THE account of the Sultan’s march from Seringapatam to Bidnore, and of his first operations against General Matthews, is unfortunately wanting; that part of the manuscript, which contained those details, having been destroyed by the accident noticed in the Preface. Some previous skirmishing between the hostile armies had been described; but what remains of the narrative commences as follows:—

“A discharge of artillery and musquetry succeeded, which occasioned the loss “of a few of those who looked on.* Then the troops of the Usud-Ilhye,* and “the French people, advancing on each side of the road, gave another discharge “of musquetry. Immediately on hearing this discharge, I (being then seated “at the distance of a hundred yards) advanced rapidly with a division, when “about sixty of the English people were sent to hell. The rest being pursued left “behind them the two guns they had previously seized on: and thus the aforesaid “Nazarenes were driven back, discomfited and disheartened, to [the position “occupied by] their worthless leader, who thereupon, with all his forces, sought “[refuge in] the fort and batteries. Writings of the said worthless leader were “found in the pockets of four of the English Sirdars [or officers] who were among “the slain.* On this day about three hundred Nazarenes were made prisoners “and twenty guns taken. On the second, or following day, I myself, taking two “thousand light troops with me, attacked and gained possession of a large powder-magazine at some distance from the fort, and of a magazine of grain close to it. “Six hours after the capture of these two places, the enemy sent about four “thousand men to attack us. This force advancing by a concealed route [or “secretly], an action ensued between them and the Usud Ilhye army, in which “both parties, passing from the fire of musquetry, fought with the bayonet and “sword. On this occasion, also, about two hundred of these good-for-nothing “people were sent to hell. A few persons, too, of the army of the Ahmedy “Sircar tasted the sherbet of martyrdom; and one Risâladâr, after being “wounded, was carried off by the Nazarenes.

“The third day I had all the powder and grain removed from the said maga­zines, and lodged in a place of safety. On the same day, the Nazarenes set “fire to the palace of the Râjah, and to ten or twelve other noble buildings; “keeping up, also, such a fire [from their guns], that there was not a span’s “space of the wall [of the outer town] which was not reached by their shot.

“On the fourth day, carrying on my approaches in front of the Dârûl “Imâret,* and in front of the mosque, and by two other sides, I erected “batteries close to the fort, in which I placed some large guns, which I had caused “to be removed from the walls of the city.

“The Nazarenes had conveyed into the fort, from the different magazines [of “the city], about fifty thousand shot, and a vast quantity of powder. The “remainder, consisting of about two hundred thousand shot, one hundred “thousand utls of lead, and five hundred thousand utls* of powder, besides an “innumerable quantity of other stores, fell into our hands.

“Having next fixed on a high spot, I caused batteries to be constructed and “mounted with guns, at sight of which the Nazarenes, without religion, opened “a very heavy fire. When the said Nazarenes became tired [of firing], the “batteries of the Usud Ilhye opened their fire, discharging from four to five “thousand shot; and in this manner did the firing continue, on the part of the “Usud-Ilhye Sircar, for five or six days. As to the Nazarenes, they did not fire “a single shot from the fort on the second day. What fire they kept up was on “the first day: the reason of which was this. The fire from without was so hot, “that no creature within the fort durst approach their guns [for the purpose of “working them], while General Matthews (the name of their worthless leader) “causing a. . . . . . . .* to be made, crept or slunk into the same. There was “not, in short, a span’s space throughout the fort, which the shot of the Usud “Ilhye guns did not reach, or where the blood of the Nazarenes was not spilt.

“On the fifth day the Nazarenes, during a storm of rain, rushed from a “concealed place, and attacked our intrenchments: but the Ahmedy troops being “on their guard, the infidels were repulsed at the point of the sword and bayonet, “many of them being seized by the legs, and in that condition thrown by the “people of the Sircar into the trenches. The rest, leaving their wounded behind “them, fled in confusion into the fort.

“After this, I pushed on my approaches before the gate of the fort, and on “every other side, still nearer; and caused such a fire of musquetry to be kept “up, that not a single man of the Nazarenes, within the fort, durst ascend the “walls, or come near their guns. In this manner did the Nazarenes altogether “make three sallies, in considerable force; but were each time repulsed with great “loss, and compelled to slink back, like mice, into the fort. Thus did hostilities “continue during ten days. On the eleventh day the Nazarenes begged for “quarter, and sent me the draft of terms of capitulation, consisting of the seven “following articles:

“‘Article 1. Neither the troops of the Sircar of the Usud-Ilhye, nor the “inhabitants [Ryots] of the country of the Sircar, shall, after we evacuate the “fort, spit in our faces,* or abuse us, or wound us.

“‘Article 2. Let our private property be left to us; and let guns, musquets, “money, goods, military stores, &c. be taken by the Sircar.

“‘Article 3. Whatever money, goods, or cattle, belonging to the Sircar, may “be in our possession, we will deliver up the same: and if we should take with “us to the value of a Daum or Dirm* of money or goods; and if, upon search “by the people of the Sircar, any thing of the kind should be found upon us, “we consent to be considered criminal. Inflict [in that case] whatever punish­ment “you please upon us.

