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Memorial Library

H MiM^iy-y^^^^ify^

MILITARY
REMINISCENCES.
VOL.

I.

in.

~l
J'^^'-^'Ti:-

TfllMil

m)i^m<m(s>

rolli3\.i

Siflitk

:PA(:.Si.o

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C'vroliill.

MILITARY REMINISCENCES
EXTRACTED FROM

JOURNAL

OF NEARLY

FORTY YEARS' ACTIVE SERVICE

EAST INDIES.
BY COLONEL JAMES WELSH,
OF THE

The

MADRAS ESTABLISHMENT,

battles, sieges, fortunes,

E'en from

my

have pass'd,

boyish days."

VOL.

I.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:
SMITH, ELDER, AND CO., CORNHILL.
MDCCCXXX.

/AttkuoofI and Co., Printers, Old Haiku.

TO

THE HONOURABLE

WILLIAM FULLARTON ELPHINSTONE,

MANY YEARS A DIRECTOR
OF THE

HONOURABLE EAST INDL4 COMPANY,

TO WHOSE

EARLY

PATRONAGE,

AM INDEBTED

I'OR

THAI RANK IN

THE SERVICE,

WHICH HAS ENABLED ME TO REVISIT

MY NATIVE LAND,

DEDICATE THIS WORK,

AS A TRIBUTK OF

LASTING GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM,

EROM HIS MOST FAITHIUL AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

JAMES WELSH.

INTRODUCTION.

In

Literary age,

this

given to the
ability
little

when

and superior

presumptuous

so

men

public by

talent,

it

many works

may

an obscure

in

appear not a
individual, to

hazard a production which, whilst

to

it

lays claim

no other merit than that of depicting

lies

open

stance.

are

of acknowledged

reality,

to censure in, perhaps, every other in-

To disarm

criticism,

and

lure the indul-

gent reader to a patient perusal of the following

pages, the Author at once announces himself a
plain, unlettered Soldier

greater part of his

life in

who, having spent the

a distant climate, and

in the tented field, has just returned to his be-

loved Britain, with

affection, excited

"

all

the hoarded

feelings of

by so long an absence from

his own, his native land!'''

a 2

INTRODUCTION.

viii

Born of respectable parents,

Scotland,
to

it

in the Capital of

his fate, early in the year 1790,

was

be launched into the world without a pilot;

and, at the inexperienced age

more

fortunate

part of their education which

public

life,

to

of fifteen,

when

boys are just commencing that

embark

is to fit

Cadet

as a

them

for the

for

East

Indies.

In a work written with such very unfavourable

preparatives for any literary composition, he trusts

the candid reader will not look for the polish of the
classics,

but rather tolerate a plain unvarnished

statement of facts

which are related just as they

occurred, and were noted

Journals,

kept

and certainly not

tion.

down

solely for

his

hasty

own amusement,

originally intended for publica-

The kind, though perhaps mistaken, advice

and entreaty of friends

the idea of printing

India, first suggested

in

them

and having been so

long accustomed to a busy

years

in a series of

filled

commands and

life,

and

for

many

situations, the duties

of which occupied his whole time

the unusual

vacuity of a sudden retirement held out a strong-

inducement

to

compliance

whilst the leisure of

a tedious voyage having enabled

him

to extract

INTRODUCTION.

IX

such parts as appeared the most likely to prove

interesting to strangers, he

They

public.
their

now

them

gives

are thus published, then,

imperfections on their head,"

in

hope that some good may be found

their inaccuracies,

for the

them

fail,

deed.

Cheltenham,
June I8th, 1830.

vs^ith

"

all

the fond

to

redeem

and with the earnest entreaty,

that his kind readers will, even

to gratify

to the

if

the attempt

indulgently take the endeavour

ERRATA.
Page 292,

309,

343,

line 19,

/or hundred, read thousand.

22,/oc falowes,

reatZ

talowes.

21,/.)rPunug, read Punny.

CO

N T E N T S,

CHAPTER

I.

Madras Veliore State of East Indian

1790, and two following years Capture of PondiCompany's Native Army Tanjore Trinchinocherry
poly Negapatam Madura Ramnad Trincomallee
Columbo Caltura
Ramiseram Negumbo Night Adventure

Arrival at

Calcutta

Affairs in

the

at

CHAPTER

Singular

II.

Revenge Ma Pallamcottah
Cascades of Papanassum and Courtallum Tutacorine
Poligar War Skirmish
Pelhavunthally Punjalumcoorchy
Failure of
Assault Siege and Capture

Point de Galle

dura

Dreadful

instances of National

Climate of

Masulipatam

the

at

the

first

CHAPTER
Continuation of the Poligar

Sherew^le Jungle
Parties

and

War

34

III,

Comery Cutting through

Skirmishes

of the Foraging and

the

Working

Arrival of Woodia Taver Departure from the Jungle,

arrival at

Ookoor

CHAPTER

-.gj

IV.

Inauguration of Woodia Taver

Temple of Perahmallee The Pagoda of CaliaMurdo and Cheena Murdoo,
Rebel Chiefs

Continuation of the Poligar

War

Capture of the
coile, Velli

Their Capture and Fate

the

1 1

.>

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

V.

Cuddalore Sadras The Garden of Sautghur

The Mysore Country Bangalore Seringapatam Troops
the Mahrattah War Poonah Capture of Ahmednugger

Tranquebar

for
-

CHAPTER

136

VI.

Aurungabad Dowlutabad Victory

under General Wellesley Battle of Kerjet Koriaof Assay
gauin Visit of Scindia's Vakeel Battle of Argaum Elacheepoor and Gawilghur Arrival of Amrut Row, and Ceremonial

The

Mahrattah

first

War

e,

of his Introduction

CHAPTER
MankarseerSholapoor

--166

VII.

Poonah Return to Bombay Second

War Capture of the Fort of Chandore Lassul Dhoorp Capture of Galnah The Athaweesy Country
Surat Soanghur Serai Governor Duncan Cascade of
Mahrattah
gaura

Gokauk

CHAPTER

203

VIII.

Hurryhur Lake of Tinghully Tallowe, and PoiNungydeo Nunjengoad

sonous Pasture Colossal Statue
Daraporam Dindigul Voyage Europe, and return

Savanore

it's

_______
at

to

to

Madeira

CHAPTER

254

IX.

Capture of the Arambooly Lmes General

Orders Nagracoile Oodagherry Trevanderam
Trevycary Vceteevailum Trinomally Ryacottah
Oosoor Nundydroog Bangalore

Return to India

Petrifac-

tions

...

at

CHAPTER
Coorg Marekherah,

the Capital

Excursion to the Interior

286

X.

The Maha Swamee Shooting

Second

\'isit

and Return

-328

21
9

LIST OF PLATES
TO THE FIRST VOLUME.

No.
1

Frontispiece

A Hindoo Pagoda.
Page Madras Native Horse

2 Vignette on Title

Page.

Artillery.

3 Madura

21

4 Position of the Army before Columbo

opposite

6 Plan of Point de Galle

opposite

7 Point de Galle from the North-west

8 Point de Galle from the South-western

Point de Galle from the North-east

Fort of Pallamcottah

Pagoda

of

36

Roads .... ditto

36

Map

Map

50

54

of Tinnevelly

63

of Punjalumcoorchy

68

17 Plan of Comery

87

18 View of ditto
1

88

90

Plan of Sherewele

20 Operations

in the

Sherewele Jungle

21 Plan of Caliacoile

22 Seringapatam

38
38

48

15 Punjalumcoorchy
16

ditto
ditto

46

Papanassum

13 Fall at Courtallum

14

34

ditto

9 Point de Galle from the Watering-place

1

28
32

5 Caltura

93
123

146

LIST OF PLATES.

XIV

Page.

No.

23 Ahmednugger, from the Breaching Battery

154

24 Plan of the Battle of Argaum

188

25 Fort of Sholapoor

206

26

Hill Fort of

213

Chandore

27 Fortress of Dhoorp

221

28 Hill Fort of Galnah

226

29 Small Fort of Bearah

238

30 Hill Fort of Soanghur

245

31

Cascade of Gokauk

252

32

261

Royal Tiger

33 Colossal Statue

34 Southern

at

Nungydeo

35 Palace and Pagoda

264

Arambooly

288

at Vaeteevallum

302

Hill Fort of

36 Pagoda of Trinomally

304

37 Hill Fort of Ryacottah

306

38 Ditto

of

310

Nundydroog

314

39 Hyder's Drop
40 Nundydroog and Baynes'

Hill

316

41 Hill Fort of Kurmuldroog

319

42 Impression from Scindiah's Seal of State

354

MILITARY REMINISCENCES.

CHAPTER

Madras

I.

State of East Indian

Capture of Fondicherrij
Company Native Army Tanjore Trichinopoly Negapata?n
Madura Rainnad Trincomallce Ramiseram Ncgnmbo
Adventure
Columho Caltura.

Arrival at Calcutta
in 1790,

Viilore

Affairs

and two following years

the

Nig/it

at

CALCUTTA.

The

occurrences of an Indian voyage have been so fre-

quently recounted, and are generally so extremely similar,

that

to the

shall pass over the

one which brought

me

in safety

East; and, landing a stranger on that distant shore,

my future life. Almy fortune to embark

at once proceed to trace the scenes of

though appointed to Madras,

in a ship

bound

for

it

Bengal, and

was
I

had thus an opportunity

of seeing the far-famed City of Palaces at

To attempt a

description of

my

first

my

very outset.

impressions, on enter-

ing the river Hooghly, in July, 1790, after being nearly six

months
VOL.

at sea,
1.

would be perfectly
B

futile

since all that one

MILITARY

[A.D.

has ever heard, or read, or conceived of India,

nitely short of the reality

mated, and so interesting

self,

that the effect has a

chantment, than to
river,

fact.

and so

is

fails infi-

so novel, so ani-

lively,

the picture which presents

much

it-

greater resemblance to en-

The stranger

sees a fine majestic

navigable for some hundred miles inland, covered

with vessels of every form and

of every nation

it's

size,

and belonging

banks overspread

to people

to the very water's

edge, with every tint of verdure which the eye has ever

beheld

whilst

the

native Bengalees in their

country

and

boats, crowding round the ship with animals, fowls,

fish, as

novel as themselves, and talking a jargon perfectly

unintelligible

with their diminutive limbs and shrivelled

countenances, present to the astonished Grifiin's* imagination a race of beings seemingly intended
plete the link

the tribe of apes and monkeys.

would, indeed, induce a belief that

are so miserable
appellation of

by nature

to

com-

between man, the image of his Maker, and

This
all

first

and decrepid, as scarcely

human

beings

the delusion vanishes, and

impression

the natives of India

to deserve the

but on arriving at Calcutta,

men

of

all sizes,

with counte-

nances of the most varied hues and expressions, and limbs

of the most perfect symmetry and elegance, are to be met
with, in far greater numbers than the former,
limited to a very narrow space

who appear

whilst, on advancing

farther northward, they generally improve

still

more

still

in sta-

ture, as well as intellect.

The approach
in

addition to
*

to Calcutta,
it's

native

denominated Garden-Reach,

beauties,

An European on

his

is

for

first arrival.

some miles

'

*3

REMINISCENCES.

1790.]

enlivened by the appearance of lovely gardens and country

seats

the largest ships passing within cannon shot of the

ramparts of Fort William

an irregular hexagon of consi-

derable extent, and perhaps the cleanest and most beautiful

A fine broad

fortification in the world.

walk by the

river's

town, which, however, opening on the

side, leads to the

sight, before reaching the fort, discovers a picture of gran-

deur not easily described

meets with on landing,

whilst every thing the stranger

differs so

widely from

surprise
here

a surprise, not a

little

to the

is lost

in

increased, on finding that

no European uses his own legs

and ages must bend

that he

all

had been accustomed to in Europe, that the mind

but that

ranks

all

custom of the place, and be

carried.

Here, then, the poor Griffin, once landed, finds

himself a

man

of some consequence

surrounded by hun-

dreds of natives of various castes and costumes,

pressing on

him

a palanquin, and borne away as

knows not
he

whither.

is to reside,

he

their proffered services,

his

it

wonder

uttered

all

eagerly

hurried into

were in triumph, he

Arrived at length at the house where

still

He

increases.

by a loud discordant " Baar ka Sahib

de Jaow,^'

is

by the Duncaun,

is

ushered in

Aiijah,

Khuhher

or door-keeper,

an

indispensable appendage to every European house in Calcutta,

and every thing within, as well as without, tends

recall to his imagination the scenes in the

Entertainments.

pass over his

first

to

Arabian Nights'

meeting with, and

greetings from, relations and friends, as also the sumptu-

ous and gratifying meal which

if

is first

set before

him

and,

he have had the good fortune to arrive between the

months of February and November, convey him

at once

[A.D.

MILITARY

into his bed-room, where,

it is

ten to one,

if

he get a wink

For want of air he

of sleep for several hours.

is

forced to

open his musquito curtains, and then comes on the painful reality:

no

longer enchanted, he

now

finds himself,

while panting for breath, assailed by myriads of musquitos, as large as bees,

who, while they draw blood

direction, regale his

ears with a delightful concert.

struggles

He

exhausted nature can hold out no longer,

till

into a troubled sleep, with the

whenfalhng

in every

enemy ranging,

without controul, over every part of his face, neck, hands,

him towards morning, a mass of pimples

&c., they leave

his clothes covered with blood, and,

nate, his eyes closed

At

length the

up

dawn

clear

unclouded sky,

non

The

ball.

turns

into the bargain.

world like a red-hot can-

for all the

and he

is

and

poor Griffin wakes,

his delusion re-

of the past night are for-

domestics attend him

half a dozen obsequious

clothed in fine linen,

sits

down

to breakfast,

commences the pleasures of a new day, and the

soon broken

morning

drill,

not extremely fortu-

appears, and he sees the sun in a

the strange amusements

gotten

if

spell is not

unless indeed he should be ordered out for

Bess and the Goose Step soon

when Broion

dispel his airy visions

but

as

did not belong to the

my delusion continued until I left

first my intention to have attempted

Bengal Establishment,
Calcutta.

It

was

some sketch of
East

scribed

at

this

wonderful

but recollecting that

by much abler pens,

mere observation, that

it is,

of

city,

the metropolis of the

has been previously de-

it

shall confine myself to the

all

the British settlements in

the East Indies, the one best calculated to attract

the

reminis(:ences,

1790,]

admiration and astonishment

a stranger

of"

not less from

the nature of the country and the wonderful diversity and

manners of the

than from the excessive

different natives,

luxury and effeminacy which pervade the European com-

munity, and the regularity and beauty of the splendid

The climate

buildings.

which must be attributed

is

indeed particularly enervating-

to the

the mixture of saltpetre in the

many

lownessof the country, and

soil, all

round Calcutta

for

other places, even fifteen or sixteen degrees nearer to

the line, are comparatively cool and salubrious.

MADRAS.
The anchor

down

is

catamorans, and

the ship surrounded by boats, and

the passengers are eager to land, per-

all

ceiving a beautiful-looking

miles

on the shore.

off,

course,

among

make

boat and

the

fort, full

The

jolly

number who

is

leap into

Of

for the beach.

of houses, about two

Cadet

all

therefore, of

a Massoulah

the perils encoun-

tered in a long East India voyage, the act of landing at

Madras

is

the greatest

stilled, rolls

for there

a tremendous

surf,

never

along with a thundering sound, and no boat of

European construction could

live in it for

a minute.

The

Massoulah boat, made of rude planks, sewn together with

coir rope,
shell,

and in shape very much resembling a walnut-

though perfectly inconsistent with European

so constructed, that,

when

dashed against the ground,

it

yields to the blow, spreads

out for a moment, and then resumes

without losing
trivance,

it's

taste, is

struck by a surge, and even

buoyancy.

it's

original shape,

Yet even with such a con-

and aided by catamorans, or

rafts, of

two

or

more

MILITARY

[A.D.

long misshapen logs of wood, firmly lashed together, on

which the fishermen brave the surf

of

them

are annually

in all weathers,

swamped, and numerous

many

lives lost, in

crossing this terrific barrier.

Once happily landed on a sandy beach,

gate of the

opposite the sea-

then about 300 yards distant, but since

fort,

entirely covered to the ditch, from constant encroachments

of the ocean, the scene which follows

try.

palanquin

is

not very dissimilar

saving in the appearance of the coun-

to that at Calcutta,
is

pressed upon the Griffin

of fellows take charge of his baggage, and

if

he do not

set

down

lose

some part of

his effects, ere

The Custom-house,

again.

some dozens

it is

built of

ten to one

he be

at this time situated close to the landing-place,

since
it

fairly

wood, being

though

washed away, every thing of course passed through

into the fort.

It is

by no means

my

intention to write a description of

Madras any more than of Calcutta, both places being

already too well

known

to require

say only that whilst climate,

living,

&.C.

differ

at both places

quitos

of

abilities.

very considerably, the

is

each being similar in

first

night-scene

size,

disposition,

all

left

fortune; few men, even in

this

and

for the first night, in

honest

man

did

at ^Madras,

India with a fairer character, or a larger

more elevated
;

Mr.

the beds being pre-occupied,

Mr. William Hope was a merchant and shopkeeper

and few men have ever

as he

shall therefore

After sleeping, or rather struggling and rolling,

Hope's hotel* in the Fort,

which

manners, houses,

unhappily quite the same; the mus-

on the top of a billiard-table,

* This

it.

people,

since he

was modest and unassuming.

was

situations, did half the

as liberal

He was

good

and kind-hearted,

a passenger in the

fleet,

REMINISCENCES.

1790.]

found

my way next morning

my father, who,

to the

garden-house of an

with his lady, lived about

old friend of
five

miles off; and here, being most kindly welcomed,

up

my

abode

till

was appointed

to

took

a corps up the

country.

The Madras army

of artillery, four

at this time consisted of two battalions

regiments of native cavalry, four European

regiments, and twelve

fourteen battalions of native

commanded by

infantry, each
to be

or

a Captain.

was

It

lot

appointed to the 3d European regiment, then sta-

tioned at Vellore, ninety miles in the interior

corps

my

and

this

consequently joined, as an Ensign, on nineteen

pagodas a month, or

11.

sterling in English currency.

VELLORE.
The Fort of

gree

commanded by

three

which are

prettiest

by

one, called

fortified

hills,

and

in

some de-

Sazarow, of the nearest

and attached

to

it

is

one of the

and most perfect specimens of native masonry to

be met with in the East.

ference,

and most

Vellore, situated in a beautiful

nearly surrounded

fertile valley,

It is

about a mile in circum-

nearly circular, with an exceedingly broad

deep ditch,

full

eighteen feet long.

with chunam,

and

some of which are nearly

of alligators,

It is built entirely of stone,

a species of lime;

cemented

a large fossebray encircles

the works, which, with the ramparts, are every where sur-

mounted with large blocks of

with General

Mac

Dowall,

in 1809,

destroyed nearly a whole squadron

granite, cut out to form the

when he perished

oft'

the Cape.

in the gale

which

MILITARY

[A.D.

parapet, and so firmly resting on their

require

any kind of fastening.

described

by the accurate Orme

in the present

day

is,

that

all

own

bases as not to

very fully

It is, I believe,

and the only difference

the native houses in the fort,

excepting the old Khelladar's, have been pulled down, and

good substantial English

buildings substituted

places.

There

fortified,

and a few garden-houses outside.

Although

am

not writing a history, yet

my

at this distant period, revert to

first

offering a brief tribute of affectionate

brance to the memory of

Ridgeway Mealy, then

regiment to which

from

my

friends at

house, and

became

my

a Lieutenant

belonged

to

me,
I

soldier, of the

guages, and, in short,

and grateful remem-

who, on an introduction

my

owe

early

whatever

still

ality,

live

knowledge of

my own

in his

own

left

only,

and died

many

at

my

insti-

when

state,

the regiment,
;

and

quarters in the barracks,

with him, and found that

My worthy friend

since

was

acquired,

gained another parent, in a lady very

myself.

own

his

to the public staff of the place

had then

continued to

into

His kindness suffered no

abatement from a material change

me

Persian and Hindostanee lan-

he married an amiable young woman,

and was appointed

best friend,

and Adjutant of the

in every sense of the word, a

gated and even enforced by him.

though

cannot, even

garrison, without

earhest and

Madras, received

To him

second parent.

duty as a

their

in

an extensive pettah, which was originally

is

had, in re-

little

older than

lived to be a Lieutenant-colonel

Nundydroog

in the year 1807.

have

a time visited his grave, and, the place being

now abandoned, endeavoured

to preserve it

from neglect

REMINISCENCES.

1790.]

and

When

injury.

how much

considered

it is

9
the tenor

of every man's future Ufe depends on his early habits and

trust

associations,

the friend of

my

shall

be excused

thus mentioning

for

youth, more particularly as an European

regiment was not, at that time, the best school for either
industry, morals, or sobriety.

Having thus made

stage,

it

my

now becomes

debut as a soldier on the Eastern

necessary to say something about

Tippoo Sultaun, sove-

the state of affairs at that period.

kingdom bordering on our possessions

reign of Mysore, a

on the coast of Coromandel, having, by a wanton and unprovoked attack on the

core,

territories of the

Rajah of Tra van-

brought on a war, in which the British were aided by

the Nizam, our armies had already taken the

the principal one, under the personal

command

field,

and

of General

Meddows, then Governor and Commander-in-chief of Madras,

had advanced into the enemy's country, but did not

succeed in bringing him to action.

Smaller divisions were

also advancing in other directions, and, in

September 1790,

a very desperate battle w^as fought between Tippoo's army

and Colonel Floyd's detachment, at a place

mungulum,

in

called Satti-

which, after a severe contest, the enemy were

completely defeated.*
* In this battle, as in several subsequent actions, the personal exertions of Captain, afterwards Sir

were most conspicuous

attributed to

him.

Thomas

and the

Dallas, of the

safety of this

Some months
life, when

of saving Colonel Floyd's

afterwards, he

was shot

in the

mouth, and

cavalry,

had

the

pleasure

that gallant veteran, charging the

enemy's guns on the heights near Bangalore

valry,

Madras

detachment was greatly

fell

from

at the

head of our ca-

his horse, at the

when, assailed by superior numbers, they were forced

moment

to retreat.

Sir

MILITARY

10

It

was

[A.D.

Lord Cornwallis, Governor-

at this period that

came round from

general and Commander-in-chief in India,

Bengal, accompanied by various reinforcements from that

Presidency, and, having joined our grand army, assumed
the supreme

The Carnatic was

command.

at that

also,

time, overrun with parties of the enemy's predatory horse,

called looties,
to

and we had few troops any where

them: but

now

pass over

all

trifling

oppose

to

occurrences

incidental to such a state of affairs, and at once proceed to

The year 1791 teemed with

matters of more importance.

remarkable events, both in a political and military point of

The

view.

fort of

Bangalore was breached and taken by

storm, by the British

army under Lord Cornwallis

Tippoo, at the head of a

looking on.
cottah,

The strong

while

much more numerous army, was

hill-forts of

Nundydroog, Rya-

Dindigul, Sewandroog, &c. were also captured,

mostly by storm

and Lord Cornwallis, gradually advan-

cing towards Seringapatam, and subduing

all

the inter-

mediate places, compelled the Sultaun to take shelter

under the very guns of that celebrated

Thomas

instantly dismounted, took

orderly's horse, and,

fort

and

capital.

to a native corps, then with the

Being myself appointed

him up

in his arms, set

him on an

remounting his own charger, took the orderly

up behind him, and galloped

off with the retreating

column.

Even

this

timely and signal interposition might, however, have been of no avail,

had not our old and worthy

friend.

Major Francis Gowdie, advanced

with an infantry brigade, contrary to positive orders from Colonel

Floyd in the onset, and protected the cavalry from an overwhelming

force.

For

Cornwallis

this truly gallant service, the

at the

head of the army.

Major was thanked by Lord

REMINISCENCES.

1793.]

grand army,

I left

Vellore in November, and, under the

escort of a strong reinforcement, joined Colonel Floyd.

On

the 6th of February 1792, Lord Cornwallis stormed

Tippoo's fortified

camp on

the island of Seringapatam, and

gained a most complete and signal victory

which,

after

on our preparing to breach the place from our vantage

ground, the Sultaun sending out his two sons as hostages,
entreated for peace, and ceded considerable tracts of territory to the British and their allies,

The remainder of

the war.

worthy of particular notice

which put an end

to

year furnished nothing

this

the British troops returned

by

different routes into the Carnatic,

to

Hydrabad.

At the commencement of 1793,

and the Nizam's army

intelligence

was received

that the French revolutionists had tried, condemned, and

executed the mild and pious Louis

XVL,

and such of

his

family as they could lay hands upon, which led us to anticipate a

and

in

war with that country as an

June the news arrived

claration of

at

inevitable result

Madras of

war on the preceding

1 st

the actual de-

of February

extensive preparations were immediately

made

when

for attack-

ing Pondicherry, the principal French settlement in the

East.

my

The

native corps, to

which

had been removed, on

promotion to a Lieutenantcy, being then quartered at

Tanjore,

we had the

satisfaction to be selected, with others

from the same station,

for that service.

PONDICHERRY.
The army

at length

assembled in the middle of July,

and encamped on the Red

Hills,

in the vicinity

of the

MILITARY

12
place.

It

amounted,

[A.D.

was commanded by Colonel Brathwaite, and

in the aggregate, to twelve

thousand men, with

The town was

a very large and efficient battering train.

summoned

regularly
to

their helpless situation pointed out

them, and favourable terms proposed

ance

for their accept-

but a positive and unqualified defiance being

we accordingly broke ground

turned,

re-

and regular ap-

proaches were carried on under considerable obstruction

from the enemy's

fire,

and the

state of the weather.

Until

such time as our batteries were crowned, the French

fired

with great smartness and accuracy from their guns and

mortars, kiUing and

hundred men

five

wounding eight

in the trenches

officers,

and about

the rain falling nearly

Early in August, however, our

the whole time in torrents.

two batteries were completed

the northern one to breach

the north face, and the western to enfilade the same,

when

their guns, after a few discharges, silenced those in

fort

the

and on the 23d of August the place capitulated,

the no small delight of the Governor, and

able inhabitants,

who had

all

to

the respect-

considerable difficulty in con-

veyin gtheir wishes to the British camp, and were opposed

in a

tumultuous manner by the soldiery and lower orders.

After their vaunting defiance,

it's

was

natives

to expect,

efficient garrison

discover

our surprise, then, to

soldiers,

was natural

and

surrender, to find a large

European

it

only six

on

what

hundred

and between two and three thousand

the former of

whom

were made prisoners of war,

whilst the latter disbanded without a

murmur.

Monsieur

Chermont, the governor, was a loyal subject of the old

school, as were

most of the

officers

and gentlemen of the

REMINISCENCES.

1793.]

place,

who were

all

13

permitted to remain unmolested on

their parole.

The Fort of Pondicherry

is

situated on the sea-shore,

about one hundred miles south of Madras, and was at this

time one of the most beautiful and interesting places in

In form

India.

extent

was an

it

all

irregular polygon, of considerable

the works, constructed of mud, were in the nicest

good wide ditch, and they were not

order, with a

of ordnance

in

want

but a protracted siege must have ruined

most of the inhabitants, who possessed elegant houses,

towering in every direction above the ramparts
tlie

interior

more resembled a town

The Governor's

inside of a fortress.
lar,

About

indeed,

residence, in particustreet

contained

large up-stair houses, equally liable to destruction.

six miles to

place on the

mouth

capital high road

To this

it.

Europe than the

was completely exposed, and every

many

to

in

the northward

was a small

fortified

of a river, called Ariancopang, with a

and garden-houses on both sides leading

place

we conducted the

sans culottes,

where they

were confined in a large Church, and the adjacent build-

There was likewise another excellent high road

ings.

to the

westward, and several garden-houses in that direction

But a person now

also.

visiting Pondicherry, after a lapse of

thirty-six years, could hardly even trace the works, or find

any of those embellishments, within or without, which

once made
mandel.
the

it

the finest settlement on the coast of Coro-

large English garrison being left in the place,

army returned

to quarters early in

whilst the different corps

their

march,

may

September

and

composing that army are on

as well, in a few words, introduce to

the reader's acquaintance.

MILITARY

14

[A.D.

THE COMPANY'S NATIVE ARMY;

which, being composed of

men,

differing

customs

in

most

who

five distinct castes, or classes

essentially in manners, in religion,

never unite, even at a meal, or in mar-

the discipline and harmony which have ever dis-

riage,

tinguished those native forces are truly wonderful.

more

of

and

especially,

when

The

the bigotry of one class, and the

superstitious prejudices of three others, are taken into con-

But, in order to render these remarks

sideration.

gible to those

who have

never visited India,

it

intelli-

may

be as

well to describe the different castes above alluded to.

Mussulman, of

First, the

the

army

is

composed.

into four particular sects

Mogul, and the Puthaun,

They

called.

ligent

judices,

whom

viz.

is

of

again subdivided

the Sheik, the Syed, the

or Pattan, as they are usually

are generally brave, enterprising,

and upon the whole, being

make

at least one-third

This class

free

and

intel-

from religious pre-

excellent soldiers.

Second, the Rajahpoot, or descendants of the ancient

Rajahs, the highest caste of Hindoos; a race not very numerous, but extremely scrupulous; and,
dices are

when

their preju-

humoured, the bravest and most devoted

far surpassing

all

soldiers,

the other natives, in a romantic but

sometimes mistaken notion of honour.

Third, the Telinga or Gentoo, a race of Hindoos, generally

remarkable

of person

for

mildness of disposition and cleanliness

obedient and faithful, but not very intelligent

or enterprising soldiers.

Fourth, the Tamoul, or Malabar

Fifth, the Pariah,

or

similar to the former.

Dhere, as they are called

in the

REMINISCENCES.

1793.]

The

army.
tive,

poor

latter class,

Chowry Mootoo,

and attached as they were

and the

late years

and eating unclean meats, &c. have of

been excluded from the

conciliate the higher
differ

bravo, ac-

to their officers

a few European failings, such as dram drink-

service, with

ing,

15

order the more fully to

line, in

classes;

from each other in

who, however they may

many

points, are all united in

considering any mixture with these as a contamination.

They

are

now

enlisted only in the Pioneers,

and tent Lascars,

useful in the army,

degraded
braver,
it

class,

more

and as

The former Corps, one

than

is

composed almost

whom

efficient, or

body of

to be understood, however, that

most

entirely of this

there exists not in

zealous

artillery

of the

all

troops.

India, a
I

beg

though the preceding

remarks are intended, in particular, for the Madras native

army, yet they are almost equally applicable to those of the

two other Presidencies.

At the time

this

Journal commences, whilst our four

European regiments were fully officered, each native battalion of the

same strength had a Captain commandant,

an European Adjutant, assistant-surgeon, and six or eight

subalterns attached to it; and the Captain, having more

power than a Lieutenant-colonel now possesses, and enjoying enormous allowances and immunities,
sidered a particular

obtain the

command

mark

it

was con-

of favour, or good fortune, to

of a native corps.

These troops, while they are the most orderly, tractable,

and willing

soldiers in the world,

service,

have regularly advanced

companions

in his Majesty's

the King's regiments in India;

and both have

in disciphne with their noble

MILITARY

16

gone hand

hand

in

oppose them.

[A.D.

subdue every foe who has dared

to

now completely and permanently

in India are

and that those of the Madras establishment

amount

though

which the native

officered

at present

regiments of cavalry, and fifty-two of

to eight

infantry;

to

need scarcely add, that the native forces

certainly,

the

which obhges every European

improvement

greatest

service has experienced,

officer to

is

the regulation

study the native

languages, and which excludes from regimental staff ap-

pointments

all officers

who cannot

pass an examination in

some native language.

TANJORE.

Our

being returned to Tanjore,

troops

have now

Mah-

say something about that kingdom; a

leisure to

rattah principality, situated in the very heart of the Carnatic,

composed of a people whose manners,

religion,

and

language, differ almost equally essentially from the original

natives,

and

Mussulman conquerors, whose

their

entirely surround them.

very extensive
water,

the

it's

title

The kingdom

of Tanjore

not

but being remarkably well supplied with

and beauty have justly obtained

fertility

of " the Garden of the Carnatic."

from whence the country

strong stone

states
is

forts,

is

named,

is

The

for it

capital,

composed of two

adjoining each other on a plain, and

each containing several lofty Hindoo Pagodas, the like of

which are no where

pire.

The

to

be met with in the Mahrattah em-

large fort, being about four miles in circum-

ference, contained the Rajah's palace,

the grandees and principal

men

and the houses of

of his court

and

all

at this

REMINISCENCES.

1793.]

17

time also included barracks and public buildings

corps of native soldiers.

The smaller

fort

for

two

was not more

than a mile in circumference, and contained magazines,

barracks for an European regiment, store-rooms, main and
other guard rooms, a Church, and a fives court, and

wan

given up entirely and exclusively to the English.

The

works of both, though

built of stone, with a

irregular, are

good fossebray, many large

gators, a

hooped

over, the bore of

side,

several

alli-

and on

of bars

of iron

which was upwards of two

The English had

diameter.

of

full

cavaliers,

made

one, a remarkable Malabar gun

and well

strong,

wide and deep ditch,

feet in

garden-houses out-

and the garrison enjoyed the pleasure and variety of

shooting and hunting-parties, in

any controul

all

without

directions,

whilst the vicinity of Trichinopoly, being-

only thirty miles distant, gave us opportunities of visiting

our friends there, and of occasionally meeting them in our

excursions.

TRICHINOPOLY.
This place, so famous in eastern history, was garrisoned

by one European and two native regiments, with some

artillery

now

it

was then the

capital of a district,

and being

the head quarters of the southern division of the

army, has always been a dehghtful

station.

The

oblong square, about three miles in circumference,

of stone,

upon a

plain, in a

most

fertile valley,

tains a rocky hill of considerable height

within

it's

of the

Nabob

VOL.

I.

walls.

On the summit of

of the Carnatic, to
c

is

an

built

and con-

and dimensions

the rock

whom,

fort,

in

is

the palace

days of yore,

MILITARY

18

[A.D.

the whole country belonged, and in which some of his

relations

and

There are many good houses

always resided.

public buildings inside; but cantonments have been

built about three miles outside, for all the troops, except-

ing those on immediate duty.

also contains alligators

only in the adjacent

The ditch of

this

place

and they are to be met with, not

river,

but in every tank in the neigh-

Having, in so short a space, mentioned three

bourhood.

places infested

by these amphibious monsters,

that I have never

met with them

in the ditch of

must add,
any other

place of consequence in the country.

The Cauvery

which

river,

is

here some hundred yards

broad, runs within half a mile of the north face of the

fort,

and separates

from the far-famed Pagodas of

it

Seringham and Jumboo Kistnah, so long used as posts

by the French and Mysoreans,

ingham

is

in

1751 and 1752.

Ser-

situated on an island in the river, of consider-

able extent, on which are also to be found the remains of

some unfinished Pagodas, and ruins of others of enormous

dimensions.

many

It is in

parts covered with deep jungle,

abounding with game of every description, from the

to the quail

indeed, at that time,

it

was by

far the

tiger

most

productive spot in the Carnatic, and was therefore constantly resorted to

by

all

sportsmen.

This being also a

many

delightful garden-

there are

capital civil station,

houses outside, and the finest fruit and vegetables in the

Carnatic are to be found there.

The

year 1794 produced nothing of a

public nature

worth recording; but, amongst other excursions, having

visited
it

here.

Negapatam,

may

as well

make some mention

of

REMINISCENCES.

1794.]

19

NEGAPATAM,
The

settlement of the

principal

mandel coast,

Dutch, on the Coro-

on the sea shore, about one

situated

is

hundred miles south of Pondicherry, and sixty east of

Tanjore.

was formerly a place of consequence, and

It

with Europe and

on a considerable trade both

carried

other parts of India, particularly to the eastward, but was

Of

then on the decline.

mous misshapen masses

where

had once

it

the fort

itself,

only some enor-

of masonry remained, to point out

and how strong the works must

stood,

have been, before they were destroyed by the English.

The town, though

one,

containing

partly deserted,

wide

several

houses on both sides, in which

tants

resided,

families

reasonable, they

still

all

whom

amongst

and as every

was

streets,

still

a very neat

with

substantial

the remaining inhabi-

were

article of life

some

contrived, with hardly

intercourse, to spin out a dull

respectable

was comparatively
any external

and peaceful existence, en-

joying their pipe and dram, without even enquiring what

was going forward

in the surrounding world.

If their

countrymen in Europe are styled phlegmatic, what term

can be applicable to their
brethren?

homes,

who

still

more apathetic

oriental

have met with many, but only in their own

boasted that they had been thirty or forty

years in the same house, and never went outside of the

place they were living in

quire

how

saries of

others get on

life

Having

They never complain,

or en-

and as long as the mere neces-

are to be procured, they are contented.

suffered

from an attack of

liver

complaint,

MILITARV

20
left

Tanjore

cutta, via

in

July this year, and went, on leave, to Cal-

Madras; there became a Benedict, and returned

early in 1795
I

[A.D.

when, being removed to a corps at Madura,

joined accordingly, via Tranquebar and Tanjore.

MADURA,
Formerly the capital of an extensive and wealthy king-

dom, but now only the head-quarters of

a district,

si-

is

tuated on a level and well-cultivated plain, through which

a broad river and several lesser streams, constantly meandering, insure

it's fertility.

It is

about eighty miles south

of Trichinopoly, and nearly the same distance from Tanjore.

The

walls of the city, nearly three miles in extent,

of stone, with a broad and deep ditch, are

repair,

now

and

built

quite out of

and could never have been deemed strong

but the

remains of some of the most elegant and durable specimens

of Indian architecture are to be met with in this place
particularly the ruins of Trimulnaig's palace,

sand-pillared choultry.
destructive

The hand

and

his thou-

of time, and the

paws of mischievous man, have

in vain

more

combined

to destroy these inestimable vestiges of former science

grandeur.
larly

Whole apartments, and

and

parts of others, particu-

arched roofs of various dimensions, composed of brick

and chunam, now one inseparable mass, have withstood

every wanton effort to destroy them

where

and, in

pillars, large

moved, without at
:

places,

by wooden

beams and frame-work, the more perishable

parts have been extracted or laboriously

sonry

many

such roofs have been originally supported

whilst even

all

dug out and

injuring the more permanent

some few

traces arc

still

to

re-

ma-

be found of

^-

i^

I*

REMINISCENCES.

1795.]

chunam, with which the

various coloured stucco, or fine

whole had been faced and finished.

veral large

23

and elegant Pagodas

There were also

in perfect repair,

were maintained, at the Company's expense,

dour.

One

se-

which

in great splen-

alone, at a great distance from the rest, having

been formerly polluted by Europeans, by being used as a

magazine, remained unattended and unoccupied, and served
as a

gateway

The

compound.

to a gentleman's

at this time consisted of

garrison

one native corps, which had bar-

racks and houses in the fort

and of a king's regiment,

cantoned near Secundermally, a famous

miles to the southward.

an elegant house near the

centre,

about

five

officer*

had

hill

The comm.anding

considerably raised

from the ground, with a capital garden attached

to

it

the Paymaster lived in a very roomy building, of eastern

architecture, about

two miles

commanding our

* Friends of

my

to

the northward, across

Captain John Bannerman,

the river, called Fort Defiance.

corps, resided in a delightful bungalow.

youth

how can

mention the place where you

presided, the house in which you dwelt, and pass over in silence the

kind and hospitable proprietors?

mistaken idea regarding the deli-

cacy of mentioning a family, some members of which are

ence, led me, in the

first

Gowdie, then Commander of Madura.

community, and

his lady, our kind

say more

house was open to

their

happy hour have we spent

friendship

was

He was

all their

therein.

particularly enjoyed

children

Kind and

becoming Commander

Scotland, but his

hearts.

memory

is still

in exist-

the father of his

and affectionate mother.

;

little

dare not

and many, many a

considerate to

all, theii

by a young couple, from that time,

through the various vicissitudes of an Indian

the senior

still

name of Major Francis

instance, to omit the

in chief.

He

life

died

nor diminished by

many

years ago, in

most affectionately cherished

in their


MILITARY

24

[A.D.

about two miles to the eastward, on the bank of a beautiful

stone tank, with an island and pagoda in the centre,

called Teppoocolon

and there was a very extraordinary

and picturesque rocky

Defiance,

hill,

about three miles beyond Fort

called Aneemallee, from

crouching elephant.

and a large avenue

it's

good road led

resemblance to a
to Secundermallee,

to Teppoocolon.

Secundermallee, a mountain held sacred by

has a temple on
to be regularly

a beautiful

is

it's

summit, the pavement of which

swept by royal
little

made

it,

hill

year,

and

and

The canton-

it

now

for the native report of

on the very

and good-fellowship reigned

In those early times,

spot.

when

hospi-

in the East, a constant

was kept up between the

of this scattered society

many

from top

have since actually hunted

tigers

great, that

of small fish

said

There

being very rugged and woody, certainly

savage attendants

intercourse

is

tails.

and not a vestige of

tality

it's

full

in length.

gave some shadow of foundation

it's

castes,

close to the base to the westward, but

was abandoned the next

The

with their

for foot-passengers

some hundred yards

ment was formed

remains.

tigers

spring near

rude steps have been

to bottom,

all

tomb of Alexander the Great,

as supposed to contain the

different

members

though the heat was always so

suffered from a too constant exposure to

influence.

A war

breaking out with the Dutch, and an expedition

being meditated against their possessions on the island of

Ceylon,

was, towards the end of this year, detached to

the sea coast to

us.

make

fascines

and gabions

This led to an acquaintance with

to carry with

REMINISCKNCF.S.

1795.]

25

RAMNAD,
The

This

capital of a district.

Nabob

ed to the

of Arcot,

the south-eastward of

The

sea shore.

but

is

it

place

which then belong-

about

miles to

sixty

Madura, and ten or twelve from the

walls were of brick, and had

some

ditches,

not very extensive, and was never a formidable

indeed

fort,

lies

it is

only interesting to Indians, as having

been, for upwards of thirty years, the residence of Colonel

Martinz, of the Nabob's service

place,
lion,

who commanded

the

as well as a regularly disciplined provincial batta-

bearing his

own name.

Of all the hospitable men in

the most hospitable country in

the world, this extraordinary old gentleman stood foremost.

He had

a large well-furnished house, and received with a

hearty welcome as

liis

He had a cellar,

go-down, as

or

choicest liquors,

guests, all

who chose

it is

and amongst the

to

come

to

it.

there styled, full of the

rest,

pipes of Madeira

of various ages, slung by ropes from the roof, to which he

decreed

an" Europe voyage"

as he called

it,

every time the

door was opened, by making a servant swing them about

for

some minutes.

bottled, but

drawn

His wine was never fined, and seldom

for

immediate

use.

He was

man

few words, and directed his servants, by snapping his

gers, or

by whistling.

of

fin-

native of Savoy, or Portugal, of

a diminutive form, being under the middle

age more resembling a baboon than the

size,

with a vis-

human

species,

and manners the most uncouth and outre, Colonel Martinz

was

still

his

little

the father of his corps, and the kind friend of

community

and, to

sum up

his character in

all

MILITARY

26

few words, was generally known,

[A.D.

much beloved, and wanted

only the outward forms of religion, to be universally respected and esteemed.

Passing through this place to the

sea coast, and having completed our task at Altangary, the

detachment returned
force, sailing

Madura

to

and at the same time a

from Madras, attacked and captured Trinco-

mallee, after a few days' skirmishing.

TRINCOMALLEE.
The harbour

of Trincomallee, situated near the nortli-

eastern extremity of the island of Ceylon,

in India

it

is

one of the best

was defended by numerous works, and might

have given us much trouble

to take

it,

but fortunately the

garrison were mostly quiet merchants and mechanics, who,

by a protracted defence, would have hazarded

their all for

the bubble reputation, and therefore very speedily surren-

The

dered.

troops destined for the conquest of the

Dutch

possessions on the western shore of the island, then assem-

bled at Ramiserara, in January 1796, consisting of three

European, and

five

native corps, under the

command

of

Colonel Stewart*, of his Majesty's 72d regiment.

RAMISERAM.
This island, about ten
half that breadth, and which

or
is

twelve

miles

* Colonel Stewart was a very old and experienced

time

much

liked

liar appellation

of Old

Row.

and

at that

by

the

Madras army

in

1808.

and

officer,

well known,

he went by the fami-

Relieved from the government of Ceylon,

he afterwards became Commander in chief

Europe

long,

situated at the head of the

at

Madras, and returned to

27

REMINISCENCliS.

1796.]

Manaar,

<yulph of

separated from the main land of the

is

peninsula, by a narrow ferry, and from Ceylon, by

bridge and the island of Manaar.

It's

Adam's

Pagodas, celebrated

over India for their sanctity, are at the eastern end of

all

the island

they are

lofty,

and

neighbourhood, and there

in the

in

good

is

though of

repair,

The Brahmins have a neat

great antiquity.

little

village

a fine square stone tank,

with a small island in the centre, luring the unwary to destruction, for
I

approach appearsclear of all impediments.

it's

had swam across

carelessly allowed

to look at it's images,

my

were immediately entangled

under

two

vv^ater

and returning,

in

or three times

them up from the bottom

in

weeds, which pulled

until,

at length,

many

likely that

in length.

feet

any of

my

same experiment, yet

readers
I

me
tore

the struggle, and reached the

bank with great difficulty, dragging behind me

cords of

when they

legs to sink beneath me,

Although

may have

it

several thin
is

not very

occasion to try the

could not resist the temptation of

holding out a warning to those

who might be

led into a

similar danger, through similar inadvertency.

Here, on very good ground, the troops were encamped as

they arrived
final

and about the 10th of January we took our

departure, in large open boats

we

crossing under the

coasted along, by Arepoo, Calpen-

bridge, as

it is

teen. Sec,

running on shore every evening,

called,

to

our diurnal meal, and sleep on the beach

any

shelter

from

larly inclement,
all

night,

we

the

weather,

cook and eat

but without

which being

particu-

generally had our clothes wet through

and dried during the day upon our bodies

ex-

periencing both extremes, in the course of the twenty-four

MILITARY

28

Our

hours.

first

[A.D.

rendezvous was Negumbo, about thirty

miles north of Cohimbo, then in the enemy's possession.

flotilla

we

found

abandoned

works

the

we landed

Here, then,

erroneous impression that

resistance.

we had made, under

we were not

likely to find

the

ma-

Ceylon, the best wooded country in the world

terials in

and

without

our stores, camp-equipage, &c., as

the fascines and gabions

also

Our

being drawn up in order, a landing was effected, and

may

as well anticipate the catastrophe,

were afterwards

ing, that they

bay Grenadier battalion,

all

served out to the

Columbo,

and labour being carried

useless cost

experience

at

and

for firewood

Bomthe

to the account of

Leaving our

knowledge.

geographical

by remark-

boats to carry on the heavy articles, for which cattle could

not be procured, the army marched by land, and arrived

within four miles of Columbo, without meeting the slightest
resistance, as

and rapid

it

was not

until after

river, that the

we had crossed

enemy attempted

to

a broad

impede our

approach.

COLUMBO.
Advancing

at daylight,

we

crossed the great ferry, called

Grand Pass, and forming on the other

uncertain

when

all

what reception we were

side,

likely

of a sudden a peal of musquetry,

balls, arrested

our attention.

moved

on,

to experience,

and shower of

body of eight hundred

or

one thousand Malays, followed by Dutch troops, gave us

this

salutation,

which being returned with

immediately took
Colonel mortally

to

flight,

leaving,

interest,

amongst

wounded on the ground.

they

others,

His remains

isbed bv

Sii-iih.I-Uer

&

C 6J,Ccnn.l:

FiKMlNISCKNCES.

179(J.]

29

were interred with military honours, and we took up our

ahnost peaceable abode in the pettah and environs, about

two o'clock the next day:

havino;,

tally for

one of our comrades.

was posted
the night

Bombay

told
;

still,

till

if

any

not satisfactorily an-

The night was dark, and

at the object.

fire

had remained

All the

to challenge distinctly

and,

for

was furnished by the

the next party to us

who approached them

swered, to
all

one of the picquets

grenadier battalion, in similar ground.

and

fa-

Being with the advance,

in a thick grove, with

sentries were loaded,

one

however, had a most

which terminated

ridiculous alarm during the night,

towards morning, when sud-

denly, "

Who

comes there ?" was bellowed out from the

Bombay

post,

and immediately

musquets,
grove.

by

followed

" Fall in

others,

fall in

report of two

after the

resounded through the

prime and load

our part, to which a dead silence ensued

!"

followed on

and then one of

those uncertain pauses, the most trying to the nerves and

patience of a soldier.

some

time,

Matters remaining in this state

we ventured

to enquire

for

what had occurred

to

our comrades on the right, and found that a buffalo had

suddenly advanced on two drowsy Ducks,* and, not having

the countersign, was immediately fired at

The Bombay army

*
their

is

are generally designated " Ducks," perhaps from

Presidency being situated on a small island.

denominated " Qui

hies,"

The Bengalees are

from a habit of exclaiming "

there ?" to their domestics,

the

the remainder

when

koei/ /ii/eV

requiring their attendance

"

who

and the

Madrasees are designated by the appellation of " Mulls," from the

the circumstance of always using a kind of hot soup, ycleped

Mul-

ligatawny, literally pepper water, at their meals, particularly supper.

MILITARY

30

[A.D.

of the picquet turning out, loaded their pieces, and also

commenced
than the

firing,

rest killed

when a

marksman

shot from a better

own

one of our

sentries,

and was even

him, as actually to blow away a part of

fired so close to

the poor fellow's mouth.

The

fact was, that drowsiness

had obtained such complete possession of the guard, that

on their being thus suddenly wakened, they were quite
unable to recognize each other in the dark.

commenced between Colonel

Negociations having

wart and the Dutch Governor-general,

remained inactive

for

a few days

Ste-

Van Angleback, we

when, on the 16th of

February, the whole of their possessions on the island

were ceded to us by capitulation, in trust

Orange, and the

fort

our troops in his

for the

Prince of

was instantly taken possession of by

name

our corps, the 9th battalion of

Native infantry, being detached to Point de Galle, sixty

miles south, to receive charge

Columbo, the

of,

and garrison that

Dutch on Ceylon,

capital of the

of considerable consequence and strength, from

tural position, as well as

merous and

in

many

it

and

also several

fort,

which

is

exten-

a most superb building.

is

good houses, churches, &c.,

were many respectable

Without a chance of

been madness to have held out

lation,

na-

works, which were nu-

The

in the place, altogether,

inhabitants.

a place
it's

capital dwelling houses, including

the Governor's palace, which

The pettah had

in

it's

good condition.

contained

sive,

from

fortress.

is

private property

relief,

it

and by an

would have
early capitu-

was not only preserved, but

all

the different public servants obtained pensions from our

REMINISCENCES.

179().]

government.
sea

Columbo

is

31

by

also a place of great traffic

the road-stead being extremely safe and commodious,

particularly during the north-eastern monsoons.

But

of

all

the

earliest

nearly

down

Cinnamon gardens

though

attention,

over India

all

which then presented them-

novelties

selves to our view, the

that plant

is

and many were the good

for walking-sticks, as well as

to

our

attracted

now common
trees,

cut

secure the bark,

without consideration of the serious injury thus done to

the future produce.

No

sooner were the English pro-

claimed in authority, and installed in quiet possession of

some of the permanent dwellings

chants and hawkers of

with their goods

in the place,

descriptions,

all

than mer-

came pouring

precious stones, some richly set in gold, and offered

very moderate prices, whilst

dicta

dise

this

Hindoo Para-

emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts,

topazes, cat's-eyes,
I

for

were declared, mirabik

all

be the veritable produce of

to

diamonds,

in

amongst which were a great variety of

and cinnamon

stones, the

believe, being almost exclusively to be

two

latter,

found on this

Then, in the cabinet way, small boxes of various

island.

forms made of tortoise-shell, calamander, reemhout, ebony,

and

satin

wood,

all

equally

very beautifully finished

selves

new

to us, as they were really

whilst even the vendors them-

were subjects of equal wonder and amazement to

us, so materially did they differ

The

continent.

from

all

the natives of the

principal native merchants in Ceylon, are

Lubbies, a degenerate race of Mussulmans, and Chingalese,

the aborigines of the country

dostanee

is

Greek even

to

whilst, strange to say,

the

former,

who

Hin-

generally

MILITARY

32

[A.D.

speak a corrupt Malabar, or Arawee

new language

so that

we had

to learn.

CALTURA.

Our

march was

first

Columbo

shore, being broad

cashew

trees

river in boats,

is

twenty-eight miles from

generally close to the sea-

and well shaded by cocoa-nut and

and, having crossed abroad, deep and rapid

we

relieved the garrison of this romantic

The

interesting spot.

southern bank, which

jacent country,
repair.

to Caltura,

the road, which

is

fort, built

commands

a beautiful

The town

itself,

the extremity next the

upon a small
the ferry and

little

post,

and

and

hill

on the

all

the ad-

in excellent

having the Government-house at

fort,

is

about half a mile from

it,

and contains many neat and comfortable dwellings, with

a few respectable resident Dutch famihes

up

the river, are

met with

in

some of the most

any part of the world.

whilst, further

lovely plantations to be

Our next march was

1796.]
to

Bentott

REMINISCENCES.

thence to Billitott

33

and on the 22ad we reuch-

ed Point de Galle.

My

first

Journals, containuig the details of this march,

were unfortunately lost in after-times

fore,

now nothing but my

memoranda
bringing
land,

my

was

of Ceylon.
flxraily

and

recollection to

have,

tliere-

for

After returning to Madura, and

a distance of five hundred miles over

at first appointed to

command

Major Agnew, then Adjutant-general

kindly and strongly recommending
I

depend upon,

me

in

Caltura, but

Ceylon, most

to Colonel Stewart,

was speedily made Fort-adjutant and Paymaster of

Point de Galle, to which place

early in October.

consequently returned

MII.ITARY

34

CHAPTER

[A.D.

II.

Madura
Pallamcottah Cascades of
Tutacorine Poligar War
Papanassum and
Pelhavunthally Piinjalumcoorchy Failure of
Skirmish
Assault Siege and Capture.

Point de Guile

Singtdar

instances

of National Revenge

Masulipatam

Dreadful Climate of

Coiirtalluni

the

the first

at

POINT DE GALLE.

The

fort of Galle, sixty miles

south of Columbo, built on

a rocky point of land, forming the northern boundary of a

good harbour, about

five miles in

completely commands,

is

circumference, which

it

a place of considerable extent, and

the fortifications were then in a state of complete repair.

Like Columbo,
buildings, and

it

was crowded with

quarters, into the bargain.

sides

by the

woody

tained

many

and substantial

Being surrounded on three

sea, the strongest

the land side, which

tensive

capital

had a Governor's palace, and Commandant's

is

works were, of course, on

unluckily

commanded by an

within breaching distance.

hill,

It

ex-

con-

very respectable families, and a garrison, the

native part of which was disbanded, and the Europeans

pensioned.

The Governor, Mr.

Fretz, a

man

of rank and

education, delivered up the place immediately, and was

permitted, pro tempore, to retain the Government-house,
in

which he gave

the

first

day.

from the very

became

one

all

the English officers a grand dinner

The utmost
first,

cordiality subsisted

between us

and the English and Dutch speedily

community.

The harbour

is

large

and

RLMINISCENCES,

1796.]

commodious^ and ships of from

tons*

may

eight

months

six

35
to

hundred

eiglit

enter and He there in perfect safety, for about

though the south-western

the year:

in

monsoon driving

swell renders

a long

in

extremely

it

dangerous at that season, when the waves rapidly

and

from ten to twelve feet

fall

might be generally

rise

and though a vessel

deep enough water there, yet from

in

the sudden rising, and, consequently, falling of the sea,

the situation of

any ship then

at anchor,

must be

particu-

larly perilous.

As the road
lent, so

is

sea-beach, which
are

whole way from Columbo

for the

the one nearly

is

all

round

this

peculiarl}' firm at

low water

some pleasant garden-houses close

circle.

The climate

is

excel-

and there
the

to the road in

and here

delightful,

is

harbour on the

my

on the temperature of Calcutta are particularly

remarks
verified

since though within six degrees of the line, Point de Galle,

excepting in the months of December and January,

is

con-

siderably cooler the whole year round, than Calcutta in

twenty-one.

The country

tifully diversified

and there

we

by

hill

in the

and

neighbourhood

dale,

is

beau-

and wood and water

are several sm^all posts in the interior, to

which

resorted on parties of pleasure, generally in boats,

means of a lake and

On

rivulet flowing

through

by

it.

the opposite side of the harbour also was a watering-

place, to

which we used

fishing excursions

it

to sail

was not

across,

accessible

on shooting and

by

land, having

* In the year 1797, two large Indiamen, fully laden, were brought in
to

be protected from Sercey's squadron, and subsequently many ships

of similar burthen entered

in perfect safety.

MILITARY

36

[A.D.

high vvoody mountains in the back ground

low spot, a

fine

for all the ships

and

in

this

clear spring in the sand furnishes water

which require

it.

During the occupancy of the Dutch, Point de Galle had

been the capital of a

having several

district,

inferior de-

pendencies, where petty chiefs exercised an arbitrary controul, apparently little subject to superior authority

an inference may, at

least

be

fairly

such

drawn from the

fol-

lowing tragic incident, which happened immediately after

we had taken

possession of the island.

Mr. Van Schooler of the Dutch

Civil service,

was

chief of Matura, about thirty miles south east of Point de

Galle,

and had the character of being a very cruel and un-

kind ruler

amongst

to his charge,

Malay domestic

Whether
all

many

other acts of oppression laid

he was accused of having ordered an aged

to

be tied up and flogged to death.

the infliction

was

aware of the probable

excessive, or whether he

result, I

the plain fact that the poor old

lash

was undisputed

man,

in his murderer's service.

lieved

by an

officer of

was at

could never learn

man

but

perished under the

leaving a son, a powerful

young

This gentleman, being re-

our corps at Matura, returned with

his family to Point de Galle, where he possessed a delightful garden-house,

procure

and every comfort which riches could

and being a

man

of respectable family, and well

connected, he had married a lady of considerable personal

charms, who, unlike himself, bore a most excellent character,

and was much esteemed by both Europeans and

point of honour among the Malays, too

to or understood,

is

little

natives.

attended

revenge for every injury or insult.

REMINISCENCKS.

1796.]

imaginary or

real,

leaves the object

37

and always sought

or

little

in a

manner which

no chance of escape

but in

painting the character of the drover Robin Aig, Sir Walter

Malay

Scott has described the

so fully to the

life, I

need

only refer to that inimitable author for a perfect illustration.

The

Dutch power

extinction of the

in Ceylon,

and per-

haps a very erroneous notion of our criminal jurisdiction,

induced the Malays to consider this as a favourable opportunity for carrying into effect their
tion of the

Lex

Among

talionis.

summary

applica-

the principal native in-

Prince of the Malays, to

man called Noor John, the

whom all the rest looked up, and

who was much

by the Dutch government.

habitants at Galle, resided a

respected

This

man, getting hold of Mr. Van Schooler's Malay servants,

insisted

old

man

on their taking vengeance

;

and the more

to

for

the death of the

encourage the son to perpetrate

the deed, while the rest were to connive at

him from without, he gave him

own

his

The young man, whose name was Gabong,

and they proceeded together

Van

and protect

readily agreed

to the house,

the confidential slave of Mr.

door for them, and secreted

it,

creese, or dagger.
;

where Gaboo,

Schooler, opened the

Gabong under

his master's

bed.

The lady and gentleman

retired to rest as usual,

and

being more than ordinarily drowsy, he almost immediately

fell fast

asleep.

Mrs,

Van

Schooler sat up reading

her Bible for some time^ and then prepared to follow him.

She was

in her seventh

many mothers

in the

same

month of pregnancy, and,

state,

like

was under considerable

anxietv of mind, imagining (hat she should not survive

MILITARY

38

She

her confinement.
asleep,

falhng-

she immediately awoke her husband, told

what she had

;

down, and was just

laid

when she was awakened by something moving un-

der the bed

there

[A,D.

him

and entreated him to get up and look

felt,

but no entreaties could induce him to shake off his

drowsy

fit;

he grumbled, and immediately slept again.

Overcome with

fatigue, she

had

at length fallen into

an

uneasy slumber, when, roused by a deep groan she opened

her eyes, to behold her husband weltering in his blood,

and a man standing beside him with a creese

Regardless of

all

in his hand.

personal danger, but intent on saving

her husband, this devoted wife sprang from the bed, ran

round to the other

derer

by the

hair.

side,

He

and immediately seized the mur-

struggled to get away, but twisting

the locks round her hands, she persisted in holding him, and
calling loudly for assistance.

In this manner he dragged

her to the door, when, turning about, he said, " Let

madam,

do not wish to hurt you

and prevented

his departure

;"

me go,

but she screamed,

by main strength,

until at

length he turned round and stabbed her in the stomach.

She

fell,

and he escaped.

How

long this unfortunate pair

continued without assistance, was never exactly known; but

the next day, they were found by our medical men,

had been

called in, both lying in the

same room,

in

who

which

the husband shortly afterwards expired, and was carried

out,

when

she waved her hand towards him, and said she

should soon follow.

The wound

in her

stomach was sewed

up, and for some days hopes were entertained of her reevery exertion was

made

covery; while in the

mean time

trace the murderer,

and the servants of the house being

to

REMINISCENCES.

1796.]

39

Gaboo volunteered a

confined on suspicion,

confession.

It

would appear that the murderer, Gabong, had been turned

off"

the

previously,

and immediately

after the perpetration of

He

had absconded.

bloody deed,

however,

was,

speedily apprehended, and brought back a prisoner, though

then having very short hair,

the man.

it

was feared that he was not

Being, however, along with several others,

had been confined on suspicion, brought

where his victims
out,

lay,

and made oath

she was mistaken,

she exclaimed,

Still

a firm voice,

Gabong! you cannot deceive me,

eternity,

my

he asserted that

when solemnly, and with

although you have had your hair cut

murderer of

who

room

Mrs. Van S. immediately pointed him

to his indentity.

"No,

on the brink of

into the

and

husband."

off"

since.

