. A brief description of one more curious animal, and I will resume -my narrative. - -We killed a snake at this place, not exceeding two feet in length; out -of the middle of its belly grew an arm, similar to a human arm, from the -elbow downwards; the whole of which was formed with the most exquisite -delicacy. The joints, the nails, and every part belonging to it, -equalled, if not exceeded, any thing I ever saw, in point of formation. -I have often regretted I did not bring its skin home, as I had it in my -possession; but at that time there was very little prospect of my -bringing home my own. Numbers of the natives who saw this reptile, -considered it as something ominous. - -Often have I paraded in the most disconsolate manner, in the silence of -those delicious nights peculiar to that country, and which are not to be -described by the most masterly pencil; when the moon appears in the -midst of the firmament with her beams gradually dispersed, surrounded by -a soft curtain of clouds. But, alas! they were no beauties to me; the -ever-prevailing impression still corroding my mind, with my heart ready -to burst at the thought of being for ever cut off from all that were -near and dear to me. I had no prospect, not the most distant hope, of -ever seeing again my country, parents, friends, or one who was equally -the object of my tenderest solicitude. I have digressed thus, in stating -the ideas that continually preyed on my heart, because they were really -grievous to me. - -The melancholy hours we passed here would take a more able pen than mine -to describe; in fact, I do not think any could do it justice. I have -observed before, that we were all young, yet none of us dared sing “Rule -Britannia,” or even hum it with impunity. We prohibited it between -ourselves, under the impression of bitterness, and the idea of every -hope being marred of ever seeing our country or friends again. - -The taunts and insolence of the guards were no small addition to our -misery. We had the feelings of Englishmen, and we suffered from their -insults more severely than from their punishments. We could not forbear -uttering the most bitter invectives against them, although at the -expense of our lives, had we been heard; but we were almost unmindful of -their hate. Barbarity and cruelty were all we did, or could expect, from -a tyrant; therefore we were almost callous to his power to injure us. We -remembered our own native soil, where the freedom of the subject is -co-equal with that of his sovereign, and despised those wretches, who so -far swerved from the dictates of every honourable and manly principle, -as to treat us with such baseness. - -When we could meet together, which at this period was very dangerous, -our conversation was very scanty, having no subject but our misfortunes -to discuss. Hence a question would be, after perhaps a long silence, -started by one of the party, Do you think we shall ever see our parents -or country more? This never failed to draw tears from some eyes, and -sighs from others’ bosoms; and here we could not refrain from inveighing -bitterly against the government. But, alas! of what use! Our hopes were -cut off, and we were secure. Patience, and an affiance in the Almighty, -were our only consolation. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. VI. - - _War renewed with the English—Bangalore taken from Tippoo.— - Author and Companions entertain some Hopes of Escaping— - Seem zealous for Tippoo—Obtain Confidence—Trusted with - Arms—Gain Military Employment—Storm a Fort—Meditate an - Escape—Make an Effort—Compelled to Return—Take their - Final Departure—Progress of their Journey—Accidents— - Enter some Mahratta Forts—Alarm—Danger—Seasonable - Relief—Reach a Hospital, under the Care of an English - Doctor—Kindly received—Visit the Mahratta Camp— - Hospitable Treatment—March with the Army—Military - Progress—Extraordinary Death of a Sepoy—Repair to - Madras—Sail for England, and arrive in Safety._ - - -Nearly four tedious years had rolled away, during which we had scarcely -heard of war; at length, Bangalore was taken by Lord Cornwallis: this -was news indeed! but we were forced to dissemble, and affect to be very -sorrowful. How necessary to act the hypocrite in some cases! We soon -learned also—for they were kinder to us now, through fear—that the -Mahrattas were making (to us glorious) inroads into Tippoo’s country, -which afforded us some hopes of one day having an opportunity of making -our escape. The Mahrattas, our allies, had, in the course of a few -months, taken and destroyed two-thirds of the district of Chitteldroog; -when Dowlah Saib, then killadare, or governor, not so unfriendly to the -English as many others in his situation, collected together a force of -about 3500, inclusive of the four battalions in which we were. With -these he frequently made excursions, in order to retake from our allies -what they had taken from him; and in these excursions we were always -excepted. - -We now more than ever put our mental powers to work, to effect our -escape; the plan we adopted, was, apparently to be more zealous than -ever we had been, in Tippoo’s service. When we supposed this was -sufficiently noticed, we went to the commandant, who had the sole -direction of the four battalions. We could now all talk the language -fluently, and we appointed Mr. Drake, midshipman of the Hannibal, to -negociate this, to us, important business, in which he acted the -hypocrite admirably, and to our entire satisfaction. On our arrival -before him, after paying our most reverential Mohammedan obedience, we -humbly asked him the reason that we were not taken with our battalions? -He frankly answered us, for he was by no means a cruel Moor, that he was -apprehensive we should leave him. Here he was perfectly right; but -duplicity was our only alternative. We therefore began to work upon his -credulity, giving him to understand, that we had been a long time in the -service, and had long eaten the sultan’s salt, (a common expression -among the Moors;) that many of us had children, and that we were become -as themselves; that we did not consider ourselves deficient in personal -courage, and wished for an opportunity of shewing it. Our reasons had -the desired effect: he placed confidence in our observations, good man; -and the next day each was ordered a musket, bayonet, and twenty rounds -of ammunition, &c. - -We were not long unemployed, for our killadare receiving advice that -Tilligore, a mud fort of some little strength, had been taken, not by -the Mahrattas, but by a banditti of Canaries, he ordered his forces to -be in readiness to march the next morning against them. We were taken -with our battalions, and two days brought us near its walls, a distance -of sixty miles. Here we halted for the night, and the next morning our -commander, the killadare himself, sent a summons to the fort to -surrender; but their answer being of a spirited nature, we were ordered -to advance, and such was their tenderness towards us, that we were -selected, and placed in front, like a forlorn hope; with this exception, -that a forlorn hope is generally composed of volunteers, but we had no -choice. - -The fort was surrounded by a formidable thicket, which is always the -case in the interior, where wild beasts abound; which we breached with -our bayonets, throwing it in different directions. While doing this, we -were assailed by stones, some of them a pound weight, from slings; one -of our number, which was twelve altogether, was knocked down by a stone, -and lost an eye. On entering the thicket, three more fell; two were -killed, and one was wounded by a ball through his shoulder. The blacks -now came to our assistance on the glacis; but here we had no chance of -doing any execution, unless we could pass a shot through their -loop-holes while they were in the act of firing. Scaling ladders were at -length brought, and the poor wretches who had to erect them were scalded -in a dreadful manner, by the besieged pouring on them boiling oil mixed -with cowdung. However, one ladder was erected, on which about thirty -mounted, when they threw a large log over the wall, which struck the -ladder about the middle, and broke it; they all fell; and several with -their swords through the bodies of their companions. Two small -field-pieces were now brought out, served by Frenchmen, and by -cannonading for about three hours, a breach in the wall was made, and -deemed practicable; but the ladder was found considerably too short. -Here numbers fell; and had they stood to it, they would have repulsed -3500 with about 90 men: but their ammunition failing, they grew timid, -and ran from the breach, which they had defended awhile with bravery. - -In short, the fort was stormed, the males were put to the sword, with -the exception of a few, whom I am proud to say we were instrumental in -saving, and who called upon all the deities they ever worshipped, to -bless and preserve us. Mr. Wentworth Augustus Lesage, a midshipman of -the Hannibal, was shot through the heart. He was the next man to me; we -were like brothers, so firm a friendship existed between us, and were -never apart more than necessary. As he was falling, I caught him in my -arms, and at the same instant a black from the fort was deliberately -levelling his musket at me. I fortunately observed him, laid the body of -my unfortunate friend down, took up my musket, and, although it was -unloaded, presented it at the deliberate villain; at which he was -alarmed, and ran from his situation. Thus, by a sudden presence of mind, -I saved my life. Lesage was one of the finest, and perhaps strongest, -young men in India, both in body and mind, and was lamented by all who -knew him, both black and white. He had made such rapid proficiency in a -knowledge of their manners and customs, that, had he lived, he would -have been an honour to his country, and a rival to Sir William Jones in -Asiatic literature. They wished us to leave him where he fell; but -myself and Mr. Drake, whom I have already mentioned, got a camel, (a -blanket made of camel’s hair,) tied the four corners together, put a -pole through it, and in this way carried him to a paddy, or rice field, -where, with our hands and bayonets together, we secured him as well as -we could under ground; but doubtless the jackals, which were remarkably -numerous, soon had him up again. This being done, the night advanced -apace; and when the butchery was over, which is more or less the -consequence of storming, every thing that was inflammable was set on -fire. - -We now considered it a fair opportunity of pushing off; but the tears -and forcible entreaties of two of our party, who were wounded, prevented -us for this time. Poor fellows! they knew what their fate would be, had -we left them; besides, they belonged to five of us, who had bound -ourselves many years before never to forsake each other. In short, we -returned to Chitteldroog, after losing about 200 men; and knowing we had -not behaved amiss, expected soon another opportunity, but this did not -offer for three months afterwards. - -In the intermediate period, our good commandant, in a fit of madness, -from taking too much opium, cut his throat, and thus saved himself from -reprehension respecting us. Three months elapsed, when one night we were -assembled for an excursion.