“‘Article 4. Let us have a safe-guard to the sea-side.

“‘Article 5. Let some ships of the Sircar be lent to us [for conveying us “home]: and let us be favored with grain, and other articles of provision, by the “Sircar, at a fixed price. After we arrive at our own place, the amount of the “price of the same shall be sent.

“‘Article 6. Ships to be furnished for the conveyance of whatever number of “men shall [chuse to] embark. But those who may not consent [or like] to “embark on board of ship, shall be dispatched by land to Bombay, under an “escort.

“‘Article 7. Two Sirdars [i. e. officers of rank] of the Sircar shall remain “with us, as hostages, until our embarkation; and two Nazarene Sirdars to “remain with the Sircar. Whenever the Sirdars of the Sircar shall return to “the Presence, the two Nazarene Sirdars shall be dispatched [or sent back to us.]’

“I agreed to these proposals, and, according to the request of the Nazarenes, “caused two treaties, one in Persian, and the other in English, to be drawn up: “to which were affixed my seal and signature, and, in like manner, the seal and “signature of the Nazarenes. One of the treaties was kept by the Sircar, and “the other was given to the Nazarenes. The following morning the Nazarenes “preparing [or assembling] all their people within the fort, loaded such parts of “the Tosheh-khâneh of the Sircar as consisted of specie, on mules, horses, and “bullocks, bearing the mark* of the Sircar, and distributed the rest of the “articles amongst their people; after which they came out of the fort. On “passing the gate, the worthless chief of the Nazarenes first, drawing his “sword, delivered up the same with his own hand: after which, all the rest, “amounting to about two thousand two hundred Nazarenes, and ten thousand “infantry, native troops, grounded their arms, and proceeded to the encamp­ment assigned them without the city. The next day, sending for Matthews “(the name of their worthless leader) and their other worthless commanders, I “demanded of them, whether the treaty which they had executed the preceding “day wasright [or valid] or not right. To this they all answered, that on that “point there was not any doubt, and that the treaty was right [or valid]. Here­upon I sent to them about twenty principal men and Sirdars of the Sircar, “through whom I thus interrogated them.

“‘What is the reason that, contrary to the treaty, you have taken with you “the money and goods [of the Sircar], and also the prisoners made by you in “the Sircar’s country, dressing them up in your own apparel? What is the “reason that you have loaded cattle, bearing the mark of the Sircar, with “specie, and carried the same away? Finally, why, at the time of your evacu­ating “the fort, did you distribute among your people the Tosheh-khâneh of “the Sircar?’

“Their answer [to these demands] was, ‘that they had no knowledge of the “matter; and that if the Sircar had any suspicions, and did not put trust in “their declaration, a search might be ordered by the Sircar.’ To this I replied, “through the Sirdars, ‘that it would be best for them to issue positive orders to “their people to deliver up to the Sircar whatever coined money of the Sircar, “captives made in the territories of the Sircar, or cattle, goods, &c. they had “taken with them.’ In reply to this they declared, ‘that neither themselves, “nor any of their people, had a single daum or dirm [farthing], or retained a “single hair of any inhabitant of this country;’ proposing, at the same time, “that a guard of the Sircar should be placed over them, and that a search should “be made, and [every thing] taken [that might be found]. After much “altercation on their part, the Sirdars of the Usud-Ilhye took from them, and “brought [to me] a writing to the above effect. Hereupon I dismissed the “accursed, worthless, Sirdars: and on the second [or following] day, having “surrounded them with guards, I caused them to march from the encampment “they then occupied to the vicinity of another spot [which had been appropriated “by them] as a burying ground.* The Sirdars of the Sircar, placing themselves “in the road, examined them, one by one, as they passed. The accursed ones “were, in consequence, found to have concealed in every seam of their clothes, “Hydery Hoons [pagodas] and jewels. They had also made holes in sheep’s “heads, which they had filled with pagodas.* Some had concealed pagodas in “loaves of bread; others within Hûkkah snakes, and Hûkkah bottoms; while “several had even resorted to the most indelicate means of concealment:* all of “which were detected by sweepers, and other Sâmries, appointed for the purpose “by the Sircar.* Many young people, also, male and female, natives of the “country of the Sircar, were found disguised in the dress [of the Nazarenes]. “These captives, of their own accord, set up a loud cry, [by which means] about “five hundred were discovered. The search being over, I had the worthless “Sirdars placed separately, the Nazarene people separately, and the other infidels “separately; and as they had not acted conformably with their written engage­ments, I made the whole prisoners, and distributed them throughout the “country. During the investigation, ten or twelve Musulman women (Syeds and “Shaikhs) who had been made captives, or slaves, by the infidel Nazarenes, at “Surat and in Bengal, were found among their people. These persons being “likewise separated from the Nazarenes, and restored to their freedom, were “permitted to depart.

