oult and fatiguing march over a woody mountainous country; had now reached Periapatam, and had, with infinite labour, brought along with him large stores of provision, and a numerous battering train. His force was not sufficiently considerable to enable him to march boldly down the open country to Seringapatam; and Lord Cornwallis, as the only way to save his own army, or to do any thing against Tippoc, left his present advantageous position, and marched up the Cavery, with an intention to join him. When he had reached Canniambaddy, most unfortunately, the river suddenly swelled to au uncommon size, and rendered a junction impossible. It was here that the hardships and distresses of the army began. An epidemic disorder prevailed among the cattle, which carried off the most of them, and rendered those which remained of little service. The scarcity of grain was such, that rice was worth nearly its weight in gold; and the lower class of followers was obliged to subsist upon the putrid flesh of the deceased bullocks; and, to crown this scene of distress, the small-pox malignantly raged in the camp.

It was thus found absolutely necessary to give up all idea of making an attempt upon Seringapatam this season. A messenger was dispatched to Periapatam, desiring General Abercrombie to return to the Malabar coast; who reluctantly began his retreat. Part of his battering train was destroyed; and his army, who thought they had surmounted all their difficulties, had the mortification to find their exertions of no utility, and >had to return, worn down with sickness and fatigue, and exposed to

the incessant rains which at that season deluge the western coast of the peninsula.

Lord Cornwallis remained some days at Canniambaddy, to cover the retreat of the Bombay army. Having then burst the greatest number of his battering guns, he began his mortifying retreat towards Bangalore. The army had not completed the first day's short, but dreary and tedious march of six miles, when the greatest alarm was given by a party of horse suddenly riding in on the baggageflank. But though their appearance was hostile, they turned out to be friends; they constituted the advanced guard of the long expected Mahratta army. Joy now sparkled in every eye. The main body of the Mahrattas was at no great distance. The unremitting diligence of Tippoo, in intercepting intelligence, was the cause that they were thus themselves the first messengers of their approach.

All fear of want being now removed, the army again encamped before Seringapatam on the French rocks; the station which Tippoo had occupied before the battle of the 15th of May. But as the monsoon might be expected to set in in a few weeks, Lord Cornwallis thought that it would be more adviseable to return northwards, and to leave the siege of the enemy's capital as the object of another campaign. The Sultan, who had made great rejoicings on the first retreat of the English, now became extremely uneasy, and made offers of peace; but as this seemed only a plan to sow jealousy betwixt us and our allies, his offers were rejected.

At Milgottah Lord Cornwallis was joined by the Mahratta army, consisting

consisting of two divisions; one of twenty thousand horse and foot; the other of twelve. The first was commanded by Purseram Bhow, a celebrated Mahratta warrior; the other by Hurry Punt, a Brahmin of the highest rank, who was likewise meant to act as minister plenipotentiary of the nation. They expressed great satisfaction at this meeting, and made many apologies for their past conduct. From Milgottah the confederate armies proceeded to Nangimungulum: they then turned eastward, took the fort of Hooleadroog, and reached Bangalore about the beginning of July. The Mahrattas immediately separated company with our army, and marched to Sera, a fertile district, where they might more easily be supported. The English troops, upon their return to Bangalore, had been extremely sickly and disspirited; but they were now plentifully supplied with every conveniency; and they soon regained their health and spirits. Captain Read had collected from the banjarries 10 or 12,000 bullocks loaded with grain; the confidence of the natives becoming great in their new masters, they every where again cultivated their fields; the communication was open with the Carnatic; and hundreds of sutlers every day arrived in camp from Madras. Lord Cornwallis having made the necessary arrangements for being properly supplied with provisions the ensuing campaign, and for having his battering train renewed, and the troops being rested and refreshed, determined to remain no longer inactive.

The first object which engaged his attention, was, the establishment of a safe and easy communication with the Carnatic, by which the

supplies which he had ordered might be conveyed to him. The Mugglee pass, through which he himself had come, was greatly too far to the north. The only one, by which a train of artillery could be conveniently conducted to Bangalore, was that by Polycode; and, unfortunately, this was commanded by several strong forts, which were in the possession of the enemy. However, it was determined to lay open this passage; and about the middle of July the army marched to the attack of Aussoor, which stands at the head of it.

The country through which they passed was beautiful, fertile, and in the highest state of cultivation. Indeed, notwithstanding the religious tyranny of Tippoo, his dominions were every where found flourishing, his subjects opulent and happy, and the condition of every class of inhabitants far superior to that in Bengal, or any of the Company's possessions. Aussoor is naturally strong; and Tippoo, sensible of its importance, had sent his chief engineer regularly to fortify it. The war broke out before the fortifications were finished, and luckily the weakest part had been left to be fortified last. Still it might have stood a considerable siege; but the garrison, intimidated at the approach of the British army, judged it untenable; and, having blown up one of the bastions, basely abandoned it. The guns were spiked; but a large quantity of provisions and military stores was found in the fort.