[22] About half-past ten, we marched from the -fort, and at day break encamped ten miles distant from Chitteldroog, -where we lay inactive for several days. Here they kept a jealous eye -over us, particularly by night, so that it was next to impossible to -effect any thing; knowing this, we were determined to try the day for -the attempt. Noon was agreed on as the most proper time. The five[23] of -us who had long bound ourselves to each other for this purpose, -accordingly stole out of the camp, singly, in different directions, and -met at the distance of a mile, as by agreement; immediately pushing for -a jungle, or wood, which lay about six miles distant, which, if we could -reach, would crush the alarming fears we were under from the pursuit of -their cavalry. We had no arms at this time, but a carbine, which Mr. -Drake carried behind him, covered by his black camel. We were now -pushing on rapidly, when, to our great consternation, we saw a company -of armed men coming the same road we were going. They could not but see -us; we instantly separated, and, providentially for us, a tremendous -shower of rain came on at the moment, which well covered our retreat -back to the camp. We learned, in the evening, that a company of sixty -men were the day before sent on a reconnoitring expedition: this was the -party; and we were not a little rejoiced at our narrow escape. - -About eight o’clock in the evening, an order was issued to strike our -tents, and from the hurry and bustle that prevailed, we concluded that -an enemy, or friend to us rather, was near. Immediately, the line took -arms, and was on its march for Chitteldroog. The sky darkened, and an -approach of rain was near, the effects of which they were intent upon -guarding against: this was our time. We belonged to different companies, -but the heavy rain did away with all restrictions. We joined, and pushed -through several battalions which were on our left, in order to gain a -jungle, which was at no great distance. It was now very dark; we entered -the jungle, and slackened our pace. Being in the rear, I thought I could -discern something behind me, when, halting and turning round, I -distinguished a person following us; I asked in Moorish, “Who is that?” -“Richardson,” was the answer. This poor fellow, who was suspicious of -our design, had narrowly watched our motions: we were glad to find it -was he, and asked him what was his motive for this conduct? He replied, -“To go with you.” We gave him our hands, and desired him to come on, -which he did for a quarter of a mile, when he suddenly stopped, and wept -aloud. We asked him the cause of this behaviour, but received no answer -for some time, when we forced him to explain himself. The poor fellow, -then, in broken accents, told us he could not leave his children! He had -two; this wrung my heart, but it did not alter my resolutions! we gave -him all the encouragement we could, but all to no purpose, and he went -back with his heart ready to burst, but made his escape afterwards. - -We soon, to our comfort, got out of the jungle; and it then appeared a -little lighter, but not a star was to be seen. Here we should have been -in an awful dilemma, had the winds been variable, as they are in the -western world; but the trade wind, so called, was very much in our -favour; in fact, it was our compass, for keeping it on our right cheek, -we knew we were steering due north, which was our proper course to a -place of safety. - -Here a circumstance happened, which had every appearance of proving a -sad misfortune to one of our party. Those who are acquainted with the -interior of India, know what kind of thorns are there, as stiff as -nails, and as sharp as needles. One ran into Whitway’s foot, which -precluded him the possibility of walking. He sat down, and in a manly -tone requested we would make the best of our way, with a “God prosper -you, for I cannot move a step further.” This was a lamentable case, but -we were not disposed to leave him so: we had provided ourselves with -little useful articles for our design; we had in our butwaws,[24] flints -and steel, and one fortunately had some cotton; and, as necessity is the -mother of invention, we put our wits to work. One struck a light, -another rolled up a piece of the cotton, while the other two held a -camel over his head. Mr. Drake stood surgeon, and, with time and -difficulty, extracted the thorn, which was full an inch long. Thus -delivered, he joyfully rose, and away we pushed as cheerfully as -circumstances would admit. Our chief care now was, to preserve our arms -and ammunition in order: these were our secondary dependence; Providence -was our first. We knew not how soon we might want them, for it was -essentially necessary to be all eye and all ear. - -We had not gone three miles farther, when we suddenly fell on a party of -armed men, whose numbers we knew not; they were busily employed in -preparing their rice and currie. They left all on our approach, and fled -one way; and ourselves, no less surprised, turned off another; our -business was not fighting, but flying. Shortly after this adventure, we -came to a thicket, which we considered a safe and convenient place to -take a little refreshment. We consumed what we had, with the exception -of a small quantity of raw rice, which we still held good. When the day -began to break, we found ourselves near a rising ground, which we lost -no time in ascending. Here we had a view of two villages, at the foot of -the hill, belonging to Tippoo, where we could discern the people -preparing their food, and at their different employments. We lay snug -the whole of the day, exposed to the scorching heat of the sun, and -torrents of rain, alternately. We could see Chitteldroog at a distance -of about twenty miles. Here more genuine sorrow oppressed me; and not -speaking to an affectionate woman, or even kissing a lovely child, -preyed on my spirits. Great Being! thou, and thou only, knowest what the -joyful, gloomy fluctuations of a mind under similar circumstances are! I -fain would have gone back, could I have done so with safety, yet that -was more dangerous than proceeding: but enough. - -About five in the evening, we descended the hill, whilst yet good -day-light; and fortunately for us, since, having a thick jungle to pass, -an attempt to have done it in the dark would have proved fruitless. One -of the party, who carried our poor pittance of rice, unfortunately fell -into a deep pit, and it was with great difficulty we got him out again; -and had we not descended the hill when we did, the obstructions would -have been insurmountable after dark. Here some good being directed our -weary steps. After passing this difficulty,[25] we saw, by the little -light that yet remained, a man driving two or three buffaloes to a -ruined village. He saw us, and hastened his pace; but we neared him, and -desired him to stop: he was terrified, and made the more haste, until we -called out to him in the Tillingey language, which he understood, and -stopped immediately. From this poor fellow, for such he was, we gained -some information; and one branch appeared to us extremely gratifying, -viz. that there was a fort, not more than three miles distant, in the -possession of the Mahrattas. We requested him to shew us the road, which -he promised to do after he had secured his cattle; we desired him to -make haste, which he very reluctantly did. We took the old man with us; -and when we came to the fort, he begged we would suffer him to depart,— -adding, he should lose his life if he were discovered. This we could -easily believe; and after making him swear by his gods, that what he had -told us was strictly true, we rewarded him in the best manner we could, -and dismissed him. - -We entered the fort, which we had no sooner done, than we were -surrounded by at least fifty armed men, with pikes, swords, and muskets. -A number of haughty questions were asked us; such as, Where we came -from? What we were? &c. &c. And as they spoke, they closed on us much; -when one roared out, in the Canary language, to seize and bind us: this -they supposed we did not understand. We instantly, for not a moment was -to be lost, charged the thickest of them, not with a design of injuring, -but to intimidate them; it had the desired effect, they fled in all -directions, the two sentinels at the gate only remaining. We addressed -them, saying, we had no intention of hurting any, and particularly those -who were the allies of the English; closing with a request that they -would shew us the way out of the fort. They were very surly, and one of -them asked us which way we came in? Thinking it would be time thrown -away to stand parleying with those wretches, we insisted upon one of -them (it was now about midnight) shewing us the way out of the fort; and -the man who asked us how we came in, prompted by fear, complied with our -demand. This place, we afterwards learned, had recently been taken -possession of by the Mahrattas, but Tippoo’s people were still in it, -who affected to be well disposed towards the former; but supposing it -would soon be in the hands of Tippoo again, would have treated us as -they said, but fear checked them. We were not a little joyful on this -occasion, and reflected severely on one of our party for advising us to -go into the fort. This proved a very fatiguing night’s march indeed. The -red heavy soil sticking to our sandals the thickness of an inch, the -heavy rains lately fallen, the darkness of the night, with scarcely any -rice left, were circumstances truly discouraging; but having no -alternative, we pushed on, one leading the van, who was relieved every -half hour, as nearly as we could guess, he having the most danger to -encounter. This plan was adopted in consequence of three tumbling into a -ditch together, during the first night’s march. - -About day-break, we found ourselves near a tallow, or lake; here two of -our number alarmed the other three, by positively asserting they saw a -tiger on the other side of the water. This was very unseasonable, as we -were much exhausted from the efforts we had already made. I could see -nothing of the kind myself, though I rather think they did, as they were -positive afterwards. Here we laid ourselves down, and notwithstanding -our bodies made impressions of three or four inches in the mud, I do not -recollect I ever experienced such refreshing sleep. When we awoke, it -appeared, by the sun’s height, to be about nine o’clock; and after -refreshing ourselves with a few mouthfuls of rice, the last we had, and -some water, adjusting our priming, &c. we pursued our journey. About -eleven, we saw a fort at no great distance, which somewhat alarmed us; -but meeting a person who appeared very intelligent, we learned the state -of the country, and informed him of our affair on the preceding evening. -He gave us to understand, that he was a Mahratta himself, and that there -was no cause for fear now, as the fort was commanded by a Mahratta. With -this news, we cheerfully advanced under its walls; but, to our no small -surprise, found ourselves a second time surrounded! We remonstrated, -but, notwithstanding, were kept nearly two hours, during which time two -officers were sent from the fort to examine us; and, when they had done, -they returned to the killadare’s, to give him an account. - -In this interval, we could not tell what to make of it, and particularly -as a few of the guards were gradually closing. We requested them to -stand at a less menacing distance; which they refused, and we insisted -on. Here was all but —— they threatened; we were resolute: they said -they would disarm us; we dared them to it; asking them, at the same -time, whether many of them had not fathers, mothers, brothers or -sisters, wives and children, to lament their loss? and did they suppose -we would submit with impunity? We were on the alert; our bayonets fixed, -and looking as fierce, perhaps, as Falstaff did when giving an account -to Prince Henry of the numbers he had slain. But, waving this, we -expected nothing for awhile but fighting for it. We had arranged our -plan of attack long before this, viz. in case any thing of this kind -should occur, to charge immediately after firing our pieces, with what -effect we could: and I humbly think that none of us would have been -taken alive, for we had well weighed the result in such a case; but, -thank God! we were speedily relieved from this untoward situation by the -arrival of the killadare himself, who, at our request, ordered the -guards to withdraw. He was very inquisitive; in fact, our appearance was -enough to excite curiosity; and as we were very hungry, we said we would -barter with him. He asked, how? We replied, if