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NEW COMPACT OF AMITY.

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to the Company and concluded a treaty, the documents of which are preserved in the archives at Tellicherry.

2. The Rajah freely opened his country to the Bombay forces, which marched from Tellicherry to Mysore, and was most zealous in providing the Company's troops with every thing he could procure for them in Coorg or Mysore. Without his friendly assistance the Bombay army would have met with great difficulties. Of his own accord, the Rajah refuses to receive payment for his supplies of grain, cattle, &c.

3. Tippu repeatedly tried to shake the fidelity of the Rajah, but the latter never swerved from his allegiance to the Company.

4. In March last, when the treaty was concluded at Seringapatam, Lord Cornwallis, in order to free the Rajah of Coorg entirely from the power of Tippu, de sired to take him under the especial protection of the Company. Tippu raised the most violent opposition, but in vain. Upon that he falsely stated, that Coorg had paid him a yearly tribute of Rs. 24,000, which he would transfer to the Company.

5. In opposition to this falsehood the Rajah of Coorg asserts, that he has never paid such a tribute; but he is quite willing to pay of his own free will the sum of 8000 Pagodas to the Company every year, for their friendship and protection.

6. The Company, on the other hand, engages, to give no molestation to the Rajah and in no wise to interfere with the Government of Coorg; for the Rajah is quite competent, to take care of his own affairs.

CANNANORE,

31st March 1793.

} (Sd.) ROBERT ABERCROMBY.

P. S. The above eight thousand pagodas, three rupees being an equivalent for one pagoda, are to be paid annually at Tellicherry.

Two copies were made of this document, one of

which was given to the Rajah of Coorg, signed by Major General Sir Robert Abercromby, the other, with the signature of the Rajah, was delivered to Sir Robert who then proceeded to Calcutts. Viraraja returned to Coorg, established his Government, paid, according to the stipulations of the treaty, eight thousand pagodas per annum, and lived on the best terms with the Government of the Company.

Three years after the conclusion of peace between the Sultan and the Company. Viraraja heard, that Tippu was again plotting at Seringapatam. He despatched two spies thither, who informed him, that two Mahratta Vakeels were concerting plans with the Sultan. The Rajah immediately communicated the intelligence to Mr James Stevens, Commissioner in Malabar.

Two years previously Tippu had entered into a secret understanding with a relative of the Rajah. His name was Lingaraja. He had received a Jaghir from Viraraja. Yet he conspired with the enemy of his family, By large promises he had gained over a number of Coorgs, who formed the plan of shooting the Rajah some day, when he would go to Mercara, at a favourable spot in the jungle. Viraraja however received timely notice, seized the traitors and gave them condign puuishment. But the treachery of Lingaraja was not discovered.

In 4897, Kaliyuga Rakshasa year, Thursday, the sixth day of Vaishakha April 1795-Viraraja took up his residence in a new palace built at Nalkanadu.

Lingaraja's first attempt having failed, he proposed that Tippu should send two of his best marksmen, accompanied by two other men well acquainted with the country to show them the way. They should hide themselves in some place belonging to Lingaraja and lay in wait for the Rajah, when he would come from his new Palace at Nalkanadu to attend the Shivarátri festival at Mahadevapura (Mercara). Tippu sent two

LINGARAJA'S TREASON. VIRARAJA'S MARRIAGE. 127

of his Eunuchs. They entered Coorg clandestinely, hid themselves during the day in the forest and slept at night in the house of one of Lingaraja's servants. But a lad, who had accompanied them, informed Viraraja of the conspiracy. The Rajah immediately despatched thirty men to watch Lingaraja's house, and twenty to seize the Musulmans. After they had been on the watch for two nights and days, the assassins and traitors fell into the trap prepared for them. In the third night one of the Musulmans was seen. The Coorgs fell upon the party. The two sharp-shooters were taken prisoners, one of them only after he had been severely wounded. Of the other two one was cut down, the other escaped. Lingaraja, on hearing the noise came out of his house with four or five men in arms, and attempted to rescue the Eunuchs. But his men were seized. Lingaraja wounded some of Viraraja's people, who fearing lest he might escape to Mysore killed him and the Coorgs, who were with him. Viraraja sent the two Eunuchs, his informer and two witnesses to the Gentlemen at Tellicherry, and acquainted them with the plot of Tippu. He requested, that the two assassins might be blown away from a gun, or else that they might be returned to him for punishment. At the same time he sent letters to Mr. Duncan, Governor of Bombay, and to Sir Robert Abercromby, Commander-in-Chief at Calcutta.