“After this, passing the Ghauts, I proceeded, by five or six days’ marches, to “fort Kûriâl-bunder [Mangalore], which is an excellent fortress, erected by* the “Ahmedy Sircar, and on which, in the course of five and twenty years, about “twenty lacks of rupees have been expended. An ungrateful rogue, who had “been honored with the government of it, had invited the Nazarenes, and “delivered it up to them. Here I arrived; and on the second [or following] “day, after crossing another Ghaut [or pass] situated two coss on this side of the “said fort, encamped near the city. The worthless Nazarene, who commanded “in the fort, had erected a battery of heavy guns on an eminence near the fort, in “which were placed about three hundred Nazarenes and a thousand other troops. “After I had taken up my position, I dispatched a Kushoon to occupy the town. “This division, passing the outer-wall, was attacked by a body of Nazarenes, “posted there by the enemy: between whom and my people a sharp conflict was “maintained till evening. Having, during the same day, collected the necessary “materials for the purpose, I erected a battery in the night, opposite to that of “the Nazarenes, in which I placed fifteen guns: and sending a storming party “of two Kushoons, I posted them in a hollow, where they remained till the hour “of morning prayer; when, after firing a volley [from our battery], and crying “out ‘Allah yâr,’* they rushed forward, and with great slaughter drove the “Nazarenes without religion, from the eminence they occupied; taking also “many prisoners, and pursuing the fugitives to the very gates of the fort, in front “of which my people maintained themselves, till such time as, with the divine “assistance, I was enabled to entrench them. In the course of the two next “days, every thing being prepared for the purpose, I invested the place, and “mounted two batteries. A very hot fire was kept up on both sides the first day. “On the second day the gunners of the Hydery army served the batteries in such “a manner, that ten guns of the fort were dismounted and shattered to pieces, and “a great number of Nazarenes sent to hell. In the end, the Nazarenes aban­doned all their guns, and were no longer able to appear on the walls; while I “had two or three other batteries erected, in which placing six mortars, I caused “large stones to be thrown from them. Hereupon the Nazarenes without religion “dug trenches within the fort, into which they slunk [for shelter].

“In this conjuncture the rains of that country, which continue for six months, “set in. At the end of two months, I had carried my approaches, notwithstand­ing the violence of the rains, to the ditch of the fort; in the course of which “time the besieged had made two sallies, at the hour of midnight. On one of “these occasions I happened to be seated near the trenches, in a house in which “I had taken up my residence, when hearing a more continued report of mus­quetry than usual, I hastened, in the midst of the rain and darkness of the “night, to the support of the people in the trenches; and said to the Sirdars of “the Usud Ilhye army, ‘that, with the divine aid, I would the following day, “when the sun was in the meridian [or at twelve o’clock] cut off the heads of “the infidels within their own ditch and batteries, by the hands of my foot “troops;* and, in this manner, retaliate their thief-like action of coming “against us in the night.’ Accordingly, under God’s assistance, and the pro­tection of our Prophet, I formed a party of thirty Ehshâm soldiers* and “twenty other persons of approved courage;* which dividing into two bodies, “I sent one of them, consisting of twenty-five men, in noon-day, against the “gate battery, and the other twenty-five men into the ditch; where each party “falling upon the infidels without religion, they cut off the heads of about forty “of those impure-minded [people].* Such as escaped the edge of the sword,* “falling into the ditch and other places, fled like chickens, and crept [for “concealment] into the nearest holes. The Usud-Ilhye men, resembling lions, “returned with the prisoners they had made in safety. In fine, the Nazarenes “were reduced to such straits by our fire, that they no sooner saw one of the “Hydery people lift a musquet to his shoulder, than they would take off their “hats, and bow to him like an ape.*

“One day the Nazarenes, at break of day, attacked and penetrated into the “trenches at the edge of the ditch. I was seated, at the time, in my quarters, “having just performed my customary exercises,* when hearing the noise of “musquetry and of men, I took a company of Usud-Ilhyes, and ran on foot to “the trenches, where I found the Nazarenes standing. The Usud-Ilhye people, “instantly attacking them with sword and bayonet, sent several of them to hell, “and made some of them prisoners. The remnant of the sword took to flight.

<Arabic> <Arabic>

“In short, during three months, such was the slaughter on both sides, that the “trenches exhibited nothing but a mixture of mud and clay with the blood and “flesh of men. The toes of many were completely rotted, in consequence of the “excessive rains, and owing to the mire [in the midst of which they were con­stantly forced to stand]. Often of a dark night, and [wading] through the “floods occasioned by the heavy rain and wind (which here always exceed any “thing known in other parts of our kingdom), I say, often during this time, “have I, both by night and day, gone the rounds, to see that the necessary “works were properly carried on, and that the Ahmedy people were duly watchful. “In consequence, it happened that two or three Sirdars, and others, fell, in the “darkness of the night, into wells, which were then quite full, and became “martyrs, without any one’s knowing of the accident. Moreover, at this time, “the water lay on the ground knee-deep.”

What immediately follows here, in the original, has already been given, in the observations on Letter CCCXXXVI, to the King of France, beginning with the words “Carrying on a mine, &c.” and the passage following that appears in the observations on Letter VIII, to Mahommed Ghyâs Khân and Noor Mahommed Khân, beginning with the words “Previously to the resolution, &c.”