he would be pleased to -order us something to satisfy our craving appetites, we should then -cheerfully give him all the information in our power. He laughed -heartily, repeating several times, “What a curious barter!” He, however, -readily acceded to our request, ordering some rice, doll,[26] and -ghe,[27] which we soon converted into a good dish of cudgeree,[28] and -while preparing, one or the other was answering his questions, for we -could all talk Moorish, but learned it not from choice. In short, he -appeared pleased with our information, and grew kind; and we were no -less pleased with his bounty. He made us large offers to stay with him, -which we thankfully declined; and after gaining what information we -could relative to the Mahratta camp; where they were? whether any -English were with them? who had the command of them? &c. though, by the -bye, we had learned his name before; and our mentioning it, we -afterwards conjectured, induced him to treat us with kindness;[29] we -heartily thanked him for the refreshment we received, and he as heartily -wished us safe to the Mahratta camp: thus, with mutual good wishes, we -left him. - -When we were about a mile distant, we looked back, and saw a man running -after us; we stopped, and waited his arrival: when he came up, he gave -us to understand, that the killadare had sent his salam, (compliments,) -to request a few cartridges. We would sooner have parted with our -clothes, such as they were, than our ammunition, for we knew not what -dangers we had still to encounter: however, we could not refuse without -ingratitude, and we agreed to send him five, one from each, with our -respects, &c. - -Towards the evening, we came to a river, which, with much difficulty, we -forded; and, after gaining the opposite side, we began to think of our -night’s lodging, and of preparing the only meal of rice we had left from -the killadare’s bounty. Some little distance from the margin of the -river, we found a spot which suited our purpose; here we pitched, and -after preparing our food and sleeping soundly that night, we found -ourselves in the morning quite refreshed, and cheerfully pursued our -journey. - -About twelve o’clock, we saw some men coming towards us; they did not -appear numerous, and we met them: they were eight pulligars, or pikemen, -belonging to a fort in the possession of our allies, which was distant a -coss, or three miles. We asked them who commanded the fort? They -answered, a Moor, and a cheerful good-natured man. This information was -received by us with much pleasure, and we immediately made for the fort, -without fear. On arriving at the gates, we inquired for Eusin Cawn, the -killadare, for we had learned his name from the pulligars; when we were -answered, that he was in the interior of the place, and that they would -send a messenger to him to announce our arrival. On the Moor’s return, -we were informed that the killadare wished to speak to one of us, -unarmed. We had confidence here, and deputed one of our party, disarmed, -to speak to the chief; and on his return, we found every thing to our -wishes, with the additional pleasure of hearing, that at the distance of -eighteen miles there was an English doctor, with a number of sick -Sepoys. This, to us, was news indeed! This killadare was just the man he -had been represented to us; open, generous, and facetious, he formed a -striking contrast to the generality of Asiatic Mohammedans, who are -empty, subtle, and cruel. - -We were now led to a choltree,[30] where we were soon informed that the -killadare would pay us a visit. We received, prior to his making his -appearance, provisions of an excellent quality, and while in the act of -preparing it, he, with his guard, was approaching. On his arrival, we -made our salam, which he most cordially returned; then followed -interrogatories: our answers were extremely pleasing to him, and he -appeared highly gratified. He paid us many compliments on our courage in -effecting our escape, and closed by shrewdly observing, “I suppose you -will soon lose sight of the Prophet, now.” To this we made no reply, not -being willing to offend our benefactor. We gave him a hint that we were -hungry, which he quickly understood, and politely withdrew. Here we -staid one night, and fed on the best this good Mussulman could procure -for us; and as our fears and cares were in a great measure removed, we -enjoyed ourselves in a superlative degree. - -In the morning, we waited on the killadare, to thank him for his kind -attention to us. He very warmly expressed himself our friend, and most -cordially invited us to tarry with him; adding, that every thing should -be done to make our stay comfortable: but to this we could not accede; -and after many jocose remarks on his part, and mutual good wishes on -both, we proceeded on our journey towards Hurryhur, a place of some -strength, situate on the margin of the Tonguibadra river. At noon we -came within sight of the fort, which we beheld with transports of joy. - -We now concluded ourselves safe from the fangs of Tippoo, and fired a -_feu de joie_, in our own way, on the occasion. On our approaching the -gate, the first object that struck our attention was an English Sepoy -sentinel: he very properly asked us, where we came from? and what we -were? and when he received our answers, his heart participated in our -pleasure; for numbers of the Sepoys, taken by Hyder and Tippoo, had -suffered more cruel treatment than the Europeans, and with this they -were well acquainted. He kindly pointed out where the English doctor -resided, whose name he informed us was Little. We immediately went to -his abode, where we found another Sepoy sentinel. We asked him if Dr. -Little was within? He answered in the affirmative. We requested to see -him, and his servant made his appearance at the door. This man was an -English, or, which is all one, a Scotchman. His surprise was so great, -that we could not, for a while, get any words from him; and no wonder, -for he had never seen such a sight before. We were in Tippoo’s full -uniform, that is, all that was left of it; blue turbans on iron hoops, -tiger jackets, with a camel over our shoulders and tied round our loins, -mustaches nearly reaching our ears, two of us sorely wounded by falls, -and the whole, in pushing through thickets, completely scarified. -Finding this man to be the doctor’s servant, we requested to speak to -his master; who soon appeared. His surprise was not less than his -servant’s. He asked, who we were? where we came from? and several other -questions, almost in one breath. We informed him we had been taken in -the Hannibal, 50-gun ship, in the year 1782, by Count de Suffrein, and -delivered over to Hyder Ali; and that we had, after a variety of -hardships, providentially effected our escape. Here a pathetic scene -took place; the good doctor’s sensibility was touched, and the tears -trickled down his face as fast as they could flow. Recovering from his -emotions, he, in broken accents, requested us to walk in, when he kindly -desired us to sit down; but some minutes passed before any conversation -took place. Here we had many good things provided for us, and among them -some French brandy, of which we drank moderately, thankfully, and -cheerfully. The good man partook of our joy, and was very attentive to -every thing we said; in fact, he used every effort in his power to make -our stay comfortable. - -Two months elapsed, while we were in this place, when it was announced -that the Mahratta army was within three days’ march of us; and as there -were three battalions of English Sepoys acting in conjunction with their -army, commanded by Major Little, our good friend, the doctor, thought -this a safe and favourable opportunity to send us to the camp. We -accordingly set out, in company with some Sepoys, who were recovered of -their wounds and disorders; mustering about fifty altogether, well armed -and accoutred, and, after three days’ march, we reached the camp. - -Here we were treated like little kings; and Major Little, in company -with his officers, was pleased to say, we were an honour to our country. -This observation, from a gentleman of his known courage and ability, was -not a little in our favour; we were respected by all who knew our -circumstances. Here we ranged every day where we pleased, having nothing -to do, but to march with the camp, and strike and pitch our tent when we -came to the ground. The Mahratta army consisted of 40,000, and its -followers three times that number; their infantry was the most -contemptible I ever saw, but the cavalry was good, and has often proved -fatal to troops once broken. Here we had some painful opportunities of -seeing the Bramin women ascend the funeral pile with the dead bodies of -their husbands, apparently with as much composure as we would sit down -to our breakfast. - -We were several months in this camp, during which time, the Mahratta -chief, in conjunction with our little detachment, took the important -post of Simoga, with several other places of some strength, and defeated -Riza Saib, and near 10,000 of the sultan’s cavalry. This success flushed -Purso Rhamboo to that degree, that he immediately pushed on for Hyder -Niger, or Bednore, (the fatal spot for General Matthews, which I have -already mentioned,) with an intention of laying siege to it. This was a -wonderful undertaking for a Mahratta army; but in those cases he placed -his confidence in our little detachment, who were always the van in all -danger. - -In pursuing our march to the above place, we learned that a body of -Tippoo’s troops was strongly entrenched at the extremity of a thick -bamboo jungle, to dispute the passage. Our brave Major, with his three -battalions, and a weak company of European artillery, was ordered to -proceed through the jungles, to dislodge them. They consisted of 4000 -men, and the road would admit of but four abreast. This service was -performed in a most gallant manner, but with heavy loss both of officers -and men. Nine pieces of cannon, with their tumbrils, &c. were brought -into the Mahratta camp, amidst the acclamations of thousands, who were -astonished at the bravery and rapidity of this affair. - -Nothing now remained to prevent our reaching the Gauts, which is a range -of hills defended by numerous batteries, at the foot of which we -encamped, and the next day one of the battalions was sent to -reconnoitre; when they opened a fire from several spots at once, but -with little execution, being at too great a distance. Our loss was one -Sepoy, whose death was so singular that it deserves to be recorded. This -poor fellow was struck in the head by a spent shot, a six-pounder, which -lodged there. It was seen by me and thousands more before he was -interred; and although I have witnessed many strange wounds, this -appeared to me the most remarkable, the shot being half in and half out -of his temple. - -While these preparations were going on, an express came from Lord -Cornwallis, who was about commencing the siege of the capital, to hasten -our march thither. No time was lost on the part of the Mahrattas; for -the next morning, Purso Rhamboo, the chief, ordered the tents to be -struck early, and by seven o’clock the whole camp was in motion. We were -much elated on this business, under an idea that we should be of great -service to his lordship, knowing every creek and crevice of Patam. The -first day we passed Ananpour, the spot where so much barbarity had been -practised by our troops, as before related; and twelve days brought us -within one day’s march of Tippoo’s retreat, and his lordship’s camp. -Here we applied to Major Little, to quit his camp for the grand army, -assigning as our reasons, the service we might be of, in case of Lord -Cornwallis’s storming Seringapatam. Major Little highly approved of our -plan, and as there was no necessity for an escort, we departed, and -reached his lordship’s camp that evening; but, to our no small -mortification, we found that a capitulation had taken place, and that -Tippoo’s two sons had been received by Lord Cornwallis the day before -our arrival. - -The conditions acceded to, on the part of Tippoo, were: to lose half his -territories, which were to be given up to the allies, with a vast sum of -money to defray the expenses of the war; that all prisoners, from the -time of his father to the present period, were to be unconditionally -liberated;[31] and, lastly, that two of his sons were to be surrendered -as hostages,[32] for the due performance of this treaty. - -After remaining some days in the camp, we understood that the two men, -whom I have before mentioned, were on the north side of Seringapatam, -with General Abercrombie, who commanded the Bombay army. We repaired -thither, and met them as brothers, supposed to be lost; and after a -mutual detail of our various trials, and the manner of making our -escapes, respectively, &c. &c. we parted, they for Bombay, and ourselves -for Madras. - -Here were a number of half-starved Europeans, all deserters, who were -taken in the pittah or suburbs, when our troops followed Tippoo’s over -the Cavery.