She

am now

man

swear, that this

is

the

lived but to secure the

conviction of the murderer, and her unborn child perished

with her.

The
tried,

traitor

and

Gaboo turning

Ts^oor

tenced to be hanged
firmation of General

Columbo, great

to

life,

but in vain

a feeling of

by the whole of the Dutch

their wish, as

cri-

soon as an answer could

and both prisoners were hanged on two gib-

bets erected in front of the garden, where the deed

perpetrated, in the presence of

women

at

was made by both the Dutch

have a public execution of both the

They had

be received

and sen-

EngUsh Governor

Stewart, the

interest

great anxiety being evinced

community,

guilty,

which sentence requiring the con-

governors for the Prince's

minals.

king's evidence, the rest were

John and Gabong found

of the place

all

the

many Dutch

men and most

was

of the

ladies of respectability

MILITARY

40

[A.D.

being seen in the foremost ranks of spectators, exulting in

who were

the agonies of the poor mistaken wretches,

hurried into eternity.
guilt,

The

and not only refused

ghostly advice or assistance,

all

but even kicked a Malay priest out of his

sisted,

that in hanging

thus

Prince died hardened in his

him

cell

and

in-

only aiding a fellow-

for

creature in his just revenge, the English Vv'ould be answerable for

all

He was
his

the sins he had ever committed during his

a remarkably handsome, active

dying struggles lasted

life.

young man, and

Gabong,

for several minutes.

on the other hand, received the same priest with mildness,

even acknowledged his
giveness,

prayed to Heaven for

error,

and died without a

Here, as a contrast to the foregoing

relating a similar occurrence,
different

moved from the garden-house

two Dutcli boors

tale, I

cannot help

which terminated

in a very

In a part of the suburbs, very

manner.

for-

struggle.

in question,

little re-

there resided

the one a cadaverous-looking monster,

about forty years of age, and the other a

fine, healthy,

cheerful

young man. They were near neighbours, apparent

friends,

and both carried on the same

of retail

trade,

venders of hollands and other spirituous liquors,

illcE

lachrijmcRy

companied us

party of the Royal Artillery had ac-

to Galle,

and our

man

had found out

soldiers

these enticing, welcome-giving landlords

was that the young

and whether

Beelzebub,

could not rightly ascertain

youno-est dealer, in

was a warm

it

sold the cheapest liquors, or that

John Bull preferred the company of an Adonis

I

"Hinc

a few days, had

evening, in the

month

all

but

to that of
certes,

the

the custom.

It

of April,

when

several

RKMINISCENCES.

1796.]

41

of our soldiers had assembled, to cool themselves

refreshmg draught, at the house of the junior

when,

to their astonishment, the elder

came

in,

vvitli

retailer

a
;

and with

apparent good humour partook of their

fare.

fond of good liquor, in moderation, our

men were by no

means drunkards, and

hour they

at the usual

ing the two rival innkeepers together.

Although

retired, leav-

At midnight a

most dismal hue and cry brought a crowd to the house in

question,

when

the landlord was found extended on the

sharp-pointed knife was found near the body,

An

with his blood.

Dragged

found.
crime,

forth to the light,

he solemnly protested

thrown into prison, and

did not take place
proofs

till

the

long

reeking

Van Beelzebub was

and charged with the
innocence

his

tried for

still

was made; and, crouch-

instant search

ing in a corner of the next room.

tive

stabbed to the heart, and perfectly dead.

floor,

murder.

men who

but was

This, however,

possessed the presump-

have m^entioned had quitted the island

and the only evidence

to the fact

was a

little

girl,

the

orphan daughter of the deceased, who distinctly stated

that she

first

saw the monster

drinking, and then saw

which
out,

him

sitting

behind her father,

blow from behind,

strike a

laid her parent Hfeless at his feet;

screaming

for

also proved to be his property

age, the evidence

The

assistance.
;

on which she ran

knife,

but the

was declared faulty

girl

and

think,

was

being under
at the

same

time that the two mistaken heathens paid, with their lives,
the forfeit for a breach of our law, this nominal christian,
this monster,

who, without even the horribly palliating

circumstances whicli

tiiey

could plead, had in cold blood

MILITARY

42

[A.D.

stabbed a fellow-creature to the heart, was acquitted, and

set loose again to repeat his crimes.

that although

need scarcely add,

the law had released him, he was ever

after held in utter detestation

by

ranks

all

and had he

not enjoyed a small pension, as a prisoner of war, must

have actually starved.

MATURA,
Situated on the bank of a fine river, about thirty-two miles
nearly east from Point de Galle, and four miles west from

Dunder Head,

western bank of the

and a Redan*

river,

to cover the

these stations,

good

up the

on

these two works forming

as in

and there were

repair, as well as a

river.

is

on the

The Government house,

a very excellent one

is

several others in

plantations

little star fort

with a wooden bridge across,

town

an admirable tke de pont.

all

The town

a most romantic spot.

is

the eastern side, having a very pretty

few delightful

This out-of-the-way place pro-

duces some of the finest kinds of fruit on the island, particularly oranges

and plantains, which

ance even to Columbo.

variety of species,

are sent in

the latter there

is

abunda great

some of which very much resemble a

winter pear in taste

flavour, not larger

Of

and a small

mango

hill

than a gooseberry.

Matura numerous elephants

of exquisite

In the vicinity of

are annually taken, by being

decoyed into an extensive and massy trap, called a Kraale

and
*

all

t In

the country round abounds in wild game, f

military term for a particular out-work,

this

neighbourhood

wild buffalos.

had a most providential escape from two

was out snipe-shooting, when

saw them tearing along

REMINISCENCES.

1799.]

At Dunder Head there

is

43

an old Hindoo temple, and

the remains of an extensive stone-pillared choultry

all

but

the Chingalese are Boodists, having the image in a

large building, like our bungalows.

MASULIPATAM.
Having remained
early

in 1799

was

it

Point de Galle for three years,

at

my unhappy

lot

be appointed

to

Fort-adjutant and Postmaster at Masulipatam, a place far

exceeding Calcutta in heat, without any of

Of

balancing advantages.

East Indies, the

in the

tiying to an

European

all

counter-

it's

the semi-infernal

interior of this fort

constitution.

is

stations

most

the

Erected on a low

sandy swamp, and having one face washed by a branch of

the Kistnah river,
to the

it is

exactly ten degrees and a half more

northward than Point de Galle, and three more than

The

Madras.

might

vicinity to the sea

also

expected to do something towards cooling the

nature of the

soil

completely counteracts

it's

and the inhabitants, both inside and out, are

stew from one end of the year to the other.
usual
*'

there

description
is

is,

indeed,

have been
but the

air,

balmy

The

soldier's

extremely apposite

only a sheet of brown paper between

Pandemonium

effects,

in a continual

it

that

and

!"

towards me; but happily, terror lent

me

force myself through a very thick hedge,

where they passed

me

at full speed,

presence of mind enough to

and

and

lie

down on

the other side,

saw no more of them.

have, more than, once, with ball from a double-barrelled gun, brought

down a wild

bull with each barrel

bull cannot be
ness.

compared with

but then I was prepared

and the

the buffalo, for either strength or fierce-

MILITARY

44

The

[A.D.

an extensive irregular polygon, with large

fort is

The works,

bastions, and a wide and deep ditch.

An European

brick, were in excellent repair.

built of

regiment

occupied the barracks, and three native corps were can-

toned outside, in the Pettah, which

is

very extensive, and

about a mile and a half in the interior

swamp, now

tion being over a dreary

nor shrub could

neither tree

much

the communica-

which

dried up, on

exist.

It

being a place of

consequence, and the head-quarters of the northern

division,

many

excellent garden-houses have been built at

a distance of two and three miles from the

which

in

fort,

the division staff and civilians resided; but even there,

all

the sand rendered visiting a perfect adventure.

The land wind, which

till

generally blows here from

August, and very violently

extensive parched plain,

credible,

sentry,

At

air passing

no European

this time

is

quently

fall

down

in

to the blasting

which birds

dead, while passing through

commences about eight

greatest heat generally

o'clock,

sirocco

through a

allowed to stand

and even natives perish by exposure

influence of this Eastern

till

heated to a degree almost in-

is

and positively resembles

furnace.

A.M., and

lasts,

March

May, coming over an

all

it.

fre-

The

or nine

sometimes, with increasing force,

noon, or even three, P. M.,

when

lull is

succeeded by

a faint sea-breeze, and the poor parched and panting inhabitants begin to revive.
ter within

windows, rose to 120

it

during

continuance

up

to

and

130.

have had
it's

In May, 1799, the thermome-

a solid house, with wet tats at the doors and

all

the inferior buildings

We

must

were actually in a fever

but this was only

for

one day

REMINISCENCES.

1800.]

succession of such

close

must have annihilated the whole

Even with a

rison.

it is

gar-

sea-breeze, the nights were always

and suffocating; yet

unhealthy as

47

this place is not considered so

disagreeable.

PALLAMCOTTAII.
Having been promoted
removed

end of the year 1799, and

in the

to the 1st battalion of the

southern division,

dras, Trichinopoly,

and Madura,

and joining the southern

fertile plain,

clear nullah

in the

through

steps,

Ma-

to the Tinnevelly district,

field force, as

time the head-quarters of the

is

my

Quarter-master of

encamped near Pallamcottah, which was

brigade,

upon a

3d regiment, a corps

then retraced

district.

The

at that

fort is situated

about two miles from the

river,

with a

running a short distance from the walls.

It

about two miles in circumference, nearly square, with

two rows of works

all

round

much higher than

rampart

it,

but no ditch

the inner

the outer one, and the whole

having small round bastions, and short curtains, with four

gateways in the middle of the

redoubts

faces, covered

by square

the two to the west and south being closed up.

capital road led from the northern gate to the towns

of Tinnevelly and Tatchenoor, across the river by a ford,

always passable, excepting during a few days in the northeast

monsoon.

Some

pleasantly situated garden-houses

were close to the road leading to the

river,

and the whole

of the surrounding country being well watered and wooded,

was highly picturesque and

The town of
call

it,

is

beautiful.

Tinnevelly, or Tirnawelly, as the natives

very large, and contains

many wealthy Hindoo

MILITARY

48
merchants

and Tachenoor, which

cavalry cantonment formed near

among some

lofty

mountains

[A.D.
is

much
The

it.

to the w^estward,

off,

has

had a

it's

rise

and has the

about thirty-two

attraction of a very beautiful cascade,

miles

smaller,

river

at a place called

PAPANASSUM.
Parties from below have traced the river above the fall

about eleven miles, in the midst of woody

for

jungle, but the exact source of

The cascade

itself is truly

grand

hills

I believe,

it is,
it is

not very broad, but

falls

from a very considerable height,

into

an unfathomable pool, from whence a new

The sound of the

sea.

in

fall

is

distinctly

great distance, even in the dry season

from

one large stream,

meandering through a plain nearly

to issue,

it is

and deep

vmknown.

river

level

heard

seems

with the

for a

very

and about a mile

a handsome substantial Pagoda, built upon the

bank, with several elegant stone choultries and steps down

edge

to the water's
sizes, are to

is

river fish,

of

all

sorts

and

be caught, and tame carp from one to two, and

even nearly three

There

where

feet,

come

to

the surface to

be fed.

also the ruin of a building here, asserted to

have

been the Palace of the famous Trimulnaig of Madura, in

whose kingdom
is,

all

Tinnevelly was then included.

This

indeed, altogether one of the wildest and most beautiful

spots

have ever seen

and the neighbourhood abounds

game, particularly pea-fowl,

spent a

month

tigers,

and wild hogs.

in

have

at a time in this sequestered retreat, merely

putting up tent walls between the pillars of the choultries,

and burning

fires at

night to keep off the tigers

but

it

RR.MlNlSGFNCliS.

180U.]

49

May

can be visited with safety, only between the months of

and August,
ous

September

or

hill- fever is

as at all other times a danger-

extremely prevalent.

COURTALLUM.
There

another river, and another cascade, in the same

is

range of mountains, about thirty miles to the north of the

mentioned, and forty miles in a direct line from Pal-

last

The

lamcottah.

features of the falls, as well as of the sur-

rounding objects,

however, vastly different, though both

are,

Here the

possess beauties peculiar to themselves.

not near so high, but

it is

twice as broad

and

is

subdivided by projecting rocks, that one part of

all

the purpose of a shower-bath, and

for that
also,

is

much

it

answers

frequented

purpose both by Europeans and natives.

although

many

life

to the picture

are

many

beautiful forest-trees are

the country

is

fall is

again so

left,

Here,
to give

well cultivated, and there

gentlemen's seats in the neighbourhood, which,

however, can be inhabited only between the months

There

ready mentioned.

is

miles in length, as far as the

Pagodas and
the.

fall,

clivity,

al-

a beautiful avenue, of some

fall

and

several picturesque

choultries, even to the very foot of

it.

Above

tracing a wild, rugged foot-path, in a steep ac-

between two mountains, with the

significant stream,

river,

a small in-

winding through rocks and bushes, the

enterprising visitor will find a cave, about five miles from

the foot of the cascade, called Paradise.

by nature

and the contrast,

exposed to a meridian sun,

appellation.

It

appeared to

after

may

me

This

is

formed

climbing a steep

well entitle

it

hill,

to such

to be twenty or

an

thirty

MILITARY

50

[A.D.

degrees cooler than the country below

many
bottom

particularly lichees, a Chinese

like the English horse-chesnut.

so infested

armed.

and here we found

growing wild, which could not thrive at the

trees

by

tigers, that it

It is, of course,

fruit

This place

behoves

and a

all visitors to

by no means

tree

however,

is,

go well

surprising, that this

delightful watering-place should be frequented in the hot

months by the inhabitants of Madura and Quilon,

as Pallaracottah,

seventy miles

it

from the

latter

separate the two countries

coasts, called the

by a

as well

being equi-distant from both, nearly

by a pass

of the

Arangowl Ghaut

in the hills,

which

and western

eastern

and from the former

direct road.

On

the opposite side from Pallamcottah, and nearly at

the same distance on the sea coast, lies

TUTUCORINE,

handsome harbour

for small vessels, protected

island about a mile from the shore,

siderable trade with

the Dutch.
the sea

It

Ceylon,

has a large

and a neat

little

when

in the

fortified

possession of

factory,

washed by

town, the front street of whicli,

on the sea shore, has some good houses

a short distance from the Pearl and

in

it.

As

it is

Chauk Banks,

Gulf of Manaar, the native inhabitants, about

in

by an

and a place of con-

five

but

in the

thousand

number, are mostly fishermen and Christians; and

when

the season

is

over, they catch fish in great

abund-

ance, which, being salted, are carried into the interior for
sale.

Their Christianity, however,

junction of

is

debased by a con-

Roman Cathohc and Heathen

idolatry, quite

,a

RKMINISCRNCKS.

1801.]
distressing to behold

pean qualification

And

excess.

added towhicli,

51
their principallMiro-

dram-drinking, which

is

tliey carry to

Hindoos deck out and carry in

as the pure

procession an annual car, called Rutt, or Tare, so tliese

mongrel heathens have a similar

car, decorated with

images

of our blessed Saviour and his Virgin Mother, surrounded

by

cherubim, which they drag through the town on

little

Christmas day and at Easter.

by sea

to

Columbo

is

From

this place the passage

performed in one or two days; the

Gulf always having strong winds blowing,

down, which

up

either

or

are equally available going or returning.

Besides the Factory-house, which was a very roomy,

well finished, and remarkably cool habitation, the

Dutch

Governor had a garden-house situated in a sandy jungle,

about three miles inland

a situation which,

Englishman would ever have chosen

De Heer Van Donder

certes,

no

and where, unless

were a keen sportsman, he must have

slumbered away a very dull existence.

I
it's

have, however, frequently shot hares and partridges in

neighbourhood, in spite of

under a

vertical

sun

it's

close atmosphere,

but never attempted

to

and

breathe the

closer climate of the interior.

THE POLIGAR WAR.

On

the 2d of February, 1801, while our force was can-

toned at Shangarnacoile, about thirty miles to the eastward,

and the whole of the remaining community, about twenty

ladies

and gentlemen, were dining

at

Major Macaulay's

garden-house at Pallamcottah, a number of Poligar prisoners confined in the fort,

made
E 2

their escape

by overpow-

MILITARY

52
ering their

own guard and

As men

they disarmed.

[A.D.

they had been hitherto kept in irons and very

guarded

strictly

but the smali-pox having recently broken out

amongst them,

their chains

had been removed a few days

This evening a number of their adherents in dis-

before.

guise,

whom

the one at the fort-gate,

of consequence and state prisoners,

and with concealed weapons, had entered the

fort,

and, at a preconcerted signalj forced the prison-gate, whilst

the prisoners attacked the two sentries in front.
the guard were wounded,

armed

when

few of

and the whole instantly

dis-

the prisoners, seizing the musquets of their

ci-devant gaolers,

headed

their adherents,

and rushing on

when

the gate-guard, succeeded in overpowering them;

passing through the gates, they

made such good use

of their

heels that, before morning, they had arrived at Panjallum-

coorchy, a distance of thirty miles

disarmed nearly one hundred

men

having surprised and

at different stages

on

the road, and, at one place, an entire company, under a

native officer.

however,

let

In their haste to secure a safe retreat, they,

slip

the fairest opportunity they ever could

have enjoyed of crippling our force, for the party assembled

at our
all

Commandant's included the

civilians of the station,

the staff-officers, and several others of the force

the

house was protected by a Naigue's guard only, and not

above a mile out of their route

and there we must

all

have perished, unprepared and unresisting, since they were

several hundreds strong,

Unaware

even before they

left

the place.

of the extent of the mischief, small parties were

sent out, as soon as they could be collected, to overtake

the fugitives, and lucky

it

was

for

them that they returned

REMINISCKNCES.

1801.]

Indeed,

unsuccessful.
cottali

all

53

Sepoys then

the

would have been inadequate

in

Pallani-

for that purpose.

The next day measures were concerted, and the

troops

march immediately from Shangarnacoile,

thirty

ordered to

miles to the eastward, to Kyetaur, twenty-one miles north-

ward

and

the officers, proceeding from Pallamcottah,

all

joined at that place on the

eight- and-twenty of the

attended by a party of

O'th,

Nabob's cavalry, who were mounted

on gentlemen's horses volunteered

for the

A body

purpose.

of European cavalry had originally formed a part of the

southern field-force, and, with some infantry corps, had

been only lately removed, under an appearance of perfect

tranquillity being
district.

duced

Our

to nine

was therefore consequently now

hundred

firelocks,

a detachment of Bengal
four-pounders.

On

turbulent

hitherto

established in this

force

and

artillery,

all

re-

Native, excepting

with two

six,

and two

the morning of February 8th, having

marched half-way the day

before, the

detachment reached

the village of Cullyanellore, nineteen miles from Kyetaur.

The camp was formed

in

a small square, and

preparing to enjoy a hearty meal,

number of a thousand

to the

when

all

hands were

a body of Poligars,

or twelve hundred,

armed

with musquets, pikes, and swords, made their appearance

on a

rising

ground

the right and

The small

faces.
rear,

quets

left,

in front of the line, and, inclining to

made

a simultaneous attack on three

village, situated

about a mile in the

had been previously taken possession of by our

;

and while we were employed

assailants, a

in front

by the

picfirst

body of the enemy, advancing under cover of

a deep ravine, immediately attacked

it.

Although many

MILITARY

54
of our men, being

new

drafts

and

[A.D.

recruits,

had never seen

a shot fired, yet the whole behaved well, except the Nabob's

who would

cavalry,

not charge even a small party of the

enemy, and we began

again.

to

wish we had our horses back

In about an hour, however, the Poligars withdrew,

leaving forty dead upon the field, and carrying off their

wounded

they were not pursued very

quiet again in our

more than

The post
key

six

little

camp by

noon.

men, a proof of the bad

and

all

loss

was not

firing of the

was

enemy.

was strengthened, being a kind of

in the village

to our position,

far,

Our

and

all

remained perfectly quiet,

till

about nine o'clock at night, when a peal of musquetry, in

the direction of the village, again roused us

an attempt

being made to surprise that post, which was, however,

completely foiled before a reinforcement could arrive to
relief.

ing,

After a sleepless night,

we marched

it's

the next morn-

and reached a plain close to Panjalumcoorchy by nine

o'clock,

to our utter astonishment,

when,

we

discovered

that the walls, which had been entirely levelled, were

rebuilt,

and

fully

manned by about

fifteen

now

hundred Po-

ligars.

Without a single battering-gun, and,

may

add, without

even a few Europeans to lead the storming-party, to have

attempted to take the place in open day would have been
next to madness

a spot of ground was therefore selected

near the village of Wotapadarum, about a mile from the

fort,

and there we formed our camp,

grain to the northward

the southward

in a square, with

high

the bund, or bank, of a tank to

the village near the eastern face, and Pan-

jalumcoorchy opposite to the west. After taking some

little

MAP or

Pivblish,ed.

by

rT^ri'i'ih'Y'Jh'Lvr.

SrjitLi

.Udei-

&

C? Go,

RKiMlNlSCliNCES.

1801.]

rest

and refreshment,

it

was proposed

55

to Ibrni the delach-

nieut into two storming-parties, and to escalade the works

at

different points, as soon as darkness should conceal

two

our approach from the enemy.

of our scouts
the Poligars,

came

in,

now amounting

pared to assault our

camp

unlooked-for occurrence

posed by a strong

days

Here then was an

in the first place,

fort, raised, as it

and, in the second,

was

some

it's

we were op-

were by magic,

in six

defenders, increased beyond

become the

nem. con.

decided, therefore,

business to remain there

were pre-

to five thousand,

at nightfall.

possible calculation, were likely to

It

short time after,

with the agreeable intelligence that

that

all

assailants.

we had no

and as both men and

officers

were ah-eady nearly exhausted, by two grilling marches

and a

sleepless night,

keep awake another,

nocturnal

visit as

was

therefore warned, and

it

was doubtful whether they could

to receive with

at

pieces distributed in front

The

troops were

two o'clock P. M. being formed

an oblong square, the baggage

paring to assault the

due alacrity such a

in contemplation.

and

fort.

in

rear,

the centre, and field-

we drew

out, as if pre-

In an instant every part of the

works was manned, and we could plainly discern a body of

fifteen

hundred or two thousand men outside of the boimd-

ary hedge, their long spears glittering in the sun.

as the formation

As soon

was completed, we commenced our march,

not for the Fort, but for Pallamcottah, and had actually

accomplished a third of our journey, when we were overtaken in the dark, by a body of the enemy, who rushed on

us with shouts and screams, almost to the bayonet.

rear-face of our column, for

it

was now no longer

The

a square.

MILITARY

56

[A.D

was luckily composed of the grenadiers of the

talion of the

1st bat-

3d regiment, with the two six-pounders under

Captain Vesey.

He

allowed them to approach without

molestation, the more fully to effect his purpose, when,

giving the word himself, a couple of vollies, poured in with

grape and musquetry, levelled one hundred and ten of our

assailants

the astonished remainder

and severe march, which lasted

ation,

made a

very precipi-

and we were no more molested during a long

tate escape,

all

night, than

by imagin-

which placed an enemy behind every bush on the

Our

road.

loss

woman, and we
o'clock

A.M.

on

this occasion

was only two men and a

Pallamcottah

safely reached

nine

at

on the 10th.

Matters thus remained

statu quo, while troops

in

pouring in from various quarters,

till

the 27th,

were

when a

de-

tachment composed of three companies of the 9th regiment,

one of the 2d battalion of the 16th, and two of the Martinz
battalion,

under the

command

of Captain Hazard, attacked

the fort of Cadulgoody, supposed to be weak, and

Our opponents, however,

fended.

march,

men

and our men were consequently

so well received, that after every exertion that bravery

discipline could oppose to
retreat, leaving three

the ground
It

may

men

de-

send a body of two thousand

in sufficient time to

to assist the defenders,

ill

got intelligence of the

and

number, they were compelled

killed

the loss of the

to

and eighteen wounded on

enemy was never

naturally be concluded, that while

ascertained.

we were

rein-

forcing our detachment from a distance, the insurgents,

who had

their resources nearer at

hand, were not

idle

but rising in various quarters, they possessed themselves

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

of

arms,

forts,

ever

&.c. in

knew where

The southern
ated to

57

so active a manner, that

to find

we hardly

them.

Poligars, a race of rude warriors, habitu-

arms and independence, had been but

lately sub-

dued, and those of Panjalumcoorchy, were the hardiest

and bravest of the whole.

Naig, having

Their chief, called Catabomia

successfully defended

force under Colonel

Bannerman two

the

against a

fort

years before,

had

at

length been taken prisoner, with the rest of his family,

and kept

in close confinement.

upon the justice

have thought
best

way

It is

not for

me

or policy of such a measure, but

to decide
I

should

and kindness would have been the

liberality

While

to secure their allegiance.

their chiefs

were condemned to a perpetual and ignominious imprisonment, the

to the

ment
win

fort of

Panjalumcoorchy was ordered

ground, with some others of less note.

to

a high-spirited people was not

their affections,

much

to be razed

Such

treat-

calculated to

and the indignities to which

indivi-

duals were subjected by the native servants of the Collector,

adding fuel to the

for

On
taur,

the 3d of

fire,

down

a season bore

March

the whole burst out at once, and

all

before them.

the detachment proceeded to Kye-

twenty-one miles distant, and took up ground in

such a position, as to allow the different reinforcements to

join us.

Having no opponents out of our camp, the enemy

made good use of

their

time, and seized on Tutucoryn,

where a young subaltern commanded with a company of

Sepoys.

Unfortunately, he was unacquainted with any

native language

one

side,

and while he was defending the

the native officer under

him

fort

on

capitulated, and ad-

MILITARY

58

enemy on the

mitted the

[A.D.

In proof, however, of the

other.

noble spirit of these untutored savages, they treated the

officer

with the utmost kindness

any promise from him, permitted

fishing boat, for

and without exacting

embarkation in a

bis

an Enghsh settlement.

merely disarmed, and set at liberty

the town for ammunition,

The Sepoys they

and searching

in

came upon a Mr.Baggott,

&,c.,

an Englishman, who was Master-attendant, and carried

him

His wife immediately followed them

off a prisoner.

unmolested into the

fort,

called,

had taken up

for her

husband's

where the Cat, as he was always

his

head quarters

his property ordered to be restored.

man

sidered as neutral, and not a

lested in

and petitioning

he was instantly set at

life,

of

them was ever mo-

This was the infamous Catabomia Naig,

in irons,

upon whose head a

price

was

Having been both a public

affijrded

information, I
;

me

am

set,

the fullest

if

staff

and who was, on no

found in arms.

and regimental

do not believe that any account of

customary, while gallant fellows were

and

falling,

with glorious wounds, to put down the casualty

" Deaths.

While

if

several

it

to the

southward. Captain

was

covered
in our

they had died in their beds, thus

Lately,

or Lieutenant

officer,

means of obtaining accurate

has ever been given to the public

newspapers, as

lately

induced to enter more into detail on this

because

this service

who had

and treated with every indignity

condition, to receive any quarter,

occasion

and

any way.

been confined

which

liberty,

The Dutch they con-

" &.c. &c.

of our small posts in the surrounding


IIKMINISCENCES.

1801.]

country

hands of the enemy, by which means

into the

fell

59

they had captured nearly one thousand musquets, with

their

ammunition

held

cottah,

one solitary Pagoda, slightly

on the bank of the

river,

out beyond example, or expectation.

To

Major Sheppard marched, at

this brave handful,

relieve

fortified,

about fifteen miles below Pallam-

the head of the 1st battalion of the 3d regiment, with two

Arriving at Pallamcottah, on the 13th of

six-pounders.

in there,

and on

in sight of the

Pagoda

March, the heavy baggage was thrown

the morning of the 16th they

came

of Strevygundum, on the opposite side of the river, and

were immediately

through

whom

attacked

they forced their

who charged

the grenadiers,

enemy, and put them

to flight.

capturing the place, had beset

mound

a large
also

busy

in

way

comrades on

to their

All the troops behaved well, particu-

the opposite shore.

larly

by swarms of the enemy

it

The

large

body of the

Poligars, intent on

on every

side,

making

and

scaling ladders for an escalade,

The

our corps relieved them.

and on the march back

garrison

raised

They were

of earth to overlook the Pagoda.

when

was withdrawn,

to Pallamcottah, the

enemy an-

noyed them the whole way, though repeatedly charged by

our soldiers.

Our

loss

was not so heavy

as

might have

been expected, and the corps remained resting at Pallamcottah,

On

till

the stores necessary for a siege could be collected.

the 27th of

March

the battalion and stores reached

Kytaur, and the other detachments joining, the whole force

was composed as follows

detachment of Pioneers, under the command of Captain

Baeshaw.

MILITARY

60

A detachment of the Bengal

Two companies

artillery,

[A.D.

Lieutenant Graham.
Captain

of His Majesty's 74th regiment,

John Campbell.

One

troop of

the Governor's

body guard,

Lieutenant

James Grant.

One

troop of the 1st regiment of Native cavalry,

Lieute-

nant Lyne.
First battahon

3d regiment Native infantry,

Major Shep-

pard.

Five companies 1st battalion 4th Native infantry, Captain

Nagle.
Six companies 1st battalion 14th Native infantry,

Captain

N. Smith.
Three companies 1st battalion 9th Native infantry,

Cap-

tain Hazard.

One company 2d

battalion 16th Native infantry,

Captain

D. Macdonald.
Three companies 1st battalion 13th Native infantry,

Cap-

tain G. Lang.

With two 12-pounders, one 18-pounder, and two

howitzers

5|-inch

and two 6-pounder, and two 4-pounder

old field-pieces.

The whole amounting

under the

command

also Resident to the

Our

first

thousand men,

to nearly three

of Major Colin Macaulay,

who was

Rajah of Travancore.

march was

to

Wotrampetty, only eight miles

the second to Peshavunthally, eight miles also, on the road

to

which we

six

first

hundred of

encountered the enemy

whom

a body of

appeared shortly after we

five or

left

our

ground, and boldly advanced to meet us, on which the

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

Major ordered the cavalry

to

Gl

charge them. The two

having rear and flank guards out, did not amount

than ninety men,

if

many

so

James Grant, one of the

finest

trooi)s,

more

to

but they were led by

and bravest

fellows I ever

knew. They had two small galloper guns with them, which
were

fired as the

enemy approached, and

peared to induce them to

keeping up a running fight

men who had

When

this

though

it

ap-

first

which they did

retire,

leisurely,

was evident that the

were most anxious to escape.

fire-arms

our cavalry had got within a few hundred yards,

Lieutenant Grant gave the words

Charge!"

the

enemy

at the

" Saint George, and

same time

faced

halting,

about, and presented an abbatis of pikes to the horses'

breasts

but so great was the impetus, that in an instant

men

phalanx was borne down, and our

this formidable

were afterwards engaged in single combat with these brave

but unskilful pedestrians, until a thick wood luckily intervened, through which they

being what

is

made

their escape.

The ground,

called in India " black cotton," with the

shrub actually growing on

it,

was very unfavourable

for

our men, and so determined was the resistance, that Lieu-

tenant Grant

and

fell,

his subadar.

wounded with a pike through the lungs

Sheik Ebraum, and four troopers were

Lieutenant Lyne lost his horse, a very powerful

killed.

animal

a ISTaigue and eleven troopers were

wounded

and

* Lieutenant Knowles, Brigade Major, and myself, the Major's two

staff officers,
first

obtained permission to join this small party

it

was

charge with cavalry, and I found myself, with a staff sword,

inferior to

havildar,

with his

any sepoy trooper.

came

life for

attacked him.

The Major, following us with

into the thick of the business,

this

act

my

much

his orderly

and was nearly paying

of temerity, his orderly killing a fellow that

MILITARY

62

two horses were

[A.D.

Of

and twelve wounded.

killed,

enemy, ninety-six dead bodies were counted on the

what number of wounded they

Grant

not be ascertained.

subadar

also

killed four with his

four

killed

carried off, of course could

the last after he had received his desperate

his

the

field

or

five

own hand,

wound

he

before

and
fell.

Sheik Ebraum*' was one of the noblest soldiers in our

native

army

attached

to,

and beloved by

European

his

officers,

no enterprise was too

He was

emulating his beloved commander, when he

covered with wounds.

Ebraums

Still

difficult for his

daring

spirit.
fell

have known many Sheik

in the service, but very few

The

James Grants.

next day, the 31st of March, we advanced towards the

we were

Gibraltar of these insurgents, and as

considerable time in

bring

it

it's

neighbourhood,

detained a

may

as well

at once to the reader's acquaintance.

PUNJALUMCOORCIIY,

An

irregular parallelogram, two sides of which were about

hundred

five

feet,

and the other two about three hundred

only, built entirely of

mud, of a very

quality, presented so very unwarlike

that

some of our

soldiers, at first sight,

kail yard, with a dike about it."

solid

and adhesive

an object to the eye,

The

compared
wall

it

to

" a

was generally

about twelve feet high, with small square bastions, and

very short curtains.

few old guns were mounted in

these bastions, and the whole

was surrounded by a thick

hedge of cockspur thorns, but no ditch.

it

at eight o'clock

* Ibrahim
it is

is

Arriving before

A.M., preparations were

the proper

instantly

name, but Englishmen pronounce

the Oriental designation of the

Hebrew

Patriarch,

it

made

Ebraum

Abraham.

REMINISGKNCKS.

1801.]

for

65

breaching the north-western bastion, with the two iron

twelve, and one eight-pounder, from a

hundred yards distance

fire,

bank about nine

and at half-past eight we opened a

though by no means so destructive as was anticipated.

The eight-pounder, indeed, a

foreign gun, tired so wikl,

that the shot seldom hit the fort.

guns were moved on

to another

At noon,

therefore, the

bank, about four hundred

yards from the wall, and continued playing

three,

when

was ordered.

had

also

ward

half-past

The two howitzers and two six-pounders

been

firing

on the

fort

from a bank to the north-

but the shells were so bad, and the fuses so miserfew of them burst, or did any execution.

able, that

The party

for assault

of the 74th regiment,

talion

till

the breach appearing practicable, the storm

company

was composed of the two companies

of the 3d

the whole line being close to

them, disposed to the right and

enemy's

fire.

heaviest

fire

approach

men

fell

under the

which we had not been able

rapidly, but nothing

impeded

made

surmount the breach, but

to

Every man who succeeded

in reaching the

to

their

even the hedge was speedily passed, and

peated attempts were

in vain.

keep down the

alacrity,

imaginable, from the curtains and five or six

our

to

left,

They advanced with

bastions, the defences of

demohsh

and a bat-

the native grenadiers,

all

reall

sum-

mit was instantly thrown back, pierced with wounds, from

both pikes and musquetry, and no footing could be gained.

At length a
of

retreat

wounded being
the

was ordered, and a

succeeded,

horror

left at

all

truly dismal scene

our killed, and

many

enemy immediately sprung, and pursued

VOL.

I.

of the

the foot of the breach, over which

the rear,

MILITARY

66

[A.D.

while others pierced the bodies both of the dying and the
dead.

The immediate defence

from eighteen to twenty

men

of the breach was with pikes,

feet long,

behind which, a body of

from an elevated spot, kept up a constant

fire,

moment a

confusion of the

howitzer was

breach, which was afterwards rescued

about

sepoys, under a

fifty

officers

and

several of the

officers,

and

five or six

fire,

by

which

near the

left

six officers

first

men, and wounded two other

And

men.

man who

ample stimulated the

rest

and

killed one of the

here let

me

record the

Mathew

personal bravery and devotion of Captain Nicholas

Smith, the

whilst

In the

others in the bastions took the assailants in flank.

reached the gun, and whose ex;

he was a

fine

honest fellow,

and a good soldier, but, with the noble James Grant and
several others,

he has since paid the debt of nature.

total loss this

day was four

killed ;

and thirteen

men, wounded

Of the

officers

officers

and two hundred and

fifty-four

besides several slight cases, not reported.

No

enemy's loss we had no account.

we gained a

Our

and forty-nine men,

safe distance

from the

fort,

sooner had

than the

formed, and encamping ground marked out

line

was

the nearest

part being at a distance of 1,500 yards from the walls.

We had a high ridge

rallel to

the

fort,

in the centre of the line,

placed in the rear, out of sight of the enemy.

were posted on the bank from whence we

to breach,

and

it

running pa-

and our ammunition and stores were

Our

first

picquets

attempted

was completely dark before we could get

under cover.

As

all

had

alike partaken in the dangers

and discomfiture

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

67

of the day, a dead silence reigned throughout our

we could then

only tribute

parted brethren
as to allow us

To

it's

])ay to the

and the enemy so

memory

line,

the

of our de-

far respected our grief,

unmolested indulgence.

mind accustomed

to think, our total failure of this

day was perfectly inexplicable, and how the breach was

defended appeared almost miraculous;

for

none of the

actual defenders ever shewed themselves above the broken

parapet, and certainly that was entirely destroyed, and a

made

practicable passage apparently

of pikes alone presented

itself to

pkin of

to the terre

Yet here a grove

the bastion, long previous to our attack.

our view

and the enemy

appearing in every other part of the works, exposing themselves without the smallest reservation, were constantly

shot

by our men, who were covering the storm, and

stantly replaced

by others

as con-

whilst they kept up a most

unnatural yell the whole time, from upwards of five thou-

sand voices, which only ceased with our

Of one

retreat.

hundred and twenty Europeans on the storming party,

only forty-six escaped unhurt; and, including
artillery,

the whole force.

to

make

officers

and

one hundred and six were killed and wounded of

the duty

derable time,

This was so very large a proportion, as

come heavy on the survivors

when our

disheartened

men

for

a consi-

required a con-

stant and undeviating example of that cheerful devotedness

to their duty,

which can alone secure the confidence of

soldiers in times of

Of

unusual

difficulty

and danger.

the 74th regiment, Lieutenants Campbell and Shanks

were killed
tenant

Captain Campbell mortally wounded

Fletcher

badly.

Of

the 3d,

Lieutenant

Lieu-

Egan

MILITARY

68
killed

[A.D.

Major Sheppard, Lieutenant Greaves, and Doctor

Of

Barter, wounded.

the 4th, Lieutenant Magnell killed

Of

and Lieutenant Clapham wounded.

the 9th, Lieu-

tenant Torriano mortally, and Captain Hazard wounded.

Of

Of

the 13th, Lieutenant Norris wounded.

battalion of the 14th, Lieutenants Elliot,

and M'Kay, wounded.

the 1st,

Brown, Wright,

should have mentioned, that a

body of one thousand Eteapoor Poligars, hereditary enemies of the Panjalumcoorchy race, had joined us on the

march, having a company of sepoys, and Captain Charles

Trotter, attached to them.

These brave and

made some unsuccessful attempts

other side of the

fort,

whilst

we were on

were repulsed with considerable loss

official

returns of their casualties.

proves

how numerous

The

st of April

lection, that

many

the west face, but

though we had no

This circumstance alone

the defenders

was ushered

faithful allies

an escalade on the

at

in

must have been.

with the painful recol-

of our late gay and cheerful companions

were lying at the foot of the breach unburied

of truce was consequently sent to the

mission to remove and inter our dead.

and unconditionally accorded

disfigured

and a

This was kindly

in the evening,

the enemy, setting us a bright ex-

ample of humanity, made not the smallest attempt

turb us, and

flag

and we then collected the

and gory bodies, and buried them

with military honours

fort, to entreat per-

we enjoyed

to dis-

a good night's rest; that of the

preceding having been any thing but refreshing.

Perfectly convinced that our present measures were utterly

inadequate to the capture of a place so defended.

Major Macaulay, who had shared every danger with

his

llaUv I'ulposI
J/lM/e

Reff'.eiK(-s

till

A A

liuik Ir

Hir

\lllirh

B. Thr f^inrl Bnlkrr

x/iu/i played
ft.

J'i H'limlri., .<

Wntt Fm-< t-rthf

JH /""A"

,'F- -t

u-helr <'/'thr

r^.t I. S P"

,,
'

irKiT,

/A

the

'P^

If,,,

'

(/,/,

If. Ilaill,.n

brtM/i Hit S. Fare vl

C. ?. /?

;'i.

llir

'i3

'

IV fltua.

.iilKinra/ nil

iBlirmrfi Ai- X.U'.Bajhim

D. Tht

Jiration vr

n die SI

MuHt

!
.

t,

i'

P~
Ueii

! ffriiu

1^

un

</.

!hr

the Stvrnunit tUrt\'

The

t'u-st

*^etviut

'i.

The

The

7.

(ntle iront
ii-OJ

.!.

7.

Bretuh

wbenee t^h<ne/

repubed

idt'or

Bent

nille,

in

Htmitrrn,

I7HSI. uilli <,ie,it

Abiraulavj Jtittion on the

tiuriiui

U*.

HreueJt

.'}i

Mm

the ^Lisaiill

thbiul AjtnetKf Jta/irn en the 2-f^

.1

Bewitzer leit in the Retreat.

reivftral

by 7

ttfricers X: Jt?

31 MarrA

Sepoy.

i!

aA

MILITARY

68
killed

[A.D.

Major Sheppard, Lieutenant Greaves, and Doctor

Of

Barter, wounded.

the 4th, Lieutenant Magnell killed

Of

and Lieutenant Clapham wounded.

the 9th, Lieu-

tenant Torriano mortally, and Captain Hazard wounded.

Of

the

Of

13th, Lieutenant Norris wounded.

battalion of the 14th, Lieutenants Elliot,

and M'Kay, wounded.

body of one

the 1st,

Brown, Wright,

should have mentioned, that a

thousand Eteapoor Poligars, hereditary ene-

mies of the Panjalumcoorchy race, had joined us on the

march, having a company of sepoys, and Captain Charles

Trotter, attached to them.

These brave and

made some unsuccessful attempts

other side of the

fort,

whilst

at

we were on

were repulsed with considerable loss

official

returns of their casualties.

proves

how numerous

The

st

faithful allies

an escalade on the
the west face, but

though we had no

This circumstance alone

the defenders

must have been.

of April was ushered in with the painful recol-

lection, that

many

of our late gay and cheerful companions

were lying at the foot of the breach unburied

of truce

was consequently sent

mission to remove and inter our dead.

and unconditionally accorded

disfigured

and a

and we then collected the

in the evening,

the enemy, setting us a bright ex-

ample of humanity, made not the smallest attempt

turb us, and

flag

This was kindly

and gory bodies, and buried them

with military honours

to the fort, to entreat per-

we enjoyed

to dis-

a good night's rest; that of the

preceding having been any thing but refreshing.

Perfectly convinced that our present measures were utterly

inadequate to the capture of a place so defended.

Major Macaulay, who had shared every danger with

his

'P'LA-i^

or KiraJAL-niVICDGXlCH-r.

RE.MINISCENCKS.

1801.]

and luckily came

troops,

sieo-e into

oft'

69

unhurt, determined 1o turn the

a blockade, as far as the actual state of affairs

would permit, and thus await reinforcements, particularly

of battering guns and ammunition

for this purpose, the

Pioneers, dooly-bearers, and

lascars,

make temporary

arms of the men on duty,

shelter for the

with small breast-works,

&.c.

were employed to

and the camp was regularly

formed, in an oblong square, having the ridge in the centre,

with a high tank bank

the

The

in

and a larger one,

left,

the rear
for

2d of April passed

Poligars several times

a tank of fine water on

watering
in

cattle,

on the

right.

quiet, excepting that the

called out,

when any

proached, and demanded an amnesty

of us ap-

declaring

their

readiness to obey the British government, and pay their

kists,

but protesting against the imprisonment of their

The reply we were

chiefs.
''

we could not

deliver

up

their chiefs,

all

instructed to give was, that

treat with rebels in

arms

that they

and lay down

must

their arms,

un-

This evening, while sitting at dinner, we

conditionally."

were suddenly saluted, about eight o'clock, by a shower

of bullets, and found the enemy determined to keep us

employed.

was remarkably dark, and we were not

It

aware of their numbers and intentions

when they were perceived

till

retiring, after

the

fully

moon

rose,

having wasted a

good deal of ammunition, and wounded Lieutenant Lyne

of the cavalry very sev^erely, and five men, in our camp.

From
tice.

this time,

We

on both

had

sides,

till

the 22d, nothing occurred worth no-

daily skirmishes, in

which a few men

fell

and our Pioneers, &c, were busily employed

in strengthening our outposts,

and

in raising a

kind of

70

MILITIARY

[A.D.

breastwork, to resist cannon shot, which the

camp from some

into our

old guns,

walls of the fort for that purpose.

enemy

sent

drawn out under the

At noon,

this day,

a heavy thunder-storm, accompanied by wind and rain,

suddenly assailed us
favourable

in

began to

fall

and as such a time was the most

which to oppose pikes

in

when,

to fire-arms,

in a twinkhng, the

we

thunder was

succeeded by the flash and sound of our six-pounder on

the most distant outpost, and a strong party dashed to-

wards

it

immediately.

This post consisted of a company

of Sepoys, with a party of artillery, and one gun, on the

bund of a

large tank, five or six hundred yards to the

southward of the

fort,

and one thousand two hundred from

our nearest post.

Lieutenant H. Dey,

ordered down, with a

company

who had been

of the 3d, to relieve a similar

party of the 9th under Lieutenant Clason, noon being the

time of removing

all

our outposts, observing an unusual

collection of clouds,

and sagaciously auguring therefrom

officer,

had very

to detain the other

company.

squall approached, beating in their faces,

and was

the probability of a storm, being senior

sensibly taken

The

upon himself

immediately followed by one thousand pikemen.

Our

poor fellows, assailed by two such enemies at once, strove

to give a

fire,

but hardly a musquet would go off; and

the gun, after being discharged once

enemy's possession.

The

Poligars,

the ordnance, than on injuring

eight

men

it's

only,

was

in the

more intent on seizing

defenders,

wounded only

of the party, and were pushing off with their

prize as fast as the

wet cotton ground would permit, when

our reinforcements appearing, Lieutenants

Dey and Clason

REMINISCENCES.

I.SOl.]

rushed back, accompanied by

many

71

we

of their men, and

succeeded in rescuing our cannon from the hands of the

Philistines, although

many hundreds more rushed

the fort to their assistance

out of

and, as the rain ceased, they

poured out multitudes with fire-arms, who being confronted as readily

by

similar

parties

from our camp, a

may

well say, ended in

general action ensued, which, I

smoke
ing

both parties making much noise, and neither do-

much

execution.

After about an hour's fighting, as

with one accord, the firing ceased

if

both parties retired to

count their casualties, of which the most serious

tally

must

have been ball cartridges.

This night, about nine o'clock, we were roused by
another thunder-storm,

when

all

hands were again beat

be discerned through the gloom, in the direction of

outposts

all

our

and now and then the report of a cannon added

to the horrors of the darkness.

pikes was

now

one could

tell

general attack with

anticipated in every part of the line, and no

what was going on, on

Our

anxiety

this,

from the violence of the

all

to

In a short time faint flashes of fire-arms could

quarters.

was

to preserve the
rain,

either side of him.

arms from damp

but

proved impossible, and

stood wet to the skin, enjoying, in delightful anticipa-

tion, a thrust

through the body from a pike, as sharp as a

razor,

and only twenty

ture a

body of two

feet long.

or three

At

this critical junc-

hundred men came rushing on

the line, with dreadful cries, and were within an inch of

being treated as enemies,

when they were

Pioneers, Lascars, and Coolies,

discovered to be

who had been

an intended battery, within four hundred and

at

work on

fifty

yards

MILITARY

72

[A.D.

of the fort, and, to their eternal disgrace, a few Sepoys,

who had shamefully abandoned

dismay

their posts in terror

The Pioneers had been exposed without arms,

tection
their

and

these latter were instantly placed in confinement.

had been actually assaulted

or

any pro-

in the battery,

sand bags, &c. carried off in triumph

and

nor was

it,

indeed, intended that they should attempt to defend themselves.

In about two hours the weather cleared up

though the numbers of the enemy, who had salhed

and

forth,

could not be ascertained, yet tranquillity was then restored,

and not again disturbed that night.

The next day, having only seen

three faces of the

fort.

Major Macaulay, determined on a strong reconnoissance,

and proceeded round

it,

out of reach of musquetry from

the walls, accompanied by the cavalry, and the 1st battalion cf the

mannea

The enemy,

3d regiment.

ever on the alert,

the walls, and sent a few cannon shot

among

us,

but did no damage, as they seemed to apprehend an assault on the opposite face

than they began

to

come

but we had no sooner passed,

out,

and attempted

to

impede

our return, though too late to interfere with our real design.

The cavalry having now,

gallopers,

therefore, merely gave

then we retired at

From

four

six-pounders as

them a few rounds, and

leisure.

this time

the 19th of

till

May, nothing remark-

every two or three days, skirmishes, pro-

able occurred

voked by our

followers,

ended in nearly the same manner

as those already mentioned

and we daily

lost

some men

without being sure of the damage done to the enemy.

Altogether, indeed,

we

lost

about sixty in

this quiet period.

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

which, considering

all

tion, for the Poligars

matters,

73

was a very small propor-

had now brought a nine-pounder and

a three to bear upon us, which they plied from the traverses of the north

and south

gates,

and much were we

debted to Providence for the numerous escapes

made

in-

in a

crowded camp, through which the shot ranged from front

to rear,

without doing

however, we were not

much damage.

daily sent a few dozens of

we

During

heavy shot into the

flattered ourselves could not fail to

which being about sixteen

feet high,

enemy, who did

and

We
fifteen

was an object of much jealousy

all

they could to retard

was about one hundred and

face,

might likewise an-

Here we placed a guard of

swer as a breaching battery.

it

which

hundred yards of the western

broad, within six

men, and

cannon

fort,

do execution.

also constructed a tower twenty paces long

sixty

this time,

since our

ourselves,

idle

fifty

it's

to the

progress.

It

yards from the old work,

which the enemy destroyed on the night of the 22d of

April;

and

when completed,

were mounted in

it.

About

the two

this time

the approach of Lieutenant-colonel

ments, and on the 21st of

May

twelve-pounders

we got accounts of

Agnew, with

reinforce-

he arrived with Captain

John Munro, Major of brigade, and Captain Marshall,

Private Secretary, and personal Brigade-major, and

on the point of attack.

We

imme-

were

fired

on while reconnoitering, and had two men wounded.

On

diately determined

the 22nd his Majesty's 77th regiment, under Lieutenantcolonel Spry, a

John

company

Sinclair, three

of artillery under Captain Sir

companies of the 1st battalion of the

7th regiment under Captain C. Godfrey, and four com-

MILITARY

74

[A.D.

panics of the 1st battalion of the 13th regiment under

Captain Townsend, also joined our camp, with four iron

eigh teen-pounders,

two

five-and-a-half,

and two four-and-

a-half inch howitzers, and abundance of ammunition.

In

addition to which, the 1st regiment of light cavalry under

Captain

Doveton, and one hundred and

J.

under Captain Whitley,

Malays

fifty

On

evening.

also arrived this

the 22nd of May, the Colonel having again reconnoitred

with

Sir

John

Sinclair

and Lieutenant Bradley of the

Engineers, determined on our post on the south bank, for a

breaching battery
this day,

by cannon shot

three people were killed

and we got the four eighteen-pounders and two

howitzers, with two six-pounders, into the battery.

I

must here mention, that our

rived yesterday, held the fort

tempt, and seemed to think that

who

fellow-soldiers

and enemy

much

in

we had not

ar-

con-

previously

done our duty.

On

the morning of the 23d of

May

at sun-rise,

we

opened two batteries at once, on the south-western bastion

of the

Our

fort.

tower, breaching, &c. with two twelve-

pounders and two howitzers

favoured

them with

while the grand battery

which soon demolished the

salvos

By noon

southern faces and saliant angle of the bastion.

the storming party

was ready

mandant took Colonel Agnew

old friend, persuaded

next day,

much

judgment.

The

prevent the

him

against
firing

all

aside,

but our old com-

and backed by another

delay the assault until the

what appeared

was

enemy from

morning the guns were

to

to advance,

to

therefore kept

him
up

repairing the breach.

his better

all

night to

The next

turned to demolish the defences.

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

and cut

off the

effected, at

half

breached bastion, which being completely

one o'clock P.

way down

75

M. having run

the tower guns

to the fort, the storming party

was ordered

to advance.

and a battalion company of

It consisted of the grenadiers

the 74th regiment, the grenadiers' light

battalion

company of the 77th,

4th, 7th, 13th,

company, and a

the grenadiers of the 3rd,

and 14th regiments, the Malays and a de-

tachment of the 9th.

Notwithstanding this formidable array, with the whole
force ready to

their duty,

back them, the defenders shrunk not from

but received our brave fellows with renewed

and the breach was so stoutly defended, that

vigour,

although the hedge was passed in a few minutes,

nearly half an hour before a

upon the summit

fired

man

it

was

of our's could stand

while bodies of the enemy, not only

on our storming party from the broken bastions on

both flanks, but others

sallied

the space within the hedge.

fifteen

round and attacked them in

At

length, after a struggle of

minutes in this position, the whole of the enemy in

the breach being killed

by hand-grenades, and heavy shot

thrown over among them, our grenadiers succeeded in

mounting the breach, and the resistance afterwards was of

no

avail

although one body of pikemeu charged our gre-

nadiers in the body of the place, and killed three of them.

Our

cavalry,

now under

the

command

of Captain Doveton,

with James Grant, barely recovered from his wound, had

been posted with four gallopers, near the eastern face, to

arrest the fugitives.

general panic

now

seized the

enemy, and they

fled

MILITARY

76

from their assailants as

had they got

fast as possible

clear of the fort, than they

columns, and thus retreated

solid

[A.D.

six

however, made good their

retreat,

in flank

and

rear,

and

The remainder,

hundred.

two thousand ultimately escaped.

but no sooner

beset, but not dismayed,

by our cavalry, who attacked them

succeeded in cutting off

formed into two

and a column of about

Four hundred and

dead bodies of the enemy were also found in the

fort

fifty

those

on former occasions having been disposed of outside,

killed

to the eastward.

Our

loss

on

this

day was Lieutenant

Gilchrist, of the 74th,

a remarkably fine young man, and a most gallant soldier,

who had

distinguished himself so much, as to be beloved

by the whole

Lieutenants Spalding and Campbell

force.

of the 77th, and Lieutenant Fraser of the 4th, killed.

Lieutenant M'Clean, Scotch Brigade, Captain Whitley

of the Malays, Lieutenant Valentine Blacker of the 1st

Cavalry, Lieutenant Campbell of the 74th, and Lieutenant

Birch of the 4th, wounded.

in

two

or three places

was always the foremost

until our trumpets
killed nineteen,

To

us,

in danger,

had sounded the

he would not
recall.

and wounded seventy-six.

twenty-four, and

including

Lieutenant Blacker was piked

but emulating James Grant, who

wounded

officers, of

who had

ninety-six

it

total,

suffered so severely in our unsuccessful

kennel was most acceptable

time

Natives, killed

making a

two hundred and twenty-three.

assault, a sight of the interior of this

first

desist,

Europeans,

abominable dog-

the more so, as this was the

had ever been taken by storm, though

quently attempted.

fre-

Nothing could equal the surprise and

REMINISCENCKS.

1801.]
disgust which

our minds at beholding the wretched

filled

holes under ground, in

men, and

contrived to exist.

To

picture.

which a body of three thousand

some time

for

No

had so long

their families also,

language can paint the horrors of the

shelter themselves from shot

had dug these holes

and

in every part of the fort

some might occasionally be out

place

77

shells,

they

and though

the eastward, yet the

to

must always have been excessively crowded.

The

north-west bastion, our old breach, attracted our particular

attention

and a description of

every other in this

It

fort.

the outside, and nearly square

thirty feet long,

it

will therefore serve for

was about

men

we breached was

and a parapet of about three

the summit, gradually increased sloping

centre,

which was barely

high on

fifteen feet

the face

feet thick at

down

sufficient to contain

into

the

about forty

the passage in the gorge being only wide enough to

admit two at a time.

originally

on a

level

The depth

in

the centre, being

with the interior, was increased as the

top mouldered down, so as to leave the defenders entirely

sheltered from every thing but the shells

we had

latterly used,

and

shot,

which

more by accident than design. These

were, of course, thrown over from the outside, and nothing

else could

have secured us the victory, since every

man

in

the last breach was killed, and the passage blocked up,
before our grenadiers obtained a footing above.
pikes, used in such a sheltered spot,
fully effective.

to the top

He could
tell

was

No

wonder, then, that every

instantly pierced

Their long

must be most power-

man who

got

and thrown down again.

never get at his enemy, and indeed could scarcely

from whence the blow was

inflicted.

The system of

MILITARY

78

[A.D.

defence adopted by these savages would have done credit to

any engineer.

Nothing could surpass

perseverance.

Had

fensive

it

but their unwearied

the bastions been solid, or their de-

weapons only musquets and bayonets, we should

not have had the mortification to

before

lie

and had our cavalry been more

months;

should not have had a continuance of this warfare

months

men

Before

making good

fugitive phalanx,

quit this place for ever,

it

must pay a parting

afterwards, I

my

plans and sketches

now

that

razed to the ground, and ploughed

exist, for it

Michael Egan, one of the

breach the

first

day,

fell

tribute to the

and a rush, not the most

carrying off a

behind me,

spot,

me by

was made, in the oppo-

this world.

The

Egan was

officer

impulse

first

his side, but ere I could reach the

fell

to rise

His mangled body was wept over

next morning, not only by his brother

every native

on looking

from the ground and run

he was piked through and through, and

no more in

we

in supporting, or rather

wounded grenadier of the 74th

rise

of

the retreat was sounded,

creditable,

was employed

saw poor Egan

left

memory

ever knew.

reach the top of the

a few yards pursued by pike-men.

might have

pierced through the body, and

When

thought him dead.

direction,

first to

was

over but a few months

all

one of the bravest and most cheerful fellows

site

it's

of the Murdoos.
I

being the only memorials of

all

we

for six

Sherewele, was there joined by twenty thou-

retreat to

sand

The

longer.

two

for

it

efficient,

and sepoy of the

officers,

corps.

but by

Michael

a manly, honest, and liberal fellow, with a frame

of iron, and wanting only a

little

more education

to

have

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

79
As, living, he

insured a rapid advancement in the world.

was beloved by every man who

knew him, so he was

la-

who now with an

mented by them dead, and the friend

aching heart, attempts to record his worth, paid the last sad
tribute to his remains,

when

interred

on the

field

Having already introduced one native

reader,

of battle.

soldier

the

to

cannot close the Panjalumcoorchy annals, without

making mention of another equally distinguished, and

equally unfortunate, in the successor to

Ebraum

but his conduct

forgotten

is

engraven on

this

native

memory, never

himself,

and at

pierced through

cut

down

last fell covered

with wounds, and

perfectly lifeless.

many

would extend

reasonable length

the whole

four or five of the

was afterwards found

others, but they

to be

now much

the foremost amongst the

still

officer

column more than once

enemy

my

emulating his noble commander,

enfeebled by his wound, but

enemy

Subadar Sheik

His name has escaped me,

of the body guard.

my

could mention

Journal to an un-

not having, however, done our Eteapoor

alhes sufficient justice, considering the share they took in

the whole service,

tive

shall conclude this part of

with the death of one of their chiefs.

my

narra-

Mortally

wounded, he desired that his body might immediately be

carried to

Major Macaulay,

rounded by his English

who was

officers.

The

at the time sur-

old

man, who was

placed upright in a chair, then said, with a firm voice, "

have come to shew the English how a Poligar can die."

He

twisted his whiskers with both hands as he spoke, and

in that attitude expired.

The

three companies of the 9th, under Captain Hazard,

MILITARY

80
being

left

[A.D.

with the Pioneers to destroy the

no means

to

fort,

a work by

be envied, on the 25th of May, the com-

pany of the 16th, under Captain M'Donnell, was sent ten

miles

off,

to garrison Tutucorine,

abandoned.

which the enemy had


REMrNFSCMNiJF.S.

ISOl.l

CHAPTER

81

III.

H'wr
SLirwishes of
ami Working pH/iies
Arrival of Woodia
Departure from Jungle,

ConliiuiiiHon

(if

the

Co)iicn/

I'dllgin-

Shin wile Jungle

Cttl/iiig

l/aouiih

the

the l'\i?(igiiig

Tiiver

the

(ind (trriiyil

at Ookoor.

POLIGAR WAR.

May

2Gth, the 1st battalion of the 3rd regiment, under

Major Sheppard, marched

to leave a party there,

to

Naglepoor, twenty-six miles,

and then proceed

to

Comery

and

on the 28th the whole force arrived at Naglepoor, where

the 2d battalion of the 6th, under Major Gray, immediately joined us.

On

the 29th of

May

a large body of the enemy being

reported to have invested Comery, the

body guard, and the

2nd battalion of the 6th regiment of native infantry were

ordered to proceed to join the 3rd
senior officer,

soon

fell

when Major Gray, being

assumed the command of the whole.

in with

They

the Poligars in considerable force, at-

tacked and completely routed them, relieved the place,

and returned, having only eighteen men wounded.

On the 2nd of June the force arrived

forty-six miles
for the first

from IVaglecherry

no mischief; they

at night, from a beetle tope in the

VOL,

enemy appearing

time from the Murdoo's country, fired on our

rear guard, but did

camp.

at Trippoo Wannum,

the

also

gave us an alert

neighbourhood of our

Here the force halted, and Major James Graham

I.

MILITARY

82

[A.D.

was detached with the 13th Native

heavy train

to

On the 4th

infantry, to escort the

Madura.

of June,

Major Graham's detachment return-

ing to camp, was attacked by the enemy in force, about three

miles

and the 74th,

off,

1st battalion of the 3d,

marched under Major Sheppard

enemy were, however, very

at

and cavalry,

The

to support them.

cautious, and could not be

come

having always the advantage of our infantry in speed,

and the ground not admitting of the pursuit of our cavalry.

Some

of them were killed, and

a few

men

On

only,

on our

the 7th of June

we returned

safe to

camp

being killed and wounded.

side,

we marched

to Tripachetty, only

eight miles and a half, but rendered tedious by a harrass-

ing attack from the

enemy on the

They were

road.

re-

ported by the flankers to be pushing over the river, to

gain a long and high tank bank, which completely com-

manded

we were advancing.

the high road, by which

Major Gray, with the 2nd battalion of the

six-pounders,

was ordered

and cover the

position,

take

to

line.