Viraraja had no sons. He resolved therefore to be -married a second time. The marriage took place in February 1796. Viraraja and the new queen were -placed upon the throne and anointed, in the presence of Mr. Alexander Bell and a Company of Sipahis, deputed by Mr. Wilson, the Malabar Commissioner, to honor the installation. There was a large concourse of people from Coorg and the neighbouring provinces, every body being freely admitted into the country at

the different frontier guard houses, by order of the Rajah. Mahádévamma was declared Rani of Coorg, and her children were to succeed to the throne of Coorg.

After a short time a letter of congratulation arrived from Sir John Shore, the Governor-General, expressing his joy at the escape of the Rajah from the treacherous designs of Tippu Sultan. Also Mr. Duncan, Governor of Bombay wrote a congratulatory letter. He advised Viraraja not to kill the Eunuchs, whom the Commissioner of Malabar was ordered to deliver back to the Rajah, but to keep them as witnesses against Tippu. Viraraja thereupon ordered one foot of each man to be cut off, lest they might run away. They were kept at Virarajendra on a small allowance.

The Governor of Mangalore Sheik Sab-u-Din, renewed Tippu's demand for Amara Sulya and threatened to seize the district by force. Troops were dispatched from Mysore to Jamalabad. The question was referred to the Governor-General. Captain Mahoney and Mr. Utoff were sent from Malabar to investigate the case. It was decided in favor of Viraraja.

A number of Frenchmen landed, about that time, at Mangalore and were conducted to Seringapatam by orders of Tippu, who was most anxious to form an alliance with the French against the English.

News of a signal victory of an English fleet over a French armament of greatly superior power arrived in India. A salute of 24 guns was fired by General Hartley. (It was Nelson's great Vietory in 1798). Captain Mahoney informed the Rajah of the success of the English Navy, when Viraraja expressed his great joy, that 1, the English had won a victory; 2, the French, his enemies, had been put to the route; 3, the French, Tippu's friends, were defeated; 4, Tippu, hearing these news, would be sadly grieved; 5, the prosperity of the

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR WITH TIPPU. 129

English, for which the Rajah prayed to his God, was increased by this Victory. He ordered 21 guns to be fired in honor of the fortunate event.

The Earl of Mornington prepared for war with Tippu by forming alliances with Nizam Ali and the Peishwa. The Rajah of Coorg received letters from the Governor-General and from the Governor of Bombay, desiring him to exert himself again in providing supplies of grain and other stores, and procuring elephants and cattle for the army about to proceed from the Western Coast to Mysore under the command of Major General Stuart. Viraraja declared his readiness to furnish all the supplies he could, but his country produced only grain. He would fetch the rest from Mysore. He was, however, requested to keep the peace, until Tippu himself commenced hostilities.

Towards the end of January General Stuart arrived on the Malabar Coast and gave notice to the Rajah, that now his assistance was required. General Hartley had sent Captain Johnstone of the Engineers to form a depôt in Coorg and to take charge of the supplies collected by Viraraja. Captain Johnstone was furnished with 400 coolies, and five elephants. 7000 Batti rice, were in readiness at Virarajendrapett. (One Batti is equal to sixty seer, the seer, weighing two rathals, i. e. twice 40 rupees), 7000 more Batti the Rajah promised to furnish within three monts, and other 7000 or 8000 Batti which had been prepaid already, would come in before a month elapsed. The rest of the supplies required the Rajah would bring from Mysore as soon as hostilities had commenced. Captain Mahoney was appointed Resident with the Rajah of Coorg by Mr. Spenser and the other Commissioners, pursuant to orders from the Governor-General. He was to transact all mouey affairs between the Rajah and the Company. In February 1799 Generals Stuart and Hartley ascend

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