[33] These were all in irons, and what his lordship did with -them I know not; but suppose, as mercy was a leading feature in his -character, that he did not put them to death. We were now ordered to -Madras, having an escort of Sepoys for our safety; and his lordship -understanding our wishes were to go to England, very humanely gratified -them. With our escort, we quitted the camp at Seringapatam for Madras, -which place we reached in twenty-one days. - -On the morning when we heard the surf, our joy was inexpressible, not -having seen the sea for ten years. A few days after our arrival, we -embarked as passengers on board of the Honourable Company’s ship Dutton, -East Indiaman; and after encountering some tremendous gales off the Cape -of Good Hope, which few ships escape in those latitudes, we, through -divine Providence, safely reached the Downs in 1793. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAP. VII. - - _State of Seringapatam prior to the Siege—Fortifications— - Natural Advantages—Military Force—Besieged and Captured - by the British—Death of Tippoo—General Carnage—Riches - found in the City—Many of Tippoo’s Jewels yet concealed— - Progressive State of the Arts in his Dominions._ - - -The British troops entered the territories of Tippoo, from Yacotta, on -the 5th of March, and encamped before Seringapatam on the 5th of April; -and it may be considered as a fortunate circumstance, that the sultan -neither employed his whole force against us, nor thought of turning his -attention to the Bombay army. The numerous attendants of the Nizam’s -forces, as well as those of the European corps; the immense quantity of -public stores and provisions; the long train of ordnance; with about -40,000 Bengarries, formed altogether such a host, as not to admit being -covered by our army; so that if Tippoo had employed his powers with the -military skill which he was supposed to possess, he might, without -hazarding an engagement by desultory skirmishes, distant cannonades, and -other hostile movements, have so harassed our infantry, and weakened our -cavalry, that a great part of the baggage, stores, and ammunition, would -probably have fallen into his hands, and the army have been greatly -impeded in its march to the place of its destination. And, moreover, as -the rainy season was approaching, there is reason to believe, that had -the sultan employed his power with equal judgment and activity, the -immediate object of the campaign might have been defeated. It had, -indeed, been for some time reported, that Tippoo was become subject to -fits of mental derangement; and the whole of his conduct seems to -justify that opinion. He had dismissed from his councils all his -faithful friends, who had served him long, and had served him well, and -had called into his service, men of little experience or capacity, who -won his favour by flattering his caprices, and practising an unresisting -submission to his will. The former had always discouraged their master’s -disposition to connect himself with France, as pregnant with the -mischief it has since produced; while the latter promoted it, for no -other reason, but because it flattered his hopes of gratifying his -resentment against the British power in India. His treasures were -immense, and his army was not only numerous, but in a high state of -discipline and equipment. However, by not employing the one, and -misemploying the other, his fall was precipitated, and his country -conquered in a manner, and with a rapidity of good fortune, which -greatly exceeded the most sanguine expectations. - -This powerful empire, which had been shaken and diminished by the -military skill and political sagacity of the Marquis Cornwallis, is now -razed, as it were, to its foundations, and the house of Hyder Ali -degraded from the usurped power which it had maintained during a period -of forty years. The importance of this event, to the power and commerce -of Great Britain in the East, is not within the reach of ordinary -calculation. - -From every appearance of the improving state of Seringapatam, the -cultivation of the country, the number of its inhabitants, and the -advancing progress of its military establishment, that capital would, in -a short time, have been impregnable; and the power of Tippoo Saib would -have been at least equal to the combined strength of the European -settlements in India. The sultan certainly was not inactive; but his -activity was misguided, and became inadequate to its object. He -destroyed the villages, and laid waste the country in front of the army; -but not sufficiently spreading the tracks of devastation, his purpose -for distressing our army was defeated, as General Harris, by a slight -deviation from the common road, reached his destination at the time he -wished, and without any material interruption. - -From the late plentiful rains, and the peculiar construction of the -tanks, which could not be entirely drained, there was no deficiency of -water; and though the usual attempts had been made to poison it, by -steeping in it the bruised branches of the milkhedge tree, no very -noxious effect was produced; for though no prohibition, or bodies of -guards, could prevent the men or cattle from slaking their thirst at -these tanks, very little inconvenience was felt; very few of the people -suffered any disorder whatever from the poisonous impregnation. The -sickness that at any time appeared among the troops, arose from the heat -of the sun, extreme fatigue, or irregular refreshment; and especially -among the common men, from an intemperate use of every species of -vegetable they could find, and particularly that of the sugarcane. - -The action which Tippoo risked on the 27th of March, at Malwilly, with -the right wing of our army, was as ill conceived, as it was ill -conducted; because, having the choice of his ground, he ought either to -have received us with his whole force, or to have avoided every kind of -regular engagement. By turning to the left the second day after this -action, instead of crossing the river, as Tippoo appeared to have -expected, we gained a flourishing and highly cultivated country, which, -most fortunately, his destroying hand had not touched. After a march of -about fourteen miles, we reached the Cavery, without the least -molestation, and took possession of the large fort Soocilly, which was -full of cattle, grain, and forage; and commanded an excellent ford, -which the army, with all its equipment, passed in one day, without any -loss or interruption, even to the vicinity of his capital. - -General Harris had the choice of his route, so that he was enabled to -sit down before it with all his resources for the siege undiminished. -The evil most to be dreaded on this service, and a tremendous evil it -is, was famine; and this the sultan had means of producing, if he had -been wise enough in employing them. The whole of our draft and carriage -bullocks, public and private, died, and rice had risen three rupees the -pound, the day the city was stormed. It was not till nine days after -that event, that the detachments, commanded by Read and Brown, could -arrive with supplies, notwithstanding all the cavalry, and a brigade of -native infantry, had been detached, under the command of General Floyd, -to favour their junction; so that if we had not succeeded in our -attempt, the consequence would have been fatal to the army; and that we -were not repulsed, was owing to the incomparable conduct and intrepidity -of the troops, as well as the judicious means employed to support and -protect their extraordinary efforts. - -It is not necessary to enter into the detailed progress of the siege. It -may, however, be proper to remark, that notwithstanding the errors -committed by the sultan, in defence of the place, nothing less than the -vast combined army in our service, could have carried the enterprise -into effect. The extent of post we were obliged to occupy on both sides -of the river, required the whole force of the coast and Bombay armies; -besides the troops necessary to dislodge the numerous swarms of the -enemy. As the service was entrusted chiefly to European officers, who -were appointed to the various branches of it, not by selection, but in -regular succession, opportunities were given, as they were universally -employed, to display the skill and military superiority of the British -character. - -The act of storming was a most animating and unrivalled picture of -valour. The columns of grenadiers dashed across the river at noon-day, -despising the difficulties of the passage, to mount the breach, which -could be practicable alone to their irresistible force and bravery. The -impetuous spirit which led them on in the face of a very heavy and -continued fire of cannon and musketry, the rapidity with which they -ascended the ladders, and the daring courage which drove the affrighted -enemy from their walls, soon combined to place the British colours on -them. The enfilading batteries of the Bombay advanced post were of -signal service, as they deterred numbers from disputing the breach, who -might otherwise have kept up a galling fire upon it. The hour of attack -was also fortunate, it being one at noon, when numbers of the besieged -had retired to take refreshment, though enough still remained to have -repelled less daring assailants. The sultan, who had hitherto commanded -his troops, was also engaged in another quarter; but on hearing the -alarm, he hastened back, when finding our grenadiers had entered the -breach, and seeing his people falling all around him, he made for a -sally-port, where, amidst a crowd of fugitives, he was overtaken and -slain. - -Since our arrival in England, we have ofttimes heard him extolled for a -brave prince; but those who have thus stated, we presume, know little of -him. That he was a coward, we could easily demonstrate, and that he was -a tyrant, equal, if not superior, to a Domitian, a Caligula, a Nero, or -even Nabis the tyrant of Sparta, is a fact of which we had ocular -demonstration. For vigorously defending his country against any power on -earth, I give him credit, and for using every exertion in expelling all -its invaders; but this should have been done without those unheard-of -cruelties, which were interwoven in his very nature;—but he is gone, and -I proceed. - -It is not yet known by whose hand the tyrant of the East was laid low; -and it is supposed, that the jewels which he always wore about his -person, and which became the property of some fortunate soldier, whoever -he might be, that was his conqueror, are too precious to be hastily -acknowledged. - -The following particulars were related by Bejeb Saib, one of the sidars -who came with the hostage princes to Lord Cornwallis. “He constantly -wore a ruby ring, which was esteemed by him as the most valuable in his -treasury; his turban also was always adorned with a diamond of great -value; and a pearl rosary was continually ornamental