SIEGE OF BETTIKO'TE. THE BIBI. 103 chased security by offering to give the Coorg Rajah one rupee for every pagoda, which they had to pay to the treasury of the Sultan. Upon this the two Coorg chieftains proceeded to the Aigúr country, expelled the Mysoreans, possessed themselves of part of the Manjaràbád district, and garrisoned Arikéri. Puttagauda commanded the troops, and Mandyappana Appayanna superintended the administration of the newly acquired territory. In the meantime Tippu besieged Bettikóte in the country of Ramaraja (Travancore). One day, in the third watch (3 o'clock P. M.) he made an assault upon the Fort. Four batteries had already been taken by storm, when some guns in a higher situation opened fire in so effective a manner, that the Mysorean troops were repulsed and Tippu had to run for his life, leaving his palanquin, his writing desk, sword, &c., behind him. Tama Beg fell on this occasion. Tippu now resolved upon possessing himself of Bettikóte at whatever cost. The Company's force stationed at Tellicherry, succeeded in wresting Kandanúr from the garrison, which Tippu had left in charge of the place. The Bíbi of Cannanore, who had received a Musulman force under Pàjal Khan, and collected some thousand Máplis, was now asked, if she desired to have war or peace with the Company. She replied, that she desired peace. At the same time she concerted a plan with the Musulmans. They were to give out, that they intended to move to Mangalore, and march to the northward-but halt at Kavay, a place at a distance of 20 miles from Cannanore. The Bíbi was then to invite the English Commander from Tellicherry to take possession of the Cannanore fort, evacuated by the Musulmans. Before the English took possession of the Fort, however, the Musulman army was to return to Cannanore at night, and destroy the Company's force at one blow. Pájal Khan marched to the North. The Bibi sent to Tellicherry, and offered to deliver the Fort of Cannanore to the troops of the Company. Major Dow was ordered to proceed to Cannanore. He marched thither and first encamped on the plain in front of the Fort. In the following night the Mysore army and the Máplis returned from Kavay, and fell unawares upon the English. The confusion and consternation for a time were very great. However the English Commander rallied his men, and beat the Mysoreans gallantly off with great loss. The treacherous conduct of the Bíbi was reported to Major General Abercromby, the Governor of Bombay. He replied, that he intended shortly to proceed in person to the Malabar Coast, in order to join the army, which was to take the field against Tippu, when he would inflict condign punishment upon the Bíbi. He ordered at the same time, all available means of transport to be collected and held in readiness for his march into Mysore. At this time Muttu Bhatta arrived at Tellicherry on an errand of Vírarája. He had orders to purchase a superior horse and other articles for his master. Robert Taylor, then at the head of affairs at Tellicherry, was informed of the arrival of a man from Coorg and sent for Muttu Bhatta. When he had heard an account of the long feud between Vírarája and Tippu, he said: " Tippu is the common enemy both of the Rajah of Coorg and of the Government of the Company. The two latter parties ought to be good friends and allies." He proposed the formation of a cordial alliance and wrote a letter to this effect to the Rajah. He offered himself to procure for the Rajah every thing he required, and requested the latter in return to furnish the Company with superior draught cattle against the arrival of Gene ral Abercromby. Vírarája rejoiced at these auspicious THE COMPANY'S TREATY WITH THE RAJAH. 105 prospects, and was most willing to serve his new friends. Coorg having no good breed of draught cattle, he commenced forays into the Mysore. In a short time he had collected a herd of 800 heads of cattle. The Rajah selected 550 for his friends on the Western Coast, the rest he distributed among the farms of Coorg. When the new volunteer Commissary General sent notice of his success to Tellicherry, a small force of Sipahis and Coolies, under the command of an English Officer, were despatched into Coorg, and ordered to take charge of the cattle. In return, Taylor Sàheb informed the Rajah, that despatches had arrived from Bombay with orders to conclude, in the name of the English Govern ment, an offensive and defensive alliance with the Rajah of Coorg, and offered to send Captain Brown with a