6th,

and two

possession of this

Unfortunately, however, he

mistook his orders, and went beyond

it

the consequence

of which was, from drawing up his corps in a most ex-

posed situation, the poor Major

lost his

own

life,

being

shot through the body, and his corps was very severely

handled

for

quitted the

who

drawing

bank

under Lieutenant Ryan, they

off

entirely,

and were

assailed

took immediate possession of

killed

and wounded

thirty

men.

it,

At

by the enemy,

and very speedily

this juncture Lieu-

nant Blacker 's troop, which had been in front of the

rear-guard,
firing

came up, and got

orders to charge a party

from behind a choultry, which they did

in a gallant

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

and succeeded

style,

enemy

up

sixty or seventy of the

during which skirmish Lieutenant B. received a

wound

slight

While

in cutting

83

this

in the leg near a

was going on

former one not quite healed.

and

to the left

rear, the picquets

were sent out to a village and tope,* in front of our

left,

under Captain Nagle, who took post there, and detached

two small parties under Lieutenants Parminter and Stewart,

to

keep the enemy at a distance

they then appearing

in

The former was attacked on entering

considerable force.

a small jungle, and his party, being overpowered, retreated

with some

loss,

leaving

him

to fight his

he certainly did most nobly

own

battle,

he had only a

which

common

regimental sword in his hand, with which miserable wea-

pon he successfully fought,

receiving five pike

came up with

wounds

he stumbled and

until

in his

fell,

body. At length a Poligar

musquet and bayonet, and making a push,

kindly intended for a coup de grace, the Lieutenant, although

pinned by the
effort,

left

shoulder to the ground,

made such an

that he not only cut the assailant across the legs,

but at the same instant wrenched the pike out of the

ground, and rose with a part of

it

fastened through his

His party, who had reloaded during

arm.

now rushed

to his rescue,

and the

rest fled

had

men

fifty

when he

killed

in astonishment.

this conflict,

his opponent,

Lieutenant Stewart

with him, and no sooner had he advanced

on the tope, under a heavy

fire,

and knocked down several of

which broke
his

his

jaw bone,

men, than the enemy,

about six or seven hundred strong, rushed out upon his

clump of

trees,

united with underwood,

an orchard, or
it

is tlien

forest,

called a jungle.

G 2

to

any extent.

When

MILITARY

84

and put them

party,

whom

officer in

them

ralhed

the

[A.D.

momentary

to a

men had

flight

but a staff

great confidence, rushing up,

an inst^it, and they returned to the charge

in

with a loud shout, and succeeded in putting their adver-

The picquets were then

saries to flight.

reinforced from

the camp, and by the time the rear-guard arrived, our

opponents were retreating in every direction.

Our

loss this

day was. Major Gray,

killed

Lieutenants

Blacker, Cole, Parminter, and Stewart, wounded ; and of rank

and

file,

On

we had

and

sixteen killed,

the 10th of June, having

thirty-five

made

wounded.

three easy marches,

with slight skirmishes, in which the enemy threw away

much ammunition,
abundance, we

set

as

if to let

know

us

leaving the river to our

and the road leading by high

left,

banks, water-courses, and jungle.

force,

they had a super-

forward through a very strong country,

The enemy

have annoyed our

line,

posed to them

the 3rd

till

the cavalry and gallopers were op-

came up, when Major Sheppard,

with his usual gallantry, immediately stormed

a very heavy and galling

smaller

bank behind

it,

fire.

pike-men, making a sudden

fired

by

up

effort to

rise

again

to their friends in the rear,

part of valour

is

for a

trial

body of

charge, they formed

The enemy being

to their thighs in water, very

sunk, never to

also, after

to the corps

by word of command,

tance of only fifty paces.

under

which they retreated, he im-

to

of steadiness most creditable

sections,

it,

There being, however, a

mediately pushed on, and gained that

and

great

in

having possessed themselves of a bank, which must

many

of

at the dis-

at this time

them

fell,

and

the rest with difficulty escaped

who, convinced that the better

discretion,

had retreated

at an

earlier

REMINISCKNCES.

1801.]

85

Here, covered by a deep jungle, they

period.

the battalion was recalled,

and

rallied,

leaving flankers on the

first

bank, to be relieved regularly to the end of the march.

As soon

enemy made

as the last party was withdrawn, the

a dash, and gained

treating troops

it;

poured

in

a heavy

fire

on the

and rear-guard, from under cover

another party rushed into the bed of the

a few of our men.

Not

satisfied,

river,

re-

whilst

and piked

however, with this

trifling

uniting their whole force, about three thousand

success,

men, they rapidly dashed across the

gained

river,

the

south bank, and attacked the rear-guard and reinforce-

ments under Captain Godfrey, which had been sent back

to

relief;

it's

and without

v.iiich,

probability, have been destroyed.

test,

it

all

was, we merely

of the

enemy must have

latter con-

fallen in this

and some were even killed within ten yards of the

gun with the rear-guard.

manded

it,

Captain Trotter,

and our

loss

Europeans and eighty-six natives,

Our

who com-

received a severe contusion from a spent ball,

uncommon magnitude

ten

As

a limber, arrack, cart, and barrel of ammunition.

lost

Many

of

the former must, in

situation in

on

this

kifled

march was

and wounded.

camp, near Pattianoor, was truly

irk-

some, from the nature of the ground on which our line was

The enemy

formed.

fired

small party posted in a

corner of the village

multitudes
so that

all

had they attempted

it

was

miserable Pagoda, at the

we knew them

to be

assembled in

about us, and we were surrounded by jungle

have succeeded,

though

a volley in the evening at a

little

for

to take the village, they

we had not

must

half enough to defend

too near the left flank of the

camp

to

it,

be

MILITARY

86

Added

abandoned.

[A.D.

to which, there

was a tank of great

extent, filled with jungle, in the rear of the head quarters,

which they could

easily

the midst of our line

Little

was

num-

where, from the immense

no small confusion reigned at

ber of our followers,

times.

have forced, and penetrated into

all

the rest, and short were the slumbers of

and never was the sound

the head-quarter line this night

of the general more welcome

to

my

than at four

ears,

o'clock next morning.

The next march brought us

of eleven miles, and here
plain,

we encamped on a

about half a mile from the

large and populous.

this

Permagoody, a distance

to

village,

fine extensive

which

is

march, and they offered no rudeness, which we

buted

to our

both

Very few of the enemy appeared on

having quitted the Murdoo's

attri-

He

territory.

had, however, lately visited the village, of which he had

taken possession in due form, and appointed a new

who thought

gar,

proper

to

Mony-

abscond on our approach.

Here we were informed by the inhabitants, mostly weavers,

that

all

army of
fore

miles

the Chiefs, Princes, and Sherogars, with the whole

the foe, were assembled to oppose us the day be-

and were further

off,

told, that

they were

on the other side of the

tirely to part

river.

company with such warm

still

about three

Not wishing enfriends

but at the

same time, most sagaciously suspecting, that we should

not both agree so cordially on the same side,

June 12th, we

same

side-

marched

to

Chatta Marum, on the

of the river, nearly twelve miles.

The

gallant

adherents of the Cat, and Chinna Murdoo, shewed some

desire to

impede our progress by

firing a-Ia-dislance

so

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

much

so,

indeed, that

compliment

and

after

we were

at

87

no pains

marching three

to return the

got further from their territory, they desisted entirely.

want of water here compelled us

of the

river, ere

of forage

On

may

we could

to dig eight feet in the

get a supply.

we

or four miles, as

A
bed

similar paucity

also be attributed to our harbingers.

the 14th of June

we reached Ramnad,

to cover that

part of the country, and gain information from Colonel

Martinz,

whom

have already mentioned, regarding the ap-

proaching campaign

here

we

halted, feasting for six days.

COMERY.
June 22nd, we encamped near Comery, about twenty
miles from

Ramnad.

This

is

a very strong and compact

;;

MILITARY

88

bank of the Palaraery

stone fort, near the eastern

it

[A.D.
river

has two entire walls, one considerably higher than the

other, nearly circular, with six

round bastions in each

good stone tank between the walls, and a granary and

magazine in the upper one.
pointed Commandant, with a

hundred Peons

now pass

Lieutenant Greaves was ap-

company

of the 3d,

and two

and abundance of ammunition and

over several days of

little

stores.

importance, and at

once bring the troops to Tricateoor, on the 24th of July,

where we encamped, and waited

to

be joined by another

under Lieutenant-colonel James Innes.

force

On

the

evening of the 25th, large bodies of the enemy were seen

passing to the north-westward, with palanquins, horses,

way

&c. which we presumed were on their

to dispute the

road with our reinforcements; and from daylight the next

morning, a heavy
direction

Colonel

in

firing

was accordingly heard

Agnew consented

to a strong

that

in

consequence of which, at eight o'clock

A.M.

detachment being

sent out to meet and assist our friends.

Having come

up with Colonel Innes's party about half-past

ten,

we

found him engaged, with the enemy hanging on his rear

upon which we allowed the whole

to pass us,

and then

joining the rear-guard, discovered the Poligars in possession of a high bank, covered with bushes, with an almost

impenetrable jungle in their rear, whence

off,

and covered the

the

Our

camp through an
loss

Frith,

this

wounded

we drove them

rear of the baggage, &c. returning to

excellent road in a deep jungle.

day was Captain Heitland and Lieutenant

;

five

and four Sepoys

Europeans

killed

killed

and eight wounded

and twelve wounded.

Colonel

1801.]

RKMINFSCENCES.

Inncs's detachment

encamped on our

them some of Tondiman's

burned

time

first

this

and

day used rockets

saw a poor Sepoy

with one sticking fast in his chest, from

to death,

which we could not extract

On

brinoing with

left,

Poligars, to act as Pioneers in

The enemy

the Sherewele jungle.

against us for the

89

the 28th, the

did not annoy us

nor extinguish the flame.

it,

enemy expecting us by another

route,

near our ground at Ookoor;

when

till

they attacked the rear guard, and very unexpectedly met

with a

warm

which

so

from a party under Lieutenant

reception

Parrel of the

Gth,

much

who gave

a volley and then charged,

disconcerted them, that no further oppo-

was experienced, and the troops arrived

sition

eleven o'clock, A.

M. The

in

camp

at

cavalry, under Captain Doveton,

being sent out after breakfast, to protect the foragers,

first

sent in for a party of infantry, and afterwards reported

enemy had taken

that four thousand of the

village

about a mile

to the

right

possession of a

when Major Sheppard

was ordered out with reinforcements

to their assistance.

On

our approach, however, they merely fired and retreated

when we gave them a few

shot from the gallopers, burned

the village, and returned to camp, with

night some of our followers set

and

entirely destroyed

on the other
session of
ever,

side, to

it,

found a

On

it

fire to

little

At

our picquets had been posted

prevent the enemy from getting pos-

and annoying our

far easier

line

these rascals, how-

method of securing

it.

the 29th, they allowed us to proceed two miles

without opposition, after which, we had

every

loss.

the village of Ookoor,

inch

of the road

the

to

manoeuvre

country we had to pass

MILITARY

90

[A.D.

through being most advantageously situated both

noyance and defence

on both

sides,

within niusquet-shot, and others beyond

them, flanked by thick jungle and palmyra

which

most favourable position they

themselves.

for an-

there being a continuation of banks

The

bank

first

of

trees,

availed

readily

two miles

to the right, about

and a half onwards, was stormed by Major Sheppard,

The enemy

the head of the advance guard.

Major did not give them time

briskly, but the

again ere the position was carried

to another bank,

we advanced, but

when they

to load

retreated

being driven from bank to bank

never entirely desisting.

guard did not come up

firing ceased,

at

very

and continued the same kind of warfare

during the whole march

as

fired

three o'clock

till

The

P.M. when

and we took possession of a strong

rear

the

line of

banks with hedges under them, facing Sherewele, and

forming a kind of pentagon

two banks running

the corps behind them,

stronger position.

whilst from the situation of

parallel to our flanks, so as to cover

we

could not easily have found a

The enemy continued

selves in all directions during the day,

disturbance at night.

Our

loss

tenant Bruce badly wounded

to

shew them-

but gave us no

on this march, was Lieuone European killed and

eight wounded, and two natives killed and twenty-four

wounded.

SHEREWELE.

On

the 30th of July

Murdoo's

we

capital, Sherewele.

obtained

possession

of the

Though we had but

a short

distance to go, yet expecting some hard work, wc took an

-Mm.i!Q.C3Dl
._IiLr'

.nUK,

SMUIi'lL^^WJh'LZ

REMINISCKNOKS.

1801.]
early breakfast,

and

set

advance consisting of

Malay

the

riflemen,

bank running
our

line, for

in

91

forward at eight o'clock

five

and

three

Native

regiments.

an easterly direction from the right of

about half a mile, and then turning to the

was crowned with the Sherogar's troops

north,

A.M.; our

hundred and forty Europeans,

had formed a very neat

little

down upon

centre of the northern arm, bearing directly

high road, which they expected us to take.

noitring this position. Colonel
division to be formed in
in flank, the other to

and they

battery for four guns, in the

Agnew

On

the

recon-

directed the leading

two columns, one

advance direct upon

to take the battery

it

accompanied by four 6-pounders, and the

the former was

by two

latter

12-pounders and two howitzers; upon which, the enemy

fired

a few shots, threw some ill-directed rockets, and

then retreated with their four guns, but being rapidly pursued, very speedily abandoned them.
great, that instead of offering

Their panic was so

any further resistance, where

nature and art had given them such ample means, the

enemy

set fire to their

own

houses, and scampered

off"

to

the deep jungle, leaving us to take quiet possession of a

burning town.
This march, which was at most two miles and three
quarters, took us exactly six hours to accomplish
first

P.

tent of the line

M.

The

was pitched

at half-past

fine extensive village of

and the

two o'clock,

Sherewele, almost de-

stroyed by the flames, which had spread with great fury,

accelerated

by a high wind,

fell

into our

hands without

opposition, although every house was capable of a sturdy

defence, and

it

had a very thick hedge

all

round

it.

MILITARY

92

The Murdoo's Palace, and

[A.D.

that of Shevatatomby, were

conspicuous for neatness more than grandeur, and though

small, were extremely solid

and well

one of which had an avenue in

it,

built.

The

streets,

were broad and regular,

and the whole town claimed a superiority over any

had

ever seen in India.

SHEREWELE JUNGLE.

On

the 31st of July

commenced our

operations in the

Sherewele, or rather Calliacoile Jungle, one of the thickest

and most impenetrable

Our

in the Carnatic.

Pioneers, and

the wood-cutters from the Tondiman's country, amounting

to about

two thousand men, under cover of two hundred

Europeans, the Malay riflemen, &c. with two six-pounders,

marched from the park

five,

P.

at ten o'clock, A.

M. having cut a broad

the direction of Calliacoile.

M. and returned

at

road of one mile and a half, in

A few

of the

enemy who sud-

denly appeared in front of the Europeans and Malays,

were

and ran

fired at

off,

which was the only shew of op-

position this day.

On

the 1st of August Major Sheppard set out at day-

light, at the

head of a foraging party, with cavalry and

field-pieces,

and went

right,

where he

fell

encamped on the

to a village

in with a

skirts of the jungle,

camped, leaving a small

behind them.

about two miles to the

few hundreds of the enemy,

The

tent,

village afforded

and the party returned

to

fired

and degrain,

abundance of forage

camp without

and wood-cutters also resumed

who

some bullocks, and

loss.

their labours this

covered by a detachment under Major

The Pioneers

M'Lcod

morning,
they cut

Can'pfromSo'Juiy

Shiriu&li

PLAN OF A MONIH

OPHRATIONS IN SIIEREWELE JUNGLE.

REMINISCENCRS.

1801.]

and returned

three quarters of a mile,

only two

men

much

killed, after

August 2nd.

95
in the evening,

on both

firing

The same working party went

by one hundred and

fifty

&c. under Major James

with

sides.

out, covered

Europeans, the Malay marksmen

Graham

but no sooner had they

reached the end of the road, unlimbered the guns, and

sent out flanking parties, than a

fire

commenced from the

jungle; and the Malays being beset, ran in towards

Europeans

who

in the centre,

them being

killed close to

tlic

could not prevent two of

Ensign Goupil, on

the gun.

the other flank, was also attacked at the same time

and

though his party behaved most gallantly, yet they were

One man, who was

killed with

Goupil, fired his master's pistol at one of the

enemy and

back again.

also driven

then threw

it

in his face, calling out

The Ensign was himself

assailed

" Am6kah,am6kah " *

!

by two pikemen

at once,

but defended himself so well, that though his clothes were

pierced through in several places, he

came

being joined by a Malay Captain and

made good
*

five or six others,

his retreat, though surrounded

The word

Ani'bkdh, in the

unhurt, and

off"

by the enemy .f

Malay language, means

and

kill;

it

is

always used by them in action.

f This

officer,

a Frenchman by birth, was a Royalist, and consequently

An

an emigrant.

accomplished gentleman, and truly brave soldier, he

had previously served as a Captain of cavalry in the unfortunate campaign under the

Duke

of Brunswick.

Being on a

visit

to

Major

Macaulay, when the rebellion broke out, he immediately volunteered

his

services;

shared
fall

my

and being

totally

spirit

frequently

for taking

with the Major,

the
till

field,

he

after the

when he obtained an Ensigncy in the Malay

Of a slender and delicate frame, his chivalled him into dangers, apparently beyond his

of Punjalumcoorchy,

corps belonging to Ceylon.

rous

unprepared

tent, living, as all the staff did,

-MILITARY

96

was now determined, that

It

to stand their ground,

[A.D.
enable the Malays

in order to

under such circumstances, they

should be armed with short spears as well as

rifles;

and as

they were individually able-bodied and brave men, they

would thus be more than a match

for their

In

opponents.

own country they have matchlocks and

their

daggers, the

latter called

a creese, being by far the most deadly weapon

of the two

whilst here, they had neither bayonet, sword,

Of

nor dagger, to assist their old rusty arms.

only three bodies were

left

the

enemy

dead on the ground, and they

must have been hard pushed

them

to leave

working party was molested the whole of

Our

there.

this day,

without further injury than three Malays wounded.

but

They

returned at three, P. M., after having cut six hundred

Some

yards.

however

of our followers venturing out too far, were

killed

and wounded, though they only thus met

the fate which their rashness seemed to have provoked.

On

the 3rd the same working party, covered

by a de-

tachment of Europeans and Malays, with four six-pounders,

under Colonel Dalrymple, again went out, and found the
Poligars had thrown up a breast-work, with one small gun,
in front of the road

strength
that

when

but upon the Colonel ordering his

and he was endowed with such romantic notions of honour,

I

came up

to congratulate

burst into tears, and exclaimed, "

and while

his

of admiration

him on

0,mon ami

wonderful escape, he

his

perdu

J'ai

mon honneur !"

conduct had been viewed with one general sentiment

by

all

who

witnessed

it,

had

the utmost difficulty to

persuade him that he had well performed his duty

and that no disgrace

could attach to the soldier, who, successfully defending himself against

such odds, had effected his

retreat.

He

perished

some years afterwards,

while nobly fighting in the disastrous expedition to Candy.

HKMINISCKNCES.

1801.]

97
any parties

into the

jungle, his opponents inunediately fled, taking their

cannon

guns

to be fired, before he sent forward

with them. The bank was then taken without opposition, and

The enemy

immediately demolished.
but with

fired briskly all day,

damage, as we had only two men wounded.

little

After cutting four hundred and thirty yards, the whole re-

The advantage

P.M.

turned at half past four,

of using

cannon instead of musquetry was to-day particularly

little

Our opponents

numbers, were, however, not

in great

in

avail

evi-

such thick jungle.

dent, the latter being of

idle

elsewhere, and they unfortunately succeeded in cutting off

some public

cattle

and followers

Woodia Taver came over

enemy, with

whom

all

to

e his escape

man seemed

This

acquainted with the means and

chiefs he

uncle of

from the

as he

the people posteu near our camp, to in-

tercept our communications.

fully

An

evening

he held a post of confidence under the

Murdoo, which enabled him

commanded

in our rear.

to us this

to

had betrayed, and gave Colonel Agnew much

and

useful information, respecting the state of the country,

the

mode

be

measures of the

of intended operations.

foraging party under

Colonel Innes went out, and returned empty-handed.

August

4th.

Our working party, with the usual detach-

ment under Colonel

who had taken

they were,
leaving

Innes,

fell

in with the

enemy

in force,

post in a trench, and gave a heavy

fire

however, immediately charged and routed

eighteen bodies on the ground.

wounded who were brought

into the

Three of the

camp and

dressed,

informed us, that all our principal opponents were in the

field,

excepting the Wella Murdoo

VOL.

I.

and were, by

all

MILITARY

98

much

accounts, so

[A.D.

astonished at the sudden attack on

their position, that they fled in all directions.

parties,

who

encampment,

left off firing early,

P.M.

other

having probably received

intelligence of the discomfiture of the

five,

The

used to take up different positions round our

main body.

At

the party returned, having cut five hundred and

eighty yards, and discovered a small tank of water in the

jungle to the

left,

and found many dead bodies of the

enemy, with broken pikes,

in their flight.

Our

&,c.,

loss this

which they had abandoned

day was four Europeans and

nine natives, killed and wounded.

Major Graham brought

On

in

foraging party under

abundance of supphes.

the 5th, our working party, covered

under Major Sheppard, met with

four hundred

and

forty yards

little

by an

opposition,

escort

and cut

the jungle getting

evi-

Only one man

dently thicker and harder to be cleared.

wounded.

August
party,

6th, the detachment

accompanying our working

was commanded by Major Graham, who found a

high bank, at the end of the road cut the day before, had

been scooped out and formed into a cover

for a large

body

of the enemy, where they had thrown across three separate

hedges, and got four guns to bear from

it

upon the

road.

This post they defended with great resolution, and killed

and wounded many of our men, whose determined braveiy,

however, nothing could repel, and their opponents were at
length put to

away

their

flight.

Their constant habit of dragging

dead and wounded upon

all

occasions, where

they were not too closely pursued, led us to suppose their

loss to

have been considerable, as their blood could be

IM'MINlSC^liNCKS.

1801.]

99

traced in every direction through the surrounding jinigle.

Our

was

loss

also very great

but after the bank was

stormed and taken, the work proceeded without oj)position,

and by the evening we had cut two hundred and

thirty-

seven yards.

August

7th.

A foraging party under Lieutenant-colonel

Dalrymple obtained a large quantity of straw without

The working party under

opposition.

being heard firing for

was sent out with a detachment

Little

wounded.
not a

He

Major M'Leod

upwards of an hour. Lieutenant

to bring

man had been

It

taken in flank, but the enemy succeeded

was

the

though the bank was

seriously hurt,

again defended, and again stormed.

their guns,

away

returned with the pleasing intelligence, that

and

all their killed

was

at length

in carrying off

and wounded.

The jungle

so impenetrable, that only one party under Lieutenant

King gained

their flank in time

another, despatched in

the opposite direction, under Major M'Pherson, did not

arrive

till

some time afterwards, or they would

secured the enemy's

offered,

guns.

No

and the party returned,

further opposition
after

have

was

having cut about

three hundred and fifty yards.

On

the 8th, the foraging party under Major Sheppard

again brought in a considerable quantity of straw

the covering party

under the

command

and by

of Lieutenant

Colonel Dalrymple, the bank was found again raised,

hedged, and defended, and was again gallantly taken in

flank.

The

right party alone, however, under Lieutenant

Fletcher, put the

enemy

to flight; since the left division

did not arrive in time, on account of the thickness of the

[A.D.

MILITARY

100

Poligars, on finding themselves likely to be

The

jungle.

down

outflanked, fired a volley

their position, our

Caliacoile, to
tinctly seen

loss

the road, which did no

Considering the strength of

damage, and absconded.

was very

The Pagoda of

small.

which we were working, was

this

day

by the covering party, who returned

dis-

after

cutting five hundred yards.

On

the

9th, our

working party was commanded by

Major Sheppard, who changed

opening

all

his

mode

of attack,

by

the guns, and throwing a few shells into the

work, by which plan he took possession, without the loss

In consequence of the very powerful and

of a man.

repeated impediments to our speedy advance, which this

bank had already thrown

fortify it as a post

out,

we were

to

and by the evening

day ordered

to

therefore, a toler-

able field redoubt for three hundred men, and three guns,

was completed and occupied before we came away, by a

fresh party from the

camp, under Colonel Innes.

It

was a

square of thirty yards, the south face being on the bank

towards Caliacoile, with an enormous tamarind-tree, of

such dimensions that we could not cut

it

down,

close to

it

from whence both Sherewele and Caliacoile were clearly

visible.

August
party,

10th.

Colonel Innes commanded

the covering

which experienced no opposition, and cut

dred yards.

Blackburn with supplies and a small force on

join us,

had been obhged

five miles

to

five

hun-

This day we had intelligence that Captain

to take post at

it's

way

to

Ardengah, twenty-

to the north-east, not being sufficiently strong

force his

way

to the

camp.

Major M'Pherson, with

RliMlNlSCENCES.

1801.]

101

one hundred Europeans and two hundred Sepoys took post

in the redoubt.

On

the

1th, a foraging party

under Colonel Dalryniple,

returned unmolested with abundance of provender; and

the working party, under Major M'PhersOn, had only a
slight opposition,

and cut four hundred and

From the appearance

of Caliacoile Pagoda,

fifty
it

yards.

was con-

jectured to be only one mile and a half from the end of

the road.

On the

12th, the working party under Lieutenant-colonel

Dalrymple met with

hundred and

opposition,

little

fifty yards.

and cut about four

There was a good deal of

firing

at our picquets, but without injury; and from the very

heavy thunder storms, with

we

rain,

from the south-eastward,

sent out an old officer's tent to secure the arms of the

men

advanced redoubt.

in the

On the

3th, a foraging party under

our Eteapoor

allies,

Major Sheppard, with

went about eleven miles

to the north-

westward, and were attacked on the march by the enemy,

who were
camp

so very daring as to seize

followers,

some of our straggling

and taking advantage of the banks,

kept up a constant

fire, till

the Major charged

the Europeans, flanked by the cavalry, and drove them

The

cavalry, however, served for

would not admit of

their acting.

shew

&,c.

them with
off.

only, as the ground

At length the enemy,

becoming more cautious, attacked the Eteapoorians only,

who behaved with

far

great spirit and steadiness, and though

outnumbered, repulsed them every time, having the

advantage of our ammunition, which was served out to

them.

Of

the

enemy, we calculated that

at least

two

MILITARY

102

hundred were

killed

close to our guns,

[A.D.

and wounded,

for

they even came

which were by no means

nant Graham of the Bengal

orderly, each shot a

artillery,

idle.

man within fifty paces and

;

frequently fired by platoons,

Lieute-

and Major Sheppard's

the Sepoys

when crowds were opposed

them. The working party, under Major M'Leod, had

opposition,

and cut two hundred and fifty yards

to

little

the jungle

getting thicker, and the trees harder, as they advanced.

August l4th.The working party, covered as usual,

under Colonel Innes, cut three hundred and

and saw the Pagoda very

distant.

We

had a great deal of

but without injury on our

On

distinctly, only
firing

fifty

yards,

about one mile

during the night,

side.

the 15th, the working party, under Major Sheppard,

on their arrival at the end of the road, returned a can-

nonade from three guns, which we could not

had been admirably brought

to bear

same time, a heavy and constant

fire

upon

see,

it

but which

while at the

of musquetry, match-

locks and jingalls, was kept up from bpth flanks and rear

but being

ill

levelled, the balls

mostly flew over our heads.

After some delay, therefore, finding that, the

at length got the exact range,

suade the wood-cutters to work

force

was not

it

and aware,

sufficient to cover

enemy having

was impossible

to per-

also, that his

them, and dislodge our

opponents, the Major resolved to return to the redoubt, to

save the lives of his men.

We

subsequently ascertained

that the shot from their guns proceeded from a spot about

two hundred yards

camp

On

to the right

and we did not return

to

until relieved at the redoubt in the evening.

the 16th, the working party under

Major M'Leod,

RKMINISCENCES.

1801,]

advanced

in

103

two columns, without guns, and penetrated

with difficulty to the front of the bank, from whence the

enemy had

in

day before

fired the

strongly, both

by nature and

but found

art,

fortified so

it

that after a long struggle,

which only a few of our men could advance

and during which they were exposed

to a

heavy

at a time,
fire,

with-

out seeing their opponents, the enterprise was abandoned.

It

proved to be a high bank, sloped

abattis,

and thorns scattered

from which the guns

August
in

17th.

still

Neither

at

down with a

some distance

continued to impede the work.

our foraging or working parties

Sherewele met with any opposition.

ing party in advance was formed into

which proceeded

thick

in front,

The other work-

t\\

o columns, one of

direct, while the other,

composed of one

hundred and sixty Europeans, and four hundred Sepoys,

cut a small road, about one thousand two hundred yards,
to the right,

came back

other

The

and then returned.

the high road, kept

;

up a constant

when

first,

remaining in

of cannon

fire

getting a report that

the

till

their

all

water was expended. Major M'Pherson determined to

tire,

having already sent the Pioneers,

under an escort of Sepoys.

It rained

the march of this small party, and

the

enemy were content

to their

knowledge and

to

it

re-

camp,

very lucky that

weapon

abilities, fire-arms

though they made a great noise, they did

On

to

very heavily during

think

use the

back

8cc.

least
;

adapted

with which,

little

execution.

the 18th, our working and covering parties, under

Colonel Innes, followed the small road

made

the day pre-

ceding, and cut five hundred yards further, where, cross-

ing a high

bank, they were exposed to a heavy

fire.

MILITARY

104

without seeing their opponents

and wounded

[A.D.

several

men

were killed

and Colonel Innes himself had a very

here,

narrow escape.

On

Agnew having determined

the 19th, Colonel

the enemy's cannon, a select party was

to take

formed under

Captain Weston, composed of about eight hundred men,

Europeans and Sepoys, with two six-pounders, and some

Pioneers, under Captain

We

Bagshaw and Lieutenant Gordon.

pursued the same route which Colonel Innes had

gone the day before

and being ordered

from which he had been so

to avoid the

much annoyed,

south-east, about two hundred yards to the

a bank about sixty yards onward.

first

It

left,

and came

to

was here the enemy

shewed signs of disputing the road with

Weston accordingly posted one

bank,

cut off nearly

us,

of our guns

and Captain

upon

it

mov-

ing forward the rest as fast as the Pioneers could cut, which,

from the extreme density of the jungle, was a work of much

time and labour.

enemy

fired

Whilst we were thus occupied, the

several sarabogies,^ evidently as signals for

the assemblage of their whole force in our neighbourhood,

since
hour.
firing

all

remained peaceable for the ensuing quarter of an

At

length, at about half past ten, a tremendous

opened

all

round

us,

and we could not perceive one

of our opponents, although evidently within a few yards of

them.

Having ascertained, however, that they were

still

advancing on our right flank, our men were formed four

deep, facing outwards, with a gun on each flank, and oc-

cupying the whole road.

*

in war.

When we

could perceive them

species of park guns, for firing salutes at feasts &c., but not used

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

105

within ten yards, our tiring commenced, the infantry

sitting,

by which plan many

damage done
in, for their

to the

own

lives

who

deluded crowds,

ceeded, but the firing

thus

hemmed

us

Screams and groans suc-

destruction.

continued on their side, for

still

when

about twenty minutes,

all

were saved, and more

all

was hushed, and we

pushed on, and gained another broad and high bank,

Here Captain Weston consulted

covered with jungle.

the other officers, as to the propriety of

such ground,

still

which we had ventured

as

so far

we should by advancing,

we had

the road

We had

moving further

left,

when

that

it

was determined,

enemy time

give the

we should

then only cut about one hundred and

sibly ascertain, instead of being as

were about

noon, therefore,

and

in

six

to

occupy

return forthwith.
fifty

yards

we could

the whole morning, and the guns, as far as

left flank,

pos-

we had expected, on our

hundred yards

we commenced our

At

in our front.

retrograde movement,

two hours reached Colonel Dalrymple and the

working party, a few hundred yards in front of the

doubt.
this

in

uncertain where the guns might be, for

re-

Mortal men could hardly have done more than

small party, but Colonel

Agnew, confidently

ing on the capture of the enemy's

calculat-

guns, and thereby

shortening the labour and time of our advance on the

capital of our extraordinary opponents,

pleased or satisfied with our return.

were opposed to us, and

who were

new

was by no means

Of

the

enemy who

probably from fifteen to

twenty thousand men, numbers must have been destroyed

while our loss was only one

man

killed

and four wounded.

Colonel Dalrymple with the working and covering party in

MILITARY

106

who were

the main road,

[A.D.

waiting for our signal of the

capture of the invisible battery, to push on and join us

there, of course

heavy rain

August 20th.

returned

we

after

We

disappointed.

A foraging party under

went a long way

had very

got home.

to the

Major M'Leod,

eastward, and returned at noon

with abundance of supplies.

They saw

tents

several

We

pitched in the jungle, but met with no opposition.

had no working party out to-day, but Major Sheppard

with one hundred Europeans and five hundred Sepoys,

was

at the redoubt from sun-rise

till

evening

any consequence was done, and there was

nothing of

little

firing,

excepting at our outposts.

On

the 21st, a working party under Major Sheppard,

cut a road to the

left,

and two hundred

thirty feet broad

long, opposite to the former one to the right.

a good deal of firing without

There was

much damage, and we had

as

usual, a heavy rain in the evening.

On

the 22nd, a foraging party under Major Sheppard

went out ten

miles,

and returned with plenty of straw

enemy accompanied us
deal,

but did

mischief.

little

the

at a little distance, fired a great

Major M'Pherson did but

little

The working party under

work, and we had again a

very wet evening.

August 23rd.
cavalry,

Colonel Innes's detachment, with

marched towards Tremium,

the camp, which

to

were

now much wanted

tappall* was despatched with them, the

*

The Post throughout

Bombay

at

Bengal and

is

therefore called going

it

the
is

Madras Presidency
styled

Dawk

all

the

to bring stores, 8ic.

first

is

a large

we had been

designated Tappall

and travelling expeditiously

by Tappall, or by Dawk.

1801,]

RKMINlSCliNCKS,

able to send since

we

107

Ookoor, being completely sur-

left

rounded, and our communication entirely cut

last

By

twenty-five days.

tenant-colonel Dalrymple,

Major Grant, Doctor

Lieutenant Campbell, being

mission to quit the camp.
tain N.

M. Smith went

oft'

all

for the

opportunity also. Lieu-

this

on the sick

Tait,

list,

and

got per-

covering party under Cap-

out and cleared the ground round

our post, and another smaller redoubt, about twenty paces

by

fifteen,

was

also constructed at the

the road leading to the jungle, for a

commencement of

company

the communication with the advanced redoubt.

was likewise removed about

six

to

keep up

The camp

hundred yards nearer

Sherewele, the Pagoda of which had been carefully

fied,

and throwing back the wings,

it

forti-

formed a paral-

lelogram, having the village for one face, exactly in the

rear of the

centre.

At about half past ten the enemy

opened three guns upon

us,

from a bank

to the left of the

old ground, formerly occupied by a picquet s:;uard, but the

shot

fell

mostly short, and before a party could assemble to

take the battery by storm, the guns were silenced and

withdrawn.

On
cleared

the 24th, a working party under Major Sheppard,

away some more ground round the redoubt, and

returning in the evening, were fired on from both sides

of the road.

We

had taken out with us a

light

gun

vented by Captain Sadler, not being accustomed to

management, one of our own Pioneers was

first

by

discharge.

all

killed

init's

by the

The gun was consequently condemned

hands, and consigned to oblivious silence for ever

afterwards.

MILITARY

108

On

[A.D.

the 25th the jungle party under Major M'Pherson

worked near the redoubt, and

in the evening the redoubt

party was attacked on both sides of the road

the

enemy

being more daring than usual, even came into the road, in
front

and

rear,

where they kept up a heavy

working party was

One

camp.

return to the

and though he was cut through, yet

companions carried him

On

whilst the

fire,

it's

of the Poligars was killed by our gun, in the

road, close to him,

his

upon on

also fired

off.

the 26th, nothing particular occurred

and on the

27th, two working parties v/ere employed in the jungle,

in front

and

to the north

Sheppard marched

him and

to

whilst a detachment under

We

camp.

his supplies safe into

patore, fourteen miles distant, at seven,

Major

and bring

reinforce Colonel Innes,

reached Trip-

P.M. and

slept

on

our arms.

On

the

28th,

a firing in

Tremium

the direction of

warned us of Colonel Innes's approach, and we accordingly proceeded to join

him

but receiving orders to

re-

turn and secure the Fort of Trippatore as expeditiously

as possible, the Major, leaving a detachment with Colonel

made

Innes,
arrival.

Our whole

the old fort

all

on the

On

a dash, and regained

force then

where the heavy

it

before the enemy's

encamped

in

and about

rain in the evening kept

us

alert.

the 29th

we marched

forming the rear-guard.

at day-break, our detachment

We

had much skirmishing on

the road, but reached the village of

good time, and encamped close to

some banks

in the

neighbourhood.

it

Pattimungulum

in

taking advantage of

RKMINISCRNCRS.

1801.]

As

this

was the

109

opportunity the enemy could have

last

of preventing the junction of our much-wanted supplies,

the morning of the 30th of August found us forming the

enemy

rear-guard, as before, and the

road, to

impede our advance.

undisciplined savages could do,

casion

on the

at their posts

Indeed, every thing that

was attempted on

this oc-

they lined every bank and eminence on both sides

of our march, and one party was no sooner beaten, than

another appeared.

Still their efforts fell far

might have been expected

short of

and we now began

our old opponents, Catabomia Naig and his

what

to suspect

dumb

cousin,

with the Panjalumcoorchy Poligars, were either absent or

Their numbers and

destroyed in the previous actions.

perfect

knowledge of the ground gave them great advan-

tages over us,

and

also

who had

Woodia Taver,

in place of the

to protect a very large convoy,

new

Murdoos.

who was

chief,

to

be set up

The Scotch brigade formed the

advanced guard, and the principal work of the day

engaged from day-light

till

for

any party of

to

constantly

half-past twelve,

when we

reached the camp at Sherewele.

common

fell

who were

them, and to our party in the rear

our's,

had now become

It

however few,

to

dash at

any number of the enemy, who appeared near enough, and

quite as usual, for

them

to

run away

their

were very careful to keep out of our reach

they never
killed

fired

made

guns they

and though

harder than in this skirmish, yet the

and wounded of

exceed forty or

fifty

all

men.

descriptions on our side did not

Many

of their balls, also, were

of pewter, which hit without hurting severely.

The

weather being extremely sultry, the one thousand four

MILITARY

110

[A.D.

hundred gallons of arrack, three thousand bullocks' loads

of rice,

by

and various other supplies which were received

this convoy,

were most welcome reinforcements.

In the evening the new sovereign of

Woodia Taver, paid

country,

this

his first visit to Colonel

Agnew, ac-

companied by an elder brother and an old Brahmin

mutual compliments, he returned

after

to his

He was

pitched in our head-quarter hne.

when

own

tent,

a good-looking

man, but discovered considerable embarrassment and want

of familiarity with that dignity to which chance and the
British

Government had

whatever the motives of others might be in

we gave him

He

so unexpectedly raised him.

appeared very grateful for the attentions he received

and

this elevation,

credit for sincerity, in his appreciation of our

exertions to raise

him from obscurity and penury,

to the

rank of a Prince, and the revenues of a kingdom.

It

was to-day resolved

to quit this place,

without further

prosecuting our attempt to reach Caliacoile, from the Sher-

wele side

and the rejoicing was unanimous, at the pro-

spect of leaving a place which had been the grave of so

many
we

of our brave comrades.

lost, in

Even the honour which

abandoning the labours of a whole month, was

forgotten, in viewing the comparative facility

opposite direction held out.

and many

were suffering from diarrhoea

indeed, both officers and

while even those

who

which the

Our camp had become

men bad

sickly,

and dysentery

died of this vile scourge

continued to enjoy good health,

were heartily sick of a standing camp, in a spot entirely

devoid of vegetation or verdure, where the only green that

met the eye was the impenetrable

forest, in

which we had

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

been

by cowards

foiled

Ill

of such a persevering nature,

however, that although beating

them every hour, they had

succeeded so completely to surround us, that we could

neither send a letter, nor receive one, even from Pallamcottah, for a whole month.
to elude
I

their vigilance,

Many attempts had

but

been made

believe every one failed.

had myself given a friendly Poligar, who, knowing the

people and every inch of the country, had volunteered the

adventure, an advance of five pagodas, with one small

letter

and he was on delivery

have received a similar

to

sum, equal in the whole to four pounds sterling

my shame

and sorrow,

and

to

afterwards learned, that though

he set out in a dark night, he was discovered and put to

death, within a few miles from our camp.

August 31st.

A foraging

party, under

Major M'Leod,

went out about twelve miles, and returned almost empty-

They were

handed.
four

men

On

killed

fired at

on

their

way back, and had

and wounded.

the 1st of September, a working party was sent out,

with the usual escort, to destroy

handiwork

in the jungle,

all

which they

our thirty-two days'

fully accomplished,

demolishing the redoubts, and burning

in their
to

neighbourhood

all

by

the brush-wood

and returned with the out-guards

camp, without opposition.

On the
marched

morning of the 2nd of September, our whole

to

force

Ookoor, from whence we had advanced in the

end of June, and arrived there by noon, without molestation.

villages

Here the head men of some of the neighbouring-

came

sovereign

in,

and paid

and some

their

villagers also

respects

to

the

new

brought fowls and eggs.

MILITARY

112

[A.D.

and claimed immunity and protection.

strongly suspect

a majority of our late opponents in the jungle were people

of this description
try to the

enticed

away from a life

by exaggerated accounts of the

pillage.

of quiet indus-

more gaudy and unprofitable profession of arms,

delights of rapine and

RKMINISCENCKS.

1801.]

CHAPTER
of the Poli^ur

Co/itiititatiun

War

113

IV.

hiauiiurutioii

of Woodia Tuver

Captwe of the Temple of Perulnnallee

The Pagoda of Culiacoile,
Their Capture
I "elli Murdoo and Cheercu Murdoo, the Rebel Chiefn

and Fate.

POLIGAR WAR.

Our

main

force remaining

encamped

at Ookoor,

on the

morning of the 3rd of September, a foraging party went

out under Captain Charles Trotter,

abundance.

and

staff,

and returned with

Another party, as an escort

marched through a broad road

to Colonel

Agnew

in low jungle, to

a large village, called Sholaveram, three miles south-south-

west of our camp

having a capital Pagoda at

north-

it's

western extremity, and the ruins of a square

mud

The Pagoda

wall

was

strong and perfect, forming a square of from forty to

fifty

within two

hundred yards of

yards, and twelve feet high.

south,

was

clear

ground

it.

To the

fort,

north-east, and partly

for nearly a mile in extent,

having

the famous city of Naulcot.tah at the other extremity of

the south face, which

is

consequently a mile

ancient sovereigns of this country,

now

called

off.

The

Marrawah,

were originally styled Naulcottah Rajahs; and

it is

still

supposed that the sanction and patronage of the head

men

[A.D.

MILITARY

114

now

of this

insignificant village,

necessary to any Rajah

is

of this extensive country.

Taver, styled by the Madras government the

Woodia

" Zemeendaar of

Shevagungah," having

homage' of these king-makers

bring

to

received

we

left

the

they promised

the inhabitants back to their houses,

all

Captain Smith being

the Pagoda,

day,

this

and

with two companies to garrison

returned to

camp

though another party,

sent in the evening to relieve him, was fired upon, on the

march back, but had only one man wounded.

September 4th.

enemy occupied a

Intelligence

being received that the

two miles

village in force, about

to the

Major Sheppard was ordered out with a party

right.

We

dislodge them.
diately

marched

met by the Poligars,

at day-light,

whom we

to

and were imme-

successively charged

from two banks, and pursued to the skirts of the jungle.

In the village, which they politely relinquished at our

approach, we found a large supply of grain, which the

detachment

eftectually covered, until

to remove

camp.

to

it

which being

where they encamped,

their

ground

to cover the

work-

ordered to strengthen and fortify the Pagoda.

On

the

-Sth

remarkably

we

fine

lost

Lieutenaat Scott of the Artillery, a

young man, and an

excellent officer

on the 6th a foraging party brought

September 9th.
for

were brought

moved

Colonel Innes's detachment

to Sholaveram,

men

cattle

by noon, we returned

effected

Major

in

some

Graham marched

and

at day-light

Madura, with the sick and wounded men and

and here

supplies.

officers

took leave for ever, in this world, of one of the

warmest-hearted and kindest souls

ever knew,

poor

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

James Graham

115

who, though himself hovering on the very

brink of the grave, would not consent to quit the

Agnew,

until Colonel

command

this

weak

very

He had

detachment.

the party which

it

joined the

enemy on

man gave him

heroism and science,

in a

full credit

Au-

the 6th of

had preyed on a mind of the keenest

although every

army

met with such unlooked-for

serious resistance from the

gust,

field,

put him in orders to

medical advice, and having

state, contrary to

commanded
and

to save his life,

sensibility

for a display of

be expected in an invalid;

little to

may

and

to his great personal exertions

also

be attributed that increase of nervous debility, which

so speedily terminated

Madras army of one of

Of

of glory, and deprived the

life

it's

on that occasion

best officers.

the superstitions of the East, that of regulating

all

movements of consequence, by
positions,

attention to particular local

and the observation of what are called lucky

days,

and even hours,

often

attended with

is

the

the most ridiculous, and

is

too

most injurious consequences;

though on the present occasion, however, nothing disastrous occurred.

The Brahmins

in our

camp and

vicinity

having fixed on the 12th of September, as an auspicious

day, for the inauguration of the

new Sheragar

of Sheva-

gungah, his Highness Woodia Taver rose with the

adorned himself like a peacock, and moved in state

Pagoda of Sholaveram, escorted by the

2nd battalion of the 6th regiment
religious ceremonies to perform,

Colonel

Agnew and

staff, in
I

we

full

staff",

lark,
to the

and the

where, having various

left

him

till

noon,

when

costume, proceeded with

MILITARY

116

an escort of cavalry,

first to

[A.D.

Colonel Innes's camp, where

he joined the cavalcade, and thence to the Pagoda

gate of which

Woodia

temporary pandall
tary having

for

met us

Taver's tent

The embryo

our reception.

Agnew,

here, Colonel

at the

was pitched, with a

after the

digni-

custom-

ary salutations, presented him with a superb dress

at

the same time giving his brother a similar one, but of

much

They then

less value.

shortly afterwards

with a

men

Howdah

returned,

elephant, and
dressed in

they were greeted

retired into the tent,

the cavalry having been

and

drawn up,

military band, the

great

their robes of honour,

when

by a concatenation of sounds, pro-

duced by our band,

in conjunction

musical instruments

in

with various native

which the warlike collery-horn and

noisy tomtom, were the most conspicuous for execution.

On

their arrival at the front of the pandall. Colonel

on his right, and Colonel Innes on his

Rajah

and seated him on a carpet

in,

his brother

on

his left

in a semi-circle,

we

hand

all

sat

left,

Agnew

handed the

in the centre, with

when, our chairs being placed

down

opposite to them.

All

being at length adjusted, and silence obtained, a matter of

considerable difficulty, a scribe read aloud the proclamation of

said "

Government, announcing the appointment of the

Woodia Taver,"

gungah

Agnew, he folded
priate

who

to be

''

Zemeendaar of the Sheva-

Then, handing the deed to Colonel

districts.''
it

up, and presented

and congratulatory speech,

it,

to the

with an appro-

new Zemeendaar,

expressed his gratitude in a very eloquent and feeling

reply.

salute of eleven

guns was then

fired,

and the two

RK>nNISCENCES.

1801.]

117

Colonels liaving handed the Prince into his howdah,* the

officers all

re-mounted, and the cavalry formed an advanced

and rear-guard, with drawn swords, having the elephant

and

The procession then

staff in the centre.

a flourish of trumpets

started, with

and a march from the band

the

native music struck up, and a peal of shouts and shrieks

from

the Poligar and collery attendants rent the

all

After passing

all

cade stopped at the exact spot from whence

Woodia Taver was again handed

with gratitude

at once, unable

saw a

tear run

any longer

movement and

set out,

and

by the

actually overpowered

down

and

his cheek,

all

to suppress his honest feelings,

he arose, threw himself at Colonel Agnew's

braced his knees

it

into the pandall

The new Prince was

two Colonels.

air.

round the Pagoda and camp, the caval-

and em-

feet,

whilst his brother, by a simultaneous

feeling,

embraced the knees of Colonel

Innes.

The scene had now become

own

I felt

truly interesting,

was concluded, by our taking leave and

Zemeendaar remained,
his future subjects
five,

P.

On

to receive the

who had come

M. he came back
the

to

2nd

command

retiring.

homage

it

Tlie

his original escort.

Lieutenant-colonel Spry

of the 1st battalion of the

battalion of the 13th, from

Madura, bringing

carriage, or litter of various dimensions, fitted

the state-carriatre of the Sovereign.

having

on the back of an

elephant for the accommodation of Princes, or great natives

it is

must

of the few of

abundance of supplies, both public and private

*

over to our side; and at

camp, with

14th of September,

returned to camp, in
4th, and

and

a sensation almost amounting to regret, when

in courts,

[A.D.

MILITARY

118

the cavalry at Vellatore, with Captain Trotter, and the

left

Eteapoor

bring on our long intercepted Tappall.

allies, to

Captain Whitlie, of the Malay corps, and Lieutenants

Fletcher and Vigo, having recovered of their wounds, with

a few recovered men, also rejoined us by this opportunity.

It

having rained hard every evening since the 6th, the tanks

were

filled,

and the country

round began to assume a

all

Lieutenant Dewlin, of the Malay corps,

verdant aspect.

died this day of dysentery.

On the
infantry,

15th, Lieutenant Pepper, with two companies of

was sent to join Captain

Trotter,

who was

at night to Keelvelavoo, to surprise

to proceed

collery at that village

whilst at the

other village,

in

same time Captain

to seize another chief,

Chambers was despatched

the same

ordered

a head

and an-

neighbourhood, both parties

uniting after the service should be performed.

On

the 16th,

we

received accounts that they

had entered

the villages at midnight and seized some prisoners,

were sent

who

camp, but that the head men, having been

to

apprised of the approach of our detachments, by lights

and

fires all

along the direction they were marching, had

effected their escape.

PERAHMALLEE.
September 17th.

Pepper returned to

Our two companies under Lieutenant

camp

termined on paying a

marched

at day-light,

at Vellatore,

and Colonel Agnew having de-

visit to

Perahmallee, a detachment

and joining Captain

now under

the

command

Trotter's party,

of Major Doveton,

promoted while out, and superseding him accordingly,

REMlNISCIiNCES.

1801.]

moved on

We

under

the total distance being fifteen miles and a half.

struck out tents at ten, P. M., and marched at eleven

first

had

to

two miles were passable enough,

lost

that

after

wade through a continued sheet of

paddy ground

tanks, and partly heavy

to

was through a jungle,

this time completely

and at

three miles in length,

the

The road from

where we encamped.

to Mellore,

Vellatore to within a mile of Mellore

water

119

our road

when

moon

the

we stumbled on a

set, it

strip of

water, partly

in short,

we again

till

five in

set forward.

It

having

was by mere accident

dry ground, barely sufficient

draw out the whole detachment upon, and we

from two o'clock

which we

slept there

the morning of the 18th,

when

was with benumbed limbs that

we once more waded through mud and

water, generally

three feet deep, dragging the guns ourselves where the

cattle

were insufticient,

till

we

arrived at a nice

plain, close to the village of Singapadary,

and a half from the

plished a night

hill

of Perahmallee.

little

dry

about four miles

Having accom-

march of fourteen miles and a

half,

we

encamped, sending forward the cavalry and Tondiman's

Peons, to take the Pagoda, in which we were informed that
the

enemy had

left

Captain Munro,

only twenty men.

Brigade-major, and Mr. George Hughes, our intelligent

interpreter,

put themselves at the head of the Peons,

when

they came near the place, and encouraged them to ad-

vance; but, unluckily, they were not to be thus persuaded,

and the enemy, animated undoubtedly by

poured a

The

fire

their hesitation,

of musquetry, which put a stop

cavalry gallopers were

discharges of which

now brought

turned the scale

to the attack.

into action, a few

;

for

the enemy.

MILITARY

120

abandoning

followed

Captain

by a very

made

rage,

ground, were perceived in

their 'vantage

retreat, while

Munro was

loss,

creeping into the wicket,

Thus came

to the place after break-

gave us an opportunity of examining

post.

into our

the far famed temple of Perahmallee,

and Colonel Agnew, proceeding

fast,

it

as a military

have seldom been more surprised than at the

appearance of this

which had been always de-

fortification,

scribed to us as a

common Pagoda, surrounded by

wall, of a foot or

two in thickness, and

feet

high

trifling

full

more from shame than cou-

few, who,

a feint to back him.

hands, without

[A.D.

and even from Singapadary

choultry at the foot of a

however gradually increased

we reached

hill.

On

it

looked like a

our approach,

in respectability,

we

the outer walls,

a simple

fifteen or sixteen

discovered that

it

was a

stone fort of considerable extent and elevation, though

we could

It

was a

all

below was nothing, to what we found

see from

on ascending

it

and before

to the interior.

embracing the declivity of a

solid stone fort,

rocky projection, nearly perpendicular, from a rugged and

lofty

mountain

it

had two

pettah outside the whole

entire

was completely commanded by the

which was

forty feet high,

walls,

and a

fortified

each of the two outer places

and

walls of the inner one,

perfectly impenetrable, being

cut out of the solid rock, with a mere parapet of stone,

added above the

terre plein.

There are tanks of water

within each wall, and a fine spring from the rocks in the

upper

fort,

with

many

strong and capital buildings in the

choultry form, in both forts

and one in particular

upper, so connected with the rock, as not only to

in the

command

REMINISCRNCRS.

1801.]

both

121

but every part of the pettah

forts,

also,

and a most

interesting and extensive view of the country for thirty

From

miles round.
see the

this delightful spot

Pagodas of Coonagoody,

we

could distinctly

Caliacoile, Trickatoor,

dura; but a range of adjoining

hills

Hill, as it's

name

and craggy

to

such a degree, that

under a projecting precipice, that

by an enemy, even bold enough

still

the fort

or Pigeon

immensely high and rugged,

signifies, is

could climb to the summit

prevented our seeing

The mountain,

Secundermallee and Allegerry.

and

Ma-

Teroomallee, the Mellore Hills, and Annemallee, near

do not think any

is,

little

man

indeed, so situated

harm could be done

to creep to the extremity

there are three bluff-rocks, or large masses of stone, a

short

way

whence sharp-shooters might annoy

up, from

the garrison of the lower fort and pettah

which, though

perfectly accessible from the upper gate, appears tenable

by twenty

Yet, were an

men.

or thirty

enemy even

des-

perate enough to attack this party, and overpower them,

they might

still

very gate, and

follow their opponents under cover to the

that were shut, being in security behind

if

a thin wall, of about twenty feet high, most injudiciously

on the

built

interior,

might then burn

wall

tlie

and connecting

it

with the rocks, they

back entrance, or even demolish the

this is a crisis, however, never likely to

any party of
his three

companies were

with Captain

W.

happen

to

Captain Charles Godfrey and

British troops.

left to

garrison the place, along

Macaulay, and Lieutenants Powell, Bal-

main, Davis, and

Hampton

having already discovered a

depot of grain and other stores.

by a shot from the rocks

We

had one man

killed

but the enemy retreated imme-

MILITARY

122
diately

after

[A.D.

and did not again molest us; the

firing,

whole detachment, therefore, returned to the camp at

Ookoor, on the 21st of September.

On

the 24th, the cavalry and Eteapooreans, with two

hundred infantry under Lieutenants Langford and Smith,

were sent to

relieve

was ordered

to return to

Captain Godfrey at Perahmallee,

camp immediately, with

who

a large

supply of grain collected at Nattam.

September 27th.

Captain

rison at Fort Clive, or

field

work

Lang was ordered

into gar-

Nundycottah, as our men called

it,

by Colonel Innes, whose nickname, was

built

Nundij, from his lameness

and the

rest of the

force pre-

pared to make a new dash at Caliacoile.

On

the 30th Lieutenant-colonel Spry was directed to

march

at night with a detachment,

by the old road

to

Sherewele, and thence to proceed through the road

we

The remainder of

the

cut in the jungle to

Caliacoile.

troops were ordered to proceed in the morning, and Colonel

Innes's force to

meet us by another

route,

from Sholaveram.

Captain Godfrey joined us at night.

CALIACOILE.

The dawn of

the 1st of October saw us all advance

three distinct routes, to the redoubted Caliacoile

vance being under the command of Major Sheppard.

experienced no opposition for the
arrived opposite a barrier of

gun opened on our column.

diately detached at the

take

it

in flank,

first

three miles,

by

our ad-

We

when we

some strength, from which a

Captain Vesey was imme-

head of a party into the jungle

whence the enemy were immediately

to

dis-

PLAN OF CALIACOILE.

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

lodged, without the loss of a single

125
on our part, and

life

only Doctor Inglis,* our staff surgeon, and one pioneer

wounded.
until

They then made no

we came

to a plain of

further

show of

resistance

wet paddy ground, fronting

Mootoor, from a high bank in which they commenced an

unavailing

no more

fire,

day.

all

but were soon put to

flight,

and appeared

Our camp was pitched on

a small spot

of dry ground, about a mile further on, nearly facing the

south-west, and the troops having rested a
aside their knapsacks,

we pushed on

and

little

to Caliacoile

laid

without

any further opposition, and found Colonel Spry and his

detachment
of the

eight, A.

After dispersing a party

in quiet possession.

enemy near

M.

the place, he

had taken post

The road we now marched over was

there at
perfectly

good, and the barriers and thorns, although strewn pretty

thickly, could not have delayed us a day,
in this direction three

months

had we advanced
Colonel Innes's

sooner.

detachment having routed the enemy wherever they appeared on his march, killed an hundred of them in one
tank, took possession of Calagoody about a mile from our

camp, near Mootoor, and then joining

our

left,

facing to the west.

We

encamped upon

us,

halted at Caliacoile for

about an hour, and then returned to camp in the evening,

having been altogether thirteen hours on our feet

in

a very

hot day.

Mr. John

Inglis

was a man of

sterling abilities

with great activity

of body, he possessed a cheerfulness of disposition, suavity of manners,

and benevolence of mind, which endeared him

sure of his acquaintance.

He

has

from whence no traveller returns."

now long

to all

who had

the plea-

since passed " that bourne

MILITARY

126

The Pagoda of

Caliacoile

is

[A.D.

a very large and handsome

building, surrounded by a strong stone wall, about eighteen

feet in

height, and forming one angle of the

fort,

The enemy seemed

was nearly dismantled.

which

quite

dis-

heartened and bewildered, by our different attacks at the

same moment, and hardly a soul appeared during the

We

mainder of the day.

mostly mounted, and a great quantity of stores

were also

many

articles of

European

furniture,

been well built and was extensive

tained

many

place of very great strength

in the
I

my shame

to

tained by Wella

Murdoo

be

and no European

the state of the country.

it

mentioned, actually

in his palace at Sherewele

but

slightest idea of ever again entering

less as a foe.

to redress, so far as ever

but Murdoo

came within

my

knowledge, and as his rebelhon was therefore gratuitous,

could not feel so

it

The Punjalumcoorchy men had been

driven to take up arms as their only resource

had no grievance

and con-

a few months before, and been enter-

it,

had not then the

it,

but our local information

camp knew any thing about

had myself,

had

had, indeed, never been a

as could be relied upon,

passed through

much

It

fort

but the town, covered

only, formed one face of

excellent houses.

was never such

there

and amongst

The

them, two clocks, and several pier glasses.

by a thick hedge

re-

found here twenty-one guns,

much

for

him

as for the Cat.

The people

of his country were also by no means equal to the others as

soldiers;

more

had they been

difficulties to

so,

we should have had many

have surmounted

indeed,

it

is

my

serious opinion, that twenty thousand Punjalumcoorcheers,

would have been invincible

in his country.

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

October 2nd.

The detachment under Colonel Spry was

by a brigade under Lieutenant Colonel Alexander

relieved

M'Leod, and the former returned

On

127

the 3rd,* a division under

camp.

to

Major Sheppard, marched

from camp at sun-rise, with orders to proceed, via Caliacoile, to

Mungalum, where

it

was understood we were

We

meet a large body of the enemy.

without

ever,

opposition,

arrived there,

at half-past

formed our camp with the rear to the

mense tank

to

how-

P.M., and

two,

and an im-

village,

on the bund, or bank, of which

in our front,

The

our quarter-guards were posted.

on seeing

villagers,

a white flag at our approach, came out to meet us, saying,

that Murdoo, with two thousand men, had been lately
there,

but had retreated into the jungle

men from

ing the head

nine

villages

very thick

was

was

and

in the even-

came

entirely through jungle, in

and though hardly wide enough

in other respects very good,

in to take

The road from

Cowle from Major Sheppard.

to this place

Caliacoile

some parts

for carriages,

when we had removed

the

thorns and milk hedges, which were occasionally thrown

across

On

resigned

There was only one barrier on the

it.

having had a dispute with

this day,

my

staff situation,

Colonel Agnewv

who had

now no more,

must

to

which

my

my commanding
corps

officer, I

but, in justice to

ever been a kind friend to me, and

say, that he did all he could to

the Quarter mastership.

moment,

and joined

skirt of the

Words

make me

who

is

retain

had, however, passed in the heat of the

could not bring myself to be again subject.

In a

few months afterwards our intimacy was renewed, and he was kinder to

me

than ever, until the day of his lamented death.

panying

my own

corps,

our disagreement.

when engaged with

My always

accom-

the enemy, was the cause of

MILITARY

128

jungle, about six furlongs from

demohshed

in

Mungalum, intended

Ramnad

defend the approach from

[A.D.

and

to

this our Pioneers

about two hours, and then returned under

an escort to Caliacoile.
Colonel Agnevv having returned to Madras on the 4th
of October,

we were again put under

the orders of Major

Colin Macaulay, and remained inactive, waiting to hear

The head men

from him.

to take cowle,

had disbanded

This

jungle.

their forces

had secreted

followers,

were not a

of fifty villages

came

in to-day

and brought intelligence that the Murdoos

we

little

and, with only two hundred

themselves

in

the Shangrapoy

considered as very good news, for

we

weary of such a tedious and unprofitable

warfare.