of his person. The -pearls of which it consisted were of uncommon size and beauty; they had -been the collection of many years, and were the pride of his dress. -Whenever he could purchase a pearl of extraordinary size, he never -omitted the opportunity, making it supply, on his rosary, the place of -another inferior in form and beauty.” Neither of these precious articles -has appeared since the sultan’s death. His body was found late in the -evening, beneath a heap of others, mingled together in one promiscuous -slaughter; it had been shot in the temples, and was otherwise wounded, -as appeared, by a bayonet. After it had been properly identified, it was -delivered to the survivors of his family, and interred in the sepulchre -of his father, Hyder Ali, with the solemnities and ceremonials belonging -to his exalted rank and station. - -It is not among the customs of European nations to war with the dead, -otherwise the remains of such a tyrant, whose peculiar aversion towards, -and inveterate cruelty exercised on, the English, whenever they were so -unfortunate as to become subject to his tyranny, might have been treated -with indignity. The rooted and barbarous antipathy which he manifested -against his prisoners in a former war, seems to have accompanied him to -the last. - -About twenty unhappy stragglers from our army had fallen into his hands -in the course of our march, among whom was a little drummer-boy of the -Scotch brigade; all these he ordered to be put to death. Even his small -motley band of French auxiliaries, execrate his memory as a most cruel -tyrant, and represent, with bitter imprecations, the ignominy and -hardships to which he subjected them. - -The carnage, on this occasion, is very much to be lamented, though it -was much less than might have been expected in a large city entered by -storm, and filled with people, whose opposition was continued from the -streets and from their houses. Here was a spot where no incentive was -wanting to gratify lust, rapine, and revenge! but it should be for ever -remembered, to the honour of the general officer who conducted the -assault, and to others who seconded his humane efforts, that the -effusion of blood was very soon restrained, and under circumstances of -provocation, which sufficiently proved, if proof were wanting, the -humanity of the British character; nor in the course of that plunder, -which the laws of war allow in certain cases, to the conquerors, was any -defenceless inhabitant killed, or any woman treated with wanton -brutality. - -That the French republicans obtained the quarter which they so ill -deserved, must be imputed to accident, rather than any disposition in -their favour. This party had shut themselves up with the defenders of -the palace, till the first burst of violence had passed, and mixing with -them, partook of the mercy by which they were preserved. Their -appearance, in every respect, was extremely mean, though their -commander, for there was an elderly man among them who bore some sort of -commission, displayed somewhat of the military veteran in his aspect. - -The two sons of Tippoo, who had been hostages at Madras, comported -themselves well, submitting with resignation to their fate. They were -ignorant of their father’s death until the body was found, it being -believed by them, as it was suspected by us, that he had made his -escape. Tippoo was so infatuated, as not to entertain an idea of the -catastrophe which befell him. He considered himself in a state of -perfect security in his capital, where he retained all his family and -treasures, instead of sending them off to remote strong-holds, where -they might at least have been safe from a victorious enemy. His -principal people, and all the inhabitants, possessed the same -confidence, so that no preparations had been made either for concealment -or flight. The plunder of the city was consequently very great; and many -of the soldiers, both native and European, possessed themselves of very -precious effects in gold and jewels. Considerable fortunes are also -supposed to have been made by persons of higher rank, by way of -purchase. The houses of the chief sidars, as well as of the merchants -and skioffs, were completely gutted; while the women, alarmed for their -personal safety, emptied their coffers, and brought forth whatever -jewels they possessed. - -Fortunately, however, for the army in general, the palace was secured, -and all the riches it contained reserved for the army at large, as -captured property. They were immense, and consisted of jewels, gold and -silver, plate, rich stuffs, and various other articles of great price -and rarity. The quantity of money yet discovered, though great in -itself, is by no means what ought to have been expected from the known -extent of Tippoo’s revenue and expenditure. Many lacks of specie, it is -supposed, are not yet found, and it is equally probable that they will -never be discovered. This enormous mass of wealth appeared to be -arranged without taste or judgment. All the parts of this extensive -building, except the Zenana and the state durbar, were appropriated to -its reception. A succession of quadrangles, with their ranges of -storehouses and galleries, were filled with the articles which were the -least susceptible of injury. The jewels were kept in large dark rooms, -strongly secured behind one of the durbars, and were deposited in -coffers. In the same manner were preserved the gold and plate, both -solid and in filigree, of which last manufacture there was an almost -endless variety of most beautiful articles. The jewelry was set in gold, -in the form of bracelets, rings, necklaces, aigrettes, plumes, &c. &c. -An upper, and very long apartment, contained the silver plate, solid and -filigree, of all dimensions and fashions. In one of the galleries were -two elephants, of this metal; there were also many pieces of massive -silver plate, richly inlaid with gold and jewels. The greater part of -this treasure must have been the plunder of the unhappy Mysore families, -and of many other inferior rajahs, which Tippoo and his father had -amassed, after the extermination of their respective possessors. Two of -the most capital articles were, however, of his own purchase, and were -deposited in two small rooms on each side of the hall of audience. The -one was a throne, estimated at a lack of pagodas; and the other an -howdar, of equal value.[34] His repositories of curious and costly -fire-arms and swords were equally astonishing, and some of the latter -were most magnificently adorned with gold and jewels. The greater part -of these have been presents, and several of them were of English -manufacture. The palanquins of state were four; but those which were -presented to him by Lord Cornwallis for his two sons, appeared never to -have been unpacked. There were also several door-posts of ivory, of -exquisite workmanship. - -To this succession of treasure, may be added, various extensive -workhouses, filled with the richest furniture and most costly carpets. -In short, there was every thing that power could command, or money could -purchase, in this stupendous collection. Telescopes of every size, -spectacles for every sight, with looking-glasses and pictures in -unbounded profusion; while, of china and glass ware, there was -sufficient to form a large mercantile magazine. But amidst the confusion -that appeared in the arrangement, there was an unexpected degree of -regularity; the whole being accurately registered, and every article -bearing its corresponding label. Tippoo, whose desire of hoarding was -insatiable, passed the greatest part of his leisure hours in reviewing -this various and splendid assemblage of his riches. Nor is this all: -Tippoo, with his tyrannic nature, blended the love of literature, and -was possessed of a very large and curious library. The volumes were kept -in chests, each having a separate wrapper, so that they were in -excellent preservation. Some of those that have been examined, were very -richly adorned, and beautifully illuminated, in the manner of the Roman -missals. This library, which contains many thousand volumes, will, it is -presumed, be presented by the army to the English nation; if so, it will -form the finest, most curious, and valuable collection of Oriental -learning and history, that has ever been introduced into Europe. - -The collection of military stores rivalled the arsenal of Madras; the -cannon, mounted on the works, were very numerous; and the quantity of -ordnance and musket ammunition expended, must have been very great, from -the constant heavy fire which was maintained, and which, from the -variety of its bearings, could never be silenced. The gunpowder, to the -manufacture of which great attention appears to have been paid, was -better than ours; and some of their shot was thrown from their walls -considerably within our lines, which were at the distance of two miles. -All his brass six-pounders, which were fifty-one in number, were said to -be English; the others were in general cast in his own foundry, and -curiously ornamented. One brass forty-two-pounder, and one brass -six-inch howitzer, with a great number of his iron ordnance, were of -English manufacture: and it was said he did not succeed so well in -casting iron as brass ordnance. Tippoo had established powder mills on -the European construction; but as they were without the walls, and on -the side of our approaches, he had destroyed them. There was a paper -mill also within the fort, on a large scale. His stores of grain -surpassed all credibility. In the stables were found only a few fine -horses and brood mares, his cavalry being at that time in the field. The -body of the fort appeared as large as Tritchinopoly, but its defences -and outworks were vastly more extensive; and as the most laborious -additions were continually making to it, there is little doubt, when its -insular situation is considered, that it would, in a short time, have -been rendered impregnable. Its population was very great; and the -mosque, which was built while we were in Seringapatam in the years 1787 -and 1788, was a magnificent structure. This edifice was ornamented by a -deserter from Bombay, whose name was Elliot. He was a man of -considerable talents, but I suppose he met his fate in the general -catastrophe. But, amidst all their splendour, neither the ancient Mysore -palace, nor the pagodas, are on a grand scale. The ruins of the Pettah, -or citadel, form a very striking spectacle; they occupy more ground than -the fort and black town of Madras, including the vacant space, and cover -the greatest part of the island. It was closely built, and in regular -streets, but nothing remains except the walls of the houses. It is, -however, a pleasing reflection, that its former inhabitants are -returning by degrees to rebuild their ruined dwellings; the deserted -villages will also be shortly reinhabited; and there is every reason to -believe, that notwithstanding its hostile invasions, Seringapatam will -soon be seen to flourish in a renewed state of cultivation. - -One material mischief will not, however, be easily remedied; this is, -the draining off the water in the Moottertellua lake, which was kept up -by natural streams, and by means of sluices a large tract of country was -watered. It is about twelve miles from Seringapatam; and the army was -encamped near its bed. Its ordinary depth was about 40 feet, and Tippoo -had employed a number of men for several weeks, under his own -inspection, to make a breach in the mound, which is really tremendous, -being about 100 feet deep, and much more in width and thickness. - -Of the two gardens, the Laul-bog and Dowlah-baugh, the former has been -already described; the latter, being close under the walls of the fort, -was not in our possession in the last war. It contains a large, -handsome, and ancient mansion, but has neither temple nor mausoleum; it -formed the headquarters of the commander-in-chief. On one of the -buildings was represented, but, as may be supposed, in