We have, at this time, thought proper to employ you, and the troops under your command, in the reduction of the fort of Oalpilly.* The Sipahdâr, Shaikh Omar,* with the troops belonging to him, is already before that place, where you will be joined by him, as well as by four thousand Kuchurry Piâdehs from Bangalore. Part of this force is already arrived at its destination, and the remainder is on its way. On your arrival at Oalpilly, you must, in conjunction with the said Sipah­dâr, proceed to dislodge and chastise the Piâdehs of the Zemindâr of Punganoor; who have posted themselves in the neighbouring woods, from whence they [issue forth and] commit depredations. Having cleared these woods, you must move forward, and taking up a position near Oalpilly, open trenches against that place.

Shaikh Omar has with him four large guns, two field-pieces,* and two howitzers.* If any more heavy guns should be wanted, Turbiyut Ali Khân, the Buktshy of Ehshâm,* has been instructed to dispatch them upon your requisition. Mounting these guns in the batteries, you must open a fire upon the fort; which being taken, you will put into it a garrison of our troops. In the fort is the Zemindâr, Chukra Mull, together with several Nâigwâries* of note. You must take especial care that these persons are made prisoners, and report to us all the particulars respecting them. If, however, the above named persons should escape through the woods, and take refuge in the districts of Chundrageery, Chittoor, or other Polygars depending on the Fringy,* you must write to the Taalûkdâr of such district, informing him that the fugitives are robbers of our Sircar,* and requiring of him not to protect but to deliver them up. You are, at the same time, to report these circumstances to us, in order that we may make a representation of the matter to the Governor of Madras, and endeavour to obtain possession of the person of the afore­said Polygar.

If any of the Piâdehs of the Polygar of Punganoor should be still concealed in the adjacent woods, you must contrive to discover their haunts, and to make prisoners of them.

You have with you fifty bullock-loads of gunpowder, each load being a hundred and twenty seers, making together six thousand seers.* You have been also furnished with twelve thousand seers of Carnatic lead, and four thousand gun-flints: these articles you will preserve carefully, expending them [only] in battle. If you should be in want of more lead, powder, or shot, apply to the aforesaid Buktshy, who has our orders to supply you; and when such supplies reach you, you must transmit to him a receipt for the same.

Mohyûddeen Ali Khân, the Dewân of Kurpah, and Râjah Râm Chundur, have been directed to supply you with gram* for the con­sumption of the horses of your Kuchurry. They will, at the same time, each send a Mûtusuddy in charge of the gram, who will remain with you, and serve out the gram as it may be wanted. Receipts for the same, under your seal and signature, must be regularly given by you to the aforesaid Mûtusuddies, who will deliver them to their respective prin­cipals.

The country of Punganoor appertains to our Sircar, and we have appointed Dâsiâ to collect the revenues of it; you will, therefore, issue strict orders to your people not to commit any ravages or depredations there; nor are you to make any incursions into the country of the Fringy, which adjoins to Punganoor, or to give it any disturbance. On this head you must be very strict: and if the Aumils of the Fringy should write to you, to desire you not to make any incursions in their country, or to give it any molestation, you will send such an answer as may be proper, and at the same time report the circumstances to us.

The pay of the troops under you and Shaikh Omar, will be sent to each of you respectively. You will distribute the pay of your own people, man by man; and he will distribute the pay of the Jyshe under his com­mand. Such Piâdehs, or others, as may be wounded, you will remu­nerate according to the separate regulations on this head, with which you have been furnished. You must also apply yourself to the procuring of secret intelligence from the Ryots and others, in that quarter, giving to those who communicate it from five to ten rupees, as you may judge proper.

Dâsiâ is the Umldâr of that place [i. e. Punganoor]: you will, there­fore, afford him every [necessary] encouragement and countenance, and make yourself acquainted, by his means, with the [different] roads lead­ing through the hills of Oalpilly. The country of the Fringy adjoins to Oalpilly; so that, in order to satisfy or tranquilize the Fringy Taalûk­dârs, you must, immediately on your arrival there, write to them saying, “that the Polygar of Punganoor having contumaciously raised his head, “you have been sent by us to chastise him; and therefore request that, “if he should take refuge in their country, he may not receive protec­tion.”

Let a reward of five rupees be given to every man of our people bring­ing in the head of a Piâdeh belonging to the rebel Polygar; and let the same reward be granted for every prisoner brought in alive.

The foregoing document is denominated in the original a Hûkm-nâmeh, or “mandate;” by which name all the formal or set orders, with which public functionaries were furnished, either at the time of their appointment to office, or subsequent thereto, were usually called, to distinguish them from the current and occasional instructions transmitted to them. They were sometimes divided into articles which were regularly numbered; and, as observed on a former occasion, generally concluded with a denunciation of the punishment appointed for a neglect or disobedience of the directions contained in them.

The term Fringy, applied in this dispatch to the English, is generally used (by the superior classes among the natives of India, at least) in contempt; as Nusâra, or Nazarene, also is for a Christian. Strictly speaking, however, there is nothing reproachful or degrading in the former appellation, as it properly means nothing more than a Frank, or European.