What

followed afterwards, was, indeed, of

enemy no where making head

ance, the

little

import-

against us

par-

ties

were sent to hunt them down in the different jungles,

and

had the bad luck

Murdoos,

for

whom

to be in full pursuit of one of the

a large reward was advertised,

a few of our ally Peons fired

close to our party

at,

when

wounded, and took him,

thus depriving us of about ten thou-

thousand pagodas, or four thousand pounds sterhng.

In

a few days both the Murdoos, with their families, Cata-

bomia Naig, Dalawai

all

taken,

Swamy,
Pilly,

for

to

less

and the

all

the youngest son of

who, being of

life

Pilly,

and the men

Brother, were

excepting Dora-

Cheena Murdoo, and Dallawai

consequence, were transported

Prince of Wales's

their devoted followers

Dumb

hanged,

Island, with

and thus ended

seventy of

this

rassing warfare, in which the expenditure of

life

most hahad been

RKMINISOKNCKS.

1801.]
profuse,

and the

any

result

tlun<;-

129

but honourable

to the

survivors.

Of

the two Murdoos, so frequently mentioned in this

the

narrative,

brother was called Wella, or VelU

elder

Murdoo, but he had nothing

whole time

his

uncommon

to

to

do with the management

a great sportsman, and gave up

He was

of the country.

and strength,

encounter the monsters of

tlie

his chief delight

woods

he could bend a

fingers.

Unencumbered with the

and

European neighbours

whom

it

was

to

was even

rupee with his

cares or trappings of

government, he led a sort of wandering

nopoly, and Madura, by

common Arcot

said, that

ally visited his

Being a man of

hunting and shooting.

stature

life

and occasion-

at Tanjore, Trichi-

much

he was

esteemed.

If any one wanted game, a message sent to Velli Murdoo

was sure

to procure

the sports of the

it

field,

watch over his

his guest

Velli

partake in the

the

man

to con-

to insure his success, as well as

Did a

royal tiger appear, while

was surrounded by hardy and powerful pikemen,

Murdoo was

patch him.
idle

safety.

to

Murdoo was

Velli

duct him to the spot, and

to

he wished

or if

the

life

to

first

such as

and insignificant

meet the monster and des-

this,

to those

although

accustomed

it

may appear

to the safety of

a well-regulated country, was very far from being without

it's

usefulness, in a district overrun with jungle,

fested

by beasts of prey.

politely decoyed, or driven in front of his

who might

in-

European

friend,

thus, with less danger, kill hogs, elks, deer,

pea-fowl, Sec. in abundance.

I

and

The minor game was, however,

From

this Oriental

Nimrod

had received many marks of attention and kindness,

VOL.

I.

MILITARY

130

when

stationed at

Madura,

[A.D.

the year 1795, and then

in

one of the youngest subalterns in the place

a pretty cer-

tain proof of his disinterestedness.

The Cheena Murdoo was the

ostensible sovereign of

Though of a dark

at Sherewele.

and most easy access

and though ruling over a people to

nod was a law, he

his very

without a single guard

indeed,

man who

every

ary, 1795,

ingress and egress, while

a merely casual

country, he became
at

Madura, never

and

fruit

my

when

I visited

him in Febru-

chose to come

visit,

me

a large
I

weapon

to

the

his people.

my

his

continuance

presents of fine rice

rough-skinned

orange,

have never met with in such

perfection in any other part of India.

who first taught me

free

when passing through

and during

failed to send

particularly

had

down

in,

every voice called

friend,

remarkably sweet, which

stick, a

an open Palace,

lived in

Almighty upon the father of

blessing of the

From

was a

handsome, and affable man, of the kindest manners,

portly,

whom

coinplexion, he

an

was

extensive and fertile country, and his general residence

was he,

It

also,

throw the spear, and hurl the collery

scarcely

known

elsewhere, but in a skilful

hand, capable of being thrown to a certainty to any distance within one hundred yards.

Yet

this very

was afterwards destined by the fortune of war,

man,

to chase

badly wounded, and captured by

like a wild beast

common Peons

then lingering with a fractured thigh in

prison

and no

and

to see

lastly, to

less

gallant

behold him, with his gallant brother,

son, surrounded

adherents, hanging in chains upon a

Of

the Cat,

by

their principal

common

gibbet

have already made mention, but

cannot

;
;
:

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]
close

this

memory
knew

131

account of horrors, without a few words, in

of one of the most extraordinary mortals

ever

who was both

a near relation of Cdtaboniia Naig,

deaf and dumb, was well known by the English under the

Mussulmans, as Mookah
all

Dumb

of Duniby, or the

appellation

having the

by the

Brother;

and by the Hindoos, as Oomee

He was

like signification.

slender

tall,

lad, of a very sickly appearance, yet possessing that energy

of mind, which, in troubled times, always gains pre-emi-

nence

whilst, in his case, the very defect

have impeded another, proved

the minds of ignorant and

Oomee was adored;

every

man

which would

a powerful auxiliary in

superstitious

his slightest sign

flew to execute whatever he

The

idolaters.

was an

oracle,

commanded.

council assembled at which he did not preside

no

and

No

daring-

adventure was undertaken, which he did not lead.

His

method of representing the English was extremely simple

he collected a few
the palm of his

little

pieces of straw, arranged

hand

left

to represent the

them on

English force

then, with other signs, for the time, Sec, he drew the other

hand

across

and swept them

off,

with a whizzing sound

from his mouth, which was the signal

was generally the foremost

was sure

to

reward

patriotism.

and he

be achieved wherever he appeared

though poor Oomee was at

lows, in

for attack;

executing those plans, for

Whatever undisciplined valour could

our annihilation.
effect,

in

for

He had

last

doomed

the most disinterested

escaped, as

it

to grace a gal-

and purest

were, by miracle, in

every previous engagement, although every soldier in our

camp was most anxious

to destroy so notorious

K 2

and cele-

MILITARY

132

On

brated a chieftain.

the 24th of

[A.D.

May, when

was wrenched from them, and the whole were

pursued by our cavalry, poor Oomee

wounds, near a small

village,

As soon

jalumcoorchy.

the pursuit. Colonel

covered with

about three miles from Pun-

as our troops had returned from

Agnew

pooreans to follow them

fell,

the fort

retreating,

till

instantly ordered the Etea-

night, offering rewards for

men of consequence, dead or

Our

alive.

allies,

any

conse-

quently, set out with great glee, somewhat late in the

and

in the

meantime, an appearance of quiet

induced some

women

of the village to proceed to the field

evening

the hope of finding some of the sufferers

of carnage, in

capable of receiving succour.

Amongst

the heaps of slain

they discovered the son of one of the party,

and

after

weeping over him, they began

when exerting
"

Oh

mother

let

me

die,

but try to

save

the

Swamy, who

lies

wounded near me."

fully justifies

my

assertion of their adoration, as

meaning
feelings,

is

a deity.

up,

life

of

The word he used,

The woman, animated by

it's literal

same

the

immediately obeyed her dying son, and speedily

found Oomee, weltering

in his blood,

but

these extraordinary matrons, immediately

him

him

remaining strength, he exclaimed,

his little
!

breathing,

still

to raise

to the mother's house,

still

lifted,

alive

and

and

carried

where they were busily em-

ployed stanching his wounds, when they were alarmed by

a sudden shout from, the Eteapooreans, in pursuit.
is

nothing like the ingenuity of

These miserable, and

woman

There

at such a crisis.

apparently half-imbecile creatures

conceived a plan, in an instant, which not only proved

successful, but

most probably saved the

lives of several

RKiMINISCHNCES.

1801.]

They covered

others.

the body over with a cloth, and set

up a shriek of lamentation peculiar

The Eteapooreans on

133

their arrival,

circumstances.

to the

demanded the

cause,

and being informed, that a poor lad had just expired

of the small-jiox, fled for their lives out of the village,

without ever turning to look behind them.

afterwards preserved,

could never learn

low he was

but, certainly,

he was present, and as active as usual, on the 7th and 10th

of June; and was taken alive at the conclusion of the campaign, and
relation,

hanged along with

Punjalumcoorchy
dreaded
or

now

fortress, if

seven hundred

and

his gallant

on the tower we had erected

monument

the only

ill-fated

in the plain, before

of that once-

we except the burying-ground of six

comrades, in

of our slaughtered

it's

vicinity.

No

sooner was order again restored than the southern

corps returned to Pallamcottah

command

Tutucorine, wither

transportation were sent in the

had the melancholy

all

was detached

and

the

rebels

first

instance

and there

quondam

fifteen,

friend,

condemned

to perpetual banishment.

cruel fate without a

this amiable

murmur

With

signed to

his

but such was the melan-

and not commiserate him.

my personal

a mild

young man bore

choly expression in his fine countenance, that

impossible

my

Cheena Murdoo, a youth of about

and dignified resignation,

possible to see

satisfaction of lightening the chains of

Dora Swamy, the younger and only surviving son of

poor

to

destined for

it

was im-

As he was con-

charge, to connive at his escape was

but being under the same roof with me, in the

laroe fortified factory,

was enabled

to

free

him from

his

MILITARY

134

ignominious

[A.D.

and separate him from the mass of his

fetters,

His person was equally secure,

former menials.

modious chamber, enjoying the company of his

com-

in a

jailor

and

and fed with wholesome meals, dressed by a re-

family,

spectable

man

of his

own

caste

and

religion.

vessel

being commissioned by Government to carry the seventy

convicts to Penang, Lieutenant

ment was appointed

this

Rockhead of the 6th

command

to

appointment proceeded from the mere chance of roufrom particular selection,

tine, or

could

man more

have fallen on a

it

know

not

but never

fitted for the

and honourable discharge of such a duty.

him

regi-

Whether

the escort.

humane

had known

intimately in the field, and he fortunately arrived in

time to become personally acquainted with the now-consovereign of the country in which

demned

been employed.

had

we had

so lately

Captain Lee, who commanded the ship,

also an opportunity of participating in our feelings

towards his future passengers, particularly the captive

Prince, while the requisite stores and provisions were collecting

and removing

Never

tucorine, I consigned

head.

I still

despair which
friend

the

to the vessel.

shall I forget the day,

seem

my

to see the

marked the

Dora Swamy, as

manly and

silent

affliction displayed,

when, on the wharf at Tu-

charge over to Lieutenant Rock-

combination of affection and

fine

countenance of

handed him

my young

into the boat

and

misery, which his companions in

on quitting their dear native land for

ever. Here, to all appearance, our acquaintance

was

to

end ;

but fortune had

still

another pang in store for me, for being

forced to sea for

my

health, in the year 1818, and landing

REMINISCENCES.

1801.]

Penang,

at

crepit old

received a sudden visit from a miserable de-

man

who, when, without the most distant

lection of his person or countenance, I

and business, looked

down

some time

for

and

his furrowed cheek,

" Dora

Swamy

!"

me

my face,

recol-

name

his

the tears ran

at length he uttered the

My

to

my

heart

word
;

the

poor young prisoner

changed, dreadfully changed in outward

appearance, but

in

demanded

came hke a dagger

It

conviction was instantaneous.

stood before

135

with the same mind, and cherishing

still

the remembrance of former days and former friendships.

The

casual hearing of

and,

in

much

rank might afford

He

even entreated

my name had

me

the

me

to

surviving family, but this

existing orders
late Colonel

since,

was compelled

clusion, express a

means of lessening
be the bearer of

though

it

his misery.

letters

to his

understood was contrary to the

Bannerman,

kind and considerate,

and

revived his affection,

mistaken hope, that an advancement

fear, the

my

found the Governor, the

former commanding

officer,

did not appear to rest with him,

to dechne.

hope that

Let

me

this narrative

however, in con-

may

fall

into the

hands of some kind-hearted Director of that honourable

Company, which

have served so long, and be the means

of alleviating, if not entirely

innocent

man

and no chance of any

likely to accrue

removing the sufferings of an

the country being

ill

now completely

effects, as

settled,

regards state policy,

from such a compassionate measure.

MILITARY

136

CHAPTER

[A.D.

V.

Cuddalore Sadras
Garden of Saufghiir The
Bangalore Seringupatam Troops for the Mah-

Trunquebar

T/ie

Country

M^/soi^e

Pooiiah Capture of Ahmednugger.

rattah

War

NOW

pass over a period of

TRANQUEBAR,
I

the

month

of

and proceed

to

August 1802, when going on furlough

to

little interest,

landed on the Danish settlement of Tranquebar,

Bengal,

situate

on the coast of Coromandel, nearly equi-distant

from Pondicherry

and

Negapatam

and only a few

The landing

miles from the English settlement of Nagore.

here

is

same

much

easier effected

than at any other port on the

coast, north of Tutucorine.

trifling

The

surf

is

in itself

the boats are large and strongly built, consider-

ably longer than those of Masulipatam, Madras, or Pondicherry

two

and instead of running on the beach

latter,

as at the

they enter a small creek which carries their

cargoes almost up to the town in smooth water.

place

is

large,

however, are

and was

now much decayed, and

very formidable.

sahent

originally fortified

They

The

the works,

could never have been

consist of a wall running

into

and re-entering angles, joined by curtains not

REMINISCENCES.

1802.]

any good bastions.

cannon-proof", and without

small quadrangular

much

dilapidated

which

is

flag

137
There

is

on the south-western angle,

citadel

by time and the spray of the

sea, in

the council chamber, with a light-house and a

and signal

on the

staff erected

roof.

There are many

noble buildings in this town, but they are so jumbled

together in narrow streets, that the effect of their beauty
is

entirely lost

pillars, doors,

and the whole appears a confused mass of

and windows, thrown together without either

They must consequently be exceedingly

order or system.

close in such a climate, but

most of the respectable

in-

habitants have garden-houses outside, at the distance of

from one

three miles from the fort.

to

Here

had an

opportunity of putting to the test the humanity of the

Danish Doctor named Folley

a servant having suffered

extremely from sea-sickness, was carried

on shore and

kindly lodged in the house of a gentleman with

resided

when

visit there,

whom

medical gentleman paying a morning

this

immediately entreated him to see the poor

dying native, which he positively refused, and abruptly

left

in

me.

It is to

An

be hoped there are very few such Doctors

The

Denmark.

servant died in the house.

unfortunate jealousy of our nation, at this time,

rendered

it

unsafe for an Englishman to mix

the inhabitants, and

sides, I studiously

some

lives

avoided

all

having been

much with

lost

on both

promiscuous intercourse

though on a former occasion, some years previous,

spent a few very pleasant days there.
reasonable and abundant

means a

but Tranquebar

desirable residence,

the nature of the

soil.

from

had

Provisions are both

is

not by any

the extreme heat and

MILITARY

138

[A.D.

CUDDALORE,

On

the sea-coast, fifty-eight miles by land north of Tran-

quebar, was once a place of considerable importance in

Eastern

though now an insignificant

history,

was

command, with a

in the nominal

few veterans as a garrison.

and

Colonel Dupont, an

almost abandoned by the English.

old invalid officer,

spot,

The

of this

fortifications

place are nearly three miles in extent, entirely open to the

sea, there being

on that

nearly impassable

appeared

and marshy ground

face, a river

and the works then going

have been pretty strong

to

to ruin,

The

originally.

houses in the interior are mostly small, and built by the

natives

though about two miles distant outside, across a

river full of aUigators, there

were some good English garden-

houses, near the high road to Pondicherry, which

is

distant

about sixteen miles.

Passing through

vanced in

it's

insignificant

village

now

Pondicherry,

decline,

we proceeded

twenty-six

considerably

to

ad-

Allumparva, an

miles further,

where a

Portuguese hostess received guests at a very moderate

charge, and feasted them with oysters, so celebrated

all

over the East, that in those days they were constantly sent

from hence

to Pondicherry,

miserable hotel

deserves

was the second of two

Carnatic

and even

especial

only, to be

to

Madras.

mention,

met with

This

because
all

no such accommodations being customary

the eastern roads.

We

next came, however, to the

and best of these Oriental

it

over the
in

first

inns, at Sadras, distant twenty-

two miles further on the sea-coast,

or low road to

Madras.

RKiMINISCKNCKS.

1802.]

139

SADKAS,
In

present state,

it's

is

a small

Dutch town, very pleasantly

situated within a few hundred yards of the sea;

ground being green and hard, which

and the

sight on this coast,

several

air fresh

a very

uncommon

and

cool.

There are

neat and commodious houses on the

of which lived

Nona

the

is

sea-face, in one

Mallee, or Miss Isaacks, one of the

greatest curiosities in the East.

This enormous spinster

had formerly weighed twenty-one stone, but at

she was by severe illness reduced to fifteen
shortly after paid the debt of nature.

this period
;

Having

and

she

relations at

Negapatam, she had occasionally performed the journey

in

a palanquin

asserted

made

was then

expressly for her use, and

carried

by no less than

while other Europeans had but twelve, and

Brahmin was actually moved about

four

it

was

thirty-six bearers

at the

many
same

a fat

rate

by

the sacred character of the latter, no doubt lightening

his apparent weight

althou2;h a

but could an European mountain,

young one, which her native appellation

cated, be carried

by fewer

sable

indi-

and imbecile emmets?

This young lady kept the inn or hotel at Sadras, where

she lived well herself, and never starved her customers

but being in the habit of favouring them with her com-

pany

at meals, the sight of her shrivelled form, her skin

hanging in

young

flakes, for all the world like

rhinoceros,

the hide of a

was not exactly calculated

to

improve

our appetites at the dinner table.

On

a rising and

commanding

spot, close to the sea-

shore, stand the ruins of a regular square brick fort, the

curtains of which arc one liundred and fifty yards, and the

MILITARY

140

[A.D.

bastions forty yards square. All the bastions have, however,

blown up, and time has otherwise dismantled

since been

once a complete model.

this fortress,

military buildings than

it

never saw finer

has contained

bomb-proof bar-

racks, guard-rooms, &c., with large magazines under each

In

bastion.

it I

many handsome monu-

also discovered

ments, one of which, without the slightest mark of decay,

had on

an inscription perfectly

it

legible, dated in 1682,

being then one hundred and twenty years old.

I

pass over both

and from Calcutta,

or novel nature,

whence

my journey

and return

proceeded

Madras, and voyage

to

to

as containing nothing of an interesting,

to

January 1803,

to Vellore in

Seringapatam,

join

to

Major

General Wellesley's army, then about to take the field

against the Mahrattahs.

From

a distance of about thirty miles, where there

is

choultry for the accommodation of travellers

a mile of

it, is

Laulpett

Vellore to

is

an excellent

and within

the famous garden of Sautghur, of consider-

able extent, and containing quantities of the finest fruit in

This garden, which was originally completely pro-

India.

tected

by numerous

fortifications,

had

five

hundred gar-

deners in regular pay, besides a large garrison to guard

and, with the contiguoustown, avery fine one,

a valley, between a range of rugged

hills,

is

it

situated in

formerly fortified,

and the Ghauts, which separate the Carnatic from Mysore.

The term

in Hindostanee, intimates the

mountains

These

saut

hill-forts

Wallajah, to

number

meaning seven, and ghur a

of those
hill-fort.

were formerly garrisoned by the Nabob

whom

they belonged

but were

now aban-

doned and overgrown with rank jungle, whilst the garden,

still

the

property of the nominal

successor,

had about

REMINISCRNCES.

1803.]

141

keep a small part of

thirty gardeners only to

and transmit the produce

to

him at Madras.

in order,

it

considerable

made

quantity of both the attar and conserve of roses was

here, but these

master

two

though a large portion of the

and the money carried

of,

were kept exclusively

articles

The country,

all

the

fruit

for their

was disposed

to his account.

way from

Vellore to the Ghauts,

is

both verdant and beautiful, being exceedingly well watered,

and the road as

and other

far as Laulpett,

has an avenue of banian

The road from Laul-

trees, to shelter travellers.

pett to the

Ghaut had been

through a good

deal

lately repaired,

and nullahs, which constantly injure

The

foot of the pass

is

it for

passes

it

a river

wheel carriages.

about four miles from Laulpett, and

as very considerable pains had been taken to

fectly practicable, I

but

ground, with

of uneven

now found

make

the Peddanaig

Pass, in a very improved state from

what

in the time of Lord Cornwallis. *

it

per-

Doorgum

had experienced

It is four miles

and a

half in length, and said to be nearly a mile in perpendicular

The prospect from the

height, above the Carnatic.

about half way up,

road,

grand and

picturesque beyond

description, with the beautiful valley

which you have just

is

quitted in the fore-ground, and a succession of hills and

mountains towering to the

skies,

in

the centre.

Sautghur Hills in particular, stand prominent

The

in majestic

beauty, to which the ruins of their former fortifications,

peeping here and there through the deep green foliage,

add considerable
*

Doorgum,

Canarese.

interest.

or Droog,

This Pass was formerly for-

meaning

a lull-fort, in Telinga,

Tamul, and

MILITARY

142
tified,

and had

ascended

it,

it

been defended by Tippoo, when we

from whence

takes

it

its

road, stands the hill- fort,

name, breached and dilapidated,

frowning on the plain below.

still

first

At the summit,

must have cost us very dear.

and only about a mile from the

but

[A.D.

miserable bun-

galow, erected for the discomfort of travellers,

is

to

be

found about a mile further on, with a small village and a

very fine tank, which gives
Yaree,

whose

name

it's

to the spot

meaning Pedda Naig's Tank.

cattle

Naiken

Here, travellers,

and attendants are pretty well fatigued by the

steep ascent, generally put up, and if they unfortunately

move

light, that

is,

without tents, they will

me, in the appellation

I

have known up

all

agree with

have bestowed on a building, which

to 1821, for

twenty years.

It

was always

leaky, with broken doors and windows, on a spot where

the extreme cold of at least thirty degrees,

in the temperature of the night,

what makes

this

to

experienced

is

little less

remark the more poignant

last twenty-five years,

Madras

and

by day and

is,

that for the

every other stage on the road from

Seringapatam, has afforded ample shelter and

accommodation

for travellers,

who would

therefore require

tents at this one inhospitable place only, in a road of three

hundred

miles.

From Naiken Yaree

to Bangalore, a dis-

tance of eighty-two miles, the road was capital, with

excellent bungalows, erected at

by the Mysore government.

all

the intervening stages,

In this route

birth-place, as well as the burial-place of the

is

Colaar, the

famous Hyder

Ally Cawn, about half-way between the Pass and Bangalore

most

it

is

a compact

intricate

and picturesque

gateway imaginable, and

fortress,
is

with the

situated on the

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

143

northern bank of a very fine tank, a short distance from

town, which

the

raised

man whose

him from a very

a beautiful garden in

The family

and respectable.

large

is

burial-ground of the

courage and

abilities

inferior station to the throne,

it's

vicinity,

is

with

at the western extre-

mity, where a rugged mountain, at a short distance, frowns

The

over the whole.

tradition of the place

is,

that this

mountain was formerly the abode of some giant

whose habitations are

ments on the summit

are

all extinct,

no

still

and though the

tribe,

monstrous frag-

to be traced in

original possessors

mortal of the present day has

inferior

ever dared to venture up, to ascertain the fact.

have

on more than one occasion, by holding out considerable

pecuniary temptations, endeavoured to induce some of the
natives to

accompany me up, but

stitious credulity

and

it

was

failed,

far too

from their super-

rugged and inacces-

sible, to

be attempted by any one who did not know the

way.

suspect the truth

retreat of banditti

for

is,

it is

that

it

was once the secure

notorious that travellers, both

Europeans and natives, were not only robbed, but occasionally

murdered

very time
goons,

when

who was

a head of us,

was, he
six

neighbourhood.

oflf

same road, only two stages

in the night,

when a gang

with his writing box.

rushed out of his tent,

armed men.

killed.

of robbers

Unarmed

and was instantly

as he

assailed

Portuguese servant following him,

threw himself between his master and the

was

Indeed, at the

Colonel Davis of the 25th dra-

travelling the

awoke

was just making

by

in this

I visited it.

first ruffian,

and

The Colonel, however, being a powerful man,

and a good swords-man, snatching a sabre from one of the

MILITARY

144

and cutting away

assailants,

soon master of the

at his feet,

servants

and

to the right

and two more desperately wounded,

secured

left,

whom

the rest unfortunately escaped.

was

with one of the enemy dead

field,

his

It is

though Hyder Naig, afterwards Hyder Ally Cawn,

said,

was

[A.D.

at Colaar

originally buried

yet that his son, Tippoo

Sultaun, had the body removed to the magnificent Mauso-

leum

in the Lall

Colaar

is

Baugh,

at Seringapatam.

famous

also so

he

is

lore

both

fertile

whenever a horse turns out

The country from thence

called Colarie.

is

breed of vicious horses,

for a

that, all over the Peninsula,

and beautiful

to

ill,

Banga-

several fine flourishing

towns being on the high road, with bungalows at each,

for

travellers.

BANGALORE.
The

fort of

egg, with

much

Bangalore, originally shaped

a high

like

an

rampart and deep ditch, was

stone

breached by us in 1791, but when again dehvered over to

Tippoo, he dismantled

it.

minister, had, however,

now completely

former foundation, and

it

Major Andrew M'Cally.

Poorniah, the

had an English

The pettah

is

lives.

it,

on the

garrison,

under

a very large and

wealthy place, with a strong-bound hedge

which. Colonel Moorhouse and several

at the storm of

officers

did not perceive any alteration in

time, though

the

new Rajah's

rebuilt

it

lost their

since that

present cantonment was not then in

existence.

From Bangalore
eight miles, there

to Seringapatam, a distance of seventyis

a capital road, through a very fine

Mi'asii''''

147

RKiMINlSCliNCiiS.

1803.]

Our 'camp was

and flourishing country.

four miles to the northward of the fort

Major-general Arthur Wellesley,

joined

my

The Honourable

the 22nd of January, 1803.

corps on

pitched about

and

who then commanded

Seringapatam, as well as our force, lived in the Dowlut

Baugh, on the island

in the short interval before our

and

march, he manoeuvred his future army, and taught us that

uniformity of movement, which was afterwards to enable

him

conquer foes twenty times as numerous, and to

to

acquire for himself a name, which can never perish in the

In the pursuit and annihilation of Dhoondia, the.

East.

Sepoy General had already

future fame

but

laid

foundation of his

the

did any mortal at this time foresee

little

the resources of that master-mind, which the approaching

campaign was destined

to develop.

SERINGAPATAM,
Is

formed upon the angle of an island, between the Cauvery

and Coleroon
beholders,

rivers,

where

by a display

it's

fort rises

of labour

and

to astonish the

art,

without mucli

science; the works on the land side being enormous

commanding, while those towards the

and
sons

deficient
it

knowing that

encompassed by two

formidable ditches

commanding

with

cavaliers,

The

entire walls,

many good

of

ill

and

chosen

river to be, as at certain sea-

turned out, perfectly fordable.

extent,

river are all

fort is of great

and two deep and

bastions and several

which the natives of India are

exceedingly fond, and the gates, as usual, in the East,

covered by numerous extra works.

appeared to
VOL.

1.

us, to

be

it's

The

principal

approaching too near

L 2

to the

fault

bank

AIILITARY

148

[A.D.

of the river, from whence alone there was a chance

breaching

and from the extent of the

of the ground,

it

was

interior,

at one time proposed to our govern-

ment by Colonel Caldwell, an

able engineer, to cut off the

part so exposed, and erect'new works, half a mile in

rear, at

an expense of several lacs of pagodas.

but

to insure

and

im-

the English dominion.

mild and just exercise of authority

affection

it

in the present state of affairs in the East,

no works are necessary

it's

This alter-

ation, ably executed, would, in our hands, render

pregnable

of

and nature

fidelity of a

and

army, the ramparts,

is

the foundation, the

numerous and well-disciplined

their

bayonets,

the

parapets,

through which, while they continue unimpaired, no enemy

has power to penetrate.
side,

Tippoo had a beautiful Palace in-

and there was a Mosque of uncommon elegance, with

high minarets, near the Bangalore gate, from whence the

whole surrounding country could be distinctly seen.

On the

same

island, three miles to the eastward,

was the

Laul Baugh, a lovely garden, containing a splendid Palace

in the eastern style,

and the celebrated Mosque and tomb

of black granite, in which are deposited

Hyder Ally, the Bahauder, and

the remains of

his son Tippoo, the Sultaun

of Mysore, very richly decorated with satin and kinkaubs,

from the Prophet's tomb

strewed

all

over the

devotees reside near

floor.
it,

at

Mecca, and flowers daily

Several Moorish Priests and

paid by our government.

outer door of the sepulchre are certain

Over the

Persian distiches,

embossed in granite, with a verse by Tippoo himself over

the interior.
to

English guards were placed at the entrances,

protect the

tombs from pollution, and the attendants


RRMINISCENCKS.

1803.]

from insult;

in

149

every thing in this solemn spot,

short,

bearing a semblance of respect for a departed friend, must

tend to raise the English Government in the estimation of

every native of any sense or discrimination in the country.

The Shahrganjam
is

Pett, on the other side of the island,

a very large and respectable town, containing a rich

and numerous population; but from the lovvness of

ation,

and the proximity

healthy.

to the river,

The Dovvlut Baugh,

a mile from the

fort,

and

close to the river,

about

neat and well cultivated

uncommon

lightness and beauty,

which the Great Captain of the

in

One

age then resided.

situ-

it's

extremely un-

is

in another direction,

a very

is

garden, with a Palace of

it

of the halls was adorned with

native representations of Baillie's defeat, with every exag-

geration to the prejudice of the Europeans; which paintings, being

somewhat impaired, the General,

paid a large
I

sum

for their renovation

saw them, they were

entire

leave of Seringapatam,

unhealthy spot, and since

came

it

convinced of

this,

quartered at some distance

the

8th

Staff

it

consisted

under

outside,

and only the men

kept at a time on the island.

army destined
;

for the

and was com-

of Captain R. Barclay,
;

take

garrison were always

made it's first movement

Adjutant-general

a most

is

into our possession, has

it's

of February, the

posed of the following corps

The

Before

perfect.

said,

when

Tippoo was, indeed, so well

composing

sufficient for it's protection,

On

was

that, until driven to seek shelter

walls, the troops

Malirattah country,

it

at all events,

must mention that

been the grave of thousands,

it's

and

Deputy

Captain Cunningham, Deputy

MILITARY

150

[A.D.

and

Quarter-master-general,

West and

Captains

Bellingham, Aids-de-camp,

His Majesty's

command

under the

33rd regiment,

of

Lieutenant-colonel Elliot.

2nd regiment of Native

Park and
1st

artillery,

cavalry,

Captain

battalion of the

Major Burrows.

Steel.

2nd regiment of Native

infantry,

Lieutenant-colonel Griffin,
1st battalion of the 3rd

regiment of Native infantry,

Captain Vesey.

2nd battalion of the 3rd regiment of Native

infantry,

Major Kennett.
1st

battalion

regiment of Native infantry,

of the 8th

Lieutenant-colonel Orrock,

2nd battalion of the 12th regiment of Native

infantry,

Lieutenant-colonel M'Leod.

2nd battalion of the 18th regiment of Native infantry,

Captain Boardman.

With two thousand of Poorniah's

horse,

and

five

thousand

of his infantry.
I

now

pass over a very hot and uninteresting march, and

at once bring our

camp

General Stewart,

and the centre

close to the grand

array

army under

under General

Campbell, on the plains near Hurryhur, on the 8th of

March,

after

when we

having come a distance of two hundred miles

ascertained

that

the

three

senior

Generals,

Stewart, Campbell, and Baird, were to remain with an

army of

reserve,

and we were

to

push on, under our own

General, formed and brigaded as follows

The cavalry

brigade, under

the

command

of Colonel

RRMINISCKNCKS.

1803.]

Thomas Dallas

151

and Captain A. Grant, of the

Native infantry, Brigade-major.

His Majesty's 19th light dragoons,

Lieutenant-colonel

Maxwell.

Major A. Floyer.

4th Native cavalry,

5tli

Native cavalry,

Major Leonard.

7th Native cavalry,

The

Major Huddlestone.
under the command of Colonel

1st infantry brigade,

Harness

with Captain Tolfrey,

Brigade-major

and Lieutenant Monin, Quarter-master.

Scotch brigade,

Major

Ferrier.

His Majesty's 1st battalion of the 2nd regiment,

Lieu-

tenant-colonel Griffin.

Major Kennet.
the 12th regiment, Lieutenant-colonel

2nd battalion of the 3rd regiment,

2nd

battalion of

M'Leod.

The 2nd

infantry brigade under Colonel Wallace

with

Captain Agnew, Brigade-major, and Captain Campbell,

Quarter-master.

His Majesty's 74th regiment,

Major Swinton.

1st battalion of the 3rd regiment of Native

infantry,

Captain Vesey.
1st battalion of the 8th regiment of Native infantry,

Lieutenunt-colonel Orrock.

2nd

battalion of the 18th regiment of Native infantry,

Lieutenant-colonel Chalmers.

The park of artillery was under Captain Beauman

the Pioneers were

From Hurryhur
and

fifty

miles,

to

commanded by Captain

and

Heitland.

Poonah, a march of three hundred

was accomplished by the General and

MILITARY

152

[A.D.

cavalry on the 20th of April, and by the rest of the

on the 22nd

made

the General having

army

a forced march of

forty-two miles, during the night of the 19th, to save the

town from being plundered and destroyed by Amrut Row,

and a large body of

his followers, left there

by Holkar.

POONAH,

Washed on

Mootah

the north by the

river, is

about three

miles in length, and two in breadth, and was said to contain

one hundred and forty thousand houses, which, by a

moderate calculation, would give

inhabitants

but

this

six

hundred thousand

seemed an exaggeration.

It

was,

however, extremely crowded with both habitations and

people, of

with which

descriptions

all

articles of

and the apparent confidence

merchandize were every where ex-

posed, even on our arrival, seemed to give a

tion to the reports,

a forced march

flat

contradic-

which had induced the General

since

Amrut Row not only

left

to

make

the place,

without doing any mischief, but had treated the Peishwa's

family, left in his custody

by Holkar, with

ness and delicacy, and placed

a celebrated Pagoda on a

them

hill in

great kind-

all safely in

the town.

Parbutty,

The

streets,

as in most native towns, are extremely narrow, and

bazars,

full

of

which contain an innumerable quantity of articles

of merchandize, the produce not only of India, but of

China and Europe

of which the Parsees have the most

extensive and richest assortments, and the Borahs next.

The houses
without

are

much

some three and four

stories high,

regard to taste or symmetry

diversified in size, shape,

but built

though, being

and colour, they have a pretty

^ 1

3:

RRMINISCENCKS.

1803.]

155

The view from

appearance from a distance.

the most imposing

the opposite

as that part of

side of the river

is

the town which

washed by the stream, being faced with

is

many

stone, descending, in

and having

water's edge,

parts,

by regular steps

to the

with the

intermingled

trees

houses, presents an appearance very far from despicable

though a stranger,

set

down

at once in

hardly credit the assertion.

could

any of the

The

fruit

streets,

bazars are

well supplied with

musk, and water melons, plantains,

dates, raisins,

mangos, pomegranates, wood-apples,

figs,

almonds, and a great variety of country vegetables

short,

it

concentrate

all

active for six

for

weeks

to his capital,
;

the

we remained encamped and

in-

army not moving ground

the

till

In the interim, however, the Peishwa came

4th of June.

Murray

in

the trade of the empire.

In this neighbourhood

back

appeared to us a place of great wealth, and to

with a strong escort under Colonel

and we exchanged the 2nd battalion of the 3rd

His Majesty's 78th regiment

the Scotch brigade hav-

ing already been sent to join Colonel Stevenson's force, at

some distance from

us.

AIIMEDNUGGER.
Very much

we had

in the

dark with regard

naturally concluded, that as

to

Indian

we came

to

politics,

succour

the Peishwa, his friends would be our friends, and his

foes our likeliest opponents

out our host, for the

Holkar who

but here we reckoned with-

man we were now

to attack

had deposed him, but Scindiah,

was not

who had up-

held him, and actually suffered a defeat, near Poonah, in

MILITARY

156
his cause

Having never troubled

intricacy of state

but as an

always most irksome to a

soldier,

much

the order for advancing, not

what was the bone of

be, or

menced our march,

as

birth-day, and suffered

of August;

when

my

head with the

have, therefore, never learned

aflPairs, I

the real cause of this war

might

[A.D.

we

camp

idle life in

caring

who

the

enemy

We

contention.

com-

have mentioned, on the King's

much from heavy

rains,

the weather clearing up,

till

the 8th

we advanced

with extra precautions and extra ammunition, to the

Ahmednugger, the Pettah of which

nity of

is

hailed with delight

solved should be immediately stormed

for

it

vici-

was

re-

which purpose

the General selected Colonels Harness and Wallace, and

The Pettah of Ahmednugger

Captain Vesey, to lead.

is

very large and regular native town, surrounded by a wall of

stone and

rampart
top,

mud, about eighteen

feet high,

and very neatly

with small bastions at every hundred yards, but no

built,

to the curtains

the wall being rounded off at the

and scarcely broad enough

It has several gateways,

interior,

for a

with narrow streets, and

compounds,
but, alas

all

man

to stand upon.

and many high buildings in the

mud

walls of different

contributing to aid a powerful defence

for it's

security,

the determined

spirit

was

wanting.

We
now

had not hitherto seen the face of an enemy, and

for the

Pettah and

first

fort

time perceived the walls of both the

lined with

in the sun, whilst another

outside, between them.

men, whose arms

glittered

body of troops was encamped

As we

stood with the General,

reconnoitring from a small elevated spot, within long gun-

REMINISCENCKS.

1803]

167

shot of both places, he directed the leaders where they

were

to fix their ladders

we were

rampart,

The

breachino;.

in front, within

but unaware that there was no

ordered to escalade the curtains, without

fort lay

on our right hand, and the pettah

gun-shot of each other

lumn was ordered

when

having a high building immediately in

left,

man

as he ascended,

when they
and

fell,

fifty

made

The
;

but

hurled from the top of the

This unequal struggle lasted

wall.

co-

first

it's rear.

ladders were speedily planted, and the assault

each

the

to attempt a long curtain to the extreme

about ten minutes,

desisted, with the loss of about fifteen killed,

wounded

amongst

whom were

Captains

Duncan

Grant, Mackenzie, and Humberstone, and Lieutenant Anderson, killed

The

and Lieutenant Larkins mortally wounded.

advanced nearly at the same

third party to the right,

moment, but a gun-elephant taking fright

the

fort,

ran

sioned no

down

little

from

at the firing

the centre of our column, which occa-

confusion, and

enemy more time and means

some delay, giving the

to oppose the first attack.

Being furnished with two scaling-ladders only, we reached

the curtain and planted

them

at the

formed by a small bastion, the

guns on

us,

from the

fort.

very re-entering angle,

enemy playing some heavy

Such a rush was made

at first,

that one ladder broke down, with our gallant leader

several

men, and we were forced

other.

Captain Vesey was then a very stout heavy

to

and

work hard with the

man

but what impediment, short of death, can arrest a soldier

at such a crisis

He was

by men, determined

to

soon on the bastion, surrounded

carry

every

Our two European companies had

all

thing before

them.

scrambled up, and

MILITARY

158
about one hundred and

or

fifty,

two hundred of the 3rd,

when a cannon-shot smashed our

my

the thigh of

hundred men,

We

Subadar.

left solely to

down we scoured

our

[A.D.

and broke

last ladder,

were now a party of three

own

resources, and dashing

enemy

the streets near the wall, the

all

only once making a stand, and suffering accordingly.

length, arriving near a gate,
attack,

marked out

and a loud peal of cannon and musquetry from

Wal-

without, announcing the second party, under Colonel

lace,

At

for the centre

we drove

men opened

all

the defenders before us, and some of our

the gate whilst they were battering at

it

from

Our

the outside, by which one of our party was killed.

loss

was eleven

killed,

and twenty-two wounded

including

Lieutenant Plenderleath killed, and Lieutenant Nielson

wounded.

Our two

now

parties

uniting under Colonel

Wallace, soon succeeded in clearing the place of our op-

ponents
five

whom we

afterwards learned were one thousand

hundred Arabs, and about three thousand Mahrattahs,

few, if any of
fly in

whom

reached the

the other direction.

few casualties

but were forced to

fort,

The second column had but

and thus we had the quiet possession of a

very fine and rich town, with a few prisoners, by three

o'clock.

Our

total loss in killed

and wounded being one

hundred and sixty men.

Captain Duncan Grant, the

was a young
fine

officer of great

form, and

great

first

man

promise

personal strength,

kind and affectionate disposition, a

a flow of spirit,

killed in our

he possessed a

liberality of soul,

which endeared him

had the happiness of knowing him.

army,

with an uncommonly

to every

In the

one

same

and

who

corps,

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

Ilis

159

Majesty's 78th Highland regiment, there was an old

and most respectable

manded

officer,

company.

Captain Browne, who com-

and had the Piper attached

the grenadiers,

This gentleman was, by

any other

many

and having been unfortunate

in the regiment,

being a former brother

promotion,

subaltern with

General, and an Englishman, did not

new comrades.

One

to his

years, older than

in

our

mix much with

his

about the beginning of

evening,

August, Grant had given a party to a number of young

men, at

own

his

Piper, they

and dancing
been an

tent in the lines,

amused themselves by

idle

To such

to his reels.

compliment

and sending

for the

listening to his pibrochs,

a party

it

would have

have invited Captain Browne,

to

but situated as their tents were,

it

was impossible

for

him

not to be aware of what appeared to him, the unlicensed

use

made

ing,

when the

of his Piper
officers

and consequently, the next even-

assembled

in front of the parade,

he

addressed himself to Captain Grant, and expressed his surprise that

he should have sent

vious application to

him

to

for the Piper,

without a pre-

which Grant replied, " That

he did not conceive such an application necessary, and that

he should send for the

man

again, whenever he pleased."

Captain Browne, [with great solemnity, exclaimed, "

you are a boy ^and nobody but a boy would

;

The parade broke

tell

me

Sir,

so."

up, and Captain Grant requested a

Lieutenant to go to Captain Browne, and

tell

him, that he

could not rest satisfied, without some apology for the expressions he

had made use

of; at the

same time declaring,

that he bore him no enmity, and would be satisfied with

the slightest concession.

MILITARY

160

[A.D.

The man he had unfortunately chosen

occasion, proved

unworthy of

as a friend on this

his confidence,

and instead

of preventing a meeting between two most estimable men,

he was accused of fermenting both parties, until a

They met and

challenge was given and received.

together

fatal
fired

the ball from poor Grant's pistol, depriving his

brother officer of his

acknowledged worth

life,

and the

and

service of a soldier of

that, only

two or three days be-

they were likely to be called upon to risk their

lives,

thus wantonly exposed, in the cause of their country.

The

fore

execrated mortal,
affair,

who was

suspected of foul play in this

being two days afterwads engaged in a personal

quarrel with another brother officer, and displaying therein

a most brutal ferocity, was turned out of

Wellesley the night before

we marched

camp by General

to

Ahmednugger,

" that such a wretch might not have an opportunity of

sharing in the honours of an army, which he had thus disgraced."

Poor Grant was placed in

by my

When

side on the march, he suddenly seized ray

energy, and pressed

off,

and seemed

arrest,

deeply to lament the mischief he had done.

it,

without uttering a word

and unarmed as he was, rushed up the

of the ladder, from which he

fell,

then rode

first to

lifeless

riding

hand with

corpse

the top
!

It is

scarcely necessary to say, that being in arrest, he had no

business to be in the

way

of danger this day

was tortured by remorse, and

but his mind

his high spirit led

him

very post he would have chosen, at the head of

whom
Of

to the

men by

he was greatly beloved.

the other officers

in this assault, Captain

who shared

his victorious death,

Humberstone was

also

an excellent

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]
soldier
I

161

and an amiable young man. Lieutenant Larkins had,

believe, only very recently joined the regiment,

not the pleasure of his acquaintance, though

and

had

had known

months previously, when

the rest of the regiment a few

quartered at Fort William, in Bengal.

Lieutenant Plen-

derleath of the 3rd, was killed while walking singly on the

away from

top of the wall,

which we had,
up

know

that portion of the regiment

nolens volens, left outside.

How

he climbed

not, as both the ladders were then broken, but

he was supposed to have been trying to get to the gateway,

with the intention of letting his company in from the out-

when

side,

through a
fell

a musquet ball from a

silver breast-plate,

and perfectly dead.

instantly

Subadar of
family

at

window

my company,

pierced his heart,

and thick leather

a young

regiment, had

Native

man

of a respectable

for

therefore eyed with considerable jealousy

seen no service.

more zealous

new

a young upstart,

performance of every duty, and

me

to

keep an eye upon him

conduct accordingly.

detached with him

by the

who had

Fully aware of this feeling, he was the

in the

quently entreated
his

been but lately transferred to our corps,

officers in general, as

and report

and he

Madras, who was raised at once to the rank

he held, by bringing two hundred recruits

and was

belt,

Hoosein Cawn, the

for

fre-

in action,

had previously been

some months, and therefore became

completely acquainted with his character, which being

most exemplary, induced me

than

is

ficers,

to

more friendly intercourse

generally usual between European and Native of-

and we had occasionally beguiled a wet and tedious

evening with a game of chess. This morning on the march,

VOL.

I.

MILITARY

162

[A.D.

he had again reminded me of my promise

denly called to lead the corps, by

but, being sud-

my commanding

separated

to

some

distance.

me, calling out "

Oh

sir

when

reached the top of the ladder

had, however, scarcely

heard a voice behind

remember your promise

my

officer

we were

putting himself at the head of the Europeans,

and

"

my

heels,

he having contrived to scramble through the crowd,

in his

looking round,

eagerness

to

perceived

little

friend at

The words

perform some signal service.

were scarcely spoken, before a cannon shot from the

fort

fractured his thigh, and broke the ladder.

but

he

and was carried

fell,

into the hospital,

got

off,

where he died a

few days afterwards.

The Fort

of Ahmednugger,

ever seen on a plain, in

all

and chunam, and nearly

dry ditch

all

round

it,

is

one of the strongest

India.

It is built

circular,

have

of solid stone

with a wide and deep

and large roomy

circular bastions at

short intervals, each containing three or four guns, pointed

casemated

through

embrasures,

with

above, and loopholes for musquetry.

from

fifty to sixty feet

high

a solid

terrace

These bastions were

the curtains being both short

and low, having narrow ramparts with loopholes, cannon

proof,

but no guns.

It

had

at this time at least sixty

guns mounted on the bastions, from twelve

pounders

many

to fifty-two

but from the confined nature of the casemates,

beautiful brass pieces of heavy metal, were rendered

useless during this short siege.

and covered about

The

glacis

thirty feet of the walls

was very high,

but

it

had the

fault of all Indian glacis, that of being too abruptly sloped

outwards, so that the defences being once knocked

off,

an

RKMINISCF.NCES.

1803.]

enemy might

find

good

163

On

shelter, close to the place.

very large tower, or barbette, stood the Mahaletchmee, * a

gun about twenty-two

brass

ball of

was actually pointed

firing

feet in length,

seventeen pounds weight.

it,

in the direction of our battery,

front

it's

indeed, while only one or two

guns on the works could send a

eveiy part of the

down
was

ever,

but in

they carried away a piece of the parapet of the

bastion directly in

tions,

and carrying a

This piece of ordnance

fort,

as far as the glacis

still

ball near us, ours

reached

and breached two contiguous baswould admit.

from twenty to thirty

feet

This,

from the

how-

foot of

the wall, and even could

we have

down

would have been much too short

to

into the ditch, they

got our scaling ladders

The enemy, thus attacked

insure an assault.

unusual way, finding

in

walls crumbling over

their

an

their

heads, and fearing a second Pettah exhibition, sued for a

capitulation,

and on the morning of the r2th of August,

when our ammunition was running

pound shot nearly
terms,

all

short,

and the twelve

expended, the General granted them

and our corps, then

in the trenches,

moved

took possession, with a company of the 78th.

The

in

and

garrison

marched out with the honours of war, and the Khelladar

was even

assisted

by

us, to carry off treasure

which afterwards turned out

perty.

of

About one thousand

whom

and

effects,

to be drear, or public
five

hundred men, one

were x\rabs, quitted the

fort

prothird

with him, and be-

came afterwards a band of lawless plunderers.

It

was, however, a matter of

little

wonder that they gave

* ^Mahaletchmee, the great goddess Latchmee.

MILITARY

164

up the

fort so early,

when our

[A.D.
Gokliah, a Mahrattah

ally,

chief residing in our camp, with a body of horse, wrote

thus

to

his friends at

Poonah : " These English

strange people, and their General a wonderful

came here

in

walked over

it,

fast!

man

are a

they

morning, looked at the Pettah wall,

the

killed all the garrison

and returned

what can withstand them?"

And when

to break-

con-

it is

sidered, that Holkar, even in the zenith of his power, once

got his

army

and was driven out with great

inside,

loss,

Had we

need not be astonished at their surprise.

an hour

or

two longer, and battered a curtain, our

would, in

all

human

probability have been

we

waited
loss

or nothing,

little

but the apparent contempt of danger evinced in our mode

of procedure, while

it

astonished the defenders, struck a

terror into the garrison of the fort,

country, which

and

amply compensated

all

the surrounding

for our loss

and insured

a capture of the utmost consequence to our future success.

In the

fort

we found the Palace of Scindiah and

old buildings,

which must

originally

In the former, which

some consequence.
garden attached to

it,

mediately placed

came

discipline

but the
for all

had European

spirit of

large

articles,

sentries im-

plunder suddenly over-

hands, even the sentries not ex-

cepted, speedily turned

rived,

had a

was a profusion of valuable

over which, as prize property,

several

have been houses of

to,

and when the General

ar-

he found an indiscriminate crowd in the house, each

helping himself to what came

first to

hand

for

which two

of our Native soldiers were instantly seized and hanged, in

the

only

escaped.

gateway,
It

is

in

terrorem

difficult

to

though the Europeans

describe the

articles

which

RKMINISCKNCKS.

1<S03.]

165

On

were thus suddenly exposed to view.

the General,

dozens

entering with

observed, in two apartments only, several

handsome

of large

two

pier glasses,

electrifying

machines, an organ, a piano-forte, lustres, chandeliers,

and many other similar luxuries

globes,

richest stuffs of

armour,
&c.

silver

cloths,

splendid

furs, shawls, plate, cash,

silks, satins, velvets,

all

gold and

India,

in others, the

&c.

of which were undergoing the close examination

who, however, were generally

of our unfortunate looties,

forced to relinquish their plunder before they quitted the

may

This

place.

give the reader some idea of the riches

which the Khelladar carried

carts,

many camels and

several

of

lacs

rupees

off

on one elephant, several

the

amount of

which we

afterwards

horses, &.c.

but

for

to

brought him to a dear account.

This

down

fort

might be rendered twice as strong by

the bastions to the lower

mates into good embrasures, when

be available

much

as an

sloop of

her

till

As

it

in it's present state

immense

war taking

all
it

station

was necessary

to settle the

was appointed

captured country, pre-

left in

command

artillery,

Graham, Pay-master

collector of the

Major Kellet being

the 3rd regiment

bay

little

near her stern, and raking

she surrendered.

of the army,

was

the defences would

resembled nothing so

three decker aground, with a

it's

vious to our advancing,. Captain J. G.

district.

cutting-

and turning the case-

tier,

lately dead.

of the fort, with the

Ahmednugger
Captain Lucas

2nd

battalion of

along with Captain Fisher of the

with some

men

training for that service

Captain Carfrac, of the 3rd regiment, as Pay-master.

Bom;

and

MILITARY

166

[A.D.

CHAPTER VL
The

first

Muhrattah

Awungahad Dowlidubad Victory of

Battle of Kerjet Koriagaum
Vakeel Battle of Argaum Elacheepoor and
War

Assaye, under General Wellesley

Visit

of

Scindia's

Gawilghw

Ai'rival

of Amriit Mow, and Ceremonial of

his

Intro-

duction.

THE FIRST MAHRATTAII WAR.

A FEW

days after this achievement, the army marched

onward, and reached Tokah, on the Godavery, on the 21st

of August

from which time

till

the 28th was taken up in

was both deep and

rapid.

Tokah,

formed at the junction of two branches of the

river, is

crossing the river, which

about

fifty

miles from

Ahmednugger, and

looking object from either side.

losing a few

We

men, horses, and bullocks

is

a very pretty

crossed below
in

it,

the passage

our corps and the cavalry having preceded the army, to

collect boats,

On

and prepare ground on the opposite bank.

the 26th, the 1st battalion of the 10th regiment,

under Major Dallas, joined the army from Bellary, with

three lacs of pagodas,

and two thousand bullock-loads of

supphes, having marched for nineteen days, without a

halt

and on the 29th we arrived at Aurungabad, distant

twenty-six miles.

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

Few

more magnificent, or

places in India have been

more celebrated

167

former days, than Aurungabad

in

and

from

in every sense of the word,

few have suffered more,

the hand of time, the changes of fortune, and revolution

of empires.

what

notes

now but

It is

mere shadow of
it

it's

must have been

and

think

has several walls, now of

much

still

The

devastation.

it's

Geer, to the

memory

vourite wife.

little

finished.

for grinding corn.

all

and

or

Allum

Rabeah Dowranee

and chaste building

was by no means a

by

It

but on which

by Aurungzebe,

of the Princess

his fa-

white marble, and

I

have ever seen in

There was also an immense

be fed on the top of the water

it

strength,

miles.

greatest curiosities are a large

erected

tame as

fountain, full of large carp, so

was

coss in

fifteen

many

de-

the minarets being about one hundred feet high,

and beautifully

it

be

to

be as

It is built principally of

the most elegant

of

may

still

amazingly

Mahmood Ghaznowee, and

a daughter of Shah

India

it

It is

a few entire Palaces and houses in the midst

Mosque and mausoleum,

is

glory.

it's

labour and expense must have been bestowed

there are

of

in

by the natives

extensive, being said

circumference

a heap of splendid ruins, the

former self; but that shadow

to

come

regularly to

mill at one

end

Altliough this miniature machine

perfect model, yet so entirely novel

our Native soldiers, that

who

to

and a small

it

was not only viewed

could find time to go there, but also became a

theme of conversation

for a considerable

time afterwards.

Their surprise was indeed fully equal to that of the Bengalee,

who, upon being questioned respecting an English

gentleman,

who had

recently erected

a wind-mill,

ex-

MILITARY

168
claimed "

What

kind of man, this Englishman

and make work

horse,

[A.D

catch bullock, and

and catch wind, and make work

Catch

make work

!" Nearly as

much

asto-

nished were our Sepoys at this rude and imperfect watermill, erected

seat of

by some

Mussulman

of that age.

scientific

Mollah, in a place, once the

empire, and, of course, of

and round the town

but

is

it

great variety of superior fruit

it

now famous

in

only for the

produces, which

is

sent

The Mussulmans being un-

parts of the Peninsula.

to all

the science

all

There are also many delightful gardens

doubtedly the best gardeners in the East, and the climate

and

soil

of this place peculiarly favourable.

DOWLUTABAD.
About

five miles

to the

north-eastward

fortress of Dowlutabad, said to contain

the famous

is

immense wealth,

lodged there by the Nizam in his days of instability.

a small conical

hill,

completely

fortified,

the natives to be impregnable.

when

in

it's

It is

and considered by

have more than once,

neighbourhood, attempted to get near and

take a sketch of

it

from different directions, but was

in-

variably foiled, by the extreme jealousy of the garrison,

who

positively prohibited

and ready means

my

approach, and shewed ample

to enforce that prohibition

believe, that since that time others

both to draw and to describe

lins,

the resident

at

it

Scindiah's

though

have been permitted

very fully.
court,

Colonel Col-

having formally

quitted that chief's camp, the day previous to our attack

on Ahmednugger, was residing at Aurungabad, with an

ciicort

of troops,

when wc

arrived near that city.

On

the

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

30th of August the army marched

169

to the vicinity of Baul-

gaura, eleven miles; passing through a wide defile, formed

by two ranges of

hills,

about six miles asunder

saw a party of Scindiah's

an opportunity

the 31st,

hills to

of

we marched

likely

where we

watching

for

keeping at a respectable

to plunder, but,

distance, they were not molested

On

most

horse,

by

us.

to the foot of the range of

our right, and encamped near the fortified village

Bauningaum, the distance being about twelve

miles.

Halting the next day, to enable the Pioneers to construct

some field-works near the

village, in

which

to leave the

18th Native infantry, with the heavy guns, &c.

rounds of

ammunition being issued

to

hearts beat high with expectation.

We

four o'clock in the morning, but

some

made the General countermand the whole

Pioneers, with two companies, under

destroy the
tlie

new work,

2nd of September,

the

to the north

arrived opposite

both, about

the evening.

were

Our

left

our

left,

half;

to de-

A.M. on

at

which they

for it is

called

This was not only a

and many men dropping down

party, after performing the

which proved

force, taking Jaulnah.

P.M.,

at six,

on the road, but arrived safely in

struction, followed the rear-guard,

firing to

and, leaving the

my command,

bank of the Godavery, a

and a

in the afternoon.

long, but a very hot march,

witli fatigue,

after-intelligence,
;

Raukusbhone, or Gaum,

two

and sixty

were to march at

army marched

distance of twenty-two miles

each man, our

work of de-

and heard some heavy

to be Colonel Stevenson's

Reaching our camp at four o'clock

enjoyed a swim across the

river, to

the town of

MILITARY

170

[A.D.

Raakusgaum, which, Uke Poonah, has stone

water's edge.

mention

steps to the

this bathe, of all the luxuries of

the East, the most refreshing, after a day's sunning, be-

cause an European

soldier,

among

others,

making the same

attempt, was unfortunately drowned.

Here the Maharajah, Dowlut

the

slip,

as he

had done

in another direction

nearly ten thousand

Sahib, or

Appa

most useful of

Scindiah, gave us

by retreating

and thus our long march was made

We had

nothing;.

for

Row

to Colonel Stevenson,

now a

men

lar^e

Mahrattah

Desai, Chief of Nepaunee, &c.

all

force, of

with us, under Gokliah,

,

Appa

but the

were the two thousand Mysore cavalry,

under Vishnapapundit or Vishnow Punt, as he was generally called.

This

fine old soldier

always accompanied the

rear-guard, and flanked the baggage on the march, as well

as collected

forage

when we

halted

thus saving our

cavalry in particular, from the most fatiguing and harassing

of

it's

On

duties.

the 11th of September

we

the same bank of the Godavery

arrived at
;

Hudgaum, on

and here Major

Hill

Captain

joined us with supplies from the grand army.

Vesey, having displeased the General by a sudden application about shroffs, to our sorrow

accompany the 18th, under Major

we were
Griffin,

ordered to

this

Ahmednugger, leaving the army on the very eve of

We

day

lo

battle.

reached Ahmednugger, a distance of about one hun-

dred miles, on the 28th

action

where we learned that a desperate

had been fought between our array and Scindiah's,

which ended

in a

most

signal victory.

REMINISCKNCES.

1803.]

171

BATTLE or ASSAVE.

On
lonel

the 21st of September, General Wellesley and Co-

Stevenson met, and concerted a plan of combined

movement, by which they expected

army simultaneonsly from opposite

The two armies were

to attack Scindiah's

quarters, on the 24th.

at first not very far distant

but

it

was suspected that Colonel Stevenson's guides misled him,

be that as

it

may,

after a

march of twenty-one

miles, on

the 23rd the General suddenly found himself in the vicinity

of Scindiah's army, lately reinforced,

When

hundred thousand men.

their ground,

it

was

one

said, to

our troops had arrived at

two horsemen were taken, who informed

us,

that the combined armies of Scindiah and the Berar Rajah,

were encamped about

was supposed
ing to move.
to

five miles off, instead of twelve, as

and that the cavalry were actually prepar-

Almost any other man would have hesitated

give battle to so very overwhelming a force, at

head of only four thousand

decision

of

character

hundred men

five

Avhich,

by a

series

the

but that

of immortal

and increasing triumphs, has so pre-eminently marked

his after-career in Europe,

was here displayed,

to the ex-

treme dismay of the enemy, and the utter astonishment of

all

India.

General Wellesley immediately ordered the

rear-guard, strengthened by the 1st battalion of the

regiment,

under Lieutenant Colonel Chalmers,

to

2nd
halt,

and cover the whole of the baggage

at the adjoinnig village

when moving on

staff,

son of the
follow,

himself, with his

Bombay

and the

and Captain John-

engineers, he ordered the picquets to

line to

come up,

as soon as formed.

After

MILITARY

172

[A.D.

marching about three miles, he suddenly came up

enemy's army, drawn up in order of

of the

in sight

battle,

on a

small peninsula, formed by the rivers Kaitnah and Jooee

the cavalry being on their right, and the infantry and guns

on the

left

the river Kaitnah half a mile in their front,

and the Jooee, with very steep banks, about three quarters

The General immediately

of a mile in their rear.

mined

to turn their left flank, a

deter-

movement which would

necessarily reduce their operations within a narrow space,

and more
force,

effectually secure the flanks of his

during the action.

to ride forward

to

perceiving his intention,

to

meet

With an appearance

of science,

suspect they did not really possess, the

it,

little

examine the road, and then lead the

infantry on to the attack.

which

own

Captain Johnson was ordered

by bringing

made

their

whole force

enemy

movement

a correspondent

to face the

medi-

tated danger, forming across the ground in two lines, with

their right close to the Kaitnah,

and

appuyed on

their left

the village of Assaye, and the Jooee river; during which

movement

guns were by no means

their

idle,

and being

worked by regularly trained artillery-men, they mowed

down our men

at every discharge.

soon crossed the

river,

opposite to them,

when our guns opened on

enemy, and our cavalry formed

the infantry

being

left

our

allies,

in

two

lines,

those of the

in a third line, in the rear of

the Mysoreans and Mahrattahs^

on the other side of the

and watch a large

Our army, however, very

and formed, the infantry

river, to protect

the rear,

body of the enemy's cavalry, who had been

hovering on our flank from the last ground.