To the south-east of Aussoor, farther down the Polycode pass, stands Rayacottah, a hill-fort of immense strength. From this, flying squadrons of horse might have been sent to intercept our con[P] 2

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voys; Lord Cornwallis, therefore, wished to get possession of it; but, as if resolutely defended, it was nearly impregnable, he detached Major Gowdie, with a small force, to make an attempt upon it; having ordered him, if it did not yield at the first attack, instantly to return to the army. Upon his arrival, Major Gowdie sent in a flag of truce, with a summons; and the killidar refusing to surrender, prepared to storm the pettah next morning. The most brilliant success attended the assault: not only was the pettah taken, but, the assailants mingling with the fugitives, a lodgement was made in some of the outworks of the fort. Encouraged by this success, and having reason to believe that the garrison was intimidated, Major Gowdie requested leave to continue the attack. A reinforcement was sent to join his brigade; and his spirited measures were enforced by a movement of the army towards Rayacottah. A breach was soon made in the upper wall,—the killidar beat a parley, and agreed to surrender the fort, on condition of security to private property, and his being allowed to go with his family to reside in the Carnatic. It was found amply supplied with guns, ammunition, and provisions; and, as there were several tanks filled with water within the walls, it might have bid defiance to every thing but a tedious blockade. Intimidated by the fall of Rayacottah, the hill-forts of Anctitydurgum, Neclagheri, Rutnagheri, Öodeadurgum, and Chenraydurgum, gave up on being summoned, or were taken after a slight resistance.

The Polycode pass was now completely open; and the important convoy which had been for some

months collecting at Amboor, was ordered instantly to proceed by this route. It left Amboor on the 2d of August, and by eight easy marches joined the army on the 10th, then encamped near Aussoor. One hundred elephants, marching two a-breast into camp, all laden with treasure, on the foremost of which was displayed the British standard, were a sight fit to have graced an eastern triumph; and accompanied by six thousand bullocks, all laden with grain, and many hundreds of coolies with baskets of private supplies, formed such a convoy as never before joined an army in India.

About this time Tippoo, a second time, made some advances to a general pacification. But the va-keel whom he sent, being a Mahratta by birth, and highly odious to that nation, Lord Cornwallis was obliged to appoint a guard upon his person to preserve him from outrage. Having made some demands which were inadmissible, he was ordered to depart.

The next object which engaged the attention of the British General, was, to open a communication with the country of the Nizam; from which important supplies might be obtained. He therefore marched with the army to the north-east of Bangalore, and sent a strong body of troops, with several guns and mortars, to reduce the forts which lay in that quarter. The command was again deputed to Major Gowdie. His first efforts were directed against Raymanghur; which, after a vigorous siege of a few days, surrendered at discretion. At the same time Ambagee-Durgum and Chittum-Cotha submitted to a detachment under Captain Read.

The following enterprize afforded a more ample field for the dis

play

play of military talents. Nundydroog, the capital of a large and valuable district, is built on the summit of a mountain, 1,700 feet in height, three-fourths of its circumference being absolutely inaccessible; and the only side which can be ascended, protected by two excellent walls and a strong outwork which covered the gateway, and afforded a formidable flank fire. Before this fortress Major Gowdie arrived on the 1st of October, with the seemingly romantic design of besieging it. With infinite labour he formed a road up the side of a neighbouring mountain, and erected a battery upon the top of it; when he had the mortification to find that the distance was so great, that the battery was not effectual even in taking off the defences of the fort. There was no alternative, but either to abandon the enterprize, or work up to within breaching distance on the face of the droog itself: and rather than leave a place of such consequence in possession of the enemy, and thus shew that we could be foiled in an attack upon a fortified place, this undertaking was adopted. The fatigue and danger of the troops for a fortnight were inconceivable; but the batteries were at length opened, and the two breaches made in the outer wall. These being reported practicable, Lord Cornwallis approached with the army, and detached the 36th and 71st regiments to lead the assault. General Meadows gallantly went as a volunteer at their head. The attack was made a little before midnight, on the 21st. The approach of our troops was soon perceived by the vigilant garrison, and the fort immediately illuminated with blue lights. A dreadful fire of cannon and musquetry was opened, and quantities of large stones were

thrown down; which bounding from precipice to precipice, and acquir ing prodigious velocity in their flight, committed the most horrible devastation. But in spite of all their efforts, the assailants steadily ascended; the breaches were stormed, the inner wall was crossed by escalade, the place was taken, and the British standard was displayed from the ramparts. Thus was Nundydroog taken by regular approach in three weeks; which, when in a weaker state of defence, the Mahrattas did not yield to Hyder Ally till after a tedious blockade of three years!

Lord Cornwallis then hastened eastward to the passes, to cover some convoys which were coming from the Carnatic. He had become apprehensive for their safety, from some rumours which had reached him, of a strong hostile army being. then in the Baramaul.

What Tippoo's views had been during the autumn, it is not easy to conjecture; but he remained rather inactive. He probably did not wish to run the risk of a general engagement, on which he would have, staked his crown, and trusted to the strength of his capital for defeating: the designs of his enemies. He confined himself chiefly to strengthening the works of Seringapatam, and. drawing supplies from the small por tion of his dominions which was yet! in his possession. He once marched. a considerable way to the north, with a seeming intention to attack Purseram Bhow; but he returned as soon as he had covered a large convoy which was then coming te him from Bednore.

The only offensive enterprize in which he engaged, was against Coimbatore; in which Lieutenant Chalmers had been left with a small force, at the end of the first cam [P] 3

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