a miserable style -of painting, the defeat of Colonel Bailey, which the painter exhibited -with every exaggeration that might flatter the vanity of the conqueror. -The Laul-baugh was employed as an hospital. - -The houses of Patam are very spacious, and well constructed; but the -interior embellishments are without variety, yet as gaudy as splendid -colours can make them. The streets are like those of Tanjour, but -contain a larger proportion of houses of two stories. The situation of -the ancient capital of the Mysore dominions must have been originally -Chaser, on account of its strength, as the district is naturally barren. -It is indebted for its population and fertility to the most persevering -industry, in procuring the means of watering it. The water-courses from -the river, as well as the distant lakes and tanks, in all directions, -are stupendous works. The principal erections are finished with stone, -having bridges at convenient intervals. - -The chief, Sirdar Kumeradeen Cawn, surrendered himself at our post on -the fourth day of the capture, as did Tippoo’s eldest legitimate son, -and Hyder Saib, his eldest illegitimate son, who commanded a separate -army. All the circar horses were shortly after delivered up; and there -has been selected a sufficient number of them to complete the king’s -regiment of dragoons, serving on the coast, as well as the Company’s -establishment of native cavalry. Upwards of 2000 of an inferior order -were transferred to the Nizam. The draft and carriage bullocks, with the -camels and elephants, surrendered at the same time, so that our army was -immediately furnished with every necessary equipment. To crown the -whole, the dispersed and affrighted natives gradually returned in great -numbers to their former situations. - -As a proof of the mental derangement of the late sultan, which his -subjects in general confirm, he neglected for several months past the -war department of his affairs, and particularly that branch of it which -related to the maintenance of those animals which are so essentially -necessary to it. This was an object to which his father Hyder, -throughout his reign, and himself, till very recently, had paid the most -unremitted attention: but of late, his bullocks, his horses, and his -elephants, were almost starved; and the people who had the care of them -were in long arrears of pay. This too was at a time when he must have -expected to be attacked by us; for he actually invited an army of French -auxiliaries, who, being destitute of every kind of equipment, must -necessarily have been provided by himself with the means to render their -services effectual. - - J. SCURRY. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. - - _Repairs from the Downs to London—Receives all his Arrears - of Pay—Indiscreet Expenditure—Personal Appearance and - Manners—Visits his Friends—Affecting Interview—Mental - Improvement—Superintends a Grocery Concern in Plymouth— - Marries—Commences Business for himself—Forms other - Engagements—Wreck of the Dutton East Indiaman—Employed - as a Diver on the occasion—Repairs to Wales—Sails in a - Privateer—Revisits Wales—Dangerous Passage—Returns - to Plymouth—Manages some Mines—Illness and Death— - Conclusion._ - - -Thus far the narrative of this unfortunate adventurer has been written -by himself; and, with some trifling variations, the account has been -given in his own language, not only with respect to his personal -sufferings, and the fate of others, but as his details relate to the -capture and riches of Seringapatam. The remaining particulars have been -collected from the statements of his widow and son, and partially from -detached papers. - -On landing at the Downs, Mr. Scurry and his companions repaired to -London, where the singularity of their dress, their manners, and their -colour, so far excited attention, that they were followed by troops of -boys, as objects of curiosity. On appealing to the proper authorities, -and giving proof of their identity, all arrears of pay, from the time of -their capture to their return, were instantly paid. Mr. Scurry also -obtained a pension of £7 per annum, which was continued for several -years. It was afterwards augmented to £18. which he retained through -life. Being thus amply supplied with cash, their prodigality increased -with their resources, and, like true British sailors, a considerable -portion was squandered away in thoughtless extravagance. On one -occasion, Mr. Scurry attended a sale, and laid out about forty pounds in -articles, of which he scarcely knew either the quantity, the use, or the -names. His lot was, however, packed up altogether, and forwarded to -Devonshire, to which place he also after some time repaired. - -From his long confinement in India, and his involuntary conformity to -Asiatic manners, he had nearly forgotten the customs of his early years, -and the delicate refinements of his native land. To the wearing of -English clothes he felt the greatest aversion; nor could he even sit, -except according to the manner to which he had been so long accustomed. -Of a knife and fork he had almost lost the use, nor could he eat any -thing with comfort, only in the style to which stern necessity had -compelled him to submit. His language was broken and confused, having -lost nearly all its vernacular idiom. His body was disfigured with -scars; and his skin was likewise so deeply tinged with the heat of the -climate in which he had so long resided, and by the rays of the sun, to -which he had been so much exposed, that it was only a few shades removed -from black. It so nearly resembled the swarthy complexion of the -negroes, that he might have passed through Africa without being at all -noted for the singularity of his colour. These combined peculiarities -exposed him to several inconveniences, and brought upon him many an -eager gaze, and many a curious inquiry, and pointed observation. - -On leaving London, he travelled by coach to Exeter, to visit his -friends, but stopping at an inn on the road to dine, instead of -conforming to the customs of his fellow-travellers, he followed those -which he had been obliged to adopt in Asia, to the no small amusement of -his companions, and the equal astonishment of the people belonging to -the house. His bones, offal, and rejected food, without ceremony were -thrown on the floor, no regard being paid either to company or carpets; -and when admonished of the impropriety of his conduct, his inattention -to the hints which were given, and perseverance in domestic -irregularity, only served to confirm those who witnessed his -singularities, that he was either deranged, or some foreigner totally -unacquainted with the refinements of civilized life. A British sailor, -however, in any disguise, if flowing with money, can easily make his -peace with a waiter at an inn, and metamorphose a frowning aspect into a -smiling countenance. - -On reaching Exeter, he learned that his mother, and sister Dannan with -her husband, were living at Porlock. Thither he repaired; and, that he -might reach this place in a style suited to his purse, he entered it in -a chaise drawn by four horses, and drove immediately to their door. -Surprised at this equipage, his sister first appeared, of whom, on -putting his head out of the window, he inquired if Mrs. Scurry lived -there, and was within? He was answered, that this was the place of her -abode, but that just then she was not within. He then requested that she -might be called, but could scarcely restrain his impatience during the -absence of the messenger. On his mother’s arrival, he inquired whether -she had not a son in India? She replied, that she once had a son there, -but not having heard from him for many years, she concluded he was dead. -This latter was a point which he seemed to doubt, but his mother was not -to be dissuaded from a belief which she had so long indulged. - -While this conversation was carrying on, his sister, Mrs. Dannan, who -was listening with much attention, and viewing this stranger with -eagerness, imagined that she could discover, amidst the scars of -conflict, the effects of an equinoctial sun, and the furrows of -distress, some remnants of features that had once been familiar. Full of -this persuasion, she hailed him as her long-lost brother, nor did he -keep her in any tedious suspense. His mother, however, was not so easily -convinced. She had concluded that her son was dead, and the appearance -of this stranger was not calculated to remove the unfavourable -impression. But the chaise and four being dismissed, his mother’s -unbelief gave way, and mutual recognition and joy succeeded to the -astonishment that had been excited. - -Having, during his long absence, and the scenes of distress through -which he was called to pass, lost nearly all his European acquirements, -Mr. Scurry turned his attention to learning for nearly two years, -improving himself in writing and arithmetic, under the tuition of his -brother-in-law at Porlock. During this period, he made such proficiency, -as qualified him to engage in mercantile employment, in such departments -as might probably present themselves. - -On quitting his brother-in-law, he repaired to Plymouth, and entered -into an engagement with Mr. Andrew Kinsman, a wholesale grocer of that -place, and superintended his business. With this gentleman, and another -named Harvey, he continued from about 1795 until 1799. He then took a -house in Frankfort Place, and commenced business as a grocer for -himself. In the following year he married, since which time he has had -eight children, of whom one son and one daughter only survive. - -It is somewhat remarkable, that while he was engaged with Mr. Kinsman, -the Dutton, in which he had returned from India some years before, was -wrecked near Plymouth garrison, and sunk. The hull, lying under water, -was purchased by Mr. Kinsman and a Mr. Andrew Snow; and as Mr. Scurry -was an excellent swimmer, and perhaps at that time the best diver in -England, he offered his services to assist them in endeavouring to -rescue all that they could find from the wreck, which lay about three -fathoms under water. After much hesitation, they consented that he -should make a trial. A day was accordingly appointed, when, amidst -numbers of spectators, he succeeded in hooking some pigs of ballast, and -part of her timbers, thus at once gratifying their eager curiosity, and -the anxious expectations of his employers. This attempt was made a few -months after she sunk. Finding, however, after several ineffectual -efforts, that nothing of considerable value was likely to be obtained, -the remains were sold, about two years afterwards, to a Mr. Joseph, a -rich Jew, for ten pounds. As soon as this transfer took place, Mr. -Scurry received a polite note from the new purchaser, requesting him to -try once more to rescue something from the sunken ship. With this -request he complied; but on his descent, he found that the Dutton was -now five fathoms beneath the surface of the water. In this attempt he -succeeded in bringing up some of her copper sheathing, and some timber; -but the former was so corroded, and the latter so much decayed, that no -encouragement was held out to perseverance. Her guns were by this time -sunk in the sand; and as nothing promised to reward their exertions, all -further efforts were abandoned. - -Mr. Scurry continued his business as a grocer on his own account, from -1799 until 1804, when, on an application being made by Messrs. Fuge and -Langmead, spirit merchants, of Plymouth, to travel for their house, he -surrendered the management of his own concerns to his wife, still taking -orders for goods as he prosecuted his journeys. In this situation he -continued from 1804 to 1812, when, on discovering some irregularities, -he quitted their employment, and formed an engagement with a Mr. Slade, -of Plymouth, under whom he went to Swansea to manage a colliery. Shortly -afterwards, Mr. Slade having fitted out a privateer to cruise in the Bay -of Biscay, and knowing Mr. Scurry to