The General

soon perceivino- that the British artillery were too few in

1803.]

REMINISCENCES.

173

to cope with the

overwhelming bat-

numbers and weight

teries

of"

the enemy, ordered the firing to cease, and the

infantry to advance,

which they did

the most gallant

in

manner, and were soon in possession of their front

guns

line of

when, forming afresh, they proceeded to attack a

second

line,

where the whole of the enemy's force of in-

fantry and cavalry, with half of their artillery, were posted,

and well drawn up, with the

moment

this

our rear, and with their

fugitives,

Jooee in their front.

river

At

a body of the enemy's cavalry charged in

own gunners, and

other rallied

took possession, not only of their

own guns,

which we had captured, but also those of the British

and turning the guns on our

ling our artillery-men,

They were enabled thus

kil-

line.

succeed at this moment, be-

to

cause our cavalry had just then charged a large body of

the

enemy

in

front,

who

had, with the assistance of a

very heavy and destructive

fire

from their guns, not only

galled, but nearly annihilated the gallant 74th,

on our extreme
well,

was

This last

right.

at length broken,

mense column, who, though

Colonel Maxwell,

it

and the guns captured

our cavalry, pursuing the fugitives,

killed

and picquets

although

line,

the

in with

fell

retreating,

stood

while

an im-

opposed them, and

Brigadier

nor were they

completely routed, without a severe struggle, and heavy

loss

on our

side.

the General,

The second

who was

line

being put hors de combat,

every where, placed himself at the

head of the 78th regiment, faced about, and charged the

enemy, who were

in

possession of the

and routed them with great slaughter.

conflict

those

who had

first

line

of guns,

Here ended the

captured our guns making off as

MILITARY

174

soon as they saw their danger

[A.D.

though about half past five a

body of ten thousand cavalry came

in sight,

demonstrations, but dared not charge

in

and

and made some

at eight o'clock

the evening they entirely disappeared, leaving us in

quiet possession of the dear-bought

tield,

and three cannon, most of which were

howitzers,

all

beautiful guns, an

with one hundred

brass,

and twelve

immense quantity of am-

munition, and one thousand two hundred dead bodies.

Amongst

the spoils of this memorable day, were

standards, and a
officers

eight

number

by which

of orderly books, kept by

many

European

appeared, that they had ten thousand

it

hundred regular infantry, and

thirty

whilst our small

valry in the action:

thousand ca-

body consisted of

two European regiments, the 74th and 78th, nine hundred

men

and four native

battalions, the 1st of the 4th, 1st of

the 8th, 1st of the 10th, and 2nd of the 12th, amounting
to

two thousand four hundred infantry ; the 19th dragoons,

and the 4th, 5th, and 7th Native cavalry

three hundred,

making one thousand two hundred

three hundred each,

being a total of four thousand

Some
that

five

of the prisoners said it was generally understood,

when Colonel Stevenson's and our

we intended

to offer

them

battle

force

had united,

but when they

discovered only one body advancing, they thought

actually

hundred.

mad,

tacked our

as

little

it

was

camp

their

own

first

them

intention to have at-

the same day.

Here may be seen

the advantage of that prompt and energetic decision which

so early characterised the hero of Assaye, as the first

neral of the age.

He

Ge-

not only gained a splendid and im-

portant victory, but by anticipating his enemy, cramped


REMINISCKNCFS.

1803.]

and

his

confined

enormous

175

force within

such narrow

bounds, that they could not form a larger front to oppose

his handful,

nor turn his flanks in the action

had they been permitted

to assail

camp on

his

whereas,
the plain,

defendants being always somewhat dispirited, they could

surrounded

liave entirely

and employed every man

it,

in

the assault.

As soon

as

all

the remains of our

army were

collected on

the ground, the cavalry were ordered back, to bring on the

camp equipage, baggage, &c.

The night

next morning.

few

who had escaped

passed very agreeably

The dawn

but did not return

what then must

who

it

have been

many even without any kind

of succour?

was hailed by the

mixed feeling of exultation and regret

few, if any, of the survivors

to

lay on the cold ground with-

of the 24th of September

victors with a

the

till

even to those

unhurt, cannot be supposed to have

the numerous wounded,

out shelter, and

after this victory,

had not

lost a friend, or

for

had

one or more lingering on the bed of sickness, and pierced

with wounds.

Our loss, when fully ascertained, proved

Killed,

Europeans,

to be as follows

one Lieutenant-colonel, nine

Captains,

twelve

Lieutenants

and one Volunteer

23

Soldiers of the three regiments.

Cavalry and infantry

198

Natives of the three regiments of cavalry,

and four battalions of infantry

428

Total Killed 649

MILITARY

176

[A.D.

Lieutenant-colonel, two

Wounded, Europeans, one

Majors, six Captains, eighteen

Lieutenants, and three Ensigns

30

------

442
1,138

Wounded

1,610

Missing

18

Soldiers

Natives

Total

Total killed, wounded, and missing 2,277

As

the loss

cavalry,

the

it will

field

fell

much more

heavily on the infantry than

appear that the English

force,

which kept

of battle, with the captured guns, &c., on the

night of the 23rd of September, could not have exceeded

one thousand four hundred

The names of

men

officers killed

His Majesty's 19th dragoons,

well, Brigadier,

4th cavalry,

Lieutenant-colonel

were,

Max-

and Captain Boyle.

Captain Hugh Mackay

Lieutenant Bonomie.
7th, Captain M'Gregor, mortally

agent for pubhc cattle.

5th,

wounded; died

in a

few days.
Artillery,

Captains

Fowler and Steel, and Lieutenant

Griffiths.

His Majesty's 74th regiment,

Dyce, and

Maxwell

Captains Aytone,
;

M. Campbell, and Lorn Campbell

James Grant, Morrison,
Volunteer Moore.

M'Leod,

Lieutenants, J. Campbell,
;

R. Neilson,

Kernan, and M'Murdo.

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

His Majesty's 78th regiment,

1st battalion of the

177

Lieutenant Douglas.

2nd regiment of Native

infantry,

Lieutenant Brown, with the advanced picquet.

Wounded

His Majesty's 19th regiment,

Captains

Cathcart and

G. Sale; Lieutenants N. Wilson and D. Young.

Lieutenants Paling and Meredith.

Captain Colebrooke Lieutenants Darke

4th Cavalry,
5th,

and

M'Leod.

7th, Captain M'Leod,

badly.

Lieutenant Lindsay.
Majesty's 74th regiment, Major Swinton command-

Artillery,

His

ing

Captain Moore, badly

lands,

His

Lang-

Lieutenants

Shaw, and Mien.

78th

Majesty's

regiment,

Captain

Mackenzie;

Lieutenants Larkins and Bethune.

1st battalion of the
1st battalion of

4th regiment,

Lieutenant Mavor.
Lieutenants Davie,

the 8th regiment,

Fair, Hunter,

De

Graves, and Walker.

1st battalion of the 10th regiment,

2nd

Lieutenant

battalion of the 12th regiment,

Parrie.

Lieutenant-colonel

M'Leod, commanding, shot through the body

jor

Mac

Cally, badly in the

head

Ma-

Lieutenants,

Harvey, Snow, Bowdler, Degrey, and Smith.

The General had two horses

which the cavalry carried

thirteen were killed,

wounded
mounted
VOL.

I.

leaving

in the

killed

under him, and his

Of one thousand two hundred

staff four more.

into action, one

horses,

hundred and

and three hundred and twenty-five

only

eight

hundred and

sixty-two

whole brigade, at the end of the day.

MILITARY

178

Where

all

behaved so nobly,

it

[A.D.

may appear

mention the conduct of individuals

circumstances,

liar

trust

may

still,

be excused in the in-

dulgence of that feeling, which urges the

In the enumeration of our force,

name

tioned the
as

when our

recital.

have already men-

of Captain A. Grant, an infantry officer,

Major of brigade

action,

invidious to

under the pecu-

line

In the heat of the

to the cavalry.

was

at a stand,

ment nearly annihilated, this

officer

and the 74th

regi-

rode up to his Brigadier,

Colonel Maxwell, who, with the cavalry, was following in

the rear of the infantry

and pointing

this noble regiment, called out

to the

remains of

" Now's your time.

Sir, to

save the 74th regiment; do, pray order us to charge!"

The Colonel

assented, and " forward and charge !" was

When they reached the

shouted and taken up in an instant.

enemy's guns, a heavy

many

them, and

fell,

of grape-shot was poured in upon

fire

but the survivors took ample venge-

ance on the gunners, and

all

who

stood to support

them

during which time Captain Grant was seen riding about

the

and overthrowing every opponent.

field,

lives;

and

shall, therefore,

But he

Captain A. B. Campbell, of the 74th regiment, who

his

arm

in

the Sherewele Jungle,

broken his remaining arm at the

ing,

was

his

teeth,

and a sword

off unhurt,

transfixed

and who had

wrist,

by a

fall in

lost

since

hunt-

in the thickest of the action, with his bridle in

in

destruction around him.

came

still

not say any thing further.

his

mutilated hand, dealing

He was now

though one

of the

a staff

officer,

him with a bayonet, which actually pierced

saddle in the charge.

He

and

enemy very nearly

his

lived to be Post-master of the

RKMINISCENOR.S.

1803.]

179

subsidiary force, and to distinguish himself

the second campaign, but lost his

still

further in

afterwards on the

life

passage to England.

Captain

Hugh Mackay,

being a public

finest fellows I ever

knew.

Brave to a

regiment,

mander, he was a

to

nately, the General

for

adored by

had

the

in

army

their

com-

man was

This

father.

was

one of the

yet modest,

whom, though never

common

most intimate friend

fault

He was

unassuming, humane, and generous.

the 4th

staff' officer,

He was

not permitted to do regimental duty.

the

but, unfortu-

and he did not agree well together,

each was ignorant of the other's worth

and Mackay,

mild and conciliatory as he ever was with his equals or

inferiors,

On

was proud and unbending

the eve of the battle

to him.

Mackay wrote

mission to join his corps, on the

march and

which he got

and was

a positive refusal,

Captain Bar-

to

clay, the Adjutant-general, requesting the

General's perin action- to

he could not

told

be spared from his own department, the public cattle of

the army.

He

offered to resign

be spared at that moment.

was

On

told

he could not

which he wrote, that

" Whenever he should see his corps going into

would, at
thereby
it, it

and
"

all

hazards, join it; that he

forfeit his

commission, but he trusted,

would be with honour."

ill-advised letter, the

What

we must

On

General

him go

ing the charge of his

;"

own

he

if

he did lose

the receipt of this hasty

is

said to have exclaimed,

can we do with such a fellow, Barclay

e'en let

action,

knew he should

and go he certainly

I believe

did, head-

regiment, and in a line with the

leading squadron of the noble veteran lOtli dragoons, he

N 2

MILITARY

[A.D.

horse, close to one

of the enemy's guns,

180

man and

fell,

pierced through by

several grape shot.

heat of the action, news was brought

Mackay was

Captain

and the tear which

voluntary

On

homage

killed,

fell

to the

upon

When

in the very

General that

to the

his

countenance changed,

his

cheek was nature's

memory

of a kindred

in-

spirit.

the 24th of September Colonel Stevenson's force

and immediately went

arrived at Assaye,

beaten enemy,
return to

whom

he followed

for

in pursuit of the

some time

Ahmednugger, where our corps was

and

now

in charge of

a large supply for the army, and from whence we were

recalled

by a kind

letter

from the General

Lucas having been detached

but Captain

to a distance, to save a small

party assailed by a large body of the enemy, here

forced to remain

till

his return,

night of the 2nd of October,

we were

which took place on the

when we

learned

the fol-

lowing particulars.

KURJET KORIAGAUM.

company of

the 12th

regiment of Native infantry,

under Lieutenant Moi'gan, having been detached from

camp,

to proceed to the

Carnatic, in charge of various

drafts from Native corps in our army, for

at

Madras

new

corps raising

along with this party, and taking advantage

of their escort, were Captain O'Donnell

and Lieutenant

Bryant of the 2nd Native cavalry, proceeding to join

corps with the force under General Campbell.

their

They had

reached the vicinity of a village called Kurjet Koriagaum,

about seventy miles from Ahmednugger, when they were

suddenly attacked by a body of about one thousand

five

RKiMINlSCKNCKS.

1803.]

181

hundred men, the former garrison of Ahmednuggcr, of

whom

at least

Captain O'Donnell,

one third were Arabs.

who, though small, was a truly gallant

assumed the command,

amounting,

and

to the charge.

man,

first

saved the

Lieutenant Bryant, a very powerful

life

of O'Donnell,

his pistol at the leader of the Arabs,

cut

immediately

motley band,

his

more than one hundred

in the whole, to not

men,

fellow,

on

led

who had snapped

and was about

down by him, when Bryant put him

then attacking their colour-bearer, cut him

At

seized their standard.

this

moment

death

to

down

they were forced

also,

and

little

party

but so closely were they pursued, that

to

take post in a large choultry, from

whence the enemy could not dislodge them.

extraordinary courage and strength of Bryant,

conduced

entirely save their lives, at least

He harangued

servation from famine.

broken English,

and

the enemy's cavalry

appeared, and Captain O'Donnell drew off his

into the village

to be
;

knowing

not

word

to

the
of

Here the
if it

did not

their pre-

Sepoys

any

in

native

language, and continually sallied out with a few volunteers, in search of food,

their opponents.

and as regularly

Amongst

sword on some Arab's

killed

some of

other feats, having broken his

scull, the first

day, he seized

musquet and bayonet, which he always used afterwards

and so dexterous was he with

this

new weapon,

that he

frequently put the bayonet through one man, and knocked

a second

down with

the but end.

leader

mounted on a

singled

him out

for his

beautiful

prey

One

mare,

day, seeing

he immediately

and running him through the

body, seized the marc by the bridle, and bore her off in

MILITARY

182
triumph.

On this

[A.D.

mare he afterwards rode

a season,

if

all

the time he

Such a man,

remained in the Mahrattah country.

at

a dozen of sober, plodding fellows, who, calculating

would have

culties,

sat despairing at

and blockaded in

collected

behaved

officers

capitulate,

ill,

diffi-

home, rather than

run such imminent risks on every occasion.

men

such

he was mad, as some asserted, was worth

Of

the hundred

this spot, all the native

and would have persuaded the men

to

had not many of them taken courage by the

behaviour of Lieutenant Bryant, to them a perfect stranger,

and by the conduct of the other two European

who, though neither possessing

to cope, single-handed, with the Arabs,

proper spirit
ters

when

were in this

always shewed a

Mat-

were necessary.

their exertions

state,

officers

sufficient bodily strength

when Captain Lucas, with

four

companies and two guns, made his appearance and relieved

them, without striking a blow, for the enemy had with-

drawn, aware of his approach

the orders he had received, " to

nothing beyond the

tack their

camp

detachment

to

relief of

and acting

make no

up

to

the party," he would not at-

outside the village, nor suffer any of his

meddle with them

he came, and enabled us

fast as

strictly

delay, and risque

to

but marched back as

move

off to join the

army, the party thus relieved returning with

us.

As

it

is

always easy to find fault, Captain Lucas was very generally

blamed

for not attacking the

miles out of his way,

when

depended on his security

he acted as became a
ties of

the

little

Arab camp, only two or three

the very well-being of an

and speedy

soldier.

return.

In

army

my mind

do not know the casual-

party, but beheve they were

numerous the

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

first

183

day, and that they lost their horses and

gage during their retreat into the

Our

we

supplies being collected,

the 6th of October

on the

12th; reached

bag-

their

Ahmednugger on

left

crossed the Godavery at

all

village.

Raukusgaum,

Aurungabad, a distance of one

hundred and thirty miles, on the 16th, where we halted

two days

for

when, being reinforced, we proceeded on the

18th to Poolmarry, thirteen miles and a half, through a

narrow Pass, between small

hills,

a mile and a half in length,

the hills being steep on both sides of the road, fomiing a

favourable

site

of attack for the discomfiture of such a

The

convoy as our's was.

all

battle of

Assaye had collected

the birds of prey in the country, a few following the

army, and the rest taking possession of the inheritance

them, by their

On

battle.

tant,

kindest benefactor, man, on the

the 19th

which seemed by

killed one
it's

this bird

From

feet across,

similar to those so cherished at Calcutta

cause

the tips of

in

it's

and was exactly

and Fort William,

mention this extraordinary

had never before seen one

vicinity of Calcutta

of

attention in following us, to be

measured ten

as public scavengers.

field

on the march, an adju-

anticipating a feast on the road.

wings

left

any part of

fact, be-

India, the

and the Hooghly only excepted

nor

did I ever again see any in after-times in the Mahrattah

country
tory

proving the strength and power of their olfac-

nerves.

We

encamped

this

day

at

Bunkinooly,

having a nullah and small hedge in our rear; the distance

being about fourteen miles.

On

the 20th, after an easy march, on a very good road,

we encamped on

the nortii

bank of

a deep river, close to

MILITARY

184

[A.D.

the village of Palhood, a distance of thirteen miles and a

On

half.

in the

Aurungabad

common

as

On

march we passed the second tank

this

had seen

Mahrattah country

whereas

the

or lake I

first

in all other parts of India,

being at
they are

as villages.

the 21st our whole

march was through a most

ro-

mantic and picturesque country, covered with trees and

verdure, and abounding with

game

lightful to the eye long tortured

tonous cotton

of course most de-

and bleak stony

soil,

slightest relief.

by the sight of a mono-

We

encamped

without

hills,

town of Adjunteh, twelve miles from our

tified

the

to the eastward of the forlast

ground.

This has evidently been a place of some consequence, in

days gone by

the Pettah or town

is

on the south bank of

a deep and beautiful stream, being well

sessing

many

capital buildings, in

were residing.

cers

conducted us to the

Over the
fort,

fortified,

river,

offi-

a good stone bridge

on the north bank

stone octagon, in which our

and pos-

which our wounded

a very neat

wounded men were accommo-

dated, in very airy comfortable barracks, which were quite

novel in native fortifications.

A famine

then raging pretty

generally in the country, this dehghtful place appeared to

have suffered a very large share of

all

it's

horrors

the ground

round being actually strewed with the mangled remains

of thousands of
tion

which mortality

shame be

On

it's

victims. Unfortunate

and wretched na-

subject at once to two of the heaviest scourges to

it

the

is

liable,

war and famine

And ive,

to our

said, the willing instruments of the former

22nd of October we descended the Adjunteh

Pass, a gradual declivity of about three miles, and joined

REMINISCENCES.

1803.

185

encamped two miles beyond

the army,

it

only six miles

distant from Adjunteh.

On

the

24th we got intelligence of the capture of

Asseerghur, by Colonel Stevenson's army, and of a signal

by General Lake, over Scindiah's

victory gained

under the personal

command

troops,

of a Mr. Lewis, in which the

Mahrattahs suffered a severe defeat, with great slaughter,

and the

loss

of

fifty or

sixty

Madrasees keeping equal pace

guns

the Bengalees and

in the race of glory.

SCINDIAH'S VAKEEL.*

The army made marches and counter-marches,

intelligence prompted, without

occurring, until the 7th of

encampment
Dowlut

Row

at

November, when, during our

Chichooly, a respectable Vakeel

from

Scindiah arrived in our neighbourhood with

He was

proposals for peace.

evening,

as our

any thing of consequence

escorted into

camp

in the

by the Honourable Mounstewart Elphinstone and

Lieutenant A. Campbell, the General's Aid-de-camp, with

a squadron of Native cavalry, under Captain O'Donnell, of

He was

Kurjet Koriagaum.

mounted

horses, &,c., escorted

dressed,

and well

Although we

by ninety of

his master's best cavalry.

had every reason to conclude his mission

was urgent, yet that

interfered,

richly

and had an elephant, two camels, and many led

and

it

superstition I before mentioned, here

being deemed an unlucky day, he was

not introduced to the General.

Those dispensers

or disposers

literally translated,

Wakeel, or Vakeel,

always used

for

of celestial favours, the

would be agent

an Ambassador, or Minister from one court

but

it

is

to another.

MILITARY

186

[A.D.

Brahmins, having, however, kindly decreed the 8th to be

made

auspicious to the ceremony, preparations were then

for the

due reception of the potent Scindiah's Ambassador;

and many of
dust,

uniforms that a year's wet,

us, in the best

and sunning, could

afford,

met

tion,

we very

proscribed

amused

making a

therefore,

we

ourselves as well as

had chimed

great mortifica-

had

speedily found that this hour

and

at the General's tent

To our

at four o'clock in the afternoon.

five,

when every

also

been

virtue of necessity,

could, until the ghurries

officer

who

command

could

charger, or a tolerably clean suit, again assembled, and

the procession set forward at sunset, composed of about

one hundred gentlemen, and as

many

there meeting the Vakeel,

mounted

who with

to receive the General,

guile]imillow,

or

we

Having

troopers.

passed at a canter to the Mahrattah lines on our

his friends

alighted,

all

left,

and

had

dis-

when

great folks, which lasted some minutes

after

which the

Ambassador and General Wellesley again mounted,

lowed by the

hugging scene, commenced among the

rest,

fol-

and the cavalcade returned by torch-

light to head-quarters,

where the band of

his Majesty's

78th regiment and a company were drawn up, who saluted

the Vakeel as he dismounted.

The General's

tent, a large

square, single poled, of about thirty feet, although half the

officers

had

retired, could

which remained.
scenes,
first

hardly retain the genteel crowd

Taking a particular

handed the Vakeel

in,

such

in

rest,

He

and seated him on his right

hand, and Gokliah, our head

with the

interest

contrived to get close to the General's chair.

ally,

on his

according to their rank.

left,

and so on

silver

salver

RKMINISCENCKS.

1803.]

with betel was then brought

own hand,

tributed with his

and

right

in,

187

which the General

to all the seven natives

entitled to such a compliment.

left,

gave them rich dresses and shawls, and

lastly,

the Vakeel in particular with two superb jewels,

dis-

on

He

his

then

presented

and a

rich

gold chain, which were immediately fastened round his

turban, and several more beautiful shawls and dresses were

added

to this donation

"

the 78th played

during which time the band of

God

save the King," and several other

The great men conversed on common

tunes.

the last present,

when

that " the Maharajah,

very good Hindoostanee,

in

topics,

till

the Vakeel told General Wellesley,

his

master, wished for nothing so ardently as his friendship

and amity;" and rising

to

sembled at the entrance,

could

make way

take leave, was conducted to

by the General.

the door

it

great concourse having as-

was with

difficulty the

for a very large elephant

guard

and beautiful

horse to be brought up, and presented to the Vakeel, who,

mounted on a superb white charger, most

richly capari-

soned, galloped off in great style, followed by his presents

and

escort

and thus ended the

first visit.

The Vakeel, Esvvunt Row Goreporee, was a man

of high

rank in the Mahrattah Empire, and nephew to the famous

Morari
of "

Row

Ameer

he was also dignified with the Persian

ul

Oomrah " Lord of Lords

title

so extraordinarily

do the Hindoo chiefs, particularly the Mahrattahs, prize

the

Mussulman

common

size

spoke the

man

titles.

In person he was

thin, but athletic,

and

of sense and dignity.

much above

the

his countenance be-

He seemed much

pleased with the General's attention, and indeed so was

MILITARY

188
every one

behold the man,

to

who had

before resembled a lion in battle,

and

foe in such a liberal

[A.D.

now

delicate

hinting at any thing likely to give

only a few days

treating one of the

manner, without even

him the

slightest uneasi-

ness.

On

the 9th of October, five o'clock being,

suppose'

again declared auspicious, the General, at that hour, ac-

companied as the day

before, returned the Vakeel's visit.

The ceremony was nearly the same

as formerly, but

ob-

served a degree of depression on his fine countenance, which

I

attributed to the

by a royal

news that day

talions of his master's troops

We

General Lake.
torch-light again
certainty,

received,

and announced

salute from our guns, of the defeat of seven bat-

under the walls of Agrah, by

returned

home

in

the same state, by

whilst matters remained in similar un-

and we made

any more of the enemy

several

marches without seeing

until the 29th of

November.

BATTLE OF ARGAUM

On
each

the morning of the 29th, our

man

five miles

Berar,

early,

met a Vakeel from Bonsala, the Rajah of

on,

whom

to receive.

army marched

having sixty rounds of ammunition, and about

the General conversed with, but did not stop

He

was encamped

told the General that his master's

army

at Putheilee, about ten miles in our front,

and entreated him

General refused.

to halt short of that place,

He

which the

then asked seriously, " Whether,

he came up with their army, he would attack them ?"

which he rephed, " Most undoubtedly

;"

to remain with the baggage, which was

if

to

and advised him

left

at a village

REMINISCENCES.

1803.

189

eight miles on the road, in charge of the rear-guard under

About

Lieutenant-colonel Orrock.

this time

a cloud of dust a few miles off on our

cluded, as
force,

proved to be, that

it

moving

same object

for the

knew

General

it

we observed
and con-

left flank,

was Colonel Stevenson's

though no one but the

Passing through a

w^hat that object was.

game, we even amused ourselves,

beautiful country, full of

as usual, in hunting and shooting on the right flank the

whole way, until after a march of ten miles, we found our

camp

colours at a stand

pitched to our

left.

and Colonel Stevenson's likewise

Two

Vakeels had also met the Colonel

on the march, and persuaded him to

that

we were going

was not

to

do the same

to be outwitted,

halt, assuring

him

but General Wellesley

having sent an order across the

country, with distinct instructions for

him

move

to

At

on.

two o'clock we reached our ground, and were ordered

form and rest on our arms

shortly after whicli

the sound of cannon in front, and missed the General

He

our picquets.
shoulder and

obeyed

and

soon returned, however, ordered us to

move on with our guns, which was

instantly

though the country about here was so thickly

covered with high grain, that

front for the first three miles
village,

to

we heard

we

could see nothing in our

when coming near

and hearing the roaring of cannon

discovered that

we had

a walled

increase,

we

got into the vicinity of the enemy.

The road through which alone we could advance, was

much

circumscribed by the high jowaree

the village

it

opened out a

little, still

coarse Indian

;*'

and though at

our march was con-

strain.

MILITARY

190
siderably impeded

had

led being

[A.D.

by the picquets and detachment which

thrown into momentary disorder, by the

sudden opening of

pieces of cannon on them, the

fifty

instant they had passed the

village.

pass through them we formed

As soon

as

we could

in front of the village Sir-

soney, having a tolerably extensive plain of at least three

miles before

it,

on which appeared the armies of Bonsala

in the fore-ground,

and Scindiah's

in their rear

thousand Arabs on the

guns forming one

line,

and Benee Syng's

left,

forming a

The Berar

kind of doubtful potence on either wing.

fantry, with about fifty

five

in-

with two

thousand

Ghosains in the centre.

Waiting

cannonade
to

and formation of Colonel Steven-

for the arrival

on our

son's force

for

left,

we were exposed

to

heavy

some minutes, which our guns feebly

tried

answer; and in this position, our corps being drawn up

exactly in front of the village, on which the enemy's batteries

were pointed, as the only entrance to the plain,

severely suffered, in having Lieutenant Turner,

adars, one Jemadar, and forty Sepoys

cannon

shot.

two Sub-

knocked down by

The precious remains of the

gallant 74th

were on our right, and beyond them the 78th; whilst on

our

left

ment

were the 1st battalion of the 4th, and the 2nd regi-

to the left of

them

could not see further.

At

about half-past four we were ordered to leave our guns and

advance, Colonel Stevenson's force which had further to

march, having just then formed up on our

left.

It

was a

splendid sight to see such a line advancing, as on a field-day

but the pause when the enemy's guns ceased

firing,

advanced in front of them, was an awful one.

and they

The Arabs,

REMINISCENCHS.

1803.]

191

a very imposing body, singled out our two European regi-

ments

and when we arrived within about sixty yards,

round of grape, which knocked down ten of our

after a

men, and about

as

many

in

each of the European regiments,

they advanced and charged us, with tremendous shouts.

Our

three corps were at this time considerably in front of

the rest of the line, and a struggle ensued, in which

killed

and wounded about

our corps alone took eight standards.

acting,

nearly in the centre,

Whilst

down

but the Arabs once routed, and the

coming up, there was

line

soon a perfect rout.

this

was

observed Benee Syng's

Ghosains, dressed like beef-eaters, bearing

our flank

we

hundred of these Arabs, and

six

more

little

to turn

rest of

and

to do,

it

The enemy's cavalry made two

our

was

feeble

attempts to charge our two flank corps, under Captains

Maitland and Vernon, but were repulsed by a steady

Our own

from each.

fire

cavalry had hitherto been kept in

the rear, but the General

now ordered them

and they followed the enemy

for

some

to

charge,

miles, cutting

down

about three thousand of the fugitives; who, however, contrived to carry

and

left

away a few

light guns,

mounted

cupied, with thirty-eight fine cannon, and

tities

as gallopers,

us in quiet possession of the ground they had oc-

of ammunition and stores.

The

immense quan-

field of battle

was

strewn with arms, and about one thousand sun-dial turbans, like those worn
or

thirty

by the Bengal army

standards also

account of the prisoners,

army

alone,

amounted

fell
it

commanded by

to ten

into our

and twenty

hands.

By

the

appeared that the Bonsala's

his

brother.

thousand regular infantry,

Nana Babah,
fifty

guns, and

MILITARY

192

thousand cavahy

thirty or forty

drawn up

and Scindiah's

troops,

to

have taken no

However that might

be, the General

in their rear,

share in the action.

[A.D.

were declared

was extremely displeased with the Maharajah, and accused

him of a breach of

his promise, to separate himself entirely

from the Bonsala.

five

Of

army

the

actually engaged, the

thousand Ghosains, under Benee Syng, escaped to

Gawilghur, and the rest dispersed in various directions.

This was Colonel Stevenson's last engagement, and closed

He was

a long career of honourable and gallant services.

even then so

ill,

that General Wellesley endeavoured to

persuade him not to go into the action

come

in

a howdah, or

litter,

he did, however,

on an elephant, and died a

few days afterwards. The General's order on

while

it

soldier, did

The

men

memory

did justice to the

this occasion,

of an excellent old

honour to his own heart.

loss of our

in killed

army amounted

and wounded

to nearly four

of which small

sixty were actually killed, but cannon-shot

joke in general.

The

wounds

Donaldson of the 94th, mortally.

cavalry.

are no

wounded were Lieutenant

officers

Lieutenant Turner of

the 1st battalion of the 3rd regiment, severely.

Barnaby of the

hundred

number only

Lieutenant

Captains Vernon of the 12th, and

Burke and Dalrymple of the

artillery, slightly.

Captain

M'Kenzie of the 78th, and Lieutenants Langland of the

74th, and Robertson and Campbell of the 94th.

Lieutenant Turner, of our corps, had his thigh broken

by a cannon

ball,

while the officers were standing in the

rear of their companies,

and the men were

to avoid unnecessary exposure

sitting in line,

and he had the

tip of

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

little

finger

and the butt end of a

site side, at

cripple for

pistol shot off,

young man recovered

this fine

contrary to the expectation of

hospital,

A youthful

attendants.

on the oppo-

we knew not how. Though

the same instant,

life,

193

in the general

all

his medical

and hale constitution, and

spirits

never to be subdued, performing almost a miracle in his

favour

but with such a fracture,

to recover the entire

was impossible ever

He

Kves

Of three

subject to occasional exfoliations.

wounded, two died

it

use of his limb.

but

still,

officers

in the hospital shortly after; of

whom,

Subadar Ally Cawn, a man so uncommonly diminutive

person, that

we used

him the

to call

was one of the best and bravest

was at

is

Native

advanced in

this time far

little

soldiers I ever
life,

in

cock sparrow,

knew.

He

and had earned the

respect and esteem of every European officer, as well as of

every native in the corps

this

Liliputiau hero

and what was very remarkable,

had as strong a

In action he was the

great soul.

life

around him, and in devoted affection

no

superior.

The whole of the

he had a

voice, as

and soul of those

to the service

flesh

he had

and sinews of the

hinder part of both thighs being torn away by a large shot,

he

fell,

was

and could not

over,

rise

again

but as soon as the action

he requested his attendants to carry him

after us,

that his dear European comrades might see

him

had halted on the

front of

he

fell,

when he

field,

upwards of a mile in

arrived,

and spoke

and most affectionate manner

bade us

all

adieu.

asserting that his

would yet recover.

VOL.

1.

We

We
where

to us with a firm voice

recounted his services, and

endeavoured to encourage him, by

wound was not

He

die.

mortal,

and that he

said " he felt assured of the con-

MILITARY

1&4

but he was not afraid of death

trary,
it

[A.D.

he had often braved

and only regretted that he

in the discharge of his duty,

should not be permitted to render further services to his

He

honourable masters."

died shortly afterwards; and his

son was pensioned on twelve pagodas a month, or 57/. per

annum

a most liberal and ample provision for any native.

In such a service,

who would be a coward ?

whom

Lieutenant Bryant, of

such honourable mention

has been made at Kurjet Koriagaum, doing duty with the

4th cavalry, was lucky enough on this'occasion to capture

an excellent charger, which

after, for
little

purchased from him shortly

one hundred pounds, and to save the

Mahrattah boy, about

killed in the charge.

five years old

when he

of a

This boy he cherished while he lived,

but so outre were his habits, that he

pickle,

life

whose father was

him a

left

perfect

died himself, some time afterwards.

Lieu-

tenant Langlands, of the 74th, was close to us in the

action,

when

a powerful Arab threw a spear at him, and,

drawing his sword, rushed forward to complete his conquest

cut

it's

the spear having entered the flesh of the leg, and

way out

again, stuck in the ground behind him,

when Langlands grasped

with so true an aim, that

point,

went right through

it

nent's body, and transfixed

of his intended victim

and turning the

it,

him within

threw

it

his oppo-

three or four yards

All eyes were for an instant turned

on these two combatants, when a Sepoy of our grenadiers

rushed out of the ranks, and patting the Lieutenant on
the back, exclaimed, " Atchah Sahib! bhote atchah keeah!"

" Well, Sir! very well done

stance, even in a

!"

Such a ludicrous circum-

moment of such extreme

peril,

could not

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

pass unnoticed, and our soldiers

before they concluded the
ill-fated

all

195

enjoyed a hearty laugh,

work of death on the remaining

Arabs.

ELITCIIPOOR AND GAWILGIIUR.

Elatcheepoor,* as the natives call
very

fertile

and

it,

the capital of a

is

rich province, including the country

Argaum, with a strong

hill fort

in the range

round

which bounds

that plain to the northward, called Nurnaalah, and another

stronger

still

town

itself,

the

to

which

is

The

eastward, called Gawilghur.

Argaum,

several miles distant from

had been a place of importance, but was now much injured

by war, famine, and

Some convenient

desertion.

the

army moved

into the neighbourhood of Gawilghur.

Colonel Stevenson's force,

and gallant

buildings

and wounded, and

were, however, yet found for our sick

soldier.

now commanded by another

Colonel Haliburton,

the opposite side of the range, as

it

moved round

was understood

to

old
to

be

more accessible than from the south.

On

the 7th of

December we commenced operations from

the Pettah and valley below, and got on, with few casualties, in

the following days,

of science in our

up

to the 15th

camp could

but every

readily foresee

labour was in vain, further than as a diversion

Colonel Haliburton, having
culable,

overcome

had actually contrived

on the other

side

to

difficulties

though
incal-

breach the outer wall

the inner being so retired, as to be out

of the reach of his guns.

* Elatchee

man

that this

is

the llindooslanee for

o 2

Cardamum.

MILITARY

196
I

must here pause,

to relate

[A.D.

an anecdote of our brave and

kind-hearted Brigadier, Colonel Wallace, during this siege.

We

had been one night working very hard at a battery half

way up

the

hill,

and afterwards cleared a road up

to

it,

but

no power we possessed could move our iron battering guns

above a few hundred yards from the bottom, so steep and

rugged was the ascent.

by a
some

clean

when

straw,

working party came up

that

battery.

from working

relieved

to get the

"Impossible!

I've got the order in

my

hoot mon!

pocket!"

on

and reported

heavy guns up to the

The Colonel, who was Brigadier of the

exclaimed,

rest

commanding the

the officer

to Colonel Wallace,

was impossible

it

was just

and enjoying a few moments'

fresh party,

it

trenches,

must be done!

These words, although

they failed to transport the guns into the battery, fully

of this noble and devoted

illustrated the true character

soldier.

leaves,

The guns were abandoned

and

covered with

and two brass twelves, and two howitzers substi-

tuted in the

mock

battery, for a breaching one

was, our shot returning

down

the

hill,

it

never

to the very muzzles

of the guns, without injuring the soUd wall against which

they were aimed.

Colonel Haliburton having informed

the General that his breach would be ready on the morning

of the 15th, preparations were
ties

ascended the

main

assault

hill,

was

to cause

carried

made on
some

on from the northward.

The

Syng

was

breach, though defended by Beenee

soon carried,

our side, and par-

diversion, while the

in person,

but considerable opposition took place be-

tween the walls ; the Chief and many of his brave followers
sacrificing their lives in a fruitless resistance.

The

second.


REMINISCENCES.

1803.]
or inner wall,

manner; the

197

was carried by escalade

in a very gallant

light infantry of the Scotch brigade leading,

and opening a gate

when

party to enter,

for our

rison, of at least four

the gar-

thousand men, who never dreamed

of quarter, were either killed, or threw themselves over

the walls, and were generally dashed to pieces.

Syng, and some other Gosain

Beenee

they sallied

chiefs, before

out to defend the breach, had most barbarously mutilated

their

women, who were found by our people weltering

Thus

their blood.

of the strongest

fell,

after a siege of only eight days,

India,

hill forts in

the confederated chieftains,

and with

who now

it

in

one

the hopes of

earnestly entreated

for peace.

Our

loss in the siege

and capture of Gawilghur was,

Lieutenant Young, killed

commanding
wounded.

and Lieutenant-colonel Kenney,

the storming party, and Lieutenant Parlby,

Total of killed and wounded, one hundred and

twenty-six Europeans and Natives.

On

the morning of the 16th of December, Major

Malcolm, Resident

some

in

Mysore, who had

political mission, returned

left

our

with an escort

being announced by the usual salute.

John

camp on

his arrival

Several officers also

joined the force by this opportunity, imder Captain T. H. S.

Conway, from the Carnatic

and though some of our sick

were among them, and actually heard the

firing at

Gawil-

ghur, they were, poor fellows, shared out of the prize-

money.

On

the 20th, General Wellesley

made Gokliah

present of a handsome bandy, or gig, and horse, which had

come with the guard

in the park, all the

for this sole purpose,

and drove him home himself

way, apparently
in

it.

MILITARY

198

The General,

[A.D.

indeed, appeared altogether in such high

and good humour, that we augured some peaceful

spirits

tidings

must have reached him.

AMRUT ROW.
On

22nd Amrut Row, brother

the

Mahrattah camp

arrived in the

and

to the Peishwa,

at seven o'clock the

next morning our whole line was ordered out, in open

order, on an extensive plain near

man,

whom

Holkar had

set

had chased out of Poonah

staff,

whole

front,

all

was saluted by the

which, taking post at a distance in

after

passed in open column of review, and saluted

This must have been to him and his attendants a

again.

sight as novel as

marching array,
artillery

Row

whom we

in April, arrived in front of the

and passing down the

line

we

front,

up as Peishwa, and

this

by the General, Major Malcolm, and

right, attended

the

Deworwarrah, when

and

was, by

it

was grand,

at the

to us it
all

to see twelve fine corps in

same moment, with a respectable

was equally

interesting, for

Amrut

accounts, a very fine fellow, and no troops

in the world could

have exhibited a

finer line, particularly

the cavalry, such a thing never being attempted in any

Native service.

He

expressed himself highly gratified, and

requested the General to allow him to present each corps

with a zeafut of three hundred rupees.

taking up

till

This parade

half-past ten, the officers of the

army were

invited to the General's tent at noon, to witness the ratifi-

cation of a treaty with Ragojee Bonsala, Rajah of Berar;

and

had the pleasure,

salute the

at the

head of a flank company,

to

Prime Minister of Scindiah, the same evening.

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]

As

these ceremonies were not likely to occur again during

our stay in the East,

to

199

was, of course, curious in attending

At noon, Bonsala's Vakeel, Yeetel

every particular.

Punt, arrived without any state, and

all

the officers having

assembled at the door of the General's tent, he came out

They

with Major Malcolm.

saluted the Vakeel, and each

taking a hand, conducted him to a seat between them.

As

soon as compliments had passed, he pulled a bundle of

papers out of his pocket, and the General, at the same
time, ordering a similar one to be brought from his sleeping

they then exchanged them;

tent,

that such and such

marks

in

the Vakeel declaring

Mahrattah were the Ra-

jah's bona Jide personal signature, with the date correct.

The band immediately struck up " God

royal salute

was

fired

The Vakeel seemed

Europeans presented arms.

and

said,

" That the General would judge of

by

for peace,

time."

save the King;" a

from the park, and a company of

his returning

delighted,

his anxiety

two days within the limited

The General answered, through Major Malcolm,

" That he, on his

part,

hoped the peace would be as lasting

on the part of the British Government

:"

a. it

was

after

which, the band played the " British Grenadiers!"

sincere,

This was a proud and delightful

moment to

some further conversation,

which many professions of

in

us

all

and

after

mutual friendship were made, the company departed, without

much ceremony,

to

meet again

in

the evening.

At

three o'clock, P. M., our light companies arrived at the

General's tent, to wait the arrival of Scindiah's

who made
tended

Dewaun,

his appearance in great state about five, at-

by the General,

Major Malcolm, and

all

the

MILITARY

200
English

Eswunt Row Goreporee, and

off duty,

officers

other respectable natives

camels, horses,

&c.,

[A.D.

and followed by state elephants,

and two hundred of

We

chosen cavalry, as an escort.

sented arms, and the " Grenadiers'

resounding

met each

master's
pre-

the park also

;"

shout of welcome.

it's

A decrepit

March

his

him with

saluted

whose nose and chin almost

old Brahmin,

and dressed

other,

in a coarse white cloth, with-

out a single ornament, yet the Prime Minister and chief

ruler of a

most extensive kingdom, now stood before our

astonished eyes.

He was

conducted into the tent by the

General and Political Agent, as usual, and seated between

them.

looked in vain for indications in his old coun-

tenance, of that superior and intelligent

to possess.

He

said

little,

mind he was known

and appeared very grave, some

thought him sulky; but our acquaintance Goreporee was

much
seat,

and moved backwards and forwards from his

pleased,

and whispered the Dewaunand Major Malcolm

nately

from

his

looks alone,

gentleman had come with

much

peace,

full intention to treat for

had formerly ap-

dejected, while his master

was wavering and

prevaricating.

to

This Goreporee was a fine fellow,

ward appearances are

to be relied on, for

person and expressive countenance.

in the

if

He asked

mission ?" or something to that purpose

answer was, "

To

shall

out-

he had a manly
the General,

Dewaun's name, " whether he would attend

morrow."

alter-

concluded that the old

procrastinate, for he

and no longer
peared

to

to his

which the

be happy to confer with him

the next

question,

"

to-morrow?" the answer was, " Yes."

Do

to-

you march

" In what direc-

REMINISCENCES.

1803.]
tion ?"

"I never

would be unlucky

happy
Punt's

any body when, or where

tell

They then

to march."

said

to stay

as soon as

men

it

the

Berar, in whose tent there

Yeetel Punt was a

use of

him

if

many

to conduct

encampment of the Vakeel of

was a carpet spread on the

plump

floor,

tailors.

person,

whose appearance
though he proved

moment you came

himself a well-informed man, the

converse with him.

it

his consequence,

little

by no means indicated

and

was dark, however,

It

squatted like a company of

all

intend

the General,

and we mounted

a part of the way.

upon which we

when

sunset,

should be dark, gave them their

it

we reached

long before

was near

beyond

leave in the usual manner,

our great

it

ceremony, having to return Yeetel

to get over this

visit,

201

to

Observing that Major Malcolm made

Persian words in his Hindoostanee, he asked

he understood Persian

a reply in the affirmative

produced a very pretty stanza in that language, which

appeared to

me most

apposite, expressive of his sense of

the General's kindness to him, and then added in Moors,*

for the General's ear, that his

having succeeded in making

a peace, would give him a consequence with his master,

which he could not otherwise have ever hoped

The General
by

as kindly

and readily

replied, "

to acquire.

That he had

his conduct throughout, well merited his approbation,

and that of

his master,

and that whoever acted

with integrity and diligence, could not

just reward."

words, but

my

Very much did

wish

fail to

to

have put

place forbade such presumption

* Hindoostanee.

his part

meet with a

in a

few

and here

MILITARY

202

ended these interesting conferences.

[A.D.

The war was now

terminated, though to secure the fidelity of the wavering

Scindiah,

we made

towards Poonah.

a few marches more, and then returned

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

203

CHAPTER VII.
Mankarsccr Sholapoor Poonafi Return
Bomhny Second MaliWar- Capture of
Fort of Chandore Lassulgaum
Dliroop Capture of Ga/iiah The Athaweesy Country- Surat
Soayighur Serai Governor Duncan Cascade of Gokauk,
to

rat tah

the

MANKARSEER.
It was in the month of January 1804, while on the march,
as V

v3

supposed homewards, that the General got accounts

Ahmednugger Kheladar, being

of the

mitting depredations at some distance

in force,

and com-

on which we made

two or three long marches, though without success.

at length determined to

come up

with,

Being

and punish

this

lawless banditti, he formed a select party, consisting of

the cavalry brigade,

some European

foot,

and a corps

formed by one hundred volunteers from each native battalion

in

all,

who, allowing

about one thousand two hundred infantry

for all the guards,

eight hundred on a

head, for

we moved

march

he,

generally mustered

and putting himself

at our

had the honour to be one of his volunteers,

at a rate no one

had ever thought of

before.

Our common marches were between twenty and thirty

miles a day, and on the 6th of February,

when we came up

[A.D.

MILITARY

204

with the enemy's camp at ten o'clock, we had marched

fifty-four miles, in the last twenty-four hours.

us approach,

Arab

infantry

called Mankarseer,

village

to

the

move

seeing

walled

and the mounted fellows began

They

off as fast as possible.

lected, said to

On

into a

slunk

have amounted to

fifty

were,

when

all col-

thousand men, with

immense treasure and plunder, and abundance

four guns,

of cattle, taken indiscriminately wherever they went

and

most motley camp, as we

we saw a very

extensive, though

approached.

Lieutenant-colonel Orrock with the 8th regi-

ment, having been

left

with

all

our march, the General ordered

our baggage at Perinda, on

me

lunteers and dash into the village

and,

if

to take
;

two hundred vo-

to secure all the arms,

unopposed, grant quarter to the Arabs. This was im-

mediately done, while he placed himself at the head of the

cavalry brigade, and the infantry were directed to follow

Our

as fast as possible.
us, to

them

native allies having accompanied

was assigned the task of attacking the enemy's

camp, which they did with great

spirit,

Gokliah,

Appa

Desai, and Vishnoupunt, each leading a few followers to

the charge.
protect

The

cavalry moving

them from any ambush

on abreast, ready

to

but our dragoons unfor-

tunately mistaking them for our opponents, as they had

not appeared before

on the right

all

the morning, being at a distance

flank, to secure the

enemy, charged them,

down two

and before the mistake was

rectified,

cut

and had one of

own men

cut down, in

three,

defence.

their

or

self-

This mistake was, however, momentary only,

and a heavy body of the enemy's horse suddenly appearing, they rallied,

and were led on

in perfect order to the

REMINISCENCKS:

1804.]

enemy, though numerous, would not

charge, which the

but immediately

stand to receive,

207

fled

over the plain, leav-

ing our people more at leisure to secure an immense booty.

General Wellesley returned well satisfied with his day's

work

and as

found

me

to the

number

had not been

of

during his absence, he

weapons of war,

some thousands, and sixty

from which he told

me

to select one,

over to the prize agents.

and

idle

in possession of a variety of

and

fine horses

deliver the rest

chose a beautiful Arab mare,

after resting for three or four days, to ascertain the

positive direction of the bulk of the fugitives,

we

set out

again in chase, and pursued as far as Sholapoor, where

I

believe

we

some terms were accorded

at least

we

and then returning, marched at the same

there,

rejoined the

halted

rate,

till

army near Ahmednugger.

SHOLAPOOR,
About two hundred miles north-east of Poonah, was
this time, one of the finest

to be

met with

face

by a large and picturesque

in the

Mahrattah empire.

majestic beauty, with a

bastions, joined

ditch, faced with stone.

by

several bastions

fidl of

number of

fossebray,
It

Washed

on one

the fort rose in

lake,

finely

by remarkably short

equally well finished

at

models of eastern architecture

formed stone

curtains,

and an

with a wide and deep

had only one gateway, covered

and cavaliers

and when

saw

it,

was

guns and armed men, so jealous that they would

not permit any one to approach

it.

It

had a large and

well built Pettah, also walled round, with strong gates,

embracing: another face of the lake

and

little

did

then

MILITARY

208

dream that

would afterwards form a part of

this place

own command,

[A.D.

my

in this then distant country.

POONAH.
After a very tedious and fatiguing march through a

country nearly desolated by war and famine, our army

arrived at

Poonah, in the month of April

and peace being

proclaimed, the subsidiary force, to which, by the kindness

had been nominated one of the

of the General I

cantoned

staff,

was

on a plain a short distance from the town.

Colonel Close, the British Resident having returned with

now

the Peishwa, was

residing in an excellent house, built

Mootah and Moolah

at the junction of the

the

Sungam

and

his garden

imaginable, being laid

was one of the

out with

rivers, called

loveliest spots

great taste,

and well

stocked with fruit and vegetables, European as well as

Several gentlemen belonging to the Residency,

native.

had

also small neat houses in the vicinity,

was

in fact,

left

an European

no vestige of

this

villa.

but the

house or garden, both being entirely

His co-ad-

destroyed in the late war with the Peishwa.

jutor, death,

part of

it's

had long previously disposed of the earthly

noble possessor

still,

memory

virtues, recalls the soldier, the statesman,

whilst pride, I
feeling, dilates

recollect that

With a highly
abilities,

host,

Sungam

Time, has, however, now

trust, in

my

faithful to his

and the friend

this instance, at least,

an honest

heart even at this moment,

Barry Close belonged

to the

when

Madras army.

cultivated mind, and the most transcendant

he was the kind, condescending, and entertaining

and many a pleasant hour did we beguile

in his

com-

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

pany.

209

most capital Persian scholar, and the best Hin-

doostanee student in the peninsula, he transacted

own

Though a

esteemed.

mind

far

advanced in

antelope, or a fox, with all the

when Colonel

the year 1810, he

in

fire

and vigour of youth.

Sir Barry Close died in

England, in

not a superior, and few

left

body

he would

life,

and chase a hare, an

ride thirty or forty miles a day,

In short,

man, and

was as hardy and active

and even when

all his

he was greatly

short swarthy looking

rather inclining to fat, he

as in

whom

business with the natives, by

if

any

equals, in the service.

Colonel Wallace being appointed to

command

sidiary force, Colonel Haliburton, with the

sidiary,

was cantoned,

believe, at

the sub-

Nizam's sub-

Aurungabad, the deter-

mination of our supreme government not being yet fixed respecting Holkar,

who was

still

at the

head of a large army

and public matters thus admitting of

leave, I paid a visit, early in

May, to our

sister

obtaining

officers

Presidency,

BOMBAY.
I

can well remember that

performed the whole journey by

land and water in twenty hours.

Lieutenant-colonel

and superintendent of bazars

cattle,

his horse at ten o'clock,

horses

After breakfasting with

Robertson, General agent for public

when

and

in

camp,

set out at a canter

borrowed

changed

half way, and reached General Wellesley's

tent at Carley, about thirty miles distant, where

and the General declared

it

was impossible

I tiffed,

could reach

Panwell, forty miles further, by sunset, which failing to do,

I

must
VOL.

lose a day, as the passage-boat to

I.

Bombay would


MILITARY

210
start at that

[A.D.

Having mounted another

moment.

horse,

rode to the top of the Ghaut, eight miles, which, though a

very steep and rugged l^ass at that time,

mounting one of

my own

changed again half way

horses, posted

These seventy miles were

over strange ground, and some of

all

the

Pass, remarkably

Overtaking other

frequented.
pulled out
fact

rugged,

my

at the bottom,

and reached Pan-

for another,

well just before the sun set.

ran down, and

it

it,

from the foot of

not being then

officers

watch and requested them

to witness the

we reached

then embarking with them for Bombay,

much

from our camp,

that place, twenty-eight miles, before day-break, but could

not land

six.

till

contrary to

May

three

my

put up with some old friends,

my

family from Madras, and was,

Here

waiting the arrival of

expectation, detained there

till

the end of

the passage from Madras, on this occasion, taking

months and a

half.

Having once more

rejoined the army, on the

22nd of

August the subsidiary force under Colonel Wallace marched

from Poonah, consisting of the following corps

The

Artillery,

two

twelve-pounders, two howitzers, and

four spare sixes.

His Majesty's 74th regiment, now about two hundred

strong.

5th and 7th regiments of Native cavalry, six hundred.

1st battalion of the
1

st battalion

3rd regiment of infantry, six hundred.

of the 8th regiment, five hundred

And two companies

colonel

of Pioneers,

of

which Lieutenant-

Coleman commanded the infantry brigade,

and Lieutenant-colonel Huddlestone the cavalry.


RKMINISCKNCES.

1804.]

On

the 27th of September,

211

when near Aurungabad, we

were also joined by Colonel Huliburton's force, which was

as follows:

Lieutenant-colonels

Lang and Desse,

Brigadiers.

His Majesty's Scotch brigade, the 94th regiment, about

three hundred men.

2nd battalion of the 2nd regiment of Native

infantry, nine

hundred.

2nd battalion of the 7th regiment of Native Infantry, nine

hundred.
1st

regiment of Native infantry,

of the 11th

battalion

seven hundred.

3rd regiment of light cavalry, four hundred.

6th regiment of light cavalry, three hundred.

With

artillery

and park, two iron eighteens, two iron

twelves,

and two brass twelve-pounders

itzers,

and

dying

Lieutenant-colonel Ferrier

command

two how-

field-pieces to corps.

the

same day, the

of the 94th regiment devolved on Major James

Campbell.

About
to a

this time,

both officers and

I

being under bad canvass, and exposed

heavy monsoon, our camp became sickly, and we

cannot pass

it

men by

lost

a fever of so novel a nature, that

over without some description.

symptoms were an extreme

debility

The

first

and languor, with

giddiness, pains in the joints, great heat of body, and a

quick pulse.

The fever continued on some

on others only one or two, but the

all

the

fit

effects

for several days,

were the same on

being followed by delirium, and when experienc-

ing a lucid interval, the patients complained of weakness,

p 2

MILITARY

212

and pains

Many

all over.

[A.D.

my own

of

servants remained in

that state for several days, without any return of fever, but

extremely violent at times, and gradually falling off in

shewing any symptoms of returning

flesh; never once

Some men

reason.

died

the second day; others, after

being apparently free for a whole month,

lapsed and died
at once to give
as a relief.

and

who were thus

all

up every hope of

They would

lie

life,

down on

and to court death

the ground, either in

camp, or on the march, and we were obliged

to

move, to save their

infest us for

suddenly re-

attacked, seemed

to force

them

This malady continued to

lives.

months, and very few indeed escaped with-

out an attack.

On

the 8th of October, after a wet and disagreeable

march, we arrived within two miles of the Pettah of

Chandore, at the distance of eighty miles from Aurungabad, and encamped to the southward, on good ground.

CHANDORE.
This

hill-fort

forms part of a long range of mountains,

running nearly east and west, with occasional breaks, in

which Passes have been made.

six

hundred

feet

It is at least

above the plain

one thousand

and having a perpen-

dicular scarp on the summit, about one hundred feet high

all

round, might easily be

made impregnable.

The only

passage up being through gateways, built one above the

other, against this

enormous scarp.

flanked by large circular bastions

works in the
extent,

fort,

which

is

These gateways are

and those are the only

a large barren plain of great

and capable of containing

five

or six thousand

REMINISCRNCES.

1804.]

At the base of the only

men.

and

large

fine

shot of the

among

walled Pettah,

hill,

twelve miles.

is

a very

and containing many excellent houses

This

is

is

conspicuous from a distance of

an extensive, roomy, strong, and

handsome building, and

I

accessible side

with six gates, within long

the rest a Palace belonging to Holkar, which stands

near the middle, and

kind

215

any thing of the

far surpasses

have met with in the Mahrattah empire.

On

the

evening of the 8th, the picquets and 74th regiment took

possession of the

town, without opposition

and esta-

blished themselves over the gateway, next the fort, from

whence a good foot-path

way

small outwork half

led to

fended by guns and musquetry.

with the

reliefs

the next

upper gate, with a

had the pleasure

morning, under

Campbell, and was employed

forming plans

tlie

up, apparently strong, and de-

all

day

for a scouring party.

jVIajor

to

be

James
and

in reconnoitring,

In one of these re-

connoitrings, Captain A. B. Campbell, our Post-master, of

whom

honourable mention was made in the

Sherewele

jungle, and at the battle of Assaye, was riding by the

corner of the

hill,

on which a body of match-lock men

was posted, and was running the gauntlet through

when

fire,

head.

his

horse stumbled and threw

The same impulse, though

poses, induced a party of us,

their

him over

his

for very different pur-

who were

looking on from

the picquet, and the Arabs above, instantly to dash to

the spot, but the enemy had

much

from their road being down

hill.

the advantage of us,

However, a gracious

Providence watching over him, saved his

sion

for

recovering

himself

life

on

this occa-

immediately, and

luckily

MILITARY

216

[A.D.

seizing the bridle with his only hand, he

was on horse-

back again before they could reach him, and pursued his
undismayed, to overtake Captain Johnson,

original route,

our chief Engineer and Quarter-master-general, and his

escort, at

some distance round the

In the evening

hill.

the picquets were strengthened, and arrangements were

made, by which Major Vesey was

Pettah, with half our corps

and

left in

charge of the

had the

satisfaction of

leading the other wing to the assault.

The column

morning of

set out at three o'clock in the

the 10th of October, consisting of two companies of the

94th, one hundred and

fifty

men

of the picquets, and our

three hundred men, each carrying an additional bundle

of spare ammunition

Captain Johnson conducting Major

Campbell by a road he had explored the day before,

which

fully proved his ability

abled us to cut off

from the

fort

all

and discernment, as

and so well was

it

managed, that the

intimation of our approach was given

The poor Arabs, thus

we commenced
briskly, that

surprised,

made

resistance;

little

by

six o'clock

we had quiet possession of

;

into

hundreds of the fugitives endeavoured to

refused by those already within,

should follow them.

fell

great

who

which some

get,

but were

certainly feared

number of

into our hands,

we

horses, bullocks,

and we found

Major Campbell

me

their

in

com-

of the whole, with one hundred Europeans,

and

outposts so tenable, that

mand

first

by our bayonets.

our work at day-light, and pushed on so

every thing, to the very gate of the fort

arms, &c. thus

en-

it

the different parties and outposts

three hundred

left

and seventy Sepoys, comfortably lodged

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]
choultries,

in

217

and outworks,

houses,

at

different

tances from the gate, and completely cutting off

We also took

munication from without.

guns

in

Pettah

and

enemy

all this

on our

men

only three

dead bodies were

forty

left

loss of a

being wounded.

Of

on the ground

we

number of wounded

but as we

a good deal at them, occasionally within a short dis-

tance, I

days

a mortar and some

was achieved, without the

side,

could not ascertain the

fired

dis-

com-

the nearest post, the only one visible from the

single life

the

all

had reason

after thus

they were numerous.

to think

estabHshing ourselves on the

rison surrendered,

and were permitted

hundred men, with

their

to

baggage and

hill,

march

Two

the gar-

out, three

We

effects.

were

greatly astonished, on entering through the gates, to find

the fort

much

we had been

stronger than, from outward appearances,

led to suppose

the scarp of the rock being

and

generally one hundred and fifty feet perpendicular,

the passage through the two upper gateways, cut in the

and at

solid rock, very narrow,

It

few old guns were

to

least thirty feet long each.

had however, no good buildings on the summit even

ill

mounted

have been inhabited,

until our

sudden appearance on the

plain, drove the small garrison up.

cut off from

fectual

all

mode

supplies,

of driving

it's

and, in short, did not appear

They had thus been

and we had taken the most

ef-

by shutting them

in

them

out,

against their will.

The view from

on either

side,

and south

this

enormous mountain

is

most extensive

embracing the whole country, both north

and the

rivers

marked by a verdant

tinually curved, but never expanding.

At the

line,
first

conpost.

MILITARY

218

way

half

was a

up, there

surrounded by

[A.D.

and Pagoda,

capital building

Within the

trees.

first

gateway was a

deep tank cut in the rock, with another about one hundred
yards from the upper one on the summit

and from

all

appearances, the ground might be cultivated for the sup-

port of a sufficient garrison.

public

considerable quantity of

property being captured,

was chosen a

prize-

agent; but never derived the smallest benefit from

appointment, as

it

was not

sold,

my

and we did not get any

prize-money for this war.

LASSULGAUM.

On the morning of the

8th of October,

when we marched

against Chandore, the 2nd battalion of the 7th regiment of

Native infantry, with two twelve-pounders, under the com-

mand

of Captain John Brown,

was

sent against a place

called Lassulgaum, about twelve miles south from

dore

it's

defenders were both entirely conjectural.

up

to the Pettah gate,

little

there

Chan-

where the strength of the place and the number of

opposition,

was

till

blew

it

They marched

open, and advanced with

they gained the opposite side, where

situated a

very compact native

Ghurrie, or

citadel, with bastions towering over the suburbs

and no

sooner did they quit the shelter of the houses than they

were exposed to so a heavy

fire,

that Captain

Brown and

Lieutenant Purvis were killed, and Lieutenant Parlby

wounded

four artillery-men killed and five wounded, and

ten Sepoys killed and fifteen

treated into the Pettah,

happened, that

all

wounded

and sent

when

the rest re-

for assistance.

It

so

the rest of the European officers were

UEMINISCENCKS.