company of Sipahis, to conduct the Rajah to Tellicherry, where, if he wished, the treaty between him and the East India Company might be formally concluded. Vírarájéndra received the letters of invitation, accompanied by a verbal message through Captain Brown, and left Coorg for the Coast in the beginning of October 1790. At Tellicherry he saw all the great personages, and gained their friendship. A treaty between the Rajah of Coorg and the Hon'ble the East India Company was formally concluded on the following terms: In the name of the Hon'ble East India Company, Robert Taylor Esq. chief of Tellicherry, on one hand, and Virarájéndra, Rajah of Coorg on the other hand, agree: 1. While the Sun and Moon endure, the faith of the contracting parties shall be kept inviolate. 2. Both parties declare Tippu and his allies to be their common enemies. The Rajah will do Tippu as much damage as he can, during the continuation of the war, will give free passage to the English troops through his territory, supply them with provisions, and send as many fighting men as he can spare, to join the English army engaged with Tippu. 3. The Rajah is ready to furnish the Company, for fair payment, with every thing his country affords, and engages to have no connexion with any other Europeans (hat-bearers). 4. The Company's Government guarantee the independency of Coorg. Should a treaty of peace ever be concluded with Tippu, the interests of the Rajah shall be faithfully consulted. 5. Whenever the Rajah of Coorg may wish to secure an asylum for his family, until the establishment of peace, a house with ample accommodations will be at his service at Tellicherry, and every hospitality will be shown to any person the Rajah may send. This covenant will be kept sacred by the contracting parties. God, Sun, Moon and Earth be witnesses! Tellicherry, 15th October, 1790. (Year Sádharana, 20th day of A'shvíja.) (Signed) Rob. Taylor Esq. Vírarájéndra, Rajah of Duplicates were written, signed and sealed. One copy was deposited at Tellicherry, the other was given to Vírarájéndra; presents were exchanged. The Rajah received a valuable horse, as a present from the Governor of Bombay, and returned home, accompanied by an escort under Captain Brown. Meanwhile the Musulman garrison of Mercara had consumed all its provisions, and was cut off from communication with Mysore. The commandant Jaffar Kulli Beg contrived to send a message to Tippu, and to entreat succour. Kádar Khan Késagi, was despatch THE BATTLE OF BU'DICHA VADI. 107 ed with a considerable force, and Nattad Khan of Mangalore with Mohammad Hussein Bintúri were ordered to relieve Mercara. At Mullusóge the Mysore troops crossed the Kávéri (near Fraserpett). As soon as Vírarájéndra heard of the arrival of an army from Mysore, he set out in person by way of Búdichávadi, to cut them off. On Kádar Khan's arrival at Búdichávadi by seven o'clock in the morning, he was engaged by Víraréjéndra at a strong stockade. The battle became serious; firing ceased; the parties fought hand to hand until nine o'clock, 500 men fell on the side of the Mysoreans and 200 were wounded. At last they gave way and fell back upon their rear guard. Kádar Khan re-assured the troops, formed them into one compact body, and encamped upon a little hill near the battle-ground. The provision bags were piled up round the camp. From behind this wall they continued to fire until evening. The Coorgs watched the camp closely. Their chiefs came to the Rajah, and asked his leave, to attack the Musulmans early in the morning; after one discharge of musketry they would attack the enemy sword in hand, and cut the whole force to pieces. To reward them, they hoped, the Rajah would declare the whole booty good prize. The Rajah replied to his men: When I was once out hunting from Periapattana, and was benighted near Nanjarája pattana, Kádar Khan led me to Fraserpett, treated me most hospitably, and sent me next morning to Periapattana. In return for this act of kindness I am resolved to spare his life to-day.* I agree, therefore, to *I suspect that Vírarájéndra's Coorg Historiographer bad not courage enough to relate the whole truth: and the Rajah did not care to supply the defect. As the story stands in my text, it looks more than romantic. The Rajah, by his own account, acts in a most foolish manner, for the sake of returning a very slight service rendered to him during his captivity or half-captivity at Periapattana by Kádar Khan. But the words in the subsequent address of the |