be both expert and enterprising in -maritime affairs, he sent for him to go out as steward, and to keep a -watchful eye over the concerns of the vessel. Accordingly, in the year -1813, he repaired again to Plymouth, and sailed in the Cerberus -privateer, commanded by Captain Tregotheth. He continued in this vessel -about four months, during which time they took one prize, for his share -of which he received £18. Returning from their cruise, they put into -Fowey, in Cornwall, where he received a letter from Mr. Slade, stating -that his son, James Scurry, was then on the point of death, and having a -particular desire to see his father, requested his immediate attendance -for a day or two. In consequence of this letter, he hastened to -Plymouth, where he arrived on the 12th of April, 1813; and his son died -on the 24th. Scarcely had he left the vessel, before the captain, -without receiving any orders, again put to sea, and, on the day after he -left Fowey, the Cerberus was captured by a French privateer, and carried -to France. - -In 1814, he again went to Swansea, under Mr. Slade, and on their voyage -from Ilfracombe to Wales the vessel was nearly lost. In the midst of -their distress, the captain grew dispirited, and the panic was -communicated to the passengers and the men. In this emergency, Mr. -Scurry’s native energies were all called into action, and such was the -confidence which his example and precepts inspired, that they were -roused from their lethargy, and, by unremitting exertions, succeeded in -reaching the port. Having, in the course of his journeys, discovered -some clay of a very superior quality, he visited Worcester, London, and -some other places, with a design to procure a market, but the supplies -of clay being more abundant than the demand for porcelain, his efforts -proved unsuccessful. Early in 1815, he again returned to Plymouth, and -once more engaged himself with Messrs. Langmeads, Mr. Fuge being now no -longer connected with the concern. Here he continued until the death of -Mr. John Langmead, when, being in want of a situation, he repaired to -London early in 1816, and engaged himself at a coal wharf, where he -continued about three years. - -Having obtained some knowledge of mining, he was several times sent into -his native county by the adventurers, to inspect various works in which -they had become speculators. During these journeys he was occasionally -exposed to the inclemencies of winter, which in all probability sapped -the foundation of a strong constitution, that had so long sustained the -rigour of the torrid zone. In the autumn of 1822, being on a journey to -Devonshire, to superintend a mine in the neighbourhood of Buckfastleigh, -he took a severe cold, by which he was laid up at Exeter. This was -followed by an inflammation, and this was succeeded by a mortification, -of which he died, aged 57, at the house of his sister Dannan, whose -husband being a port-gauger of that city, had removed thither some years -before. He was buried at St. Thomas’s, near Exeter, December 14th, 1822. - -In justice to the memory of Mr. Scurry, it ought to be stated, that for -a considerable time prior to his death, his mind had received serious -impressions, which his subsequent conduct proved to be both deep and -lasting. This circumstance gives an additional weight to the truth of -his narrative—a narrative that might be deemed incredible from the -miseries which it records, were it not supported by strong internal -evidence, and corroborated by numerous testimonies drawn from the same -unhappy source. To the eye of cool and dispassionate reflection, the -world presents a spectacle of devastation and horror. Innumerable -miseries arise from physical causes, and the present disordered state of -things; and these, unhappily, are at once augmented and eclipsed by -national hostilities, and the contentions of ambition for empire in -fields of blood. - -War is a monster, of which the portrait cannot be drawn in miniature. -The shocks which the roaring of its cannon occasions in Europe, are felt -in the interior of India; and its visits to the kingdoms of Asia are -more terrible to the inhabitants than the irruptions of the lions and -tigers which roam through their forests, or couch in their jungles. Its -inhumanities and massacres extend from the cottage to the throne, and -involve in one common destruction the despot and the slave. Of the -desolations which it occasions, enough is known to excite the abhorrence -and execration of mankind; but that innumerable instances of its -barbarities lie concealed in impenetrable obscurity, we may reasonably -infer from the mournful cases that are accidentally brought to light. -The death of the victim seals up, in perpetual silence, the history of -his sufferings; and even those tales of horror that are rescued from -oblivion, can do little more than extort the sigh of commiseration, and -urge humanity to shed her tears. The biography of James Scurry is an -instance of this description. It merits preservation by its simplicity, -and cannot fail to recompense the reader by the interesting facts which -it records. It is one of those tales which presents its claims alike to -justice and compassion; and the writer of these paragraphs feels much -gratification in having made this effort to transmit the memorial of his -sufferings to posterity. - - - THE END - - - London: - H. FISHER, 38, NEWGATE-STREET. - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Footnotes - -Footnote 1: - - There is something extraordinary, and which I never could hear - accounted for, in this engagement, viz. After the cannons’ roar - ceased, La Fin, French frigate of 40 guns, got alongside the Isis of - 53 guns; where she remained entangled with our ship: the French - frigate considered herself taken, and her men were ready with their - bags to be prisoners; but so it was, after lying alongside an hour or - two, she was disentangled, and got back to her own fleet. - -Footnote 2: - - In this fort I have seen whole families, or their carcases rather, - lying in different spots; some eight, some ten, according to their - number. The few miserable survivors would plunge at one of our carrion - bones, though thrown into the middle of excrement.—May my eyes never - see the like again! - -Footnote 3: - - This opiate is made either into liquid or solid, with sugar, from the - boang tree, the produce of which they smoke with tobacco; it causes - the most astonishing sensations. In the course of a few years we were - in the habit of smoking it freely, to drown our troubles; and we well - knew its effects. - -Footnote 4: - - One, whose name was James Murrell, died; and the other, from the great - quantity of blood he lost, never had any colour in his face - afterwards; his name was Alsop. - -Footnote 5: - - Hyatt Saib was the rightful successor, but Tippoo proved the more - powerful. A curious and tragic circumstance took place on his first - visit to his father’s mausoleum: in his going through the Gangam gate, - a bullock’s head on one side, and a man’s head on the other, were - lopped off at one time. The real meaning of this ceremony we never - could learn. - -Footnote 6: - - A Mr. William Drake, midshipman of the Hannibal, for striking one of - the slaves that had struck him, was led to the front of one of the - battalions, and there had his hands and feet tied together; this done, - they forced his knees between his arms, and then pushed a pole under - his hams. In addition to this, three stout men flogged him as long as - they had strength. What must have been our feelings at this time? He - survived it; and we were surprised, for his body was as black as a - coal. - -Footnote 7: - - One Smith, a deserter from the Company’s service, was sent for one - morning, to read what was written on the bottoms of four pewter plates - or dishes; but not pleasing the killadare in deciphering the words, he - was sent away, and another, who could read better, ordered to be - brought to the durbar, or place of justice. I was selected; and - approaching with fear, I made my salam with as much reverence as I - could to one of the greatest men in his kingdom. He ordered the buxer, - or paymaster, to give me one of the dishes. It was very legible, and I - read it to his satisfaction, interpreted by a youth who was taken with - the general; the other three were put into my hands successively, and - I read them all. The purport was, that he knew he was poisoned, and by - order of Tippoo; that his time was short; that he must submit to his - fate; that he had borrowed 330,000 rupees from the Malabar Christians, - for the support of his army, since he left Bombay; closing with a - sincere request, that those who read what was written, (or engraven - rather, for it appeared to have been done with a fork or a nail,) and - should be so fortunate as to reach any of the presidencies, should - make it known to the governor and council, when they would be amply - rewarded.—When the passage relative to the money was first mentioned, - the killadare appeared quite sanguine, under an idea that it was - attainable; but when he understood the meaning of it, he, with the - most sovereign contempt, and in the most indignant manner, cried, “Ah! - Baunchut!” the meaning of which I cannot, with decency, explain; those - who know the Moorish language will understand it. One of the general’s - servants suffered with him. The other, George Madan, was with us some - years after; he was not removed till the general was taken away by - night: where he was buried, we never could learn, but, no doubt, in - some dirty hole. - -Footnote 8: - - No doubt, many of them survived the downfall of Tippoo, and I should - have been proud to hear that the Company had done something for those - brave unfortunate men, and particularly so, as all their miseries - originated from an English general.—The prison from whence the Malabar - Christians were brought to have their noses and ears cut off, for - refusing their daughters when Tippoo demanded them for his seraglio, - was a horrid dismal hole, which we named the Bull, as there was an - image considerably larger than life, of that animal, on the building, - which was originally designed for an Hindoo place of worship, but by - Tippoo converted into a dungeon. This prison we frequently passed, and - expected, sooner or later, to occupy some part of it. Very few who - were so unfortunate as to be confined here, escaped with less - punishment than the loss of their nose and ears. The chumbars, by whom - this operation was performed, are held in abhorrence by the - Mohammedans, and, on that account, they were consigned to this office; - and such was their brutality, that they frequently cut (or sawed, - rather) the upper lip off with the nose, leaving the poor unfortunate - wretch a pitiable object, to spin out a most miserable existence, - being always sent to Tippoo’s arsenals, to hard labour on a scanty - allowance. - -Footnote 9: - - Many of the Hindostan women come to maturity very early: they are - frequently mothers at twelve years old, nor is it an uncommon case to - find them pregnant much younger; but as they reach womanhood much - sooner than the females of Europe, so also they decline at a much - earlier period, and lose all their charms when a beauty of the western - world is in the zenith of her power. The bloom of youth vanishes soon - after twenty; and at thirty, age begins to make its visible ravages; - and the fresh, plump, and lively dame, degenerates into a flabby, - dull, and unpleasing matron. - -Footnote 10: - - On the margin of this river the Bramins burn their dead; it was - infested by numbers of alligators when I left it, though there were - none when I first went to it: they are not formidable, being - remarkably timid. I and others have frequently amused ourselves by - throwing stones at them. - -Footnote 11: - - Uncouth stupendous buildings, the grand residence of their Swarmy, or - deity. - -Footnote 12: - - These monuments were ornamented by an engraver and sculptor, whose - name was Elliott, an Englishman, and a deserter from Bombay; what - became of him I never heard, but suppose he shared the fate of the - rest. - -Footnote 13: - - In mentioning these beasts, I beg leave to make a few remarks on the - prevailing opinion respecting lions and tigers. In England we have - generally been taught to consider the lion as the king of the forest; - but to convince me of this, would be a difficult task, as I have - frequently been an eye-witness of the strength, fierceness, and - agility of the tiger; to which the lion, in these qualities, is much - inferior. Of these animals, my reader will be pleased not to draw any - conclusions from what he may have seen of exhibitions in Europe, as - they bear no more proportion to lions and tigers, in their natural - state, than a stout puppy does to a full-grown dog. In short, it is my - humble opinion, that the tigers of India are stronger, more active, - and much fiercer, than the lions of Africa, and in every respect their - superior, with the exception of generosity, of which quality the tiger - is quite destitute. It is this only that gives the lion the advantage. - -Footnote 14: - - A most destructive weapon, the length about sixteen inches, sharp and - taper at the extremity, but four inches diameter towards the handle. - -Footnote 15: - - There was a pole fixed in the centre of the circle, about sixty feet - high, near the top of which was a cap, whereon a man stood with a rope - suspended, for the purpose of pulling up the door of the cage. The - rope being fastened to it, another man would apply rockets through a - hole in the back of the cage, until the tiger was made to start. I - have seen them come out as black as a coal; one, which was - particularly noticed, made two desperate attempts to reach the man on - the pole, which he very nearly accomplished, to the great terror of - the man, and astonishment of all who beheld him. - -Footnote 16: - - We could well distinguish this brave officer by the long beard which - he wore; he was also pointed out to us by some person whom I cannot - now remember. - -Footnote 17: - - One of these creatures, after lying on the ground many hours, and - supposed dead, rose, on the touch of the elephant’s foot, and coped - with him, the elephant roaring dreadfully, till numbers of the pikemen - assailed him again, and put an end to his existence. After this - circumstance, their whiskers were always burnt, to ascertain if any - life remained. - -Footnote 18: - - The guards did not scruple to tell us this; but we had stronger - proofs. A few days prior to our being hurried off to Mysore, three - covered doolies passed us, and we heard voices, saying, “Good by, my - lads,”—“God bless you,”—“We know not where we are to be taken,” &c. - These were the three gentlemen, Captain Rumney, Lieutenant Fraser, and - Lieutenant Sampson, who were now conveyed to Mysore to be butchered. A - note, indicating their apprehensions, was found in a wall of our - prison, and their fatal place of confinement, by one Morton, a soldier - of the Company’s service. It was written small, but plain, with ink - that they must have made themselves, for it was very blue, and was - signed by all three. This was the wretched fate of those brave - officers! which it is painful for me to record. - -Footnote 19: - - The Cayenne pod. - -Footnote 20: - - Those who are acquainted with the Hindoo customs, know that they keep - snakes, consecrated, in their pagodas; in fact, I have seen them often - in other places; they are harmless, at least I never heard to the - contrary; but the Hindoos must have made them so. - -Footnote 21: - - A kind of grain, resembling a split pea. It was positively asserted by - many, that he made use of no kind of food; but this is false, as he - would frequently ask for the above grain. He was in the same spot when - we left the place; and what seemed most strange to us, was, his not - moving to obey nature’s calls. What became of him I know not, but - should be highly gratified to learn. - -Footnote 22: - - Late in the evening, the order came to prepare for marching. I had - then one child, sixteen months old, by one of the most affectionate of - women; she was always suspicious I should leave her, if opportunity - offered. She was certainly right in her conjectures; and my answers - were uniformly evasive to her questions on that score. The battalion - was under arms, while I was in my hut, looking at her and the child - alternately. Her soul was in her eyes; and surely never a woman looked - at a man with more eagerness and anxiety. I fain would have taken her - with me, and the child, who was then smiling in my face. I was eager - to give them a final embrace; but fearful of the consequences. O my - God! what were my sensations then! and even now, after a lapse of more - than thirty years! I am still sure a thousand will never obliterate - that moment. In the midst of these mutual distractions, I was - repeatedly called by my Moorish name, Shum Shu Cawn, to come and fall - in. At last, I resolutely tore myself from her and the child without - speaking a single word, and I never saw them more. Farewell! thou most - affectionate creature! and may the God of mercy and peace preserve - thee and thy infant!——[His surviving friends have observed, that Mr. - Scurry, on his return to England, repeatedly sent letters to India, in - the hope of their reaching his wife; and, in two or three instances, - when he found persons of his acquaintance going to those districts in - which she probably resided, he has requested them to use every effort - to find her out, and bring her to this country. At the same time he - was not without his fears, from the early age at which women die in - India, that she was no more. Still he had always sanguine hopes of - finding the child, whom he left smiling in its mother’s arms; but in - this his expectations were never realized.] - -Footnote 23: - - William Drake, midshipman of the Hannibal; dead—William Whitway, - midshipman of the Fortitude, J. Pudman; living—John Wood, of the - Chaser Sloop of War; living—John Jourdan, of the Hannibal; unknown— - James Scurry, of the Hannibal; the author. - -Footnote 24: - - A bag with four pockets. - -Footnote 25: - - While prosecuting this dangerous journey, the author, on a detached - paper, observes as follows: This day a circumstance took place, that - may be worth recording. In passing through one of the jungles, which - are very common in many parts of this country, we were all on the - alert, all eye, all ear, wild beasts of different descriptions - abounding in these recesses. We were not annoyed, however, by any of - them, but we were much alarmed by the sudden appearance of a - tremendous snake, which was, as nearly as we could judge, about eleven - or twelve feet in length. It passed near my path; and if I ever gave a - hearty spring, it was at that moment. It soon got into a hole, all but - about three feet of its tail, which we destroyed with the but-ends of - our firelocks. - -Footnote 26: - - A kind of split pea. - -Footnote 27: - - Buffaloes’ butter, which is always in a liquid state, owing to the - heat. - -Footnote 28: - - The three articles prepared together. - -Footnote 29: - - It was Purso Rhamboo, field-chief of the Mahrattas, to whose camp we - were directing our course. The moment they heard this, there was a - visible change in their conduct, for he was a mighty man amongst them! - -Footnote 30: - - A place set apart for the use of travellers. - -Footnote 31: - - There were very few surviving at this time; and although his - lordship’s humanity ought ever to be remembered in this case, yet we - well knew, or guessed, that he would never have any delivered to him. - Neither had he. There were none, who had been prisoners, that ever - reached the English, unless by making their escape; except two - officers, who were detained, contrary to the capitulation, at - Coimbatam. These were loaded with presents, and liberated, when the - capital was in danger, in order to pave the way for future overtures.— - They were fortunate indeed! - -Footnote 32: - - Abdul Kallick the eldest, and Masza ud Dieu the youngest; the former - very dark, the latter very fair and personable. The eldest, I well - remember, while at Seringapatam, once ordered one of our lads, whose - name was Kelly, to be bound with his hands behind him; this being - done, he was hoisted by a pulley a yard from the ground, and in this - condition severely beaten. And all this, because Kelly would not sing - and dance in the English manner, for him to laugh at. We felt for poor - Kelly at the time, but it was the subject of mirth among us - afterwards. He was a curiously grown Irish lad, and could not talk - much English; and as to dancing and singing, he knew as much about it - as a Hottentot. - -Footnote 33: - - This was a most tremendous night! Tippoo had taken a position on the - north bank of the river, with his front and his flanks covered by a - bound hedge, and a number of ravines, swamps, and water-courses; he - was likewise fortified by a chain of redoubts, full of cannon, as well - as by the artillery of the fort, and of the works of the island: under - those circumstances, strong as they were, Lord Cornwallis was - determined to attack him. Accordingly, he marshalled his own army in - three divisions, omitting to employ the allies in this affair, as he - thought them unequal to the arduous task, and leaving his cannon - behind him in the camp, with two battalions to guard them. As soon as - it was dark, the division pushed on, under the command of this humane - and brave general; but the guides, either through ignorance or design, - leading the division commanded by General Meadows astray, he did not - participate in the glories of the night, so called, at which I have no - doubt he was much mortified, as he was very courageous. The night was - dark, and the allies were on the alert, expecting the total overthrow - of the English. Tens of thousands were spectators, both from the - Mahratta and the Nizam’s army; and they all supposed it impossible for - any troops in the world to stand against the heavy and tremendous fire - that was opened in every direction; but such was the case. The morning - shewed the allies that the English had not only defeated them in their - camp, taking seventy pieces of cannon, &c. but were absolutely - possessed of most part of the suburbs of the island. This looked like - magic to the allies, and highly aggrandized the arms of the English in - their estimation. It must have been an awfully sublime scene; and it - is my humble opinion, that had Lord Cornwallis been repulsed, not an - individual of the allies would have been found in their position by - twelve o’clock the next day. - -Footnote 34: - - A pagoda varies in value in different parts and times, from seven - shillings and five pence, to eight shillings and five pence. A rupee - also varies from one shilling and four pence, to two shillings and - three pence, sterling, A lack is one hundred thousand. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s note: - -Variations in spelling have been retained. - -Page 96, full stop inserted after ‘fell,’ “hand before he fell.” - -Page 118, ‘possiblity’ changed to ‘possibility,’ “was no possibility of” - -Page 125, full stop deleted after ‘Native,’ “a Fanatical Native—Visited” - -Page 176, ‘pady’ changed to ‘paddy,’ “to a paddy, or rice” - -Page 218, full stop deleted after ‘City,’ “in the City—Many of” - -Page 230, closing quote inserted after ‘beauty,’ “in form and beauty.”” - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The captivity, sufferings, and escape -of James Scurry, by James Scurry - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTIVITY, SUFFERINGS OF JAMES SCURRY *** - -***** This file should be named 51176-0.txt or 51176-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/1/7/51176/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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