1804.]

left

ill

of the fever in our

ment was marching

219

camp; and while the

reinforce-

to their relief, the doctor of the corps

overheard a debate, that might have involved the most

serious

consequences.

The Quarter-master-serjeant and

whom

Serjeant-major were disputing on

the

command

of

the corps would devolve the next morning, in consequence

of Lieutenant Parlby's wound.
it,

as his right,

by virtue of

The Serjeant-major claimed

his superior stafF-appointment,

and the Quarter-master-serjeant, as the oldest

man, and ranked with

officers

nor that there were eighteen

or twenty Subadars and Jemadars, Native

ing commissions from government.

The

tachment the next morning put an end

as

soldier

them considering, that the Surgeon was a gentle-

neither of

similar circumstances

are

officers, all

hold-

arrival of the de-

to the debate

but

occasionally occurring, the

proper order of precedence should be positively defined by

In the present uncertainty four claim-

superior authority.

ants might have preferred their claims, with all appearance

of reason

Subadar

the Surgeon, the two Serjeants, and the senior

all

equally entitled to

equally unfit for

it

gentleman the preference.

disputes in the course of
a decision,

when

command,

or rather, all

though we should naturally give the

I

my

have known many similar

service,

and never could get

have interfered and addressed

my

su-

periors.

The

intelligence of the disaster at this place

Colonel Wallace as

we were

reached

entering the Pettah gate, in

consequence of which orders were sent to the camp

before sunset a party, under the

mons, was ready

to

march.

command

They reached

and

of Major Simthe Pettah of

MILITARY

220

[A.D.

Lassulgaum that night, and next morning at day-break

commenced
and

it

knock off the defences. Not a soul appeared,

to

was doubted whether the garrison remained,

absconded

in

or

had

However, four guns well em-

the night.

ployed in such a situation, soon demolished the parapet

and

faces of the ghurrie,

Captain
entered.

J.

when

Lindsay of the

No

the storming party, under

blew the gate open and

th,

men

sooner had a few

got fairly inside, than

they were assailed by a body of Arabs from within, some

of

whom

way

actually forced their

by our gallant comrades.

Our

out, but were all killed

loss

was not

Pettah having made no resistance, were

and the detachment returned

As C bandore was reckoned

to

severe,

but

The inhabitants of the

did not ascertain particulars.

camp on

left

unmolested,

the 10th.

the capital of a district, the

Dhoorp was included

in the capitulation

strong

hill fort

and

had therefore the pleasure of taking possession of

in the

name

of

it,

of the Peishwa.

DHOORP.
This place

is

situated eighteen miles to the westward

of Chandore, in the same range of mountains.

tainly strong, but not half so high as

the rocky perpendicular scarp

on the eastern

face,

is

where three

Chandore

It is cer;

though

nearly the same, excepting

tiers of

gateways form the

only entrance, and embrace a gradual ascent to the summit.

About half way from the gateways

extremity, there
siderably

is

to the western

a natural embrazure, extending con-

downward, by which

surprise, with scaling ladders,

it

appeared to me, that a

might be successfully

at-

RKMlNiSCENCKS.

1804.

tempted, because

223

did not observe any works near

it

the

whole, as at Chandore, being confined to one spot, and

certainly very well built

though, as

was never on the

up

opposite side, and had not time to go

may

be mistaken in

it's

The Pettah, a very

half

way up

the

hill,

into the fort,

strength.

superior native town,

is

built about

and contained many excellent houses,

with an appearance of comfort and abundance seldom

met with,

On

at least at that time, in the

Mahrattah country.

the morning of the 14th of October, accompanied

by a respectable servant of the Peishwa, Manoher Geer

Gosaie, at the head of three hundred men, two companies

of Sepoys, and three European officers,

camped
sent

at the foot of the hill

up a

letter,

Pettah, where

who

when

arrived

and en-

the said head

and we proceeded by ourselves

we were met by

all

man

to the

the principal inhabitants,

saluted and escorted us into the Cutcherry, in

which we

were detained nearly three hours, waiting the arrival of the

Khelladar from the

At

fort,

according to previous agreement.

length, at one o'clock,

P.M., he made

his appearance,

with a few of his men, when we met him part of the way,

and

him

into the Cut-

a sensible man, and

we conversed

salutes having passed, conducted

cherry.

He seemed

together for about an hour,

when

all

matters being amica-

bly arranged, the garrison marched out, and

session.

we

fired

a salute with them, to apprise our friends in

of our success
fort,

we took

pos-

Finding eleven pieces of ordnance in the Pettah,

and the Peishwa's men ascending

we descended

to our

camp
to the

camp, and marching next morn-

MILITARY

224
ing, returned

by a nearer road

[A.D.

Chandore, making the

to

distance only fifteen miles and a half.

The heavy

rain

which detained us two days longer

in

on the 17th we

this position,

having cleared up a

made a march

of ten miles, when, passing the Pettah and

hill

of Chandore,

This

further.

we descended a ghaut about

we found

had no space on

little,

three miles

practicable for guns, though

either side for

baggage

it

the unfortunate

which, was, that when we were encamped in a

result of

low jungle about three miles from the foot of the Pass,

and north-east-by-east from Chandore

materiel of the

army had not

Having halted

at night.

one half of the

arrived, even

by nine o'clock

in consequence, the

whole of the

next day was taken up with the arrival of baggage from

morning

till

night,

and we experienced nothing but

and complainings throughout the camp.

We

distress

were sur-

rounded by abundance of game, but the ground was

soft

and swampy

for pleasant sporting

antelopes, were dashing through the

men after them, in full cry

my

cattle

them and

my

all

my

all

servants

baggage severely

were therefore unloaded, and

spot of

and

camp with dogs and

but my horses were sore-backed,

dead and dying,

carriage for

far too

hares, hogs,

my

ill,

and want of

felt.

My guns

spears laid by, on the

others in which they might have been well

ployed, and assuredly would have been so,

em-

under any

other circumstances.

October the 19th, we marched fourteen miles over a wild

country covered with long grass and bushes, and

game; crossed the Geernah, a large and deep

full

river,

of

and

RKMINISCENCRS.

1804.]

encamped on the north bank near the

227
village of Angare.

This was a very hot and clear day, without a cloud to be

seen from sunrise

and many of our poor

sunset;

till

were consequently

left

fellows

behind on the road, where, ex-

hausted by the prevailing fever, they sank down, without

an

effort to preserve themselves,

who would

as a friend,

and seemed

at once relieve

death

to court

them from

sufferings

they wanted fortitude to bear.

On

the 20th

ground,

full

we moved

miles

ten

of ravines, and

covered

on

soft

cotton

and

with bushes

thorns; crossed another branch of the Jeernah, and en-

camped

in grass

of Cashtee

and

soft

and Dablee.

ground, near the villages of

We

had

cold in extremes, with a heavy

On

this

dew

day both heat and

at night.

the 21st, after passing through two

miles of the Fort of

Galnah

hill-fort

half,

on the south

the

three

the valley being extremely

uneven, and covered with bushes.

twelve miles and a

hills, at

we encamped within

eastern extremity of a range,

This march was about

and we had a clear view of

this

side.

GALNAH.

Few places have a more imposing appearance from a

dis-

tance than Galnah, particularly on the northern side ; the

Pettah being situated at the foot of the

it

hill,

and joined

by a wall, commanded by the upper works.

very high, but standing on an

uncommon

It

is

to

not

rock, rising

about six hundred feet from the plain, with most substantial fortifications all

dicular,

it is

VOL.

I.

round, even where the

both strong and

extensive.

Q 2

cliff is

perpen-

There are several

MILITARY

228
works on the Pettah

side,

[A.D.

through which

way, with stone steps leading up

to

it,

the only gate-

is

and some

also

the eastern face, to counteract the effects of a small

not above half

it's

height, and joined to

The ascent

direction.

is

base in that

it's

every where steep and

and the walls uncommonly strong

but there

smooth space on the summit, about

five

on

hill,

difficult,

is

a large

hundred yards

long, nearly four hundred broad, and at least one hundred

feet

above the upper walls, which ought to have been

complete

tified to

it's

defences

for-

with a good ditch, not

for

being visible within breaching distance, in any direction

from below,
tained

houses, with

rendered them tenable

and the
&c.

fort

all

On

The Pettah con-

would be impregnable.

it

many good

flat

when we had

terraced roofs,

had a Khelladar's house, a Mosque, cutcherry,

excellent buildings.

the morning of the 22nd of October, Lieutenant-

Colonel Coleman, with one hundred

giment, one hundred

and

the 3rd,

1st

men

men

of the 74th re-

of the 94th, the 1st battalion of

battalion

of the 11th regiments, was

We marched

ordered to storm the Pettah and approaches.

at three, A. M.,
hill,

and when we arrived near the small eastern

he was kind enough

to

nominate

fifty

to climb

and take possession of

to be.

On

me

to

command

Europeans, and two Native light companies,

party of

it

which

obtained possession

this post, as

we supposed

reaching the summit the day broke, and

we

then found ourselves in an excellent position to annoy the

enemy, of

whom

none had been there, nor was

The shot from our musquetry,

employed

all

day, and served

therefore,

as

it

fortified.

kept them well

diversion from

the

RKMINISGl^NCKS.

1804.]

229

Pettah, which Colonel Coleman entered about daylight,

with
all

Although we had a

opposition.

little

the eastern face of the

day

after the first

difficulty of

hill,

clear view of

yet our position was useless

because, independent of the extreme

dragging a gun up such a steep and rugged

ascent, the upper wall could not have been breached from
it,

and there was no

that direction.
for a

plain

It

possibility of

advancing to a storm in

was, however, easy to find spots on the

breaching battery, and one was erected at a

short distance west of the Pettah, where the wall

down

to

about four hundred

feet,

came

and our small post was

not occupied again, though the Pettah continued to be so

and

as the

camp was

at such a distance

^became the head-quarters of the troops on

of the

hill,

duty.

The enemy were not

it

a great deal,

got near, were of

sufficiently,

little

idle all this

though

avail, for

time, but fired

and

musquetry,

particularly

appeared good marksmen

them

on the other side

they really

their guns,

when we

they could not depress

and the ground not having been cleared

of low jungle, and being in high cultivation, afforded considerable shelter to those approaching from a distance.

In

short, the garrison,

though brave men, and good shots,

were not

Our

soldiers.

batteries of eight guns,

on the morning of the 24th, and played

spots
salient

angle.

in the north-western face

and prominent

part,

all

of the wall

opened

day on two
;

the one a

and the other a re-entering

In the latter a breach was effected by sun-set, but

the other resisted the shot so completely, that the artillery

were compelled to take a new object

Being

in the trenches this evening,

it

for the

next day.

was proposed that

MILITARY

230

[A.D.

two men should climb up and examine the breaches

for

which duty, two artillery-men having volunteered, they

set

out about seven o'clock, followed at a short distance by

Bombay

Captain Fisher, of the

who were

his men,

artillery,

also again supported

and two more of

by a strong party

The night proved

at the base of the hill.

so extremely

dark, that they actually reached both breaches without

discoveiy

the one to the right, at the re-entering angle,

being, however,

was suddenly

much more exposed than

fired at

by two

sentries,

that both balls entered his body,

his comrade,

with such good aim,

and he

rolled

down

to the

very spot where Captain Fisher and the other two were

watching below, who, also immediately took to the roUing

system, and

thorns.

all

four soon reached the spot where I

much

standing,

bruised,

We waited

some time

returned to the battery

stant

fire

and

for the other

whilst the

of

man, and then

enemy kept up a con-

from every part of the works, and threw large

stones over,

which thundered down

any one

to the bottom,

They

of which would have killed our rolling adventurers.

also

was

their bodies stuck full

burned blue

we known

lights,

and

set off rockets,

&c.

and had

of the safety of our missing volunteer,

it

would

have been one of the most entertaining and interesting

sights I

had ever beheld.

As

it

was, being resolved to

avenge the supposed death of our comrade, we

fired

grape

at both breaches, from the eight battering guns', until the

enemy having,
tion,

as I suspect,

expended

all their

ammuni-

a cessation followed, with a stillness far more awful

Our

than the loudest thunder of their

artillery.

and wounded volunteer was carried

to the hospital, and, I

bruised

REMINISCIiNCKS.

1804.]

am happy

to

Captain Fisher's body

arrive at the battery

by

eagerly hstened to
left

breach,

early, crept

was

had a
out of

about day break, with a whole skin,

enterprise

He had

of us.

all

at the other,

secure

moment

and taking warning-

under a large hollow rock below

perfectly

was most

reached the foot

could be so called, at the

if it

commenced

the firing

thorns

some time afterwards, and were

for

account of his night's

his

of the

in picking the

pleased to see our second adventurer suddenly

little

when

We

add, was not mortally wounded.

good deal of amusement

not a

231

it,

where he

from above, and heard the rocky

fragments rolling by, and bullets whistling over him from

the breach without

began

to salute

much

uneasiness, but

when our guns

him with grape from below,

was not exactly a bed of

his situation

He, however, escaped by

roses.

good fortune, and was most thankful when we ceased

He

firing.

described the breach as totally impracticable, and so

really was,

ing on a

and our guns,

new

spot,

therefore,

and played

till

it

opened the next morneleven o'clock

when

both being reported assailable, the two storming parties

were prepared, and

lead

was

relieved from the trenches,

my own company. The

right,

and the

light Infantiy the left, all under Colonel

Coleman; and we were

heads,

when

hung out

to

grenadiers were to scale the

just starting to get a few broken

the Khelladar's heart beginning to melt, he

flags of truce,

and sent down a respectable look-

ing man, with three attendants,

two hours, when they would

we should commence

again.

to request a cessation

of

either evacuate the place, or

At the conclusion of

this

short truce, the batteries re-opened with fresh vigour, and

MILITARY

232
poured in a dreadful

fire

[A.D.

at both breaches

which being

a hint they could not mistake, their messenger, therefore,

very speedily returned, bringing two hostages with him,

and a promise

to surrender the lower gate at gun-firing

next morning.

This was a very hot and trying day, with-

out a cloud in the whole firmament

and the flank com-

panies of our army, after being exposed to the influence

of a burning sun, had subsequently to feel the extreme of

a very cold and dewy night, during which

we

lay on our

The

arms, ready to advance at a moment's warning.

dawn of the 26th, however,

down with

his garrison,

witnessed the Khelladar coming

and our taking quiet possession

of the outer gate, in the guard-room of which Colonel

Coleman
officers,

received

him,

presence of

in

a number of

and we conversed, and drank tea

together,

and

while his troops were marching out.

coffee

Balam

Bhai, a respectable Syed, seemed a well-informed man, and

conversed with great ease on various subjects.

was

fully assured of our ultimate success

the English carried every thing before

we must have

lost

as,

He

said

he

" he knew

them ;" but thought

a number of men, as the breaches were

extremely steep, and they were well prepared with stones

to roll

down on

two men
the small

killed,
hill

the storming parties.

and a number wounded,

the

first

day.

He acknowledged
particularly from

His garrison carried off every

thing of value with them, and

we

assisted

him with

camels and two carts, to remove whatever he pleased

which he appeared extremely

sisted of one

grateful.

four
;

for

His troops con-

hundred Arabs only, the remainder being

Moormen and Mahrattahs, armed with match-locks, swords,

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

We

and daggers.
swivels

found nearly one hundred guns and

mounted on the works

sand seers of

233

and other

rice,

about one hundred thou-

no valuables

grain, but

number of black-faced monkies, remarkably tame

springs and stone tanks, and the buildings

enumerated.

man

one

Our

killed

many

have already

during this short siege, was only

loss,

and ten wounded

but several of us had

narrow escapes, as the marksmen hit Colonel Coleman,

the indefatigable Johnson, one or two other officers, and

any serious injury.

myself, without

Major Leonard, of

the 5th cavalry, coming down, an amateur, to the battery,

was

knocked

also

cannon shot.
employed,

On

this

off,

grass-cutter,

his palanquin

same day, while

that

when he

whom

feathers, he fired,

were

there

sallied

broken by a

was otherwise

pea-fowl a short

out and brought

he had taken

rustling behind a bush,

for a

home a

peacock; hearing a

and mistaking her blue cloth

and shot her dead.

justice, however, to state, that

for

must do him the

he was greatly distressed

and not only brought her corpse back

for

had informed Lieutenant Bryant, the hero of

Kurjet Koriagaum,
distance

and

over,

in his arms, paid

her interment, and gave her family a handsome present,

but actually came to deliver himself up to me, being Judge

Advocate of the

force, as the only legal practitioner in the

camp.

Our army now moved ground

hill,

to the Pettah side of the

and while the Pioneers were employed

road for our battering guns, we had time to

breaches, only one of which could
assisting each other

so that, had

we

in

making a

visit all

three

ascend, even by

we reached

it's

foot.

MILITARY

234

with an intention of entering,

garrison to help us

up with

The breaches being

[A.D.

we must have
and

ropes,

requested the

fight us afterwards.

and Major Simmons, with

repaired,

the 11th Native infantry, left in Galnah, with

officers

all

the sick

and men, we marched on the 3rd of November,

la two

leaving also the heavy guns and stores behind.

days we reached the river Paunjur, and keeping on

it's

banks, had arrived at CowtuUah, near Sonegeer, a distance

when Colonel Wallace,

of forty miles from Galnah,

quested me, though one of his

staff,

detachment of Native horse and

Surat for supplies; and as
ever

went

this,

foot,

and find

was the

then unknown route,

re-

to take charge of a

first
I

my way

to

European who

shall

give extracts

of every day's march.

On
to

the 13th of

November

I left

the army, and proceeded

Neemkhaira, about ten miles distance, an old

full

village,

of high grass and scattered bushes, on the bank of the

Paunjur.

On

the 14th

we had

a long and tedious march, of six-

teen miles, to Koosumbah, on the same

river.

space between the walls

is

now

This,

deserted place, has two walls and a citadel

nearly

capable of containing a

the

camp

of

three or four corps, and there are several good buildings

within the second.

There

is also

much deep

jungle, with

long grass, and high trees on the banks, which are

tigers, antelopes, hares, hogs, pea-fowl,

On

the 15th

we reached

six miles further,

of

full

of

&c.

Naire, a large inhabited village,

and encamped

in a tope, to the

westward

it.

Our

route on

the

16th, lay

through a wild uneven

REMINiSCKNCES.

1804.]

country

we

235

a branch of

crossed the river,

tlie

Kaum

Paunjur, and encamped at Saukey, a walled village, with

an excellent

mud

ghurry, about sixteen miles distant.

ghurry would make a capital post

men

and on the opposite bank

for

is

The

one or two hundred

another village, called

Baurnah.

On

the 17th,

we found

than formerly, with small

prospect.
half,

country

hills

on either

After a pleasant

we encamped

fortified village,

side,

varying the

march of fourteen miles and a

in a tope, opposite

Peepulnaur, a large

on the right bank of the Paunjur, with a

very high ghurry on the western side of

most flourishing place

it's

it,

and a tope, and

This was by far the

cultivated fields to the southward.

two-thirds of

much more open

the

had seen on the march

and

yet,

houses were uninhabited, so dreadful had

been the ravages of war and famine.

November

the 18th, on an extremely cold morning,

we

passed over a most romantic and beautiful country, con-

and low picturesque

sisting of small vallies

reduced in

size,

marking

it's

it

passed by the bases of the

hills

generally,

being

nullahs and ravines.

village of Barsah, or

intersected

by deep

the insignificant

Warsah, on the bank of the Paunjur

from our

last

Of some

in a range to the southward,

Pissool,

the vallies or

the road, though pretty

occasionally

about four miles from

and

We encamped near

I believe

ground.

covered

serpentine course by fine

wound through

topes and lovely verdure, as

fair

hills,

The Paunjur, now considerably

with trees and bushes.

two strong

it's

source,

and ten miles

extraordinary looking hills

remember only Emaumghur

hill-forts,

nearly opposite yester-

MILITARY

236

[A.D.

day's march; and Ruttunghur, peeping over the range

There were, however, also

to-day, apparently a Gibraltar.

two other curious looking rocks near our present ground,

called Sindur

mits,

On

Bowaunee, with small temples on the sum-

and said

to

be the source of the Paunjur.

we descended a

the 19th,

small rugged ghaut, by a

bad road, about eight miles long, through high grass and
large teak

and banian

trees,

and encamped near a small

nullah and two miserable tappall huts in the jungle, where

we could

obtain nothing but water.

At day-light on the 20th, we again proceeded through

down

teak and banian forests, up and

covered with high grass and

of a fourteen miles' march,

through

vallies

and, at the end

encamped under the spreading

branches of an immense banian

human

without a vestige of any

hills,

tall reeds,

tree,

called

habitation near

Chimaire;
it.

Being

anxious to take some bearings from a rising ground in our

neighbourhood,

endeavoured to force

the grass and reeds, but could not effect

glad to find
of the grass,

my
I

then perceive

road back again.

held up
it

some

my gun
feet

trees

were also extremely

ber

and, on the whole,

the whole way,

that

To

my way
it,

ascertain the height

at arm's length, and could

above the muzzle.

large,

through

and was very

and

we were

so

fit

The teak

for the finest tim-

incommoded by wood

could not help drawing a com-

parison between these wilds and the country round Poonah,

where

used to pay one rupee

dry straw for

nearly

it's

my

for

a mere handfull of

camels, and good fire-wood was worth

weight in

silver.

Here we were encumbered by

wild grass and the finest trees, subject to destruction only

'

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

in the dry season, from their

own

237
and the intense

collision,

For lack of better employment,

heat of the sun.

amused

myself in endeavouring to calculate the value of each square

mile of encumbrance in this part of the Peishwa's do-

minions, where they serve only to shelter beasts of prey and

robbers, both alike inimical to the enterprising

and the peaceful

On

merchant

traveller.

the 21st, our march was through similar country and

with the addition of a ghaut to descend

difficulties,

but

the wild beauty of the whole, particularly the scenery in

the ghaut,

made amends

for the

time

we took

to reach a

nullah,

and the

tance.

Here we encamped mider a few umbrageous

and were

village of Shaderwele, at ten miles dis-

astonished

perfectly

cheapness of grain of

all sorts,

at

the

abundance and

and indeed every

The high state of cultivation

provisions.

trees,

all

article of

round was

another source of admiration, after being so long con-

demned

to witness

Mahrattah

the barren and dreary aspect of the

plains.

ATHAWEESY COUNTRY.
The

first

two miles of our march, on the 22nd, was on a

good road, and through a cultivated country; but from

thence to Bunder Parah, eight miles further, by a very

narrow winding pathway,

small

hills

and the

last

road, in open country.

tiguing march,

we

in

deep jungle, over nullahs, and

nine miles, on a beautiful higli

This being a very long and fa-

rested for two hours at the

and did not reach our ground near Bearah,

the day

first village,

until late in

where we encamped on the bank of a large

lake.

MILITARY

238
covered with game.
lage,

full

This

is

and respectable

a large

by one hundred

waur's flag flying

filled with his

and, though

and the

own

much

from

Bombay

it

the smallest gar-

Sepoys, with the Guick-

same

other, with the

colours,

peons, or foot soldiers of the country,

larger, not so strong.

Having made ray arrangements

detachment in

for the comfort of

my

this strange country, where, however, every

body was kind and

mounted

civil, I

my

horse at eleven

A.M., on the 24th, and reached Bardolee Cusbah,

o'clock,

This

about twenty miles distant, at six in the evening.

place belongs to the
lage,

vil-

two neat and well

of inhabitants, and having

built forts, at a short distance

risoned

[A.D.

Company, and

is

a handsome

with some bazars, and other good buildings in

Having no one with me but

for the night in

my

an upstair house, where

kindness from a Parsee manager,

and something

horse-keeper,

to sleep

upon and
;

vilit.

put up

received great

who gave me

a meal

at half-past three o'clock

the next morning proceed to Surat castle, twenty-one miles

where

distant,

arrived about ten,

ceived an invitation from Mr.

live

IV.

and immediately

Crow, the Chief,

to

re-

go and

with him, in the town.

SURAT.

The

perusal of Eastern history, and more particularly

of the Arabian Nights' Tales, had

to visit this
i it's

famous town

and

made me

was

very desii'ous

therefore pleased to

extent and magnificence had not been

aggerated.

much

Delightfully situated on the southern

the Tuptee, or Tapty, as the English call

it,

ex-

bank of

about sixteen

IHOl]

HKMINISCIiNCES.

miles from

about
it,

mouth, the

it's

five miles in

and an outer

most opulent

wall, twice as extensive,

The

pital

interior, in it's present state;, is

circumference, with a wall entirely round

a dilapidated state, with

tween them.

239

'

less respectable

inner town

have seen

habitations be-

one of the largest and

is

in India

dwelling-houses, both

standing in

still

many

contains

it

and

European

native

famous bazar, uncommonly well stocked, with every

and luxury

cle of use
for

and being washed by the

ca;

arti-

river,

perhaps two miles, the houses on that face are remark-

ably pleasant, airy, and cheerful,

as novel as

it is

commanding

a prospect,

In the foreground, numerous

enchanting.

vessels are constantly gliding

up and down the

river

rich

green and yellow fields of paddy are close to the water's

edge

the middle

in

form a termination

whilst gardens, topes,

to the prospect,

Italy of the East; though, unhappily,

The population

healthy.

thousand souls, of
sees,

who

whom

is

and

forests

which renders
it

is

it

the

extremely un-

estimated at four hundred

nearly

fifty

are the principal artisans

thousand are Parcarpenters, joiners,

goldsmiths, braziers, blacksmiths, turners,

&c.

it

was

quite a treat to me, to see them at work, with European

tools

and

in

an European manner, and

remarkably moderate in their charges

stance,
five

The

made me

finest vegetables in

potatoes

were

a handsome set of ivory chess-men for

rupees, and a flute, of the

dance in this

really they

a turner, for in-

same materials,

the East grow

for two.

in luxuriant

abun-

neighbourhood, including uncommonly good

and they furnish the Bombay market very largely

from their superfluity

since,

though the distance

is

about

;;

MILITARY

240
two hundred

miles, the

voyage

[A.D.

generally very short.

is

To

look for regularity or symmetry, in any Indian town, would

be in vain

and Surat has

this blemish, perhaps,

any other place of any importance, from

tion,

composed not only of people of

of

ranks

all

it's

all

more than

motley popula-

nations, but also

from the Prince to the Haukpeize, or sweeper.

The streets are narrow, and the houses almost meet each other
over them, forming a kind of colonnade for foot passengers.

The

The

to

Bearah.

each having two

and

with high walls and

fortification,

little

round towers at the angles

for

up

believe for boats

castle is about a mile to the eastward of the town,

a very neat

is

some miles

river is navigable for small vessels, for

above the place, and

tier

of ports

embrasures, and mounting about sixty pieces of cannon

some of which are even thirty-two pounders, though there

is

There are two ca-

not room to work one half of them.

pital buildings in

two of the bastions, the Commandant's

and Fort-adjutant's
the view from

Over the gate

it,

is

it is

excels

also

washed by the Tuptee, and

any from any part of the town.

an inscription in Peisian, intimating that

this is the ne plus ultra for

European inhabitants,

at

The

Europeans in the East.

this

time, were

Mr. N. Crow,

Magistrate and Agent for the Governor General, a

substituted

by the Marquess Wellesley

Bird, Collector

for

title

Chief; Mr.

Mr. Brown, Commercial Resident

Mr.

Sparrow, Assistant Collector; Mr. Ivison, and Mr. Crozier,

of the Civil Service

Colonel

Anderson,

Colonel Reynolds, Surveyor General

commanding

the

Harding, commanding the Castle;

troops

Captain

and Captain Seton,

Superintendent of Supplies. Colonel Anderson had a corps

1804.]

RRMINISCKNCES.

under him, called

the

241

regiment, one thousand

Ctli

six

hundred strong, with but very few European olHcers,

all

The medical gentlemen were

being then sick in quarters.

Messrs. Poujet and M'Kenzie,

Mr. Crow's house was a

delightful, roomy,

furnished building, near the river's side

and well-

and the owner,

one of the kindest and most hospitable of men.

man

also a capital native scholar, and a

ation,

was a

it

pany, and

real treat to

had

also

Being

of general inform-

spend a few days

in his

com-

the extraordinary gratification

witnessino; a scene in his house,

which made a

of

im-

lastino;

pression on me.

An American

ship had arrived there a few days before,

the Captain of which, on landing, had given his writing-

box into the hands of a respectable looking man on the

shore,

and proceeded himself

in.

On

had

entirely disappeared,

his arrival

to the place

he looked in vain

he was to reside

for his box,

which

and being a perfect stranger,

could not trace the individual into whose custody he had

delivered

it.

He went to Mr. Crow,

and, stating his loss to

be very heavy, requested his interference to recover

and as he appeared
that

it

to be greatly affected,

must be of consequence.

He,

it;

Mr. C. judged

therefore, published

a notification, that such a box had been handed to some

person

who had

that

contained papers which could be of no value to any

one

it

else,

failed

to carry

it

to the Captain's

and that the Police were prepared

punish the offender; but, that

if

to trace

house

it,

and

the box were lodged in a

certain spot within three days, no further enquiry should

VOL.

I.

;;

MILITARY

242

[A.D.

take place, and the Magistrate promised forgiveness to the

offender.

The

day

third

sitting at dinner, a

after

by one of Mr. Crow's peons

of the whole occurrence,

man

was then

when

announced,

being

and he was seated

we were

this pubhcation, while

small morocco trunk was brought in

compliments had passed,

after

at table,

perfectly ignorant

shortly afterwards, a gentle-

Mr. Crow told him, he had

been fortunate enough to recover his box

for

Never

him.

shall I forget the strong exhibition of feeling

which

this

He

poor man's countenance presented at these words.

Mr. C. " he had

clasped his hands together, and told

saved him from utter ruin and despair

and that

it

never

could be in his power to express the gratitude he

felt."

Mr. Crow interrupting him, advised

box, to ascertain that

all

was

attention,

was a bundle of

his opening of the

right within.

with a trembling hand, and the

my

first

He

did so

thing which attracted

papers, which, holding up,

he declared to be those of his ship, and assured Mr.

that he

had

saved his

life,

"

Crow

he had,

for that, in despair,

four hours before, resolved to shoot himself; for four days

he had not touched a morsel of food, and intended

blown
to

the melting mood,"

said,

first

in

He

America

English ship he had met would have made a

lawful prize of his vessel and cargo.

time, fully understood the whole, as

Mr. Crow

have

could have cried for joy.

he never could have shewn his face again

and the

to

" Albeit, unused

his brains out that very night!"

telling him, that

now

for the first

have here stated

it

on his account, he had resolved

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

243
and

to suffer the culprits to escape unpunished,

effectual measures

quence of the

was

This poor man.

restored, without tracing the thieves.

had not strength of mind

misfortunes and disgrace

up against unmerited

to bear

and

m conse-

he had pursued, the box

was

to avoid a lesser evil,

about to have committed suicide, and to have rushed uncalled into the presence of his

Fives-court had

large

Maker
been erected

and

outside,

public baths within the town, at the former of which

generally assembled to play every evening

gentleman's house contained a Billiard-table.

greatest treats, however,

which

we

and almost every

One

of the

enjoyed at Surat, was the

acquaintance of Colonel Reynolds, the Surveyor-general,

who

lived in a garden-house

and as he has

since,

some distance from the town

together with

quitted this world for a better,

soldier of thirty-three years' service in the

young man

perance.

venture to express

then formed, without the fear of hurting his

much from

East, he had suffered

hale

may

With

such

is

fever,

and yet appeared a

one of the advantages of tem-

a fine manly person and genteel address,

man

he possessed more knowledge of the country than any

I

amiable host,

the opinion
delicacy.

my

have ever conversed with in India

and

in his hall

had

the gratification of crawling over a map, fourteen feet long

and ten broad

to

do which, without injury to a pro-

duction intended to be presented to the Court of Directors,

he furnished

and cased

me

with

in these

silk stockings for

hands and

feet

moved about at pleasure, stopping at

particular spots for information, which

R 2

was immediately

MILITARY

244

immense

obtained, from a library of

his

own

[A.D.
manuscripts in

folio

So laborious a work

hand-writing.

never could,

without occular demonstration, have believed to be the production of one European, in such a climate as the East
Indies

and with only two

another

map on

was

measure thirty

to

assistants

he was now making

when completed,

a larger scale, which,

pursuits soon leads to confidence

Colonel Reynolds copies of

by twenty!

feet

my

similarity of

and intimacy

gave

where

routes, in directions

he had not an opportunity of surveying himself; and he

very kindly allowed

me

to peruse such of his manuscripts

any information

as contained

he presented

me

At

required.

parting, also,

with an English perambulator, which

proved of the utmost service to me, in correcting any errors

in

my late

routes, after leaving the

army

having brought

a theodolite only, to take bearings, and computing

tances

On

my

dis-

by a watch.
the day of

my arrival at Surat, Lieutenant Maddison,

man from our camp, died of the

a very powerful young

fever, after three days' illness

there

was no Clergyman

his remains.
also

and

was permitted, as

present, to read the service over

Captain Ahier,

who was

travelling with him,

caught the fever at the same time, embarked

Malabar
suffered

coast,

by

far

and died at
the most, and

sea.

The

many

of

them died

both there and in our camp at Bearah.

much

like

the

yellow fever in the

strange, that a place

for the

natives, however,

West

which affords such

It

daily,

seemed very

How

Indies.

gratification to

the eye, should be the seat of pestilence and death

yet

RKMINISC'KNCIJS.

1S04.]

Surat

sjucli is

which was

my

and

in

inhaled the germ of that disease

to embitter, with severe ilhiess, several years of

after-life.

my

Taking leave of
party at Bearah

my

it I

245

kind host,

old friend, Lieutenant Egan,

our corps

all

the

my own

returned to

and there, on the 14th of December, met

first

who had done duty

with

Mahrattah war, and who was now Fort-

adjutant of Surat, returning from our army, in charge of a

convoy
to

and having

Surat for health

several sick officers with him, going

They had followed our

route, through

the Shaderwele Ghaut, and therefore had no difficulties

our party having cleared, as they came along, not only the
road, but also encamping ground at each stage.

Being

desired to survey another Pass more to the northward, and

having got a reinforcement of one hundred men from

Colonel Anderson,

I set out,

on the 16th of Decmbcr, with

two hundred Sepoys, under Native

hundred Native horse,

officers,

in charge of a

and the two

convoy of one hun-

dred and thirty-five carts, and seven thousand bullocks,

laden with stores and provisions for our army, exclusive
of a great variety of private supplies for the camp.

SOANGIIUR.

We
a

reached Soanghur, a distance of twelve miles and

half, at eleven,

A. M., and encamped near a small nuUaii

to the eastward of the town.

rugged

hill,

about

five

The

hundred

fort is situated

feet high,

steep; one half of the brow of which was

on a

and tolerably
still

covered

with deep jungle, composed of large trees and underwood,

in

which there were

five

tigers

known

to reside,

and two

MILITARY

246

[A.D.

had been shot by Lieutenant Bond, then

the place, with a
wall

company

of

Bombay

It

of

had a

round the summit, with tower bastions, and a

all

most accessible part

citadel at the foot of the

being casemated with two or three

it is

command

in

Sepoys.

eveiy bastion

tiers of

guns.

Still

not a place of any strength, and therefore Lieutenant

Bond, and another young

against an

cessfully

officer,

army of

who defended

it

suc-

with only two

Holkar's,

hundred Bombay Sepoys, deserved the greater credit

since the

enemy even got

possession of an angular bastion

on the summit, and were

gallant

few months before

fairly

beaten out again by this

This occurrence took place only a

band.

little

arrived in the Athaweesy,

and the

other officer, with half the men, had been recalled to Surat,
after the retreat of the
citadel,

enemy.

and though extensive,

a good bazar, in which

all

The Pettah
is

an

is

joined to the

ill-built place,

but had

kinds of grain and provisions

were selling at moderate prices.

The upper

fort being-

reckoned unhealthy, Lieutenant Bond resided in the

del,

Our

and had a very comfortable habitation, but no

rear

cita-

society.

guard did not arrive with a part of the convoy

noon the next day, which forced

me

to halt

till

when, in con-

sequence of the reports of the rugged state of the Khoondabaree Ghaut, arrangements were

made

to send half our

party with the carts round by Nunderbar, and the bullock

loads only to

accompany us through that Pass.

attack of the Athaweesy,

rendered

me

little

able to

or

An

Surat fever, at this place,

make remarks on

the rest of the

march, though a naturally strong constitution providentially

enabled

me

to struggle

through

it.

REMINISCENCKS.

1804.]

On

247

December we proceeded through a very

the 18th of

stony, uneven jnngle,

and encamped

at

Annutpoor, a small

deserted village, and brick ghurry, or citadel, with two

small streams in front and rear

the distance being eight

miles.

On

the

we

19th,

contrived

Nowapoora, an old ghurry and

with difficulty to reach

village, nearly destroyed

and though the distance was not more than

several bandies broke

December 20th.

five miles,

down, on our journey.

The

road, though

was good, and we got on well

it

lay through jungle,

the neighbourhood of

to

Eesurbaree, formerly a very large and populous town, with

a deep ditch, which had been destroyed by Teghee Cawn,

three years before

the distance was twelve miles and a

and we passed a

half,

two miles

castle

on a

hill,

to the right, also deserted.

separated, and one half of our escort

called Aldonie, about

Here the two roads

went each way,

as

before mentioned.

SERAI.

On

the

22nd of December we

miles distant, and

was

meet and

to

ill

as

arrived at Serai, eight

then was, as a part of

conciliate the

Bheel

chief,

my

mission

Teghee Cawn,

in order to secure our supplies from future molestation, I

invited

him

to

come out

dingly, accompanied

by

to

my

tent,

his brother,

which he did accor-

Anwar Cawn, and two

nephews on horseback, with two hundred armed men,

much

We

superior in appearance to the generality of Bheels.

saluted one another in the eastern style

sented the

letter,

with which

then pre-

had been entrusted, ex-

MILITARY

248

my

plaining

[A.D.

powers to treat amicably with him, and

With extreme

the Bheels.

all

language, but looks

civility of

of the deepest treachery, he acceded to every thing de-

manded, and gave me a written assurance of his peaceful

and
to

friendly conduct for the future.

be very short with him, and

visit,

All I can

compact,
angles

now

Illness obliged

was unable

which would have given me a

judging of his way of

me

to return his

better opportunity of

living, the strength of his citadel, &c.

recollect of it

is,

that

it

appeared a neat,

square building, with round bastions at the

and

was carried

think built of burnt brick and chunam.

off, I

know how, and no

hardly

sooner had

the detachment ascended the Ghaut, than he plundered

some of our

followers in the rear.

Without medical

aid, or

even any European assistance

near me, by constantly taking calomel at every lucid

interval, I

the

managed

fever left

me

at

to salivate myself in nine days,

when

Galnah on the 27th of December, and

Colonel Wallace having returned with the head-quarters

of the

Poonah subsidiary

force, to that capital,

was

relieved by another officer in charge of the convoy, and

returned with a native

escort to Surat, as the

officer's

shortest and most expeditious route home.

BOMBAY.
Setting out on the

2nd of January 1805,

arrived at

Surat on the 10th, a distance of one hundred and sixty

miles, on horseback

embarked with

battelah, or large boat, on the 12th,

on the night of the 14th

and as

my

two horses

in a

and reached Bombay

have not hitherto men-

RKMINISCENCES.

1805.]

Mr. Duncan,

tionecl

Presidency,

lor

many

shall here give

went

where

to the
I

years Governor of that

my

an account of

first

intro-

On

the morning of the 15th

Government-house

in the fort, to breakfast,

duction to that gentleman.

I

249

and found myself alone

arrived early,

veranda of a saloon,

which a table was

in

in the front

laid out for

After a short time, an officer in an Aid-de-

large party.

camp's uniform, arrived

we bowed

to

each other, without

exchanging names, and while conversing on the weather,

a middle aged man, with white
breeches, a

brown coat, and

in the fashion

up

to

of 1780,

powdered and dressed

and walked directly

in,

me, the Aid-de-camp calling out " Good morning.

We

Sir."

exchanged

ation immediately,

and entered

salutes,

and mistaking him

the Governor's Secretary,

1

came

stockings, coloured

silk

his hair

work

I set to

supposed, on Indian subjects.

to inform

was not

into convers-

for a foreigner,

less

and

him, as

astonished

at his flashes of intellect, than at his excellent English

but never for a

moment

suspected

mistake as to his identity

any of them made a particularly

was paying court

bow,

and

if

At length breakfast

me

come and

to

All eyes were fixed on us at the

To have

shew any

had been making

moment,
free

with

apologised, would have been only

making matters worse, and

to

in,

concluded he

agreeable companion, whose con-

then discovered that

the Governor.

man

came

had monopolised the whole time he had been

by him.

and

civil

room, now turned about, and told

in the
sit

my

made any

could have

to the Secretary.

was announced, and

versation

other people

surprise or

JMr.

Duncan was

displeasure,

too kind a

but talked on

MILITARY

250
as if nothing

had happened out of the ordinary way.

me

encouraged

and

fidence,

to put forth the little

in the East,

some of the great men

If

how much

of this truly estimable statesman,

to that

a thousand years,

made on my mind

invited
as

and

was

at this interview

me

was

to sit in

liberal

his

If I were to

to dine with

for

Mr. Duncan was

man, but an excellent

company, even

to gain a twelvemonth's

to start for

real respect

never could forget the impression

not only a kind-hearted,

scholar;

have

which they claimed as a

due from every one who approached them.

space,

con-

had but possessed the condescension

would have been added

live

This

knew with

never passed a more agreeable hour than

during this repast.

known

[A.D.

him

for so brief

He

knowledge.

kindly

at Parell that evening

but

Panwell about his dinner time,

excused myself, and saw him no more.

POONAH.

My horses and

baggage having been removed from the

Surat boat, to one of the river

embarked

next morning;
Mitchell, the

on with

own house

intermission

in the

Sungam

all

mounted

canter

my

afterwards

my

day

up a steep ghaut,

my
a

in

The poor horse was

knocked up, and could not even

when we

horse and rode

at half-past eleven next

more than twenty-four hours.

certainly

harbour,

day and night, reaching

distance of seventy-three miles, and

little

Bombay

where, after breakfasting with Captain

Commandant,

little

rafts, in

and arrived at Panwell early

in the evening,

arrived in sight of home.

strike

up a

Two days

other horse, and two horse-keepers arrived

REMINISCENCES.

1806.]

and

in

five

days more,

my

251

and baggage.

servants

found Colonel Wallace and staff at Poonah

and here

ends our second Mahrattah campaign, in which we gained

little

many

honour, less profit, and

effects of

which, in

my own

of us a fever

the

case, lasted for nearly twelve

years.

My corps
hold with

when

my

staff

command

of

appointment

it

which

till

detailing

I shall,

this

continued to

the end of December,

relinquished the latter to return with

to the Carnatic.

by

Poonah on the 15th of May,

arriving at

year, I obtained the

my

regiment

however, not trouble the reader

any particulars of our monotonous

my

only extract such parts of

route, but

Journal as appear likely to

prove interesting.

On the
near the

8th of January, 1806,

fort

we

arrived

and encamped

of Goregerry, in the Mahrattah country, and

one hundred and ninety-six miles distant from Poonah.

This place, situated on the south bank of the Gutpurba,

was commanded by Captain Wakefield, with

the 14th regiment of Native infantry

about

six

miles from

halted to allow

all

company of

and being only

the celebrated falls of Gokauk, I

my

comrades to view so uncommon

a sight.

CASCADE OF GOKAUK.
The Gutpurba, which

among

the

hills,

is

a very fine river, takes

it's rise

about forty miles to the northward of

Belgauni, and winding,

with

little

interruption,

in

an

easterly direction, arrives at a stony spot called Cunoor,

where, passing over a rocky bed,

it

descends, about a mile

MILITARY

252

[A.D.

further on, with a tremendous spring, over a very wide

spreading perpendicular precipice, at least two hundred

The scenery

feet high.

blime than beautiful in

of this

has more of the su-

fall

as there is a total absence of the

it,

luxuriant verdure and picturesque trees, with which the

Cascades of Papanassum and Courtallum,

8cc. are

luxu-

In the dry season one or more small

riantly adorned.

streams rush over from the middle, but

swollen by rains,

when

the river

is

must be one foaming stream, of a

it

quarter of a mile in breadth. Near the head of this cataract

some

there are

ruins of temples, built of stone,

and one

very good one, close to the edge, in which gentlemen

go

to see the fall generally put

would not be advisable

up

to sleep there.

who

though

for the day,

it

very strong Pass

commences near the top of the cascade, and winds down

close to

it, all

the

way

to the

river quietly proceeds,

stream which has

and

it's rise

sandy plain below

is

in

which the

joined by the Marcundah, a

in the hills,

about thirty miles to

the north-west of Belgaum, and, passing by Padshapoor,

some woody

between

glides

hills

and above the town of Gokauk.

whence the cascade takes

plain, three

miles below

woody, but from

abandoned.

It

it's

it's

it,

is

close

The
name,
high,

is

the

to

hill-fort

of

Pass,

Gokauk,

situated on the

very rugged, and

extreme insalubrity, has been long

does not appear to have ever been a strong

place ; though the town, about four miles from the Pass,

and

fall, is

ing in

all

a very fine one,

full

the necessaries of

all

over the

Dooab

sent to an

immense

distance.

famous

of inhabitants, and abound-

life

in addition to

for it's capital grajjes,

which

it is

which are

RF.MINISCRNCF.S.

180G.]

253

KOONDGULL
Is

about eighty-four miles south of Goregerry, and we

arrived there on the 17th of January,

and encamped

tope to the right of the road, opposite the

fort,

in a

where we

found the greatest shew of grain and forage we had ever

seen at any place in the Mahrattah dominions.

which

is

extensive,

horses, bullocks,

was

also

The town,

crowded with inhabitants,

and immense rude

carts,

employed

transporting the corn, &c. from the neighbouring

for

fields.

There were also three or four tanks, and many deep wells
about this place, but the water was dirty and

ill-tasted.

MILITARY

254

CHAPTER

[A.D.

VIII.

Hurryhur Lake of Tinghully Tatlowe, and Ws Poisonous

Statue at Nungi/deo Nunjeiigoad Daraporam

Dindigul Voj/age Europe, and return Madeira.

Savanore

Pasture

Colossal

to

to

SAVANORE.

On

the 19th of January

we

arrived at Savanore, twenty-

two miles further, and found two Native armies encamped

on either side of
than

it;

whom commanding
to

and no sooner was our camp pitched,

received the visits of several Native Chiefs, one of

move

my camp

by intimidate

nearer to his, that he might there-

his adversary

at the

same time

ignorance of European feelings would not permit

him

for this insult

insight into the

An

but

gave him a

His

me

little

to

more

European character before we separated.

explanation of the cause of these hostile encamp-

ments, will however, give the reader a

Peishwa's government.
tains,

me

offering

ten thousand rupees, as a temptation to this baseness.

chastise

me

one of the encampments, requested

One

fair idea

of the

of these contending chief-

had, a few months before, paid his respects to the

noble Brahmin, head of this vast empire, and offered him a

sum

of

money

for the

government of Savanore.

His

offer

REMINISCENCES.

1806.]

255

being accepted, the deeds were made out in his favour

but as no

man

in the

Mahrattah kingdom attends

to

any

order by which he would be a loser, unless accompanied by

a force sufficient to insure obedience, he prepared an

army

He had

for the expulsion of his predecessor.

and was treating accordingly, outside of the

arrived,

walls,

another chief having offered the illustrious Bajee

when

Row

larger bribe, received a fresh sunnud, or deed of instalment,

assembled a

still

larger force,

and following the footsteps

him

of the former, had actually overtaken

Here were three competitors

side.

at the seat of

and encamped on the other

their intended government,

for

Savanore

one in

actual possession of the capital, without the revenues, and

the other two in abeyance

the

lukewarm adherents, who were,

own terms

for his

expulsion

first

having only a few

very probably,

making

their

and the other two possessing

equally legal deeds of investiture, which at the time of our

they were contesting, by the mouths of old honey-

arrival,

combed guns and unserviceable musquetry.

ing was generally the only time of combat,

The even-

when they drew

out their forces, fired a few shot, killed or wounded three

or four of their

myrmidons

in sight of the walls,

retreated, as regularly to their respective camps.

kind of negociations the intervening time was

know
to

me

were
them.

was the

not, but the last purchaser

;

and finding

all

was resolved

to

Nabob, Dileer Khaun,

In what
spent,

man who came

remain neutral, they

peaceable during the two days

In a small decayed Palace

and then

we remained near

in the fort, resided the

think was his name, the former

Sovereign of this principahty:

he was a connexion of

MILITARY

256

[A.D.

Tippoo Sultaun, and had, during his

venue of nine or ten

lacs of rupees

life,

now

enjoyed a re-

a poor pensioner

of the Mahrattahs, and that pension of five thousand rupees

per annum, seldom or never paid.

waited upon him in

the evening and sent a petition from him to Colonel Close,

From one

stating all matters as I found them.

fidential servants I learned that Sir

given him four thousand rupees,

of his con-

Arthur Wellesley had

when he passed

way

that

a few months before, and that Mr. Strachey, acivihan, had

him

also assisted

but

still

species of splendid misery,

finitely too

much

was

his Palace

himself and family in rags;

fine,

of which there

many

monuments

ruined

of

it's

and numerous tottering minarets record

There were

still

alas

is,

in-

in the East.

Being a fragment of the Mussulman power,

contained

and

in ruins,

though they were; a

two

or three

this place

ancient grandeur,
it's

former fame.

good Mosques in

it;

but the

few remaining frequenters of them were miserably poor.

Having marched away,

never heard

how

settled matters for the plunder of this

the competitors

devoted country.

Situated as the wretched inhabitants were,

been a matter of
for personal

little

importance to them

aggrandizement was

it

must have

who succeeded

their only object,

not the comfort and happiness of the people over

and

whom

they were so ambitious to reign.

RANEE BEDNORE,
Formerly the capital of a kingdom, and situated about
thirty-four miles

ruined fort

of

south of Savanore,

considerable

extent,

we found

to

be a

but without those

REMINISCENCES,

1806.]

we had been

beauties and advantages of situation

expect

in lieu of

jugglers,

who

257
led to

which, we met with a set of tumblers and

we had never

exhibited feats

seen so well

performed, in any part of India.

On

the

23rd of January we quitted the Mahrattah

country, and crossing the

Toombudra

river

encamped near

the fort of

HURRYIIUR.
This place had been occupied by British troops, from
the time

we

entered the Mahrattah empire, to which

might be considered the master key

the best high road, and thus securing our supplies.

is

situated on a peninsula, formed

branches of the

which

river,

is

it

covering a ford on
It

by the junction of two

both broad and deep,

but fordable at times just opposite the fort; of which

Captain Gibson of the 10th was in command, with a

company

corps from

that

of

though built of mud,

is

a strong one, and

and against any native

The

Chittledroog.

force

it

would

the bastions generally large and roomy.

Vauban

the model, which

be impregnable.

perfectly irregular.

market

in

and

it,

narrow ditch

is

or

cannot, how-

Cohorn with having given

The town, which

has a broad and well furnished bazar, or

extensive,

tion,

fort,

in perfect repair,

walls are high, the ditch both broad and deep, and

ever, charge either

is

The

is

surrounded by a thorn abbatis, and

being on the whole, considering

a place of some respectability.

it's

situa-

While marching

along the north bank before crossing the river in the morning,

we saw a

VOL.

I.

large flight of Saruses, or Demoiselles, on

S

MILITARY

258
the southern bank.

This

[A.D.

a rare and very wild bird, of

is

enormous dimensions, somewhat resembling a

stork.

have only met with them in the Mahrattah and Mysore

countries,

and that very

They always keep

rarely.

ing like a

woman

sight over head.

I

in distress, so as to be

The

river

heard when out of

being some hundred yards broad,

drew up a small party, who,

firing

brought down two, out of perhaps

difficulty

in a

same spot, scream-

flock, and, rising gradually, soar over the

by word of command,

fifty or sixty birds.

The

then was to secure them, when Captain Pepper,

and a Havildar, both grenadiers, volunteered

and strange to say, the

but for the Captain,
of the stream

latter

who

to

swim

over,

would have been drowned,

supported him in the middle

though the natives, in general, are very

expert swimmers.

The remains of my

constantly about me, prevented

my

fever

still

Although struck by a ball, one of the birds made

the other which was brought

hanging

accompanying them.

away and

it's

escape;

served at dinner,

was much larger than a turkey, and very good eating

proved.

it

acknowledge myself to have incurred deserved

censure for this achievement; and I should never have

forgiven myself, had any accident happened to
or his havildar

but we were

the river, and this was,

all

my

friend,

deceived as to the depth of

suppose, the last opportunity

should have of obtaining a

we

bird of a species, which,

though frequently alarming and disturbing our camp, with

their distressing cries,
in our

At

had never been shot by any person

army during a three

this place,

years' campaign.

where the two great roads separate, we

received orders to proceed through the

Mysore country,

to

rf,miniscrn(;ks.

1806.]

'259

Pallamcottah, instead of direct to Bellary, to which place

I

had been

originally ordered

and the arrangements being

completed, we set forward again on the 26th of January,

and on the

18th reached

the

of Soomlapoora,

village

situated on the margin of the Soolikaira lake, a most extensive

and

picturesque sheet of water, having numerous

villages all

round

it's

banks and margin, with great variety

of verdure, from fields, trees,

It

put

me

hills, &.C. in it's

mind of Swiss scenery,

in

sun in our tents dispelled the illusion:

neighbourhood.
the heat of the

till

twenty-eight

is

it

miles from Hurryhur, and the country round

game

On

it

abounds

in

of every description.

we encamped near

the 29th

twelve miles further.

This fort

is

and has a dry ditch and berme

the fort of Chandgerry,

built on a small

round

all

it

it

eminence

was then

undergoing repairs, by order of the Mysore minister, the

great Poorniah
in

it.

We

also

is

a good field post, and had several guns

remarked two strong

a few miles to the southward, called

hill-forts in a range,

Hunnumandrood and

Rymaundroog, both of which were dismantled.

On

the 30th

we reached Bookamboody,

sixteen

miles

onward, in one of the wildest and most romantic spots

imaginable
in this

indeed the whole country we passed through

march was equally

interesting.

Mussulmans, being about half the

to visit a celebrated Saint,

Bababoodun,

From

living in a

about forty miles

this place

our

battalion, obtained leave

off,

and

mountain called

to join us again in

three days on the road.

The next day we made a

short march, of only seven

miles, the Mussulmans having

s

set out

on

their excursion,

MILITARY

260

and encamped at Adjumpoor, a

[A.D.

fort built of

mud and

stones,

with round bastions, and two round cavaliers inside

fine

deep and broad ditch

buildings within.

bazar in

it

all

The Pettah was

extensive, with a good

and abundance of game

On the 2nd

round, and some good low

in the vicinity.

we reached Tinghully, a distance

of February

of sixteen miles, and encamped about half a mile from one

of the most extensive and beautiful lakes in the Peninsula,
called

TINGHULLY TALLOWE.
This beautiful sheet of water

immensely deep, and

full

is

not only very large, but

of weeds, in which were myriads

of water fowls of every description to be found in India

from the wild goose, rather a rare bird, to the cotton-bird

and

diver.

It

had a long and high bank at the lower

extremity, under which

The

is

a marsh, ending in deep jungle.

inhabitants of the village informing us that there was

a very large royal tiger in this jungle, that he had alone

killed ten

men, many bullocks,

&,c.

were also extremely troublesome,

and that his

relations

determined to form a

party of volunteer sportsmen, and attack him, or them, the

We

next morning.

by

sunrise,

accordingly, actually reached his den

and by great good luck, found

it

the exception of some well picked bones, &c.

whom we

roused, escaped

empty

with

panther,

by passing right between two

parties headed by Captain Pepper and myself, so that

neither could fire at him,

cessful.

Not

so,

who had sunk a

and we returned home unsuc-

however, a party of one hundred peons,

pit for the

monster, and piquetted a sheep

REMINISCI'NCKS.

1806.]

at the foot of a sharp

wedge of iron,

which, in pouncing on

liis

2f)l

fixed in the centre,

on

prey, he transfixed himself, and

they came and shot him in that defenceless position, bringing him in triumph, carried on bamboos, with tomtoms

and

collery horns, attended

by

all

the

glimpse of him was sufficient to satisfy

as well

we did not

fall in

woods, in his rude state

taken, will prove to

my

me

inhabitants.

that

with this sovereign of the eastern

as his dimensions, then carefully

readers.

head under the jowl was two

of his body, from head to

The circumference of

feet nine inches

tail,

six feet four inches

cumference of his body, four feet

his

much

larger tigers,

paw, on the

his

the length

height, to the top of the fore shoulder, four feet

seen

was just

it

his

the cir-

and though

never saw one so clumsily

have

made

stretch, actually covering a table plate.

[A.D.

MILITARY

262

On

the margin of the lake, between us and the water,

grew some most luxuriant and tempting-looking

which many of the natives allowed their

and our horse-keepers

give

it

grass, in

cattle to graze

also permitted the grass-cutters to

going to a distance, and

to the horses, instead of

cutting the roots of the delicate pasture, on which they are

of which was, that in one

The consequence

generally fed.

night, every horse in our

camp was taken

twenty with the corps, about sixteen died

man

ill,

and out of

and the Head

the village, instead of warning us beforehand,

of

very coolly told me, that one of our regiments of cavalry,

going the same route, had lost ten times as many, for the

was

grass

have saved
to utter

poisonous near the tank.

all
all

it.

One word would

but he had not the sense, or the humanity

wrote a complaint against him to the Resi-

dent in Mysore, and was informed that he was disgraced

for this

On

misconduct

but the past was without remedy.

the 4th of February our

Mussulmans

rejoined us

from Bababoodun, distant from Tinghully about twentyeight miles.

him

They had seen

presents

and they

the celebrated Saint and given

and

told me, that both Scindia

Holkar had consulted him, and he had dissuaded them from

the war, because the time of

not yet come

he had

ill

fortune to the English

was

in short predicted success to us,

till

the year then commenced, after which there would be great

changes

jury,

This impostor certainly gulled them

in the East.

completely, and

was

likely to

have done us a serious

had not Providence watched over our

safety,

proved him, like his Arabian master, a false Prophet.

was not without much

difficulty that

we

in-

and
It

got off the ground,

RKMINISCENCES.

1806.]

the destruction of our cattle

at this place, from

man

there was not a

263

in the corps

who had

and our next march, of thirteen miles,

since

not suffered

to the south of

Ba-

navarah, might be traced by casualties on the road.

On

the morning of the 6th of February, Captain Pepper

and myself, while shooting on the flank of our

march, about

from our

fifteen miles

last

pea-fowls in a jungle, with a small

fired

and

killed a

cock

and not prepared

hill in

fell.

in front of us,

The corps being

to dispute

We

him a present of our game.

fine

tank

full

this

I
it,

towards the

at a distance,

with such a beast,

our steps slowly and carefully out of the

Gundeesy, near a

the centre.

but when advancing to secure

saw a large panther running

spot where the bird

line of

ground, saw some

we

retraced

ungle, and

made

day encamped

at

of wild ducks, distant about

twenty miles.

On
miles,

game.
rocky

the 9th

we

arrived at Kickerre, a distance of thirty

and encamped near the bank of a

fine tank, full of

Halting the next morning, we rode to the foot of a

hill,

distant about eight miles

steep ascent, by steps cut or

worn

in

and climbing up a
the rock, were de-

lighted, on arriving at the foot of a stone wall, with

two

or three different gateways, one within another, to behold

a neat Brahminy village beneath, with a very fine stone

tank enclosed in the centre,

choultries, 8cc. all

hewn out

many

beautiful

of the solid rock

Pagodas,

and a most

picturesque view of the surrounding country, studded with

hills, villages,

and

cultivation.

264

[A.D.

COLOSSAL STATUE AT NUNGYDEO.

Estimated as a military post only, Nungydeo must ever
rank high, from

it's

being almost inaccessible

wonder at the preceding sight was speedily

prise,

when,

after

though

lost in

all

our sur-

ascending several neat stair-cases,

we

suddenly came upon a large stone building, above which

we then

first

discovered a finely-formed image, carved out

of one solid stone, about seventy feet high

senting a

young man, with wreaths

and repre-

of laurel winding from

his ancles to his shoulders, every leaf of

which was so ex-

quisitely laboured as to bear the closest examination.

were able

We

to contrast the size of this extraordinary Colossus

with men, monkies, and vultures, two of the latter being

RKMINISCHNCES.

1806.]

perched upon

it's

265

head, and the upper part being seven

times the height of a middle-sized man,

who

stood on the

top of the building, with the legs and thighs of the statue

That

below.

of a doubt

was cut out of the

it

massive a column, to place

and slippery mountain

not even see this statue

The

legs

solid rock

cannot admit

no power on earth could have moved so

for

it

there on the top of a steep

so steep, indeed, that

till

we had ascended

and thighs are cut out in proportion

we

could

close to

to the rest,

it.

but

are attached to a large fragment of the rock behind them,

by the

artfully covered

back

wall.

building, of

my

never in

life

which

forms the

it

beheld so great a curiosity

every feature being most admirably finished

nose inclining to acquiline, and the under

prominent and
advantage

pouting, the profile

shews

and every part from top

highly pohshed.

it

lip

from

being very

to the greatest

to toe is smooth,

could hardly conceive

how

the

work of labour, and that too on the summit of a

person on the spot seemed either to

care when, or how, or

I
it

have given

it

by

either

have accomplished such a

intelligent or educated, could

No

and

hand of

man, and that particularly of a race by no means

rock.

the

whom

it

was made

sterile

know

or

and though

the usual appellation, the Brahmins called

Gometrauz and Gomethez

peared to be a stone

pillar.

the East towards our

and at a distance

it

ap-

Returning from this wonder of

own camp, we

perceived a crowd of

people running towards us, who, as they came near, shouted

and looked back, beckoning

come

We

on.

mounted, and having

necessary

and

calling

to

others

to

were amazed, but not alarmed, being well

when

clear

all at

ground over which

once two or three

to escape, if

men

ran on be-

MILITARY

266

[A.D.

and saluting us with much humility, en-

fore the rest,

treated us to stop a

little,

which they wished us

and the horse would

arrive,

This

as they afterwards explained, of a broken back.

it,

on

to cast a niggah, or look, to cure

was the only favour they had to ask, and a very simple
one

it

was, certainly.

was, however, very difficult for us

It

persuade them that

to

With such

virtue.

were

we by no means

ideas of Europeans,

possessed that

and such they

days of yore, pretty generally, what might we not

in

have effected, with such simple people

and

to

what noble

account might we not, as Christians, have turned such a

and estimation

confidence

known

to

But we

have counteracting vices

as well as respect, the

are

now

too well

and they can despise,

European character.

