ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

troops of Tippu, force of the Bíbi

ral Sir Robert Abercromby, Governor of Bombay, came with an army to Tellicherry. He inquired into the treachery of the Bíbi, and resolved on punishing her guilt by depriving her of her principality, and sending her prisoner to Bombay. His camp was at Cannanore, whither the Rajah of Coorg was invited through an officer and a Company of Sipahis. Vìraràjéndra promptly complied with the invitation. Before the Rajah arrived on the coast, however, the amounting to 6000, and the Màpli consisting of 4000 men capitulated. Sir Robert Abercromby granted a free passage to the Mysorear force, and permitted them to carry away their arms and private property; but the Bíbi, he declared, should be deposed and exiled to Bombay. In this plight the Bíbi, friendless and despairing, bethought herself of the Rajah of Coorg who, she was informed, had last night arrived at Tellicherry. Her ancestor had saved Dodda Virappa's Captain out of the hands of the Cherkal Rajah. He might now, in return, save her. That very night she sent her son, under the charge of Kunnipakki, one of her principal officers, in a boat across the bay to Víraràjéndra at Tellicherry. "She had hitherto," she sent word to the Rajah, "been the mother of the lad: Vìraràjéndra, she begged, might now be father to him." Vìrarájéndra was staying at the house of a Mápli of the name of Hayàja. Thither Kunnipakki, accompanied by Músé Behári, went with the young prince. He reminded Víraràjèndra of the service done by the Cannanore Rajah to his ancestor Dodda Vìrappa, and begged him to intercede with his English friends for the Bíbi's son. Vìraràja, unable to withstand such entreaties, went to Cannanore, accompanied by Chief Robert Taylor and waited upon Sir Robert Abercromby. He introduced the Bibi's son, as a suppliant, and entreated the General to save the youth, and show him

THE BIBI PARDONED.

111

kindness. Sir Robert gave the desired promise, and then inquired, who his new protegé was. Being told, that it was the son of the Bìbi, he felt much annoyed. But Víraràjéndras supplications prevailed, and the Cannanore family was assured of the protection of Sir R. Abercromby, as long as they would prove their fidelity to the Company. Vìraràja had the joy of presenting the Bibi's son to his mother, and to apprize her at the same time of the success of his intercession with Major General Abercromby. The Mysore garrison departed, and the English flag was hoisted on the fort of Cannanore, by Mr. Taylor, Mr. Sandiford and Mr. Samuel Wilson.

The only safe passage for the Bombay army from the coast into the Mysore was through Coorg, and Sir Robert requested the Rajah to permit the troops of the Company to march through his country to the eastward by the Heggala pass, and to assist them at the same time with draught cattle and provisions. Víraraja returned home, promising to do all in his power to serve his friends. Tippu had laid Coorg waste, and robbed the Rajah of all his wealth. Coorg was on all sides surrounded by enemies. Vìraràja therefore resolved to lay Mysore under contribution. Accordingly spies were despatched into Tippu's territory to ascertain, where stores and cattle were kept. After having collected the necessary information, the Rajah made some foraging expeditions, which put him in possession of 1,500 heads of cattle and a considerable supply of provisions for the army. 1,111 bullocks, the choice of the Mysore spoil, were sent to Tellicherry.

Meanwhile Colonel Hartley had arrived at Calicut. He took the fort of the place, and joined the forces under Sir Robert Abercromby.

Jaffar Kulli Beg, who held the fort of Mercara, had

consumed his provisions, and offered to evacuate the place, if he was permitted, to leave Coorg unmolested, and to carry away his private property. The Rajah consented. The fort of Mercara, with all its guns, ammunition and treasure, was delivered to the Coorgs. The Rajah himself came over from Nàlkanàdu on the occasion. The Mysore soldiers had received no pay for three months and were consequently in great distress. They begged the Rajah to furnish them with money to support their families. Vìraràja made them a present of one thousand pagodas, and sent the whole garrison under a safe conduct across the frontier. Jaffar Kulli Beg returned to Seringapatam. Víraràja took formal possession of Mercara.