SERINGAPATAM.

On

the 13th of February

distance of thirty-two

Mysore

we

Here

gate.

we reached Seringapatam, a

miles,

encamped near the

and

found

in garrison,

Hay

Major-general

M'Dowall commanding the Mysore

division

the

troops

under Colonel Picton, being his Majesty's

12th regiment the 1st battahon of the 1st regiment; the

2nd

battalion of the 12th

the 2nd battalion of Artillery,

with drafts for the 2nd extra battalion

besides five regular

battalions of the Rajah's in the Pettah, under Captain

who had

Little,

disciplined

which did him great

credit.

improved in appearance
it's

own

roomy
built,

ditch,

made

them

entirely himself,

This place was

and

now much

the inner wall being thrown into

the interior both healthier and more

and many excellent European houses having been

where

mud

ruins alone were to be seen in 1803.

reminis(U<;ncks.

180().]

2(37

The General being desired by the Commander-in-chief

new

present

we

halted for that purpose

and

my bad

induced him to defer the ceremony

when

bruary,

to

colours to our corps, while at Seringapatara,

received

complimentary speech

them from

till

state of health

the 21st of Fe-

his hands, with a very

and we were inspected and com-

plimented again before we took our departure.

NUNJENGOAD.

On

we

the 23rd of February

the south bank

of the

There

is

bank

of

miles from Seringapatam.

on

across,

the

and encamped on

arrived

Nunjengoad

northern

river,

twenty-three

a fine stone bridge

Major M.

which,

Wilks, the British Resident in Mysore, had pitched his

camp,

in

attendance upon the young Rajah,

residing in a veiy neat

off,

Brahminy

the performance

for

who was

village, at a short distance

of some religious ceremonies.

Here we had not only the pleasure of being the Resident's

guests for a couple of days, for he would not part with us
sooner, but also of witnessing a Native Court in

splendour, to which

we were

Having assembled on horseback

in

the evening,

joined an immense cavalcade, and accompanied

loola,

fine village

and Pagoda, about

a great concourse of people,

led

to view their youthful

sembled.

whom

to

six miles off,

we
Cul-

where

Sovereign, were already as-

The young Rajah, placed upon the throne by

was now twelve years

;

it

duty or curiosity had

May, 1799,

the generosity of the British Government, in

beheld

much

also kindly invited.

old,

and as promising a boy as

indeed, IVlajor Wilks,

who was

refinement, declared that he had never

man

ever

of sense and

known a

finer youth,

MILITARY

268

European or Native.

[A.D.

His manners were

far

above his age,

but he was then under the tutelage of the celebrated

Poomiah, a Brahmin of distinguished

the

title

abilities,

who, under

of Prime Minister, ruled both the Sovereign and

the country
flourishing

making

the former respectable, and the latter

The

and happy.

after-life of this Prince, I

am

truly sorry to state, has not fulfilled the promise of his

youth

he has long ruled his own kingdom, and, with able

and honourable advice, which he has never wanted

in

Major Wilks's successors, might have acquired a name

among

his subjects, equal to that of his virtuous minister;

but he has miserably

failed

and those who now frequent

that once well-regulated country, hear nothing but complaints against the Sovereign in every village.

But

to return

speaking

to the happier time of

horseback, old

Poomiah checked

and we moved

at a snail's

when

this

which we were

during the procession, which took place on

fine

pace

the ardour of the Rajah,

the

for

boy, longing for a

guardian's leave, exchanged

first

three miles,

gallop, obtained his

his state turban for a plain

one, and disengaging himself from several valuable chains

and jewels which decorated

his person,

gave his horse the

whip, and commenced a lounge, which he managed with

grace and dexterity

while

enjoyed the exhibition.

we formed

a ring outside, and

After indulging himself

for

few minutes, in which we much admired his manliness, he

resumed his dress, and we proceeded

the march.

On

street prepared for us,

completely round

in state to the

end of

reaching the village we found a wide

through which the procession passed

the

Pagoda

mounted, and entered a choultry,

when
fitted

the

up

whole
for

dis-

the oc-

REMINISCENCES.

180G.]

we

casion, where

an hour,

sat about

in

stupid dignity,

by the croaking monotony of half a dozen dancing

regaled
girls,

269

and a few of

male leaders.

their disgusting

After

which the Rajah, Dewaun, and Resident, got into palanquins,

and the whole returned

had observed
for his

same order that we

in the

but at a

in setting out,

much

quicker pace

Highness was constantly urging his bearers

on, with

which his tutor could not

though he frequently sent

The

march.

dignified

taken up so

much

to persuade

procession

time, that

it

to

push

being behind

interfere,

them

to

a more

and ceremonies had

was eight o'clock when we

took our leave, and adjourned to Major Wilks's tents to

dinner.
I

must own that

any native as

had never

felt

young Rajah

for this

such a predilection for

and Major Wilks's ac-

counts of the proofs he gave of good sense and honourable

feeling,

made an impression on my mind which

afterwards to hope,

when hope was

vain

for

led

me

on acquir-

ing the entire management, he threw himself into the

most improper hands, and disregarded the advice of

real friends, to

portant stations were

and

wretches;
pression.

the

It

filled

by low

and

insignificant

the whole country groaned

would have been well

people over

whom

Honourable A. Cole,
the British

his

such a degree that some of the most im-

for

Government

under

op-

for him, as well as for

he ruled, had he consulted the

many

years the Representative of

at his court

but

this, I

under-

stood, he latterly entirely avoided; and our Residents there

can advise only, but no further

Mysore.

We

at least at

such courts as

spent the next day in the Major's

camp

MILITARY

270
and

his kind

[A.D.

and hospitable attentions amply compensated

for the delay.

GUZZLEHUTTY.

On

the 10th of

March we descended

the Guzzlehutty

Pass, in the mountains which separate the Mysore country

from the Carnatic.

was

It

transcended

near the

The country

miles further.

wild and beautiful

all

Nun-

forty-eight miles from

jengoad, and we encamped

all

foot,

way

the

to

about seven
the Pass

was

but the landscape in and below

description

every idea of romantic and

magnificent scenery being realized in this ghaut, which

very rugged and difficult into the bargain

game

of

all

descriptions,

in every direction.

was

neglected, and

ages

yet each

down an
sheep

and were rewarded by twenty

entire sick cart,

joyfully celebrated

an absence of upwards

No men

than the East Indians

in the world are

:

more attached to
they seldom quit

and always return with delight.

that the genuine

guishes the Briton from

amor patria, which generally

all

carri-

the Sepoys contrived to carry

their native soil

do not
distin-

the rest of the world, pervades or

disturbs the Asiatic bosom.

still

to follow

guns or wheeled

totally unfit for

company of

of three years.

mean

is

abounding with

which we were tempted

among them, with which they

voluntarily,

Although the Pass had been evidently

their return to the Carnatic, after

it

it

It is a

mere

local feeling,

but

resembling the other in durability, since neither time

nor distance can eradicate

it

and

in

many cases no

allure-

ments of fame or fortune would induce them to abandon

their native village.

REMINISCENCES.

1806.]

271

Although the Carnatic was suffering generally from a

scanty monsoon, and even nature's garden, Coimbetoor,

was sharing
still it is
it's

in the direful effects, at this

early

season

impossible to visit this country, without admiring

beauties.

Like Tanjore,

streams, and the pasturage

watered by several fine

it is

is

such, that the Coimbetoor

sheep are the cheapest and best in the peninsula

whilst

above the Ghauts, we paid two and three rupees each, the
have mentioned, came

twenty

pound

sterhng.

To

us,

to ten rupees only, or

who had

one

passed so long a period

above the mountains, the extreme difference of temperature

was more than

and the natural causes

perceptible,

have

mentioned, combined to increase that feeling, on descending the Guzzlehutty.

On

the 5th of

village of

pass

At a

March, we arrived and encamped near the

Oonassy, twenty-five miles from the foot of the

having a good Pagoda and stone tank close

short distance from the village,

we had

to

us.

crossed a

small nullah, in some parts dry, where our horse-keepers

returned to water the horses, when, one of them belonging

to a native

was suddenly

officer,

Some

began to disappear.

seized under water

of the Sepoys,

ing their clothes there, having rushed

in,

and

who were washand pulled the

animal out, to their utter astonishment they discovered,

that their opponent was a large alligator

a shout, as

much

monster quitted

of

his

amazement
hold,

and

when they

as of terror,

disappeared.

set

up

and the
It

may

naturally be supposed, that to whatever part he had retreated,

he was then

session of the spot

left in

the sole and undisputed pos-

but the Sepoys coming to

my

tent

and

MILITARY

272

[A.D.

informing us of the occurrence, Captain Pepper and myself

sallied forth in spite of the heat,

when we

found, that

had crossed over

two

it

in the

was

morning

where the breadth was much

for

above water,

the water being about

but gradually increasing down to the right,

feet deep,

opponent

and were equally amazed,

at the part where all the corps

We watched

less.

some minutes, when shewing his

I

put a ball through his head

being so inconsiderable, that

it

our wary

horrid

mouth

the distance

would have been more

astonishing to miss, than to hit such an object.

We

after-

wards saw two or three others, but, warned by the sound

of

my

gun, they were too cunning to be caught on the

surface.

could not help returning grateful thanks to the

Almighty, for this providential escape of the corps, when

perfectly

unaware of the smallest danger.

DARAPORAM.

On

the 8th of

deserted seat of

Bawanny

March we reached Daraporam,

the

Collector,

the

now

who had removed

to

the distance from Oonassy being thirty miles.

Here, with permission obtained from the Aumildar,

was a remarkably

civil

who

and obliging man, we took posses-

sion of a capital house, large enough for

all

the officers of

the corps, and enjoyed a couple of days under a good roof,

after

being so long grilled under canvass.

last inhabited

by Mr. Hurdis, was

consisted of nine rooms

floor,

still

in

This house,

good

repair,

and

and two large verandas on one

only four feet above the surface of the garden, which

was extensive, and well

laid out

with

having a rivulet running through

fruit

it.

and vegetables

There was also a

REMINISCENCES.

1806.]

river, close by,

and deep

fine broad

273

which fertihzed a

of country, about a mile on both sides of

rest being

granaries, though
it

it's

excellent bazar,

numerous

and many

both

men and

to recover

cattle

solid

half-built dwelling houses

an appearance of a new settlement, and

was just beginning

for

tract

course, the

parched up from the dearth already mentioned.

The town contained an

gave

it's

from the

seemed high

effects of a
in

fancy

it

famine

bone and low

in

flesh.

Ou

the

we

11th

reached

Yerecottah, a large village

about twenty-five miles distant, the residence of a Poligar

chief,

who immediately

paid us a

visit.

He was

tall,

well

proportioned young man, as black as jet, but with very fine

expressive features

and certainly by

had ever beheld, of any rank,

far the

blackest

clothing above his middle, though adorned with

jewels, pendent from his neck.

man

He wore

in the country.

many

no

rich

had no opportunity of

learning anything of his history, but his interesting coun-

tenance

is still

fresh in

my

memory.

DINDIGUL.
Passing through the Pettah of Dindigul on the 13th
of March,

we encamped

ward of the
fort,

hill

in an enclosed field to the south-

the distance being twenty-two miles.

The

erected on a high and steep rock, with a gateway

works running up the most accessible

and stormed by our troops

part,

in 1791, since

and

was breached

which time

it

not appear to have undergone any material alteration.

was, however, too

below, was

VOL.

I.

ill

to visit it:

commanded by

the garrison

which was

Lieutenant-colonel

did

Buchan,

MILITARY

274

who

[A.D.
town.

lived in a garden-house, a mile outside of the

This place

From

now

is

only an invalid station.

Dindigiil to

Madura, the distance

is

forty-two

we

miles; and having arrived there on the 16th of March,

pitched our tents in the avenue leading to Teppoocolon,

now

Here we halted a few

the residence of the Collector.

days, to give our men's families an opportunity of joining

and spent the intermediate time with our friend Mr.

us,

George Parish, the Collector, noted

for hospitality,

one of the most agreeable companions in the world.

by Captain Bannerman, had

old house formerly inhabited

been demolished,
erected in

it's

change, but
a

it's

commanding

and

The

and a more extensive and elegant one

room.

The

fort

had undergone no

visible

European inhabitants were now reduced

officer,

only five companies of Sepoys.

Morgan occupied

the

to

and three other gentlemen, with

Captain and Mrs.

commanding

officer's

De

quarters,

where Major and Mrs. Gowdie resided in 1795, and the

others were

Even our own

strangers to us.

looked foreign

old house

so altered in appearance did every thing

seem, from the lapse of years, and an entire change of inhabitants.

SECUNDERMALLEE.

On
hill,

we proceeded

to the

neighbourhood of

this

and encamped near a large choultry, with upper rooms

built

us

the 20th,

all

upon

it,

in

which our

at breakfast

friend the Collector entertained

and dinner.

Hearing accounts of both

bears and tigers in the neighbourhood,

them three

we searched

for

different times during the day, without success;

REMINISCENCES.

1807.]
for

275

though occasionally seen, they were much too fond

of the sure cover

they possessed, to venture out

doubtful combat.

Neither bugles, musquetry, nor even

fireworks,

would induce them

to

for

quit their dens, and

were, consequently, completely disappointed.

we

They had

indeed the laugh entirely against us, and exposed us to

much

heat and fatigue, by merely appearing out for an

instant to our scouts, and then hiding close again, before

we could reach

the spot.

PALLAMCOTTAH.
The march from Madura
country at
plain, in

all

to

Pallamcottah

is

through a

times uninteresting, being over a level cotton

which the heat and want of good water are

at every stage

it

we accomplished

is
it

felt

a distance of ninety-two miles, and

on the 27th of March, being

alto-

gether eight hundred and sixty-three miles from Poonah.

Here we relieved the 16th regiment of Native infantry,

our corps occupying their ground
station,

lived

In July

fort.

in

the

and

in

command

Commandant's quarters

was promoted

to the

of the
in

the

rank of Major; and

towards the end of the year, an event took place, which,

although injurious to

my own

prospects and fortune, under

the signal blessing of Providence terminated most fortunately.

Time has now spread

the whole occurrence, and

the

his oblivious wings

will not

over

attempt to remove

veil.

PONDICHERRY.
The commencement of the year 1807 found us
T 2

living

MILITARY

276

[A.D.

with an old friend at Pondicherry, en route to Madras, the

distance being two hundred and nine-eight miles.
sorry to say, that the lapse of years
to

improve

this

am

had not contributed

once flourishing capital

aided by neglect from the parent land,

on the contrary,

had considerably

it

impaired the beauty, as well as the wealth of the place.

Many

had

capital buildings

fallen into

decay

most of the

respectable inhabitants were removed,

original

their long

homes, others

to

some

more fortunate regions

to

the

few remaining population resided in houses comfortable

enough within, but certainly changed

outward appearance
gaiete de

and

the worse in

for

in spite of that natural

could not help noticing a sensible decline since

visit to

the French metropolis of India.

indeed, but

little

sober or reflecting mind

or

my

first

There seemed,

to afford real gratification to

left

families, the society

outward

calculated to conceal poverty,

caiir, so well

the

and with the exception of a few

was not such as

to

improve the morals

manners of the young men of our army, who frequented

the place.

Wherever a

laxity of morals prevails, there

the idle and unthinking will naturally resort

and

to

them,

midnight revels afford the happiest mode of killing the

public enemy, old Time.

young Englishmen of

To my shame,

observed several

this description, dressed out in the

extreme of French foppery, patrolling the streets in com-

pany with French women,

back

or riding with

them on horse-

and had they not retained enough of our military

costume, to prove them officers of our army,

humoured

their taste,

petits mcutres.

should have

and mistaken them for so

many

This was, no doubt, what they aimed

at

REMINISCENCES.

1807.]

whilst, on the contrary, the sober

277

and sedate Frenchman,

observing, with a sigh, the vast superiority of the genuine

English

notwithstanding

character,

it's

all

bluntness

and imperfections, as regards mere outward appearances*

endeavours to

conform himself thereto,

in

every tiling

essential.

After residing a few days at Pondicherry,

own Presidency;

to our

arrived

there

proceeded

on the 8th of

January, and remained in very bad health until the 5th

of March,*

Indiaman,

when

the Roads, bound to Bengal.

in

mained some days,

and at

last,

regiment,

and

embarked on board the Dover

to take in stores

company

receiving a

we

of his Majesty's 94th

and three hundred

on the 16th,

sailed

re-

and French prisoners

under Captain Anderson,

fifty prisoners,

Castle

Here we

in

company

with the Rattlesnake, sloop of war, and Indus, extra India-

man

made

the Pilot in four days, and on the 21st of

April were nearly lost on the Mizen Sands, in the Hooghly

river,

where we escaped almost by miracle.

The ship having grounded

at

high water, a rapid stream

running out at the rate of seven miles an hour, had

us quite fixed in a bed of sand

when,

spring tide, called the Bore, came

the water

While

when,

suffering

thundering up, and

side, all the

lower yards touch-

at this critical

moment, the ship

threw us on our starboard

ino-

left

six hours after, the

under a severe and aggravated return of Surat

fever at the Presidency, 1

was most unremittingly and kindly attended

by Mr. John Underwood, an old surgeon on the establishment whose

truly humane and able exertions so far subdued tlie disease, as to en;

able

me

to

proceed to sea

fur the

reco\ery of

my

health.

MILITARY

278

and suddenly righted, by which a

drifted off the bank,

young

[A.D.

of the 94th was very nearly

officer

chmbed out of
had not time

back again.

to get

lost,

for

he

rolled over,

and

The poor French

pri-

cuddy port when she

the

soners suffered most, there being twenty-nine officers and

and twenty-one

three hundred

month

in the hottest

had received them

sailors

as privates,

all

Captain Richardson

and was desired

no distinction

in their treatment.

covered what

have mentioned

shut up in the hold,

the year.

in

However,

to

make

soon dis-

and by meeting them at

the gun-room grating, was enabled

to

give

them some

small consolation, and assist them with books, musical

instruments, &c., in
esced.

all

which the Captain readily acqui-

found them men of education

of conversation with them,

Indeed the very

stated.

entirely from the rest,

since they never

did any of the

was

there.

left

first

and, in the course

ascertained the fact

was a strong proof

that corner, to

men presume

Having furnished

have

act of separating themselves

to

in their favour,

mix with the men

nor

come among them while

them with paper, they wrote

a statement of their case to the Supreme Government,

which

enclosed to the Chief Secretary, with

viction of

it's

correctness,

and had the

my own

con-

gratification to learn

that they were admitted on their parole, and allowed to go

to reside at Chandernagore.

We

reached Calcutta on the

25th of April, where the ship arrived some days

was put

after,

and

into dock.

CALCUTTA.
After remaining the guest of Mr. William Fairlic, the

RKMLNISCKNCKS.

1808.]

27U

prince of Indian merchants, from that time

June,
it

till

the Kith

then embarked on sick certificate for England

has been

my

most of those

fate to survive this noble friend, as well as

to

whom

was bound by

private intimacy in the East.

endeavoured as
extracts,

and

(jf

and

much

ties

my

add only, that attended by

humane Doctor Hare,

the kind, able, and

of gratitude or

have, on every occasion,

as possible to leave self out of

therefore

shall,

severe struggle with the grim tyrant;

had a most

and nothing but

the more than parental kindness of one of the noblest and

most amiable of men, and

his family, with the skill of

me

medical adviser, could have enabled

for

a time the King of Terrors.

me

lutely necessary for

and we accordingly
touched at Madras

Still it

to quit the

embarked

my

thus to conquer

was deemed abso-

country immediately,

on the 16th of June;

missed the island of

St.

Helena, and

reached England in the end of November; where, having

remained until the following summer,

re-embarked, with

renovated health and strength, on board the Earl Spencer,

extra Indiaman, Captain George

June, 1808, in a
C/iifuttne,

fleet

and on the

Heming, on the 10th of

under convoy of his Majesty's ship

2()th of the

same month made the

island of

MADEIRA,

A speck upon the

ocean, yet the birth-place of the best wine

that the world produces.

Having introductions from kind

to Mr.

Page, a most opulent English wine

friends in

England

merchant, residing at Funchall, we met with the utmost attention and kindness from this gentleman and his family,

MILITARY

280
and became

their guests during our stay.

Funchall

is

as

beautiful

it

is

[A.D.

The town

of

and disgusting, on a near approach,

as dirty

and inviting from the

streets are narrow, dirty,

and very

ill-paved

The

offing.
;

the houses

shabby, and crowded together, without taste or order

and the inhabitants a most uncouth and motley crew,

partaking in outward appearance, of every nation, but
Their language

really inferior to most, if not all.

their

manners and habits seem

countrymen

much

is

Portuguese in India

superior to the jargon called

little to

but

surpass their brown

There are several genteel English

in the East.

famihes established here

and the contrast between

their

palaces and the filthy buildings which surround them,

is

not more remarkable, than between themselves and the

people amongst

whom

This town, which

they have taken up their abode.

entirely irregular,

and defended by an old

sea-shore,
batteries,

is

is

and one good work upon a rock, which

rated from the beach

the whole anchorage

line-of-battle ships

on the

situated

wall, with three or four

sepa-

is

by very deep water, and commands

still I

am

of opinion, that five or six

would lay the whole town

a few hours, in spite of the batteries

in ruins in

and an army might

land on the other side of the island, and capture

it,

with-

out being exposed to any serious opposition, so far as

have seen.

After bestowing on the town that abuse

richly merits,

so

proceed, with pleasure, to take a view of

the interior of this

fertile island

can duly appreciate

and narrow

it

lane,

it's

value.

as

it is

there only, that

we

Passing through a long

paved with small sharp stones,

endways, you gradually ascend the mountains.

set in

The

first

RKMINISCKNCES.

1808.]

seat which attracted our attention,

281

was that occupied by

General Berestbrd, the English Commander-in-chief, to

whom we
it

paid our respects, and were very kindly received

situated on

is

town

skirts of the

an elevation, a short distance from the

;

has a good garden, and commands an

extensive view of the harbour and shipping, with a bound-

The next

ocean in the distance.

less

was that belonging

to

the

seat of consequence

Portuguese Governor,

Don

Pedro Fagundez Barcelar D'Antes E. Menches, which

is

within three or four hundred yards of the former, and was

then

let to

this

house or grounds,

Not having been within

a Portuguese family.
I

cannot

how

tell

the praise generally bestowed upon them

far

they merit

but passing on

about two miles further to Quinto do Prazeer, the seat of

Mr. Page, we were truly

gratified.

enchanting spots 1 ever beheld

thing

had ever seen

much admired
The house
on

all

at

is

in Europe,

It is

one of the most

indeed, surpassing any

and

rivalling those I so

Papanassum and Courtallum.

in the

middle of the grounds, surrounded

but the town side, which

luxuriant trees and shrubs.

It

is left

open, by the most

was not so magnificent a

building as the town house, but very neatly fitted up, and

containing every requisite for

family.

The grounds were

the

laid out

accommodation of a
with

capital roads winding up and down the

much

sheltered by the foliage of enormous chesnut

forest trees

orange

trees,

taste,

with

acclivity, entirely

and other

excepting one walk, which was shaded by

covered with ripe

fruit.

The gardens con-

tained citron, lemon, peach, apricot, plum, apple, damson.

;;

MILITARY

822
cherry,

fig,

walnut, and mulberry trees

pean flower and vegetable.

dates,

[A.D.

with every Euro-

There were also plantains,

and some few other Asiatic

Mr. Page's

fruits.

grounds cover upwards of thirty acres, the whole of which

he purchased

some years

Spanish dollars

before,

and there are

for

thousand

fifteen

several springs of fine

water, and different reservoirs, so formed as to add to the

coolness of the shade, which

partaking

much

is

most refreshing

of the heat of India.

a few hundred yards,

we came

many

commanding a

miles at sea, and

The

most extensive view.

Church

to the celebrated

a large and well-finished

of Nostra Senora de Monte,

edifice, visible for

in a climate

Proceeding upwards

interior is decorated in

a very

superior manner, and the large paintings with which the

walls are covered, bespeak the

hand of a

first-rate artist

particularly the representation of our Saviour's birth

Men

Shepherds and Wise

his reputed Father

the

his

Mother

to

the Doctors

Temple

all

Egypt

instance he gave of his divine mission,

in the

the

Blessed Babe

warned of God in a dream

with the young Child and

first

visiting

the Flight
;

and the

sitting

among

of which are equally well

designed and executed. The Vicar, a sensible and tolerably

well-informed man, politely invited us into his house, and
offered us fruit and wine.

and, considering

all

It

was a neat and

airy mansion,

matters, extremely well furnished.

The conveyances of
horses, mules, and a

this island are of three kinds

litter,

viz.,

ycleped a palanquin, being a

chair in the shape of a bathing-tub, with a pole across,

carried

by two men, as doolies are

in the

East.

The

RKMINISCENCLS.

1808.]

283

and mules, though by no means good looking

horses

animals, are remarkably serviceable and sure footed

lopping up and

down

hill,

and over precipices,

truly alarming to persons

unaccustomed

experienced one day, in a

as

to

such a degree, that

gal-

manner

such feats

the English camp,

visit to

was unable

to

in a

make any remarks

to

on that part of the country.

The

interior

cultivated

and opposite

side of the island, are highly

and there are many other delightful seats and

gardens, such as

have endeavoured

For supplies of grain, they

chall.

to describe near

Fun-

upon the Mediter-

rely

ranean, the Western Isles, and America

the produce of the

country being perfectly inadequate to the consumption of

the present inhabitants,

who exceed

sixty-eight thousand,

including one thousand five hundred on the small depend-

Their staple

ent island of Santa Cruz.

trade

of course, wine, which

is,

is

commodity of

produced by a very

simple process, from dwarf vines, of which the principal

cultivation
fields,

consists,

as grain

Indian market

is

is

and which

in other

are spread all over the

countries.

The wine

for the

of three different qualities, varying at the

time we were there, from thirty to forty-five pounds per

pipe

known

but the finest wine on the island was then

in India.

sixty to seventy

dehcious

The

Sercial,

pounds per

had ever tasted

little

which was reckoned from

pipe,

was

and

it's

certainly the

value

is,

most

believe,

always in the proportion of two-thirds more than the best

Madeira.

The wine

is

transported from place to place, on

sledges, resembling a butcher's tray,

drawn by oxen, and

MILITARY

284
the cattle are very fine

and

Those which are the natural

each.

dollars

fifty

hundred

bulls costing one

some

[A.D.

produce of the island, are diminutive, though well formed

the strongest and most valuable being brought from the

But

Western Islands.

to return to Funchall, the capital.

There are three Monasteries in the town

that of Santa

Several of the old nuns

Clara being the most respectable.

have long whiskers, and resemble witches or hags, more

than religious females, and these disgusting animals were
extremely lavish of their withered embraces
their kisses indiscriminately

whom

on

they could lay hands upon.

and overbearing at

first,

visitors,

all

They

bestowing

nolens volens,

are very

haughty

and must be courted with much

humility, before they will consent to open the door of the

convent, but once satisfied, they meet the visitor on the

and

threshold,

There

women,

called the

wishing to

famous

are

flowers.

and

artificial

Convent of Bon Jususe, where any lady

retire for

and stay as long

for selling preserves

another place of religious seclusion for

is

a season,

may

as she finds

subject to take the

veil,

it

take possession of a

cell,

convenient, without being

but having once

left it

she

is

not

permitted to return.

The Cathedral and

several

other

Churches, are very

richly ornamented, but a description of one serves for

There

is

called Capella

with

all.

a remarkable cell in a corner of the Friars' convent,

human

D'as Almas, the walls of which are lined

skulls

a place of penance.
very healthy

and bones,

The

in regular order,

climate of Madeira

is

and

is

reckoned

think that of the mountains delightful

1808.]

and

it

JiKMlNISCFNCES.
appears to be a very good

English and Asiatic;

if

we except

medium between

285
the

Funcliall, whicli being

very low, and screened from the wind by the neighbouring

mountains, must be at least from ten to twenty degrees

hotter in the day-time, than the shady spots above.

MILITARY

'

286

CHAPTER

[A.D.

IX.

Capture of Ararnhooly Lines General Orders

Oodagherry Trevanderam
Trevycary VcBteevallum Trinomally Ryacottuh Oosoor Nundydroog Bangalore.

Return

to

India

the

Petrifactions at

Nagracoile

After

being detained a fortnight

Chifonne having

we

left

company with

set sail, in

abundance of

fruit

extraordinary,

till

for

filling

wine, and the

us at Madeira, on the 18th of July

four extra Indiamen, with

and vegetables, and met with nothing

we

parted with the Carmarthen and Eldon

Bombay, on the 26th of September.

On

the 7th of

November the Tracers ran upon a rock

near Drowneh island, off Negrais Point, on the Burmese

shore,

and was

totally lost,

with sixteen poor

men on

board; while we picked up one hundred and twenty-two

persons in three boats, and carried them

all

in our ship to

Calcutta. There were several faults, of course, to be found,

as in all such misfortunes,

naturally blamed the

land us at

Madras,

and the Madras passengers

Commodore,
to

passage, and not to Bengal; since

likely track of

for

not attempting to

which place we had taken our

we had run through the

French privateers, and had actually reached


REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

287

the opposite side of the bay, three degrees above Madras,

before the

monsoon

morning. Our kind-hearted

set in, that

and excellent Captain would not have hesitated, and would

most likely have landed us

all

at Madras, from the 1st to

the 10th of October.

Arriving at

Calcutta on the

19th of November, we

again received the utmost kindness from the worthy Mr.

Fairlie,

whom we

fleet sailing

we embarked on board

ber,

and

then saw for the last time in this world.

from Saughur Roads on the 23d Decem-

after

Company's homeward

for

the

William Pitt Indiaman

touching at Ganjam, Vizagapatam, Coringa, &c.

12th of January 1809

about to take the

field

cargo, reached

when

Madras on the

learning that

against Travancore,

my
1

corps was

proceeded to

my comrades with all possible expedition.

On the 19th of January, I set out from Madras,

join

and

reached the Honourable Colonel St. Leger's camp, near the

Arambooly

lines of Travancore,

on the 5th of February,

being a distance of four hundred and twenty miles.

force

was composed as

follows

The

His Majesty's 69th regiment, under Lieutenant-colonel

W.

M'Leod.

Five companies of the 1st battalion of the 3rd regiment,

Captain Pepper.
2nd
1st

battalion of the 3rd regiment.

battahon of the 13th regiment, Major Lang.

Five companies of the 2nd battalion of the 10th regi-

ment,

Captain Bowen.

One company

of the 2nd battalion of the 13th regiment,

Lieutenant Stewart.

MILITARY

288

[A.D.

Major Nuthall.
Franke.
Captain

and

Smithwaite.
Captain
Pioneers,
And four hundred
6th regiment of Native cavalry,
field-pieces,

Artillery

On
up

the 6th of February

we marched

six miles,

a position within five miles of the works

and took

when, being

detached in advance that very evening, with the 2nd battalion of the

3rd regiment,

was enabled

to

make

the

followino; sketch of the whole.

ARAMBOOLY.
The southern

among rugged

fortified lines of
hills

were carried on, joining such

far as the

Travancore, commencing

on the sea-coast, near Cape Comorin,

hills as

came

in the

way, as

mountainous range, which separates the eastern

from the western coast; these

the boundary

of that country.

fortifications

completing

They were divided

into

two separate parts by a high mountain, those next the sea

REMINISCKNCFS.

1809.]

2HV

being called the " Southern Lines," and those carried be-

yond

that mountain,

Lines."

was against the

It

ghauts,

the

to

the

''

Aianibooly

were

latter that our operations

intended, because the high-road from Pallamcottah passed

through the centre of them, by a gate covered with two

large circular bastions,

and defended by several pieces of

The extent of

ordnance.

miles, embracing a
pletely fortified,

the whole might be about two

rugged

hill

called the Northern redoubt,

of mountains,

The works

it

to the

southward, com-

and a very strong rock, about half-way,

was nearly

consisted

beyond which,

to the range

inaccessible in deep jungle.

of small well-built bastions for two

and three guns, joined at

different intervals

by strong and

neat curtains, the whole cannon proof, and covered by a

thick thorny hedge, the approach to which

was rather

from the wild state of the country, within cannon

difficult,

range of the walls.

Having no battering

guns with the

force,

and the

nearest depot being Trichinopoly, two hundred miles

it

appeared

ma'ui,

which

February

was

to take

desirable

proposed to Colonel St. Leger on the 8th of

and on the 9th, having

feasible,

reservation.

the 10th

we succeeded and having

fortified

hill

pieces of

satisfied

himself that

he consented, though not without

and considerable

luctance,

off,

by a coup-de

these lines

On

much

it

re-

the morning of

escaladed the southern

during the night, though defended by

fifty

cannon and ten thousand men, the whole

lines

were in our possession by eight o'clock, A.INL

Our

loss

on

this occasion

was small beyond

calculatiou.

Captain Cunningham, of the 69th regiment, killed

VOL.

1.

one

MILITARY

290
Sepoy

killed

one Serjeant and three privates wounded

and one Subadar and

tained possession of

six
all

The following

is

Thus we ob-

Sepoys wounded.

immense

the enemy's guns, and

The army encamped

quantities of arms and stores.*

of this capture

[A.D.

in-

a copy of the General Orders issued in consequence

" Camp, two miles interior of Arambooly Gate,

February 10th, 1809.

" Parole, Welsh.

Countersign, Success.

" Lieutenant-colonel the Honourable A.

under

tion in conveying to the troops

St.

his

Leger has much

command,

satisfac-

the most sincere

The

congratulations on the brilliant achievement of this morning.

Lieutenant-colonel deems

mark
and

it

a duty he owes to justice, thus publicly to

judgment

the high consideration he entertains of the perseverance,

ability displayed

by Major Welsh, commanding the 3rd regiment of

Native infantry, in the assault of this morning, wherein the greatness of

the enterprise could only be equalled

The Lieutenant-colonel

by

requests Major

the success

Welsh

will

which attended

convey

and men who composed the detachment for escalade, under

mand, the most unqualified approbation of

their

it.

to the officers

his

com-

gallant exertions in

accomplishing an object which must ever be considered as entitled to

a high place in military records."

Copy of Colonel

St.Leger-^s letter to the Chief Secretary to

dated February Wth, 1809

Government,

" Sir,
" I had the honour this morning to convey to you, by express, a
small note in pencil, for the information of the Honourable the Governor
in Council,

by which you were made acquainted with

intelligence of the British flag being flying

Arambooly
south.

lines, as well as the

It is impossible for

strong, the obligations I feel

commanding redoubts

me

for assault

to the north

to describe, in language

under

under his command.

infantry,

Major

and the

The southern redoubt,

which presented a complete enfilade of the whole of the main

far as the gate,

and

sufficiently

to the personal exertions of

Welsh, commanding the 3rd regiment of Native

detachment

the satisfactory

on every quarter of the

lines as

was the object of Major Welsh's enterprise; an under-

taking which, from the natural strength of the approach, appeared to

REMINISCENCES,

1809.]

side the walls that day,

291

and the Pioneers,

were em-

&.c.

ployed destroying the works on both sides the gate, which

was however
nications.

a post to secure our

left entire, as

was nominated a Prize-aoent on

commu-

this occa-

be only practicable to the exertions and determined bravery of British

on

troops, led

to glory

by Major Welsh.

It

was ascended under cover

of the night, and our troops had actually escaladed the wall ere their

approach was suspected ; and the ascent was of such great

to require six hours' actual scrambling, so as to

difficulty, as

reach the foot of the

walls.

" In consideration of the brilliancy of

this

achievement, I

feel

pleasurable duty in detailing, for the information of the Honourable

Governor

names of those

in Council, the

detachment

picquet of His Majesty's 69th regiment,

and

the four flank companies

under Captain Lucas

and

Major Welsh has conveyed,

me, that

In the

the

commanded by Captain Syms

five battalion
it

companies of the 3rd regiment,

did not require that confirmation which

in the

most handsome manner,

to convince

man must

have done

of gallant fellows which accompanies this despatch,

list

have to lament the

is

who accompanied

have accomplished such an object, every

to

his duty.

officers

which consisted of two companies, and the

for escalade,

fate of

Captain Cunningham, whose wound

fear

mortal, which deprives his country of a brave and valuable officer.

When Major Welsh had

once effected his security in

company of His Majesty's

2nd

add confidence

commanding

and three companies of the

69th,

battalions of the 13th regiment,

force and

this

by the same arduous

position, I despatched to his assistance,

under Captain Hodgson,

to his party.

As soon

route, a

and

1st

to rein-

as this addition

was

perceived, a detachment from his party stormed the main lines, and,

by

dint of persevering bravery, carried

redoubt was
all

abandoned by the

them entirely

panic-struck

possible confusion in every direction, leaving

their strongest lines

two miles

the arsenal,
stores,

and

interior of the

am now encamped

Arambooly

which appears well

filled

gate.

when

enemy,

me

the northern

who

fled

in

in possession of

in a convenient position,

am

also in possession of

with arms, ammunition, and

many

with a quantity of valuable ordnance in the works, which has

not yet been ascertained."

-2

MILITARY

292
sion

[A.D.

but the appointment was afterwards annulled by

Government

and while on

ground, Lieutenant-

this

colonel Morrice, with a CafFre regiment

artillery,

and some Royal

joined us from Ceylon.

NAGRACOILE.

On

the

interior

17th of February the army marched for the

commanded by

the advance,

Lieutenant-colonel

M'Leod, consisted of the flanking companies of the 69th

regiment, three hundred and

fifty CafFres,

under Colonel

Morrice, and six native flank companies, and the cavalry

under Major Nuthall, with

six

guns, worked by the royal

This party moved off from the right of the line

artillery.

at three o'clock,

A. M., the line following at half-past four,

and thus leaving a distance of three miles between them.

Having got on

enemy

by day -break, they found the

six miles

strongly posted

in a village,

across a river with

high banks, commanding the approach, and several cannon

pointed
to

down

amount

to

the high road.

six

Their force was supposed

hundred men, and they had every ad-

men

vantage in point of position, that

Colonel

M'Leod immediately formed

and drove the enemy from

fire

could

their guns, after a very

of both cannon and musquetry

desire.

his line for the attack,

heavy

which unfortunately

did considerable execution, from the exposed situation of

our troops
routed,

in

advancing.

and dispersed

The enemy were completely

in all directions for

country was said to be too

them, which doubtless saved many,

total destruction.

some miles

the

difficult for the cavalry to follow

if

not the whole from

Lieutenant Charles Johnstone, however.

RKMINISCKNCES.

1809.]

'293

with a small party of our horse, contrived to get in amongst

them, and did some execution.

several

dead bodies were the

dition

to

villages, called

Our

Cotaur and Nagracoile.

tlie

CafFres,

ad-

in

loss

fine

was

and Lieutenant Swayne of

Native infantry, wounded, and forty-nine rank

the 13th

killed

file

of this victory

which we gained possession of two very

Captain Lenn of

and

Nine capital guns, and

fruits

which did

and wounded.

infinite credit to

fellows under his

beyond the

After this brilliant

Colonel

M'Leod and

command, the army encamped,

affair,

the brave
four miles

village of Nagracoile.

Although, generally speaking, the enemy had proved

far

below our expectations, yet there were some exceptions.

On
at

the 10th, a Native officer in the lines, after being fired

by a

soldier of the 69th, cut

by another

soldier

and refusing

him down, and was

killed

a few others also stood on both days,

to surrender,

were put to death on the spot.

These instances deserve to be recorded, because they were

rare

for,

taking them

dastardly crew

all

in

all,

never beheld a more

nor did they deserve the

name

of soldiers,

although neatly clothed in military uniforms, furnished

with capital arms, and in a country, every inch of which

And

might have been defended.

my own

here

must do

man

of

corps the justice to record, that he behaved in so

conspicuous a manner on the 10th, that

once, from a

Sepoy

promoted him at

to a Havildar, or Serjeant,

pointment was confirmed by

my

and the ap-

superiors.

He was

Rajahpoot, named Hurry Syng, an uncommonly handsome

lad,

and a good marksman.

was

at a stand,

he took aim

While a body of
at a

the

enemy

distinguished character

MILITARY

294

[A.D

among them, and bringing him down,

ran on, shouting,

to secure his prize, without waiting to see

supported or not

the

coolly claimed his

enemy were driven

man amongst

whether he was

and he very

off,

the dead bodies.

OODAGHERRY.

On

the 19th of February,

had the honour

to lead the

advance, consisting of the picquets, and some flank com-

two

with

panies,

though the

line

six-pounders,

proceeding three or four miles,

villagers,

expecting hard work,

was not very distant

who informed

in

our

rear.

After

we met some peaceable

two

us, that the

forts of

Ooda-

gherry and Palpanaveram in our front, had been aban-

doned by the enemy, which was the

first

time

we had

heard of such fortifications, though we had been expecting

some field-works

to find

spread, and ere

to

be taken.

we had advanced much

The news soon

further,

we could

distinguish white flags flying on trees and sticks,

when

the whole head-quarter gentlemen passed us, preceded

some troops

to

explore the way.

by

Shortly afterwards the

road led us on a sudden, within musquet-shot of a stone

bastion and curtain, mounting several cannon pointed on

the road, and

we found

Oodagherry, with white

I

was

own

this to

be part of the Fort of

flags flying,

and not a soul within.

directed to take possession of both forts with

corps

further on,

and Palpanaveram being the

I left

two companies

in

my

largest, a mile

Oodagherry, and pro-

ceeding thither, disposed of the corps in an open space in

the centre, posting

and the

officers

Hindoo guards

in all

the Pagodas,

taking possession of a large and very well

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

built Palace belonging to the Rajah.

295

Here we found many

valuable swords, dirks, pistols, guns, spears, rich muslins,

kincobs, &c. as well as thousands of jewel boxes, broken

open and pillaged by the flying enemy, to give us some

idea of

what we had

Several of the swords proved to

lost.

be gold-hilted, and the blades were of the

course

all

we could

first

Of

water.

lay hands on were secured as prize

property, and afterwards sold

by public outcry.

Whilst we thus were advancing from the southward, the

subsidiary force at Quilon

up

was by no means

in the heart of a strong country, with the

all in

idle.

Shut

inhabitants

arms against them, they had several severe actions,

but invariably came

situation

off"

conquerors.

was daily becoming more

Nevertheless, their

critical, until

the news

of our entering the lines reached the masses by which they

were surrounded, when giving up every hope of further

success, they dispersed
lines,

ill

and

fled in all directions

for those

as they were calculated to resist an English force,

had been hitherto deemed impregnable

and Tippoo,

the zenith of his power, had been repulsed from

in

them with

great loss.

Remaining atPalpanaveram,to
succeeded at
all

last in

collect prize property,

we

breaking open the treasury, and found

the cash chests open, with one solitary rupee on the

floor,

and two small jewels, evidently

left

our annoyance.

We had ah-eady captured

and about

thousand stand of

guns

fifty

arras,

on purpose

with some hundred

but the greatest curiosities were a

gun and mortar,

both of exquisite workmanship, mounted on the parade,

Oodagherry, and cast

in

for

sixteen elephants

the place, by

in

some European

MILITARY

296

They were made of

artist.

[A.D.
the

brass,

long, and bored as a twenty-two pounder,

massive, that twelve hundred

move

elephants, could not

we had an intention of

it,

selling

Majesty's ship Piedmontaise,

pounds
I

sterling for

been removed,

men, assisted by sixteen

it

to

who

for I lately

when

Captain Foote, of His

offered us

two thousand

equally heavy, and,

They have

an eigh teen-inch bore.

think, had

sixteen feet

even for a few yards,

The mortar was

it.

gun

was so extremely

since

found only the old gun carriage

in that place.

Palpanaveram

is

circumference, and

a
is

Brahmin town,

held very sacred by the natives.

has a high wall, with small bastions

distinct gates.

The

houses generally

much

tations in India

Oodagherry

all

round

superior to

and the

most of the native habi-

surrounded with cultivation.

a large irregular

nearly three miles

fort,

with a tolerable sized

in circumference,

It

and eight

it,

streets are neatly laid out,

it is

is

at least five miles in

capable of being very strongly

fortified

hill in

the centre,

but this had been

neglected, and there were only two guns on the summit,

without works, when

to

recommend

bastions,
faces,

it

fort,

into our hands.

It

had

httle

having long curtains and few

which did not even defend each other's flanks

and no ditch

expended on

yet an immense

or

sum must have been

it.

While we were
received

it fell

as a

in this

neighbourhood, Colonel

a letter from the

Ram

St.

Leger

Rajah, by a hircarrah,

which he answered by the bearer, accompanied by four

troopers,
sincerity

intimating that the

would be

his allowing

first

proofs of the Rajah's

two of the troopers

to pass

KKMINISCENCES.

1809. J

297

on to Colonel Chalmers' camp, at Quilon, and returning

unmolested, with an answer.

This was actually permitted,

and the Rajah received them very graciously at Trevanderam, his capital, and gave them a shawl and sixty rupees

They came back

each.

to our

Rajah, Colonel Macaulay,

Chalmers

in

camp with

letters

from the

and

Colonel

Resident,

the

consequence of which, an armistice was pro-

claimed in our force on the 26th of February.

On

the 27th of February

ground
capital,

on the

did

little

more than break

the troops moving by the right and the baggage

left,

with orders, in case of an attack, as the Rajah

had disowned

that each corps should

his minister's acts,

countermarch on
in

we

on the 28th we commenced our march for the

it's

own ground,

a thing totally impossible

My

such a country as we had to pass through.

for inserting this strange

march

is,

that

it

out of the ordinary course of modern tactics

had no enemy

to oppose,

the tedious hours.

it

served to

jured

but

at

and

and as we

amuse and beguile

Several of our guns and limbers were

upset on the road, and a cavalry one

troopers, horses

reason

was something

all rolling

falling

on two

over, they were seriously in-

length we encamped upon high and very

uneven ground, covered with bushes,

in the

most perfect

disorder imaginable.

On

the

2nd of March we reached the neighbourhood of

the capital, and encamped, as well as

we could

in so intri-

cate a country, near a fine deep river, with a good bridge

across, about three miles to the southward of the town.

MILITARY

298

[A.D.

TREVANDERAM,
The

capital of Travancore,

and residence of the Rajah,

much

a large irregular town, without

riches.

round

is

external

is

shew of

and the country

There are some good houses

in it,

picturesque and beautiful.

The Rajah's palace

is

situated near the centre, and surrounded

by a miserable

attempt at fortification; but the interior

is

many

contains not only the Palace, but

roomy, and

public buildings

belonging to the Prince, such as an armoury, stabling for a

large stud, a menagerie, full of wild beasts, temples of wor-

His Highness being somewhat in the

ship, barracks, &,c.

back ground, we did not

two days

there,

and

visit

him

with his rebellious Minister and

delivered a

man

but after we had been

his entire innocence of

any participation

subjects proclaimed, he

of some consequence into our hands, as a

His troops and subjects

hostage for the Prime Minister.

were quietly disarmed, and parties were detached in pursuit

of the rebel

Dewaun, the Dalawai, and General

of his

cavalry.

On

the 3rd of March, Colonel Macaulay, the Resident,

arrived in our camp, and

He had

was saluted with seventeen guns.

been living on board the Piedmontaise

with Captain Foote,

who accompanied him on

vessel being at anchor

on the

coast,

The

Colonel, residing at Cochin

out,

had a very narrow escape

by the

when

about

frigate,

shore, his

five miles off.

the rebellion broke

for his life,

and was pre-

a Portuguese servant

but

the Piedmontaise arriving there shortly afterwards, he

was

served only

fidelity of

rescued from impending danger, and embarked on board,

the

enemy

retreating on her approach.

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

March

the 15th, the

299

new Dewaun paid

a formal visit to

our camp, where he was received with military honours

and a

salute of fifteen guns,

ness's late Carnatic brigade

prisoners,

and publicly proclaimed the

All the Native officers of His

accredited Minister.

being brought into the

and disgraced by the drummers of the

High-

camp

line,

who

cut their jackets off their backs, and then turned them out,

A
Ram

with the " Rogues' March."

few days afterwards

discovered that the quiet

Rajah had got an arsenal

it

was

within his Palace walls, containing one hundred and forty

pieces of serviceable cannon, fourteen thousand stand of

musquets and bayonets, and ammunition of every description

the

in

Oodagherry,

abundance

greatest

obliged to deliver
to

up

of which he

all

was

and our force returned by corps

be cantoned there, the

last arriving

to

on the

8th of April.

The

late

Dewaun was

speedily traced into the interior

of a Pagoda, with brazen doors, and while our party was

forcing

them open, he

killed himself;

who were taken

with six friends,

Quilon and hanged,

in terrorem;

when

alive,

his brother,

were carried to

and thus terminated the

Travancore war, designated a rebellion.

THE CARNATIC.
Having obtained leave of absence
dicherry, where

Madras,

in a

had

left

to

return to Pon-

way from

ray family, on the

arrived at Pallamcottah on the 10th of April,

and setting out

where

post,

was

bit

by a tarantula

stopped to change horses.

The

at Kytaur,

effect

was such

few hours, that about twenty miles from Madura

I fell

MLLITARY

300
off

my

horse,

Collector's

[A.D.

and was carried on by the kindness of the

public

servants,

to

Teppoocolon, where our

kind old friend Mr. Parish immediately called in medical

assistance.

this circumstance, because it

have mentioned

was out of the common routine of accidents;

had

pre-

viously experienced the stings of scorpions, and bites of

centipedes, one of the latter, while sleeping on board the

Fiedmontaise, a few nights before, being eight inches long,

much

without
the

same

inconvenience

tortures from the first bite,

5th of February

but

this reptile

and coming, and

spot, both going

when

acknowledge, that

was reclining on a

spider,

bites

little

straw, under the only tree left at

and even

ally seen tarantulas in that

did not put me, as

is

must, however,

did not see the creature either time.

but the natives described

which

me on

suffering

joined the force on the

Kytaur, while a fresh horse was saddling

occasions

stung

was

one of the advantages of posting on

horseback, without servants or baggage.

it

for

to

kills cattle,

me, on both

be an enormous

and

neighbourhood.

have actuIt certainly

usually reported, into dancing trim,

but was each time followed by excruciating pain, and a

burning fever.

On

the 24th of April

reached Pondicherry, a distance

of three hundred and ninety miles

ordered to

Nundydroog

in

and

my

corps being

the Mysore country,

we

left

Pondicherry on the 9th of June, and, proceeding seventeen

miles on the road,

encamped

at

TREVYCARY.

Of

all

the curiosities

have witnessed in the East, the

RP-MINISCRNCFS.

1809.]

301

petrifactions in the vicinity of this insignificant village, are

the most interesting and extraordinary.

Europeans in

shelter for

it's

tents near a small

to pitch

at present

but close to

This building

is

evidently of

it

are several rude rocky hillocks,

to

be of a circular form,

in the centre, resembling the craters of volcanoes.

These craters were

all

more

or less

choked up with weeds

and bushes, so that we could not penetrate

though they did not appear
still,

necessary

possesses no beauty or attraction

it

which on a near approach, prove

and hollow

it is

Pagoda, on ground somewhat

above the level of the plain.

great antiquity, though

There being no

neighbourhood,

considering

them

to

to the

bottom,

be of any great depth

in that liglit, our

but

wonder was the

greater, to find the surface covered with large fragments of

wood, instead of coals and

petrified

examination,

the

whitish loose sand

On

lava.

cavities proved

of these

soil

and that of the

a nearer

be a

to

exterior surface,

compound of sand and clay, completely transformed to

stone

extremely porous, and perforated

in

thousand

places, like rocks under water, in a stream, with enormous

masses of trees of various forms and descriptions, some of

which were actually buried

about, as

if

in

them, and others scattered

they had been thrown

eruption of nature, and broken

down by some sudden

by the

discovered, or by

fall.

whom,

When

were

and

was only on our return from Poonah that

it

first

these

have no idea

rarities

first

heard at Madras, of " the petrified tamarind wood," as

was always designated.

ornaments,

Masses being cut

it

out, into various

and highly polished, very much resembled

Scotch pebbles, and were then

much

in

fashion,

as a

MILITARY

302

Yet

novelty.

this very

[A.D.

name, given indiscriminately to

all

these stones, however varied in shape or colour, proved to

my

mind, that the spot from whence they were taken had

never been visited by any European, or person capable of

examining and distinguishing the original

I

found them so perfectly

entire, as to

variety

ficulty, part of a

strictest

so nearly

be able to pronounce positively, as to their

and actually carried

petrifactions, for

and some

different,

to

my

tent, with

branch of a cocoa-nut

tree,

much

dif-

which bore the

examination, and could not possibly have been

mistaken.
It is natural in

such situations, to endeavour to trace the

causes of such extraordinary transmutations

find

other signs, to enable

I

my

no native capable of assisting

me

to

and planted with

these hillocks

many

now

stand,

centuries back

several

could

any

when formerly

the ground on which

trees,

after continuing

flood,

under water

for

hundred years, was as suddenly dried up again by

little

alteration,

left

in

found them

that state, in which,

for all the lapidaries

in the east uniting together, could not clear the

"

of these fragments, which would

thousand waggons

On

was inundated by a sudden

and

some volcanic eruption, and

with

but

form any correct conclusion.

therefore venture a diffident opinion, that,

flourishing

research, nor

to

most

likely

ground

require

remove to any distance.

the 12th of June

we reached

the neighbourhood

of a Poligar Fort, forty miles from Trevycary, called

V7ETEEVALLUM.
This place, in

which

we found

very comfortable

iWl

'MP'

REMINISCENCES.

1804.]

now

Choultry, was
Poligar Forts,

formerly fortified, but

sible in

directions,

all

Small, and

in ruins.

embraced the

it

303

much

foot of a very

like other

rugged

now rendered completely

hill,

inacces-

from being overgrown with rattan

bushes, the thickest and most impenetrable of

eastern

all

jungles, armed wath innumerable thorns, resembling small

hooks, from which there

no escaping when once en-

is

tangled.

The country round,

abounding

in all kinds of

where formidable

and jungle-fowl,

wild

is

and

beautiful,

game, but the jungle

is

every-

and we could hear and see pea-fowl,

on the

close to us,

on the slope of the

hill,

though

Within an inner

possible to get at them.

hill,

fort,

was im-

it

or citadel,

an ancient Palace, resided a

in

Poligar chief, the lineal descendant of the former petty

sovereigns

of

the country

though oppressed with

us,

and sent out

choultry.

He was

extremely

civil

accommodation

his carpets for our

fear the place

manner confined, was the

better

sole

to entreat the

to

in the

which he was in a

game,

in the

being-

fortress,

Tannadar's permission

own armed

domestics,

surrounding jungle.

So com-

accompany me, with a few of

in search of

to

cause of his illness

than a state prisoner in his own

and he was forced

to

a very stout young man,

had the pleasure of giving him some medicine

and advice, but

little

fever.

his

pletely under subjection to the Collector's servants, are

all

these ci-devant grandees of the Peninsula.

On

the 14th of June, after a

march of sixteen

arrived at a Collector's buno-alow at

miles,

we

304

MILITARY

[A.D.

TRINOMALLY.
This town, so famous

for the sanctity of

temples,

it's

is

a very clean one, with broad streets, and decent houses

but the inhabitants

at this time, reduced to four

were,,

thousand, a very small number, compared with

population.
tain, visible

former

from a great distance in every direction, under

One

which are the Pagodas.

of them, reckoned

capital repair.

went

several Brahmins,

to the top of

who, to

my

accompanied by

great astonishment, did not

many

slightest objection, as in

in other places;

it,

the

and was in

largest in the Carnatic, is twelve stories high,

offer the

it's

a solitary moun-

It is situated at the foot of

similar buildings

and had a most extensive view, not only

of the surrounding country, but of the interior and sacred

buildings,

repaired

which these Brahmins told me, had been

by the authority of Mr. Hyde, the

the expense of four thousand pagodas.

mirable policy in our government

it

This

is,

lately

Collector, at
is

most ad-

indeed, a chain of

gold entwined round the hearts of the subjects

sincerely

wish our own places of worship were as liberally attended

to.

The

immense
high,

first

thought that struck me, on approaching

by

structure,

my

this

calculation two hundred feet

was the obscurity of it's

situation,

being placed, as

it

were in competition with a high mountain, which entirely

destroys

it's

effect

whereas, had

slight eminence, or even

on a

plain, it

the wonder and admiration of

similar sensation,

experienced

two

it

all

been erected on a

would tower

though from an opposite cause,

years

before,

aloft,

who should behold

on viewing

St.

it.

had

Paul's

nil

^.^

I> ra-ivu

by C ol o lid \V(

lipiifi

^'-^^^^"^"^

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

305

Cathedral in London from the street below

surrounded by dirty houses, that

a distinct view of

in

it,

any

ever, does not hold good,

it

so entirely

was impossible

direction.

The

to

have

contrast,

how-

though both were equally mis-

placed, as the beauty of St. Paul's would be

in the largest 'square in

London.

From

even

lost,

Pagoda,

this

could clearly distinguish the mountains of Giugee, to the

north-eastward.
Setting out again in the evening, intending to put up

night in a choultry, four miles distant,

for the

several

good buildings, topes,

&,c., in

amongst which a large sphynx,

elephant, particularly attracted
well formed,

it

first

about the
attention.

we passed

three miles
size

It

of an

was very

and the mouth served as the entrance

neat stone tank, or reservoir.

we found

my

the

On

to a

arriving at the choultry

pre-occupied by a fat beast of a naked Sa-

nashee, with a beard one foot, and hair several yards, long.

He had

taken post at the entrance, and would not budge

Most of

an inch.
or beaten

my

him out;

epithets on him,

ing countenance

acquaintances would have kicked

merely bestowed a few ridiculous

which moved not a feature of

;

to find shelter for the night,

further,

we supped in the jungle at

P.M.

eleven,

On

his disgust-

and then, proceeding eight miles

the 19th of June, after having travelled seventy-

six miles

from Trinomally, we reached Colonel Graham's

house at

KISTNAGHERRY,

A very strong hill-fort,

VOL.

I.

dismantled and abandoned, in con-

MILITARY

306

[A.D.

sequence of a most melancholy accident which happened

some years back.

Captain Harry Smith who commanded,

and many of the garrison, being destroyed at mid-day by

It also

fications,

when opened

to air

some

blew away considerable parts of the

forti-

the blowing up of the magazine,

powder.

which have never since been repaired.

in happier times,

The house of

of the gentlemen in the Burramhaul.

Graham, the

was

last Collector,

doned, as were

This had,

been the seat of the Collector, and most

all

still

Colonel

standing, but aban-

the other buildings in this beautiful

and once flourishing

We

spot.

met Captain Parlby

here,

belonging to the 1st battalion of the 7th regiment, at

who was wounded

Ryacottah, the

officer

and as the

was of too

fort

difficult

we proceeded

in mid-day,

at

Lassulgaum

the evening towards

in

ascent to be attempted

Rya-

cottah, distant seventeen miles.

RYACOTTAH.
Winding through a steep and

in

command

had seen
well

for

difficult

we reached Colonel

very rugged,

fortified,

rearing

an immense rock, exceedingly

it's

who was

This was the best place

of the station.

many months

Pass, occasionally

Strange's house,

crest

above the

surrounding

mountains, and assuming different forms in every different

direction.

In the hands of an English garrison

be pronounced strong, but

ably so, in a

on bcth

common

sides,

it

appeared to

me

it

might

not remark-

point of view, as there are roads up

one of which

is

fit

for

wheeled carriages.

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]
It

was well found

in all sort

307

of military stores, and had

ordnance, from six to twenty-four pounders, in abundance.

There are three reservoirs of water on the summit, one of

which has never been fathomed

rooms, barracks, and magazines

two bungalows, guard-

and the climate

is really

delightful.

Colonel Strange's house, below, was a capital one, built

by Colonel Doveton, a former Commandant, and

Government,

for four

sold to

thousand pagodas. There were several

other bungalows also below, in which the gentlemen of the

The Colonel had a

garrison resided.

capital garden, about

a mile and a half outside, in which were apples, peaches,

oranges, and every fruit

making

my

last

common

country

to the

simplest souls the world ever produced,

Bob Strange was one

We

and here,

mention of one of the kindest-hearted,

of

my earliest

must say that

friends in the country.

were in the same regiment at Vellore, and

knew a man more

universally beloved

did or said an unkind thing.

purse were

all alike

creature; nor do

on his

part,

never

because he never

His hand, his heart, and his

open, and ready to assist any fellow

a single instance of unkindness

I recollect

even to a

dumb

animal.

If there ever

was a

pure heart in wretched sinful man, Bob Strange possessed

it.

led

He was

very abstemious, though easily affected

by company

to drink

an early

he required no conveyance on a journey

perfectly the

same

to

him

twenty or thirty miles

return the same

when

and great walker

riser,
;

night or day was

and he would cheerfully walk

to breakfast

in a morning,

night, as a matter of course.

X 2

and

His mild

MILITARY

308

[A.D.

and gentle habits particularly endeared him

and when

walking out, he always carried

scraps in his pocket, to give the children he was sure

little

meet with

to

to the natives

some money and

in his perambulations.

abomination

Still

he was not a

and a smart dress was

his

but he was of more consequence, in

my

he could not

soldier;

drill;

estimation, than a thousand soldiers, raising the

European

character wherever he went, and compelling the natives

to love their

usurping

rulers.

He

died at Ryacottah, in

1812, at an advanced age; and his old comrade has since

dropped a

silent tear

upon

his

monument,

in that

now

deserted place.

On

22nd of June we

the evening of the

set out,

in-

tending to sleep in a choultry at Oodinapilly, ten miles

Colonel

off.

Strange walking with us

men had

found two young

there,

therefore pitched our tents, supped,

all

The

our people.

long

slit

lying

at

in

but, on arriving

and

fell

asleep, as did

natural consequence of which was, a

the tent wall next morning; our tea chest

some distance, broken

and a quantity of
short,

got possession, and

to pieces,

no easy job,

linen scattered about the jungle

we had been robbed

of a cooly load of things,

in

and

the hole cut in the tent had led the invaders to nothing but
live stock,

with which, by good luck, they were not in-

clined to meddle.
httle

frequented,

armed

all

my

we

Now,

travelling as

and

though a wild

were, by a road

country,

tolerable militia

had

them

into

but we have seen that the drowsy

God

servants, and, as I thought, drilled

can at times seal the eyes of even regular troops, and our

RKMINISCKNCES.

1809.]
loss served

more as a subject of amusement

This was the only time

ance.

o<)9

travelling, or in

camp,

my

in

annoy-

tlian

was ever robbed,

either in

life.

OOSOOR.

Moving on through a very good

Colonel

accompanying

still

road, thirteen miles, the

we reached

us,

bungalow

in

the fort of Oosoor, built by the last Commandant, the late

Major Muirhead.
fragments record

This fort

is

a perfect ruin, but the

former importance

it's

it

had two

entire

walls of solid masonry, one within the other, and a stone

counterscarp and wet ditch, with two large out-works in

front of the

The

two gateways.

many

outer wall had

bomb-proof apartments below the ramparts, and there was

all this, it

had a

square citadel in the centre, where Tippoo's garrison

made

a capital magazine under ground

their last stand.

besides

great quantity of powder must have

been expended in dismantling these beautiful works, as

never beheld

Pettah

is

masonry

a very fine

abundantly supplied.

so

completely

one,

We

I.

The

destroyed.

and has excellent bazars,

found an iron eighteen and a

twelve-pounder, apparently serviceable, lying dismounted

inside

and there are two

the neighbourhood.

fine large falov/es, or lakes, in

In the afternoon we took a walk, the

Colonel leading the way, to look at a remarkable

a Pagoda on

it's

summit, about a mile

we found would make an

being roomy, and
got

in

excellent post for a

in capital repair.

a view of Nundvdroog,

From

mv new

hill,

with

our rear, which

company,

this hill

we

also

connnand, distant

MILITARY

310

The climate

about sixty miles.

being cold as

is delightful,

ice, required resolution

washing; indeed

this

Mysore country at

On

[A.D.

is

and the water

to use

it

early in

generally all over the

the case

this season.

the 24th of June

we reached

the cantonment of

Bangalore, distant twenty-six miles, and here, as

if

by

magic, had arisen a large military town, about three miles

from the

fort

but as

did not remain there, I shall not

now say any thing more about

The

it.

hill-fort

of

NUNDYDROOG
Is situated

about thirty miles in a direct

from Bangalore, though by the road

We arrived

line,

it is

there on the 27th of June,

nearly north,

thirty-six miles.

and took possession

of a house in the valley below, built upon an old choultry,

in the interior face of a square

which served

the remaining parts of

for barracks for the Sepoys, store

rooms,

&,c.

This square had been formerly attached to a small Pagoda,

for the

accommodation of Brahmin

visitors,

&c.

It

roomy, and had a good stone tank in the centre.

officers'

was

The

houses were scattered about, and in very miserable

condition, the troops having been entirely withdrawn from

it for

about twelve months previous.

The

fort is

on the

summit of an enormous mountain, seventeen hundred and

sixty feet high, the base of

which

is

about twelve miles in

circumference, and the walls above nearly three miles in

girth.

The works

thirds of the rock

impracticable.

are carried on

all

round, although two-

upon which they stand

They

are

made

are perfectly

of solid stone and chunam.

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]
of

immense thickness, and

are double on the only assail-

able point, to the westward, where the

by another

down

311

hill,

being connected

at a considerable distance, has a gradual slope

to a Pass,

fifty or sixty

formed between them, which

only about

is

yards above the level of the plain.

was

It

breached and stormed in that direction, by a force under

our brave old friend, then Major Gowdie, in 1791; the

storming party following the defenders of the outer wall

through a gate in the inner one, and thus carrying the

place,

with one entire uninjured rampart

having only breached the

their

view

round

all

it,

wall that presented itself to

first

the enemy's fatal error being an attempt to

defend the outer breach.

It

was the same kind parent,

me the command of
and in my opinion, this fort

now Commander-in-Chief, who gave

his favourite conquest

in

1809

would be rendered impregnable, by cutting

off

and

entirely

destroying the outer works, and blowing up enough of the

between the two walls, to form a good ditch.

solid rock

The only road up

and cut

is

formed by

in others, completely

and perhaps three miles

steps,

made

in

commanded by

in length.

some parts
the works,

There are two gate-

ways, one above the other; after ascending the

we came upon an immense undulating

elevated
old

in

Poligar

the centre,
fort,

containing

there

was

remains of an
original

There are several fine reser-

and one large stone tank

also at this

latter,

somewhat

which must have been the

work many centuries back.

voirs of water,

the

plain,

in the fort

time a beautiful garden,

Colonel Cuppage, some years previous

and

made by

the trees of which.

MILITARY

312
standing,

still

which

[A.D.

dew and misty

are watered with

are continually passing over the

hill.

clouds,

Amongst them

we found an enormous peach, a few plum, and

flourishing Seville orange trees

the East

Indies,

climate upon this

which

during the day

hill

is

truly

severe, in consequence of

strong winds, accompanied by the misty clouds

In one of the reservoirs

limpid spring of most

had

my peregrinations.

all

European; but the nights are

mentioned.

several

three being rarities in

particularly the latter, of

never met with any before, in

The

all

made

water,

delicious

have

have noticed,

is

pass

to

through a small stone cow, and said by the natives to be

the source of the Penaur, or Punaar River, which gradually increasing,

and joined by other streams, passes over

an immense tract of country, descends the barrier mountains

beyond Kurpah, near Sidout, and runs

The Pettah

a few miles beyond Nellore.

was formerly connected with the

of works and deep ditch,
it

had very good bazars

famous
sula

for the best potatoes

into the sea,

extensive,

and

by a

line

foot of the hill

now out
in

is

of repair and useless

and the place altogether

it,

and

is

soft sugar in the Penin-

while the gardens abound in almost every fruit and

vegetable of Europe and Asia combined.

We had not been

many days

was brought me, while

at this place, before

sitting at tiffin, that a tiger

just been very seen near our residence.

together at the moment, of

no more, we agreed

whom

to attack

without any Sepoys, and out

all

had

Five of us being

but myself are now

him with our

we

word

sallied.

fowling-pieces,

We

traced the

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

313

monster, a large panther, to a small rocky

Nundydroog

eastern side of

barrel to Lieutenant

made one

of

my

Dawson,

ways

hog

servants carry a

and myself,

to

under the

my

double

took a single gun, and

glimpse of the beast ascending the

different

hill

and, having lent

meet him on the

We

spear.

hill,

got one

and, pushing up

Dawson

top. Lieutenant

with my servant Syed Oosmaun, reached a

rock on the very summit, which was barely sufficient for

us to stand on, with a large chasm on one

had been

severed,

most

likely

by

My

where

it

lightning, from a similar

fragment; whilst, on the opposite

dicular precipice.

side,

was a perpen-

side,

boy, leaning forward to look

down

the chasm, told me, " he was sure that the animal was
there."

The words were

scarcely out of his mouth, ere a

was accompanied by a

roar that nearly petrified us

The poor

had barely time

fellow

to turn his

spring.

body half

round towards us, when he received a blow that laid him

and hurled him

several feet

down

the

chasm

but,

flat,

by good

luck, across a narrower aperture. I fired at the same instant

and,
fired

when they had both

my

panther, perforated by

disappeared

down

declared

ball,

had

the entire chasm.

work of a moment

who

disappeared, Lieutenant

both barrels, by good luck without

had

fallen

Dawson

effect, for

the

undermost, and

All this

was but the

and we found poor Syed Oosmaun,

the beast at the instant he

killed

received the blow, as yellow as saffron, with a fearful gash,

seven inches asunder, on his right shoulder, the marks

of the panther's delicate digits, of which I had considerable difficulty to cure

him

seen no more, dead or alive

afterwards.
;

The

creature

was

and we returned home, ex-

MILITARY

314

[A.D.

hausted by the exertions we had made to so

little

purpose.

Captain Stevenson, and Lieutenants Walker* and Tagg,

were the other sportsmen who were

my

companions

in this

remarkable excursion.

?e<^

HYDER'S DROP.
In this valley, and about a mile from our house, stood a
rocky

hill,

a few hundred yards high, with a remarkably

large perpendicular rock at the eastern extremity,

by the name of Hyder's Drop

which, not

less

known

from

it's

very picturesque appearance, than from the blood-stained

fame connected with

former history, certainly merits

it's

an especial mention.

This rock was nearly insular, and

was connected with the summit of the

hill

by a narrow

* James Walker, a native of Scotland, lived to distinguish himself as

a Major

in the

Burmese war,

specially appointed

which he

in

a portion of the Madras troops

to the

by Major-general

fell,

when

command

gloriously leading

of which he had been

Sir Archibald Campbell.

had previously signalised himself on that service; though, being

He
in a

very infirm state of health, he had been forced away, and only just
returned in time to die the happiest death of a soldier.

REMINISCENCES.

1809.]

317

causeway, evidently the work of man.

round

It

and a small gate by which

it,

bungalow of coarse materials,

had a wall
a low

to enter

which some hundreds of

in

European prisoners were confined by those monsters Hyder

and Tippoo

and

it

was well known

that,

whenever the

inmates became too numerous, some of them were hoisted

when a

over the precipice

ended

by breaking every bone in

their misery

which were kindly

We

tigers.

left as

of seventy or eighty feet

fall

many

found the names of

scratched upon the

mind of another

vi'alls

their bodies,

food for jackalls, hyenas, and

of our countrymen

and roof; and

favourite drop of those

me

this puts

in

inhuman Mussul-

mans, on the top of Nundydroog, towards the south-west,

where the rock

is

one place about one thousand, or

one thousand two hundred, feet

from which spot

in perpendicular height

was assured that some hundreds of

our Sepoys, having been taken prisoners and refused to

sewn up

serve the tyrant, were rolled over to eternity,

sacks.

much

any traces of the

labour, but could not find

related, time

having removed

all

Connected by the small pass

eastward, rises a

to the

have already mentioned,

rugged mountain as high as

easier of access

Baynes, when stationed below with

erected a small

since gone

bungalow on

it's

by the name of Baynes'

Hill.

me

too distant for annoyance

do

justice to the

memory

fort

Cap-

his corps,

summit, and

good view of most of the works of the

much

facts

vestiges of their remains.

Nundydroog, but naturally much

tain

in

even visited the bottom of the precipice, with

There

is

a very

it,

though

And

here let

from

by cannon.

had

has ever

it

of a brave and enterprising

MILITARY

318

who was much

soldier,

Sepoy General

my

confidence of the great

in the

and though his name does not occur

Journal at the time,

successfully he

[A.D.

how

well remember

was employed, with a small

ing and bringing in supplies, during the

He was

campaign.

conversant with

usefully

force, collect-

Mahrattah

first

all

the country

languages, and of a most indefatigable nature; no

knew

better

dealers;

and

how
it

in

and

man

to rule the Bunjaries, or itinerant grain

was

said, that

he used an immense number

of English whips, in touching up the indolent and idle, by

which means he made most surprising marches, and enGeneral Wellesley

sured regular supplies.

Major of Seringapatam, which

abolished,

left

him Town-

was afterwards

situation

and Captain Baynes died at Nundydroog, some

time in the year 1807.

KURMULDROOG.
About five miles
called

hill-fort,

to the

northward

Kurmuldroog,

mantled and entirely abandoned,

and twice as

difficult

surprising effort of
nable.

Kurnallah,

fully as

of access;

man

a remarkable strong

is

or

it

now

dis-

high as Nundy,

has, indeed, been a

to render such a place impreg-

have been on the top of

it

the

first

gate took

us exactly half an hour, and the last an hour to reach,

from the bottom of the

hill.

where none were actually

more

inaccessible place.

picturesque, and

commanded

An

it

has several walls, built

and

never was in a

The country round

it is

wild and

appears, like Nundydroog, to

a pass in

unfortunate

It

requisite,

the mountains

participation

in

in

have

days of yore.

the

troubles of this

^^

-^

> o

Is
b ^
?

t-'

c
c
o

'1

i"

REMINISCENCES.

1810.]

me

eventful year induced

mand

and

of both corps

321

August, to resign the com-

in

station,

and proceed

to the sea-

Arriving at Sadras on the 7th of September,

coast.

we

hired poor Nonamallee's house, from her successor, where

a large party of

at INIadras,

arrival

from different stations, was as-

officers

sembled, and where

we remained,

until

when we were

called

Lord

Minto's

down

the

to

Presidency.

BANGALORE.
The

mand

first

day of 1810 found me at Bangalore,

my own

of

had been removed, while

Ward commanding

the station

in

England.

the division, resided in

a part of the Palace in the Fort

commanded

com-

corps, the 1st battalion of the 3rd regi-

ment, from which

Major-General

in

and Colonel Gibbs

which were assembled His

at

Majesty's 25th dragoons. His Majesty's 59th regiment,

the 5th regiment of native cavalry, the 2nd battalion of
artillery,

and the

being one of the

India.

The

1st battafion of the

finest

3rd regiment; this

and healthiest cantonments

1st battalion of the

2nd regiment,

in

all

1st battalion

of the 4th regiment, and 2nd battalion of the 17th regiment,

joined shortly afterwards, when, forming a large force for

parades and

field exercise, 1

tinued so for several years

became a Brigadier, and conthough only when the whole

were under arms, and no allowances being attached to the

appointment;

was

certainly

clearest

Let

and best

me

VOL,

still

most

an opportunity of learning the duty

desirable,

driller of

and Colonel Gibbs was the

a line

ever

add, as he has since lost his

1.

knew
life,

in

my

life.

as a General

MILITARY

322

was every thing,

Officer in America, that he

that approaches to a perfect soldier

impartial

[A.D.
in

my

mind,

kind, considerate, and

with a perfect knowledge of his profession, he

taught and encouraged every

man

under his command,

and was most deservedly loved and esteemed by

was removed,

He

all.

to go with his regiment against the Isle of

France, and

we got Colonel R. R.

shortly after

which Major-general Ward was also removed

command

from the

of the division, to go on the

service,

and was succeeded by Colonel

General

lives still, in the

same

The

Gillespie.

enjoyment of a well-earned fame,

and rewarded by those honours from

to the heart of a soldier.

placed in such a

room

Gillespie in his

I will

command,

his Sovereign, so dear

only venture to say that,

at such a critical period of our

Eastern history, the kind and delicate conduct of himself

and family, were duly and

pany's
ing

it's

officer

who

real value.

Gillespie,
difficult to

now

gratefully

felt,

by every Com-

possessed a heart capable of appreciat-

The character of

called to

pourtray,

his long

Sir

Robert Rollo

home, although more

must not be omitted.

An

intimacy,

however, contracted in 1807, when, at a trying moment, he,

though then a perfect stranger, had proved an able and

active friend, in

defence of an innocent and oppressed

brother soldier, had furnished

me

with a greater knowledge

of the man, than a

year's merely serving under him, as a

commanding

could have ever given.

officer,

Brave almost

to a fault, and impetuous and headstrong in private

was

cool

and

collected on

knowledge of the duties of

for himself,

and many

service,

life,

and had a very

his profession.

others, the first

he

fair

Unfortunately

and great duties of

REMINISCENCES.

1810.]
a Christian,

if

they had ever been instilled into his mind,

had been early

education

323

obliterated

by the

errors of a fashionable

and the mistaken bubble called honour, was

the object of his adoration, as

it

that of thousands.

is

This

false deity will lead his votaries to

lives,

and take the

for a

mere

fence

lives of their equally

misguided

difference of opinion, or the

and, carried to

it's

expose their

most

own

friends,

trifling of-

highest pitch, in his generous

mind, he would have cheerfully taken his friend's place,

and exposed his own

know

am

life

myself very ignorant of what

The term

England.
to errors,

save that

to

of another.

treading on delicate ground, and

which

harsher, though

in the

is

confess

called fashionable life in

have used,

is

one commonly applied

East we do not wish to designate by

more appropriate

epithets.

shall not

enter into further particulars, as apphcable to the conduct

of

my

present subject.

hearted and

liberal,

Sir

Robert Gillespie was kind

even to the injury of his

own

fortune

fond of society, and, off duty, a cheerful and easy companion.

have enjoyed many a pleasant day with him,

on shooting and hunting

occasionally dined with
fully

parties in the country,

him

and have

Though

in the cantonment.

aware of our essential difference of opinions on do-

mestic subjects, he never entered

my

doors,

as the strongest proof of his esteem

and

this I felt

for attentions

were

not wanting to prove a recollection of what might be acceptable, under such circumstances, to

His conduct at Cornelus,

in

my

family.

planning and leading the

storming party, which secured the conquest of Java, proved

MILITARY

324

[A.D,

to his brother officers, that

he was as considerate as brave

whilst his

D'Jucjucatra at a subsequent

behaviour

when with

period,

hundred men,

had something

that

were not well known,

mention

afraid to
in

if it

so
I

five

defended by

fort

and thereby saved the

British on the island,

it,

more than one thousand

little

he stormed a capital

thirty thousand,

in

at

lives of all the

much

of romance

should be almost

Surrounded by an enemy, who were

it.

hourly expectation of forcing him to surrender, or of

entirely annihilating his

breaching, even

force

little

without the means of

had been possible

if it

approaches in such circumstances

head of his band of heroes, and carried

manner

the most miraculous

surpassed this,

to carry

on any

he put himself at the

all

before him, in

no exploit in the East, ever

either in daring,

judgment, or success.

Another instance of cool and intrepid presence of mind

was displayed by him

at

where he saved his own

equally surprising

Palembang,
life

manner

same island

in the

had he but been

religious, I

should attribute his safety to far different causes

of

his

all,

where he
he had

orders

and personal conduct

at

and

last

Kalungah,

He

died, as

one of the bravest and most devoted

soldiers,

lost his life,

lived,

and a few followers in an

that Britain ever

had

were truly admirable.

to

mourn.

Discoursing one morning at Colonel Gillespie's house

about the hunting of

tigers,

he proposed we should get one

from Mr. Cole at Mysore, and hunt him on horseback with

spears

a few of us agreed to the

trial,

and a cage was ac-

cordingly received from Closepett, with a fine large and

REMINISCENCES.

1810.]

active tiger

the party, consisting of five or six horsemen,

assembled immediately, and

Sepoys out with the cart

was determined

to

ordered a Naigue and six

to the race-course,

at this

new

own

made me

sport, the Colonel

made on purpose

spears,

and the guard was ordered

Calcutta-

on which

to

it

me more

have the hunt. In order to make

of one of his

ail fait

325

a present

for

him

in

draw up, un-

loaded, between the cart and the cantonment, to prevent

The door was turned

the tiger going in that direction.

when out

towards the country and opened,

crept the

animal, and, looking round, ran immediately upon the

guard, the nearest

man

of

whom

presented his bayonet,

which, entering his side, threw him over.

an instant, he twisted the

hilt of the

of the musquet, and knocked

down

the Sepoys, one after

The scene was

another, like a set of nine pins.

and the

Recovering in

bayonet off the end

we were

result so unlooked for, that

all

so novel,

paralysed

the animal actually put his paws on one man's shoulders

in spite of

musquet and bayonet, and

teeth out of his head.

And

handsome present was

raised

fellow

by subscription,

was most dangerously wounded.

prostrated

all his

At

whom

this

poor

length, having

nearest opponents, the beast crouched

down, when the Colonel rode

his spear; but

bit three or four

of four sufferers, for

at

him

full tilt,

and delivered

saw, in following him, that

the ground, close to his neck, but

it

stuck in

had not entered.

He

afterwards chased the Colonel, and the Aumildar, or rather

Foujdar, the head native in the Pettah on the part of the

Mysore government, and then crouched

a second time.

It

MILITARY

326

[A.D.

only at those times of inaction that they can be ap-

is

proached with any safety.

About twenty Peons, belong-

now advanced, and one from

ing to the Foujdar,

their

number ran up behind the crouching monster, and with a

long straight sword cut him across the

The animal

tail.

then rose, and turning round, received a stab in his mouth

when rushing
till

man

on, the

retreated

still

cutting at him,

he drew him into the midst of his comrades,

instantly

These men were

and

shield,

all

armed

their dexterity

alike,

with a long sword and

was equally admirable with that

of the cool conduct of the single individual

attacked him.
these fellows

speared

vouch

who

first

The Colonel afterwards complained, that

had cut up a

but though

to the contrary

I
:

tiger

which he had already

never contradicted him,

still,

he had pierced him through.

ice,

who

despatched him with some hundred wounds.

can

Having once broken the

Mr. Cole was afterwards so kind as

with frequent subjects.

firmly believe, he thought

to furnish us

Colonel Gillespie, however, leav-

ing us immediately after our

first

essay,

present to partake in the sport he had

was no more

first

taught us to

pursue.

On

the evening of the 19th of April, while pruning a

tree in our garden, a

dense cloud, which had been gather-

ing over our heads, suddenly burst with a

terrific clap,

and

the lightning descending into the next compound, killed

one man, and wounded three others, in our

any external marks of violence about them.

was

killed

sight,

without

Another

man

by the same lightning, about one hundred yards

REMlNlSCliNCES,

1811.]

further

off,

327

and the storm was over almost immediately.

This sudden explosion, as

it

were, clearing the elements,

without producing-, as we had anxiously anticipated, a good

fall

of rain.

MILITARY

328

Co07-g

Alarekherah,

[A.D.

CHAPTER X.
Capital The Mdhd Swdmee Shooting
Interior Second
and Return.

the

Excursions in the

Visit,

COORG.
.The kingdom of Coorg, situated to the westward of Mysore, is of small extent,

being comprised within the twelfth

degree of North latitude, and the seventy-fifth and seventysixth degrees of East longitude.

It is

about

fifty

miles in

length, and thirty-five only in the broadest part.

rounded by lofty mountains,

it

contains

many

for the

most part

others, scattered over the interior surface,

forming a succession of wild rugged

and, as

hills,

were not

tivated valleys

firm

to the appellation of a

it's title

Sur-

inaccessible,

if this

and highly cul-

sufficient to con-

" Strong Country,"

they have divided the whole interior into squares.

Those

where no streams or marshes are contained, being generally

about a mile in width, with an enormous ditch and high

mound,

or bank, formed

by the

original contents of the

ditch; and covered inside and out, with deep jungle, in

which are included many enormous

forest trees.

Some

of

these inclosures have four apertures for ingress and regress,

REMINISCENCES.

1811.]

one in each face

329

particularly those through

strong barriers against an approaching

hill

which the prin-

and which consequently present

cipal roads pass,

and mountain

is

Every

also covered with jungle; the finest

and other large

teak, jack, maiigo,

many

so

enemy.

trees,

growing spon-

taneously in a country watered by numerous streams, and

continual fogs and misty clouds, which, from

height, even above the Mysore, are attracted

and cover them during the night.

no town or
it

great
hills,

In such a country,

meets the eye until you are close upon

village

but though

it's

by the

have traversed nearly the whole, at

ferent times, I do not

remember

eight villages throughout

pronounce the majority of

to

and

have seen above

dif-

six or

am, indeed, inclined

to

inhabitants to be wild ele-

it's

phants, tigers, bears, bisons, buffalos, hyenas, civets, elks,

deer, antelopes,
is

and minor game.

With such

resources,

it

easy to ensure a day's sport, by opening the barriers of

one or more enclosures

for

some time previous, and when

them simultaneously.

required, to secure

In the days of Hyder's successful usurpation of the

Musnud
feated,

of Mysore, the reigning Rajah of Coorg was de-

and taken prisoner by

Mysore

this

Mussulman

to

policy,

and persuaded the usurper, that

him back

to his

own

Prince, and

where he was kindly treated from

carried

if

he would send

country, he would prevail on

subjects to submit to the

all

his

Mussulman yoke; they having

previously betaken themselves to their hills and fastnesses,

from whence he could neither drive nor

man's name was Veraj under

it

is

recall

them.

This

said that he took

an

oath of fidelity to Hyder, before he was released, and that

MILITARY

330

[A.D.

Be

in after times, he boasted of this breach of faith.

as

it

terra

may, he proved himself an able statesman,

if

that

such a

be applicable to a mountain chief, since he improved

the natural fortifications of his kingdom, built towns,

formed an armed

militia,

and successfully defied

his former

conqueror.

After the death of Tippoo, this extraordinary

man went

suddenly mad, and in one day destroyed one

thousand two hundred of his relations and principal nobles

leaving, under an erroneous idea of his imbecility, only

one younger brother

such a

man was

males of his family.

alive, of all the

Verajunder did not long survive

and most

this act,

assisted out of this world,

whom

trembling slaves, by

he was attended.

however, nearly omitted to mention the act of

which stamped

conduct, with

his

There was an old

confidentially attended

him

and frequented the

a few years old,

indelible

cooked his victuals,

for years,

there,

woman. After completing the work of

he had played a conspicuous

others,

woman who had

interior of his Palace,

who was born

had,

all

most

the

character of insanity.

likely,

by some of the

and a child only

a relation of this

destruction, in which
assisted

part,

by

several

elephants and soldiers in the court-yard, he retired into

his study

the old

woman came

followed by the child,

woman, and,

seizing the child, laid

deliberately dissected

He was

it

him immense

absolute power over

perty in his

little

it

upon

the

his table,

and

his blindness

had

with a penknife.

succeeded by the boy,

spared, and left

to offer her services,

in,

when he immediately stabbed

all his

kingdom

whom

wealth, as well

subjects,

indeed,

as

most

and every kind of proI

blush to write

it,

the

REMINMSCENCES,

1811.]

absolute

Such,

carried

of his

deity

March

in

an

331

ignorant and misguided

people.

1811, was Lingraj under Wadeer, to

introduction from the

who was

Cole, Resident in Mysore,

whom

Honourable vVrthur
nominal Resident

also

in Coorg.

On

much

the 19th of the same month, having heard

sport in Coorg,

in praise of the

such a

and being

both a keen

company with

out from Bangalore, in

trip, I set

Lieutenant W.Williamson, a young

and

man

of

at leisure for

my own

corps

hardy sportsman, as well as a very

agreeable companion.

We

travelled post, in palanquins,

to Verajundrapet, a distance of one

hundred and

fifty miles,

and of course could not make many observations on the

road

but from

my Journal

extracts, this country being

there I shall
little

now make

known, even

regular

to Residents

in India.

"

On

the

22nd of March,

after a hearty breakfast, pro-

vided for us by the Rajah's people, gratis,

large elephants, at day-break,

and through

vales,

we mounted two

and proceeded over

up and down, zigzag, now at

of deep ravines, then at the top of precipices,

we reached

after eighteen hours' fagging,

for

tlie

till,

hills

bottom
at last,

the Palace, built

the accommodation of Europeans, outside

tlie

stone

fort of

MAREKIIERAH,
The

capital.

This place

is

delightfully

situated

eminence, near the summit of a range of lofty and

mountains, but

is

nevertheless

on an
difficult

commanded by them, and

had actually been breached from them.

The

pass up these

MILITARY

332
mountains being

make

it

[A.D.

and defended, however, would

fortified

a very strong place, for

completely

it

The

every approach on the other side.

mated

road

built,

upon a small

mud

off,

remarkably clean

is

by an excellent high
is

a rising ground,

which, you come

barrier, after entering

plain with a magnificent tomb, erected

present Rajah, to the

The people

wife.

The town

glacis.

about half a mile

and at the further extremity there

with a strong

estiis in-

but his horse and elephant stables are outside,

on the slope of the

and well

we

The Rajah's own Palace

at twenty-four miles.

side the fort

commands

distance

memory

invite

every part of the building

Europeans
;

by the

of his late brother, and his

and

and shew them

in,

I really

think

surpasses

it

both Hyder's and Tippoo's, as well as that erected by

Aurungzebe, over his favourite wife, at Aurungabad.

much

in the style of

Mahomedan

square with a handsome

turrets at the angles.
ball,

are

dome

On

Swamee,

in

it,

and

and four

dome

is

a gold

window bars

the

all

It is

being a wide

the centre,

the top of the

with a weathercock above

made

"

On

edifices,

of solid brass.
this

spot,

by appointment, we met the Mtdia

at half-past three in the evening.

in a Major-general's uniform, appeared to

He was

dressed

be about thirty

years of age, with very handsome features, and a person in

which were joined both

activity

and strength.

He imme-

and desired us

to be seated,

after a short conversation in Hindoostanee,

which he at

diately shook

first

hands with

us,

addressed to an interpreter,

until

he found that

could speak and understand him in that language

produced several

rifles,

he then

ready loaded, ordered cocoa-nuts to

REMINISCENCES.

1811.]

be hoisted on the tops of spears,

desired us to

Suffice

fire.

it

fifty

333
yards

off,

and then

most

to say, he beat us both

fired at in the centre,

completely, splitting every nut he

while we, either struck the sides or missed entirely. After

this,

he asked us to take a ride with him ; a beautiful

English horse was brought to me, an Arabian to Lieutenant

Williamson, and he himself also rode a very fine Arabian.

We rattled about in

the square for half an hour,

desired us to alight and rest ourselves

several feats with

spear, performed

all

it still

on horseback,

we remounted, and proceeded with him

again,

Rajah

insisting

On

the way.

a set of dancing

to the fort;

on our riding one on each side of him

entering his Palace,

girls,

we were amused by

keeping time to

reels

and country

and the

Maha Swamee

portraits of himself, the

King, the Prince

dances, played on two fiddles

shewed us various

when he

and taking a long

Our horses being brought

with great grace and dexterity.

the

He

of Wales, General Wellesley, &c.

then took us into

another apartment, and shewed us a dozen of highly

finished single

and double

rifles,

by Manton and Jover

fowling pieces, pistols, &c. then an air gun, which

desired us to try.
light

It

had succeeded the daylight

took aim out of the windosv,

them, and

in

it

we

and

hit

his court-yard

at various things,

even knocked down a lime, a species of small

lemon, off the top of a cocoa-nut, so

did

he

was now seven, P. M., and torch-

carry.

uncommonly

true

His son and several relations were next

introduced to us,

all

fine

looking boys

and the heir ap-

parent, being about seven or eight years old, dressed in a

General's uniform, with a sword by his side, put

me

in

MILITARY

334

mind of some

French

old

prints,

[A.D.

in

which the

girls are

dressed in hoops and farthingales, and the boys with bag

wigs and small swords. Ram-fights, &c. were going on

this time in the yard, as

it

Then a

and two of the rams had four horns each.

made

and

He

appeared very tame, played with his leaders,

suffered

me

go up to him and pat him on the back.

to

was a

acknowledge

was by no means sure how

God

it

this

turned out well

bit of

it

my

bravado on

part,

though there was more

Next came a

and

Thank

would be received.

than judgment in the attempt.

tiger

lion

appearance, led by a dozen men, with a strong

his

rope.

all

were to amuse the attendants

folly,

large royal

and two panthers, the former having his claws pared,

but very savage, trying every instant to break

We

loose.

took leave at half past seven, quite pleased with the kind

and

affable treatment of this Prince,

beheve,
''

is

who,

am

must now describe our own

habitation, built on a

small island, surrounded by paddy ground,

the sole

accommodation of Europeans.

square, having a

veranda

inclined to

adored by his people.

all

round

hall in
it,

is

dry, for

a large

the centre, a large covered-in

and four bed-rooms projecting

angles of the veranda

rooms serving

now
It

all

on an upper

at the

story, the lower

for the guard, attendants, store-rooms,

It stands on a square of seventy

feet,

&c.

the veranda having

thirty-eight glass windows, with Venetian blinds outside.

The bed-rooms have

glass doors

English

style,

sixteen windows,

and the

hall eight

every part being neatly furnished, in the

with beds, tables, card-tables, writing boxes,

chairs, chandeliers, settees. Sic. &c.

And

there

is

an old

REMINISCENCES.

1811.]

early

of ray

butler

Vellore

335

Ridgway

Colonel

friend,

Mealey, and a dozen active servants, who very speedily

produce an English breakfast or dinner, served up on

handsome Queen's ware, with every kind of European

liquor

and what

even

is

Cook bakes good bread

" After

all

more extraordinary, the

still

oar exertions of this day,

supposed we slept soundly

may

it

23rd rose betimes as usual, a custom which

ously recommend to

all

and amongst the

one, about two years

latter

abounds

found a young white

Of these

animals, as

them, he has great abundance.

we were

After breakfast,

spend any

most perfectly formed, with

old,

in

most strenuto

the Rajah's stud, and

visit

flaxen hair, light eyes, and fair skin.

his country

young men doomed

time in the East, and went to

elephants

readily be

and on the morning of the

astonished by a visit from the

Maha Swamee,

in

European

he appeared in his native robes,

dress,

decorated with jewels

appeared a

and then

and

cartes, in

To

He

my

eyes,

in

he ap-

sat a few minutes,

if

we

us, this

he could have made.

accompany us

pleased,

to

was the most acceptable

We

retired to prepare our-

and our shooting apparatus; and, on our return

from our own rooms, found his Highness ready,

elephants and attendants.
self driving the

hook

an

richly-

had received intelhgence of a

told us that he

go and shoot him.

selves,

longer disguised

much handsomer man.

wild elephant, and would,

offer

No

state.

one

in the right

down any

Away we

rode, sitting across

hand and a knife

in

with

the Rajah him-

set,

it's

neck, with a

the other, to cut

small branches of trees likely to

incommode me

MILITARY

336
in the excursion.

[A.D.

Such a man/ thought

'

of his followers, must be invincible.'

ferent from

off,

dif-

most Eastern

Arrived at the spot, which was only about a

potentates.*

mile

head

at the

So perfectly

grandeur of

the effeminate

'

I,

we dismounted

and while the people were pre-

paring seats on trees for our reception, amused ourselves

shooting arrows at a

beat us hollow.

own

mark

When

all

in which, as usual, the

Rajah

was ready, each climbed

the Rajah between us, and sat in a snug

tree,

his

little

wicker-box with three guns of the Rajah's each, and two

of his eunuchs to load our pieces.
single

rifle

The Rajah had a

carrying a twelve-ounce ball, and two double

Williamson had a single

ones, of one ounce each.

two ounces, a double Manton of one ounce, and

double fowling-piece.
a double

with

where

had a

rifle

of

own

his

single Jover of four ounces,

Manton of one ounce, and my own double Beck-

and before we ascended, the Rajah explained

to take aim, &,c.

which, in an elephant,

jecting spot immediately over each eye.

is

to us

a pro-

This space, in

the smallest, will be about four inches, and in the largest

nearly eight inches in diameter

when

advise us

the

and the eunuchs were

game was near enough

to fire.

to

After

four hours' watching, while tomtoms were beating, collery

horns blowing, and English drums sounding the general,

the monster

made

his appearance,

strutting in

all

the

pride and wantonness of his enormous strength, and lay-

* Sorry shall I be, in the sequel, to reverse this most delightful, though
airy vision

but truth, with me,

to dispel the delightful

is

the

first

maxim, and

it

will force

me

romance which was here intruded on us by the

most plausible appearances.

REMINISCENCKS.

1811.]

down

ing

came

He

every obstacle that opposed his passage.

who

close under Williamson's gun,

him on the
carrying

337

The

spot.

away

fired

and

killed

creature rolled over instantaneously,

several small

as

trees,

enormous bulk upon the ground.

he extended his

For a minute afterwards,

the successful sportsman, unused to such game, sat with

mouth open, gazing

his

more used

in utter

own prowess

proof of his

to

amazement

at the

mighty

while the Rajah and myself,

such scenes,

descending by our wicker

ladders, were on the top of the carcass in a

moment.

stood ten feet high, and was in excellent condition

It

the

tusks were two feet outside, and nearly three feet long

when

extracted

and the length of the body was very

nearly the same as

all

it's

the morning, being

demolished

the

He had been

height.

what the natives

huts and

Ryotts, or farmers, in his

such seasons the elephant

plantations of

way
is

to

meet

and had

several of the

his quietus.

At

very dangerous, and blindly

rushes on every thing that opposes him

though very furious when wounded, he

and

very violent

call must,

is

at other times,

rather timid,

will not be the aggressor in a fray.

" Here, supposing our day's work was concluded, we

proposed to take leave, but
thing further of

He

Prince.

own

tiffin,

it

the

we were

yet to learn some-

kind attentions of this excellent

told us, that

having kept us so long from our

being then three o'clock, he had ordered a

dinner to be brought out for us

and, to our surprise,

we

found a small house built of leaves, a table and chairs, a

dinner, consisting of pillawe, mutton cutlets, curry, &c.
all

ready for us.

VOL.

1.

Nor was

this all
z

the Rajah followed us

;;

MILITARY

338
in,

and begged us

but

left his

to excuse him, as

he was not very well

servants with guns, powder, shot, &c.,

amuse ourselves

elephants, desiring us to

we

[A.D.

We

pleased.

accordingly dined, and then beat a

thick jungle for game, though without success,

the dry season,

and four

after dinner as

when they

retire into

At

parts of the mountains.

P. M.,

five,

being

it

the most inaccessible

we

returned to

our Palace, well satisfied with the adventures of the day.

"

On

the 24th

ing, in search of

we

took a pedestrian

common game, but

stroll in

the even-

returned unsuccessful

the jungle being every where impenetrable ten yards from

the road.

This day

beat the Eajah in firing

he seemed busy, we took leave

even hint so to

own

The

fort,

with a boarded

mon

in the East,

We

us.

habitations.

sit still

then visited his pets, in their

and glass windows, very uncom-

and seems
first

a moment, while

tiger is housed,

to

be his greatest favourite.

day.

Her majesty would not

place.

This

is

more to the

is

mounted

and,

in the

the only piece of ordnance I have

seen in the Coorg country

to trust

The

attempted to sketch her.

with several panthers and leopards

extraordinary to relate, a large mortar

same

and, as

though he would not

lioness has a capital house in the

floor

mistook her sex the

early,

and, indeed, this Prince seems

affection of his

subjects,

and the

justice of the English, than to the strength of his

fortifi-

cations and the multitude of his guns.

''

the

On the 25th of March, we paid our parting visit to

Maha Swamee, and received from him the following

presents:

two gold-handled Coorg knives, two panther-

skin caps, two sandal-wood sticks, one royal tiger, and two


REMINISCENCES.

18J2.]

339

panther skins, and parted from him with mutual expressions of esteem

The Rajah informed

and regard.

us, that

the present indifferent state of his health, and not being

certain of finding

game immediately, had

alone prevented

his taking us into the country to shoot, but promised, if

we would

return at the same season next year,

be amply

gratified

Thus ended

my

with

first trip to

have already stated,

know what remains

we should

field sports."

will

Coorg, but as

my

render

to be told

on

I trust

my

Journal, and

Having been ordered

extract the next trip at once.

to

without in-

this subject,

terruption, I shall anticipate a period of

what

willing

readers

to

form a light corps from both battalions of the regiment,

men and

with authority to select both

2nd

battalion

visit

the

Meredith, a very

season.
fine

to write

my wishes,

Accompanied

and enalthough

by Lieutenant

young man of the regiment,

keen sportsman, since unfortunately dead,

set out,

the

interesting

this

to

and Mr. Cole was good enough

treat he would be so kind as gratify

not exactly

from the

officers

availed myself of

pay a second

opportunity, to
Prince,

Cannanore,

at

also a

accordingly

and on the 17th of October, 1812, and reached

Sedaseer, the

his country

first village in

Diary regularly proceeds as follows

after

which

my

" Here we were regaled with a cuddoo * cuny, and

rice,

by the Coorg Rajah's guards, who refused any pecuniary

remuneration.

The stockade seems newly

had some very unpleasant heavy

saw many wild-fowl
*

in the tank.

We
and

The whole road from

gourd, or pumpkin,
z

finished.

rain in the evening,

MILITARY

340
Periapatam
repair to

is

fit

it

On

much

extremely bad, and would require

for the

passage of guns.

rain in the night, succeeded

*'

[A.D.

by a

the 18th of October

we

There was more

fog.

set forward,

in

still

our

palanquins, in a dense fog ; the bearers bad, and the road

much
At

worse, being nearly impassable for wheel-carriages.

nine, A. M.,

we

arrived at an open choultry in a small

bazar at Seedapoor, distance ten miles

with a dry ditch

gratis;

At

the barrier strong

got a curry and eggs for breakfast,

at half past eleven

mounted two elephants.

mile, a barrier, with a dry ditch.

1|,
2,

2 1,
3,

3 1,
3|,
at

and

a
with a dry
a small tank and swamp.
another
a
swamp on the
a house on the
another
with paddy ground
barrier.

large

right.

right.

barrier,

some
4|,

ditch.

barrier,

a nice tank, and the village of Amootoonaur to

the right, beyond the paddy ground

beyond

7,

7|,
8,
9,

11,

a small clear

hill

it.

6,

5,

to the left,

distance.

a barrier.

paddy ground, and a small

village.

houses on both sides, and paddy ground.

a
a

houses we ascended a small

Verajundrapett the road the whole

very bad.

barrier.
barrier.

several

hill.

The last four

way was

miles, in particular, through

swamps

and paddy ground, intersected by deep water-courses.

REMINISCENCES.

1812.]

We

"

341

arrived at twenty minutes past three, P. M.,

and

took a walk to look at a Christian church, building at the

western extremity of the village

and

be a grand edifice

will

Pagan country.

erect in a

it

for the

is

about half finished,

Romish

It is built

Christians to

from the foundation

of a porous stone, called soap-stone on the Malabar coast,

cemented with light clay, very thick

and from a distance

resembles an old Gothic ruin in England.

sufficient

understand,

the

is

and

be fully
this,

number of these mongrel-Christians,

exclusive of their children

village being

It will

two hundred communicants

for

two thousand,

the whole population of the

We

also exclusive of children.

afterwards visited the native place of worship in the village,

which

is

like a

common

choultry outside, but a door open-

ing within, discovers in the back part a stone bull, or cow,

covered with flowers

and immediately behind

it,

a full-

length portrait of the late Rajah, set in a gold recess in

The Rajah's Subadar, who

the wall.

some man, unlike the

is

an obliging hand-

superstitious bigots of other coun-

seemed anxious that we should look

tries,

wards gave us a curry,

rice,

fruit,

at

He

it.

vegetables,

even sent us two China plates, and one copper spoon

with

or rather,

the curry

for,

after-

&.C.,

and

to eat

fancy, to dole out each man's portion of

finding us conversant in his

own language,

he probably never dreamed we were such Goths, as not to

be able to eat with our

fingers.

nished us with a table and two

He had
chairs.

previously furI fired

dog and a jackall on the road, but saw no game

we

at a wild

and here

slept in our palanquins.

"

On

the 19th

we

set out at three,

A.M., and proceeded

MILITARY

342
Cauvery

to the

and crossed

boats

The banks

deep.

a strong barrier
I

river,

in

which we reached at seven, A. M.,

the stream being about six feet

and

are exceedingly high

placed on the

is

[A.D.

left

and

steep,

bank, called Angree.

We

reckon this twelve miles from Verajundrapett.

crossed a deep nullah at sixteen, another at eighteen, where

there

a very strong barrier, called Mootall Mooroo, and

is

another a

little

where there

at twenty,

We

further on.

Nullah at nineteen and a

half,

also crossed the Boharie

and came

to another barrier

a tappall hut. After

is

this,

we

pro-

ceeded through swamps, over hills, &c., and at length passed

through a strong barrier at twenty-four

ascended the mountain, and found the
completely repaired, and, passing

it,

after

fort of

which we

Marekherah

took up our abode in

the old place, at a quarter past twelve, having been nine

hours and a quarter on the road

We

phants.
after

which mounted two

Mahk Swamee.

to the

the last five on ele-

then had our breakfast and took a sleep,

ner, in his Palace,

fine horses,

He

and paid our respects

received us in his usual

having sent

ofi

his

to give us a shooting party in the interior.

officer's

uniform this time

very kind and attentive.

two wild

tigers,

buffaloes,

man-

camp equipage, &c.

No

general

but he looked well, and was

He shewed

us two lions, two

and a royal tiger-cub; then

a gun, completely made, and highly finished, by his

smith

and

really never

After sitting nearly two hours with

piece.

our leave

own

saw a more elegant fowling-

him we took

and when our dinner was served up, two of

his

fiddlers

made

tunes

In short, every thing apes England in this most

their appearance

and regaled us with English

REMINISCENCES.

1812.]

We, two

extraoidinary place.

plain soldiers, sat

between us

of English claret

rejecting, to

amazement of the beholders, Madeira,

all

down

to

twenty other dishes, and drank a

a roasted goose, and

bottle

343

beer, hock,

the
&,c.,

of which they expected us to swallow.

On

"

a walk,

the 20th of October

first to

and elephant

we

rose with the lark,

The

stables.

considerably, but his skin

little

white elephant had grown

was getting darker, and he ap-

peared to be in bad health.

Lieutenant Davies joined us

here from Mysore, at half-past ten

early,

in his

and

we dined

and having

He dismounted

military uniform, on horseback.

some time, shewing us some of his guns,

inviting us to

mount our

horses and proceed, he

accompanied us

to the top of the hill,

good

returned,

sport, he

to start

At one, P. M., the Rajah arrived

at noon.

sat with us

and then

and took

the mausoleum, and afterwards to the horse

when, wishing us

and we pursued our journey.

We

found six tents pitched in a clean compound, about

five

miles

mud

off.

Here was

also

an immense well-finished

building, with a most substantial thatched roof, called

Cuggore Punug; made as a kind of depot,

are kept for the

hunting residence.

Rajah's use, and

also

in

which things

his occasional

Here we found three good cots

in

one

tent, three writing tables in another, a set of dining tables,

chairs, &c., in a third,

and we were accompanied by at least

one thousand Sepoys, match-lock-men, and ]3ike-men, besides

two of the Rajah's eunuchs, with three of

pieces, three palanquins, three horses,

in addition to

lock

men

his fowling

and three elephants

which we met about one thousand match-

near the place, waiting our arrival.

We

had

MILITARY

344

[A.D.

scarcely retired to rest, after eating a hearty dinner, before

Pridham

Lieutenant

with another cot, &c.

having followed us

also

joined

this officer

from

from

us

Miirekerah,

and Lieutenant Davies

Mysore,

with

from

a letter

Mr. Cole.
"

On

the 21st of October, after breakfast,

we mounted

our elephants, at seven, A. M., and proceeded over nullahs,

swamps,

hills,

&c. about

our trees prepared, and

sands of beaters

five miles further,

all

when we

where we found

the jungle beset

by some thou-

forthwith climbed our respective

ladders, to wicker litters, in the centre of a deep jungle,

called

Chaondy Kaudh.

collected our

home with

Of

eight elks, a

the former,

of our post, and

monkey,

killed

squirrel,

marched

and jungle

three. Lieutenant

fowl.

Pridham two,

The

and Lieutenants Meredith and Davies, one each.

Peons

we

After three hours' beating,

game within shot

game.

killed one, besides lesser

Our eunuchs and

Rajah's people would not permit any of us to quit our

places of safety ere the whole

would cost them

We

their lives if

was

over,

and

us

told

any accident happened

it

to us.

were, therefore, literally state prisoners, pro tempore.

Not one of the elks could be

carried

by fewer than

men, and they generally took twelve and fourteen,

being tied to bamboos for that purpose.

no small

figure,

We therefore

long,

The

cut

with our game following, on our return to

Cuggore, where we found a capital English

for us.

six

after

tiffin

waiting

horns of one of the elks being nearly a yard

with several branches, and extremely heavy

naturally concluded that the beast

who

we

could carry them,

without inconvenience, must have been very thick headed.

REMINISCENCES.

1812.]

Lieutenant Pridhani

left

heavy shower of rain

"

On

the

us after the hunt, and

we had a

in the evening,

22nd we

was impossible

to tell

jungles, Sec.

and

345

set

out a

little

A.M.;

after six,

the direction, but through

latterly,

it

rivers,

ascending a steep and very

high mountain, covered with wood, our elephants groping

and kneeling, while our empty palanquins could not even

be carried up from the bottom, we gained a beautiful plain

on the summit, covered with trees and deep jungle

round

the

it;

distance

about eight miles:

is

it

all

called

Perumboo Kand, on a range designated

PUNNYMAUT KOONDOO;
And

here, at nine, A. M.,

saw

six elks,

and

fired at

we

set to

three

work

in the old way.

Meredith saw only three, the former did not

fired twice.

traced

My three

fire,

the latter

were positively wounded, and being

by the blood, were followed and

old sportsman, I always shoot with

Being an

secured.

my own

gun, and with

balls double the size of the bore, beaten into plugs,

T call

while

game

which

langrage, and the plug thus fired will kill any thing,
it

generally remains a positive proof to

belongs.

Here we took our

tiffin,

whom

the

notwithstanding

the difficulty of bringing things up, and walked

mountain

down

the

in about one quarter of the time our elephants

took to ascend

it.

We had

heavy rain on our return, but

were well sheltered by umbrellas

want were these people.

We

Lieutenants Davies and

so attentive to our every

Lieutenant Davies

left

us here.

returned to our tents early in the evening, and while

at dinuQi- the people brought in a monster, with one of

my

MILITARY

346

[A.D.

he required fourteen

balls in him, so large that

carry him, or rather, that number could barely

am

told

They have

two more

since brought in

so that all our shots have told.

off

fifty

of the kind in

my

The people here

all

men.

life,

and

eat elks,

the 23rd

marked that

we

elk

was

never saw so immense an animal

got his horns as

and say they

my

perquisite.

are excellent.

started at half-past six.

have

re-

the Coorg pike-men, instead of trailing or

sloping their pike,

when they come

to trees

in the left hand,

and other

and advancing

it

the right to support

charge pikes,' and push on.

'

it,

evidently discipline, and

safety, in

rear,

we were disappointed

Still

obstacles, always carry

is

and

but our trusty followers promised to

show us more on the morrow. At midnight the large

brought in by

On

to

him

an immense fellow, with a smaller, are in the

with this day's sport

"

men

His horns were not so large as those of

the ground.
yesterday.

lift

may be

taught

We

advancing among wild beasts.

This

own

for their

passed the

mountain we were on yesterday, and dismounting

at the

bottom of one a mile further, ascended on foot to the

summit.

Our

sport did not

commence

the jungle being amazingly thick and

till

game

eleven,

A.M.,

rather scarce.

I fired

and wounded an

I killed

a junglee buckrah, or wood goat, with a single

which Meredith

elk,

while running hke the wind

it

exceedingly

size

and therefore

of a deer, having
it's

proceed from the length and strength of

short branching

antlers,

animal altogether, that

and
ball,

was a very curious animal,

with a body the same colour and

short legs,

killed,

swiftness

it's

body

must
it

had

and was so extraordinary an

preserved the head and antlers on

REMINISCENCIiS.

1812.]

347

Lady Hood, passing through Bangalore,

it, till

curiosities, I

gave

kind,

saw

ever

it

my

in

It

also killed

left off to tiffin, at

we commenced on

at three

collecting

was the only animal of the

The Peons

life.

and we

elks at this place,

four, P.

to her.

two

half-past one

our return, and at half-past

M., four miles nearer home, again took our quiet

stations

and

had no

sport,

work

set to

came running by

making two

and

killed

fired,

and each brought down

The Sepoys

capital shots.

two more.

and female,

large elks, a male

we both

one,

we

until nearly dusk, however,

when two

also fired,

panther was started, but he

We

escaped, from the density of the jungle.

got into our

palanquins at sunset, and having moved in great state,

with every one of our three thousand attendants carrying

a lighted
eight, P.

arrived at our pavilion at half-past

fire-stick,

M., actually illuminating

Our

which we passed.

game

total

all

the country through

wild hog, seven elks, and one junglee buckree.

It

not to what distance

we

kindness extend

all

over his dominions.

down

but in pops a large basket of

to a meal,

matters

ramble, the Rajah's attention and

some sweetmeats from his own

most

was one

killed this day,

table,

and

We

never

his people are the

orderly, obliging, willing creatures I have ever

my life. And

all

this

which in general
India;

but these

sit

fruit, or

met

in

without the slightest hope of reward

will

go a great way with the natives of

people

reject

every proffered present, even

tainly something very

when

uncommon,

with apparent horror,

alone.

There

is

cer-

indeed, unfathomable,

in this.

"

On

the 24th of October

we

tried another spot, a little

MILITARY

348
out of our

way back

killing one elk only,

[A.D.

Marekherah, but had no sport

to

and returned home

in the evening.

have observed, that every square league, or mile, occa-

sionally, is

marked out

into a kind of fortification

a high bank, deep ditch, hedge, and barrier.

having

This renders

the country extremely strong in a military point of view,

every

man being

ing

because two thousand

a good marksman, and famous for sport-

men can do

more, in such en-

closures, than ten, or even twenty thousand, in equally

thick jungle, without these advantages.

from

this evening,

my

remarked,

also,

bed-room window, an immense con-

course of people, seemingly labourers, winding through a

and mentioning the circumstance at dinner,

distant road,
I

observed

it

threw a

attendants, amongst
the contrary,

No

guard.

damp on

whom,

the countenances of the

in spite of all

saw the native

my

one would satisfy

asked him how he came

to

entreaties to

curiosity.

changed the subject, and speaking

butler,

my

of our honorary

officer

to

my

therefore

old friend the

be so sickly since

I last

saw him, and what had become of four

fat Bengalees,

amused me with

was

part of their
into

their civilities

duty being

the garden for a

when

run after us,

to

moment

last there
if

who

we only went

one carrying a chair,

another a jugiet of water, a third a bottle and tumbler;

as if an

European could not

accompaniments.

me

He

exist a

minute without such

turned pale, and

he had had a fever, but was now

other

men were gone away.

appearance, and enquired

mediately rephed, "

Happy

if
!

trembled

better,

rallied

told

and that the

him on

his grave

He

he was not happy.

he must be happy

in

im-

such a

service

that every one, under the

joyed happiness."
praise,

did

and

observed this gave

stantly repeated

thing
rest,

to

Mahomed

the Rajah;

down

sitting

to bring

up

on the workmen

particularly

had witnessed

struck

me

in the fort

had

and

in his

pleasure

my

little

would be

fortunately,

yet,

On

then had to say, was favourable.

and

Swfimce, en-

I uttered,

rences of the day passing in review,

Maha

immediately launched forth

dream, that every word he or

349

REMINISCENCES.

1812.]

in-

every

retiring to

Journal, the occur-

began

seen,

and

barriers.

to ruminate

all

It

the repairs

immediately

that the Rajah, mistaking a late prohibition of

Europeans passing through

his country, issued in conse-

quence of the gross misconduct of two

officers,

both since

dismissed from the King's and Company's service, had

imagined the British were going to declare war against

him, and was consequently fortifying his country

and

supposed the work-people were employed on some strong

place in

the neighbourhood.

Having obtained

permission for myself and companions,

mined that

special

therefore deter-

would immediately undeceive him, as an act

of kindness to both parties.

" Rising very early on the 25th, we took a quiet walk

in the garden,

Mahomed
me

and returning up

Sahib, the butler,

in private,

and

to

who

request

stairs,

were followed by

entreated to speak with

Lieutenant Meredith to

remain in the veranda, to prevent any one from listening.

This we acquiesced

in

and no sooner were we alone

the bed-chamber, than he threw himself at

entreated me,

by the memory of

my

feet,

in

and

his old master, to save

MILITARY

350
his

was perfectly thunderstruck

life.

and desired him

tale
I

to explain himself

which harrowed

had

[A.D.

fat

left

my

soul.

The

and had,

their dismissal,

He

inhumanly murdered.

native courts

in screws,

his

body

me a
whom

dissatisfied

with

they had

in consequence,

been

himself had applied for leave,

and was immediately mulcted of

thumbs squeezed

told

four Bengalees,

and happy, had become

promises, and wages protracted and never paid

demanded

him up,

raised

when he

flagellated,

he had, and his

all

made on

purpose, and used in

and a threat held out,

that the next offence would be punished with death. That

the Rajah being acknowledged as the

God

of the country,

exercised the supposed right without remorse and without

That, for instance,

controul.

his presence, with both

if

a poor fellow, standing in

hands joined in adoration as of

Maha Swamee

the Supreme, incessantly calling out

Great

God

loosen his hands to scratch ; a sign, too well

made by

instantly be

me, had been the

whom

built a house,

and

and the poor

had seen

at

my

last visit,

who, having

and amassed some wealth, was beheaded,

his property seized for the state

if

This, he told

fate of the fine-looking Parsee inter-

assured me, was the fate of every

country,

or

known, would

this soi-disant Deity,

wretch be a head shorter in a twinkling.

preter,

should be suddenly bit by a musquito, and

and

man who

he ever attempted to quit

it

this,

he also

entered the

again

and the

Rajah, admitting his troops to a share in the plunder,

bound them
entreated

me

to his interests
to take

by chains of adamant.

He

him with me out of the country.

REMINISCENCES.

1812.]

351

which, he said, could be easily accomplished, because he

must accompany me

to the barrier

but

to such a proposal, and at once told

him

could not listen

To connive

so.

at the escape of one of the Rajah's servants, while

his guest,

which

would have been a direct breach of

But

could not consent to practice.

was

hospitality,

learning on

further conversation, that the native officer, under

some

the appearance of an honorary guard, was placed there as

a spy, over every word and action of every gentleman

lived in that palace

sation

him, in

with

who

proposed to enter into such converHindoostanee, as being

might induce the Rajah

to grant

him

leave.

reported,

He

also told

me, that the Rajah fearing some attack from the English,

was J^ilding new

then

retired,

made

and repairing

forts,

believe,

we

for breakfast,

sat

now

asked him

if

his master

had

heard of

for

left

him ? he

late master's will,

replied, it

He

him

sure,

first

he had

said, I

embarked

told me, he certainly should like to go

Maha Swamee

to leave so good, so
to

was sure the Rajah would allow him

and

and

months' leave of ab-

to get four

and see her, but he could not bear

was the

his old mistress, before she

kind a master as the

that

Sahib, talked of

had, however, actually heard something of

and see

England.

Mahomed

Madras, and his

the kind, and advised

sence, to go

signal being

he had received the thousand pagoda legacy

it.

at

The

down, attended as usual.

entered into conversation with

his mistress

the old ones, and

all

unobserved.

which
to

I replied,

go with plea-

would immediately ask his highness

he begged me not,

as he

was sure the Rajah would allow

but
hira

MILITARY

352
to go, if

it

were really

for his

[A.D.

advantage

tion dropped, and being reported,

it

here the conversa-

had a

capital effect.

who

This forenoon we took our leave of the Rajah,

received us in his palace, where he was amusing himself

shooting blunt, but very heavy headed arrows, at different

men, armed with spear and shield

whose business was

to

guard themselves, and receive the blow on their shields.

He

afterwards fired at marks, rode several horses in a

ring

and

lastly,

he requested

me

mount, and drove me about

time, and then dismounted.

consequence of

elephants, one of which

managed two

to

my

increased rank, since

head,

Meredith a bird's

mounted Coorg

knife,

last there,

then ima-

MaUiarapah,

and sandal-wood

two spears, a gold-mounted

stick

knife, sandal-stick,

gave

a .gold-

and

me,

to

and

With

head, and wished us a pleasant journey.

bird's

this

all

could not help remarking, that his Highness

kindness,

had

some of

lost

He

was mistaken.

called

in

was

he had prepared an elephant as a present.

gined this was the one, but

for a short

had been informed, that

his affability, so easily are

circumstances, or by previous opinion,

perhaps, has no existence.

to

we

led

by

fancy what,

His conduct to us throughout

had been kind and condescending, beyond that of any

native Prince I ever knew, and
after times,

was never equalled,

but by the Rajah of Nepaunee.

He was

ticularly fond of the flower of the Calderah, called in

doostanee, Kewrah, the odour of which

is

in

par-

Hin-

generally too

strong for English organs, but sweet beyond any flower in

the East.

No man

in

his

dominions dare use

it,

all

REMINISCENCKS.

1812.]

being the property of the

flowers

353

Maha Swamee

as the finest

gardens are appropriated solely to the

of their

decoration of their temples, by

the other natives of

all

India."

The sequel may

as well be anticipated here, to connect

the whole in one.

house at Bangalore,

Mahomed

ance of

and told me

few months

after,

when

in

my own

was surprised by the sudden appear-

Sahib, extremely emaciated, ill-dressed,

and with a picture

feet,

in his hand.

He

threw himself at

my

had saved

life,

that the Rajah

had

his

given him four months' leave, and desired him to carry his

me,

picture to

when he

told

in proof thereof.

me he had

of every thing at the last barrier

return.

saw him

well and happy.

I refused

in a

whom

but that he never would

The Rajah, Lingrajunder Wadeer, died

had seen an infant

of no cruelties committed

who

is

however,

good place, shortly afterwards,

Musnud by

the year 1820, and was succeeded on the

son,

it,

returned a beggar, being stripped

in 1810.

by the present

described as a mild, inoffensive

English have had, however,

little

in

his

have heard

Maha Swamee,

young man.

The

or no intercourse with

that country, since 1811, a road being opened through

Wynaud

to the

by our own

Malabar

pioneers.

coast,

and a

country abounds with royal

this

capital ghaut

made

have omitted to mention, that as

tigers, it is absolutely

necessary that they should be hunted every season, and

the former Rajah

seldom killed fewer than there were

days in the year; and invariably gave a gold bangle to

the

first

fired,

man who

should touch the tiger after he had

which must make brave

VOL.

I.

A A

soldiers.

MILITARY REMINISCENCES.

3,54

Having, in

it's

proper place, omitted to mention the

celebrated Scindiah's state seal, I

of an impression of
treaties, &c.,

it,

now

subjoin the copy

as affixed to his official papers,

and containing,

in the blended languages of

Persia and Mahrattah, his assumed

titles

of Comptroller

of the Emperor of Delhi and the Peishwa.

^Iscii^jLil^^lt

^JJ^J uJ^cC^^yif^'

STATE SEAL OF DOULUT

ROW

SCINDIAH BAHANDOOR.

EKD OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Littlewood aud Co. Printers, Old tbiley.