Sir Robert Abercromby ascended the Heggala pass and encamped on the plain above it. The Rajah came over from Nàlkanàdu and had an interview with the Major General. The Company's troops were supplied with the stores brought from Mysore. General Meadows (always called General Mendys in the Ràjèndranàma), then Governor of Madras, marched an army against Seringapatam. He took the route of Dindigul and Coimbatoor. Tippu marched his army from Seringapatam to Satyamangalam, where an action took place. On this occasion, the brother-in-law of Tippu, a great favorite and excellent officer, Burán-u-dín (alias Barkar-u-din) fell. Unable to meet the English in the open field, Tippu harassed them by attacks upon detached parties, and by cutting of their communications. The Governor General, Lord Cornwallis now came to Madras with a great army. On receipt of this uncomfortable intelligence Tippu descended by the Krishnagiri pass to Arcot. General Meadows followed him upon the heel, by the same road, and joined the army under Lord Cornwallis. United, the English army re-ascended the Krishnagiri pass and encamped at Banga

WAR IN THE MYSORE.

113

lore. The Bangalore fort was forthwith invested and taken in seven days. The news of the arrival of the Bombay force under Robert Abercromby marching upon Periapatna, caused Tippu suddenly to retire upon Seringapatam. He sent orders to the Commandant of Periapatna to undermine the fort, then to evacuate it and fall back towards Seringapatam. The island between the two arms of the Kàvèri was strongly fortified. Lord Cornwallis and General Meadows approached the Capital. Sir R. Abercromby and Viraràja arrived at Muttúr near Periapatna. Tippu's garrison hastened to destroy the fortress before the arrival of the English General. Sir Robert left two Regiments at Periapatna. An engagement took place at Karighatta near Seringapatam between Tippu and the English army, in which the former was defeated. He retired to the strong position on the island under the guns of Seringapatam. The English forces moved from Karighatta to Hiróde (French Rocks) and awaited the Bombay army. On account of the setting in of the rainy season, however, Lord Cornwallis returned to Bangalore, and Sir Robert, with Víraràja, retired into Coorg. Thence he marched to the coast, left his force at Tellicherry and embarked for Bombay. "I shall return," he said, on taking leave, "to the Rajah, after the monsoon. the mean time I wish to leave my military stores and ammunition in your hands. During the next six months you must collect grain and other provisions against our return and try to detach the grain dealers from Tippu by offering higher prices. The Company will furnish you with the money you may require." Vírarája replied: "I do not require money now. I shall purchase grain for you as much as possible. If my own resources fail, I shall write to you." Sir Robert left his artillery, ammunition, grain, etc. in the keeping of the Rajah and departed to Tellicherry, in June

In

1791 (4893, Viródhikritu), whence he sailed for Bombay. Vìraràja, during the monsoon, purchased as much grain as he could from his own people and from the the merchants in Tippu's pay, and added to these stores a great quantity collected from Mysore by force of arms. Towards the end of November Major General Abercromby returned from Bombay with a well appointed armament. Having landed at Tellicherry and ascended the Heggala pass, he informed Vìraràja of his arrival. The latter immediately waited upon the General, and delivered to him the guns and stores, which had been given into his charge. Sir Robert wished to obtain five lacs of dangàli of rice, (a dangàli is two seers) i. e. 1,000,000 dangàlinearly 24,000 maunds, as a supply for two months. Víraràja sent the rice, which was measured and laid in store, together with sheep and goats, and whatever provisions he could lay his hand on, from Nalkanadu.

These statements are fully born out by a letter of the Duke of Wellington to Lord Clive, dated Seringapatam 1st Jan. 1803 v. Dispatches Vol. I., p. 320, 321. The Duke says first, that no part of the Mysore territory can be given to Viraraja (for political reasons connected with the relation of the recently established government of Mysore to the government of the Company), and then proceeds thus: The services of the Rajah of Coorg, however, still deserve remuneration. It appears, by Capt. Mahoney's accounts (Capt. Mahoney was Resident in Coorg) that he expended sums of money, and furnished supplies of cattle and provisions, in the late war against Tippu Sultan, of a value amounting in the whole to about four lacs of rupees. If he had consented to be reimbursed this expenditure, he would have received bonds of the Bombay Government for this sum of money, bearing interest at 12 per cent. per annum, in the beginning of the year 1799, and in

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »