At this period, also, Tippoo laid siege to Mangalore, which was bravely defended by Major Campbell, a king’s officer. Tippoo did not carry it, for the French troops withdrew on hearing of the peace; but he hung the killadare, or governor, who had surrendered the fort to the English. This cruelty caused a remonstrance on the part of Mohammed Ali, the killadare’s son, who had served with his father faithfully, and then commanded six battalions of tolerably well-disciplined troops, clothed in the manner of our Sepoys. His observations were received by Tippoo with great indignation, and he ordered him to be beaten with a shoe or a sandal, which is the greatest insult that can be given to a Mohammedan. When this was communicated to the six battalions that he commanded, they flew to arms, to resent the treatment of their chief; but, alas! they were surrounded and disarmed, and nearly 2000 of these poor fellows had their noses and ears cut off, and were then sent to hard labour; and in order to degrade them more, they were dubbed with the epithet “commutie,” or scavenger battalions. Their unfortunate commander was sent to Seringapatam a prisoner, where he died of grief.
The English commissioners who were here at this time, John Huddlestone and —— Sadler, Esqrs. who are now living, and two of the Directors of the East India Company, must well remember this circumstance; yes, and other circumstances, of a more important nature, namely, the causes which induced them, knowingly, to abandon a number of fine youths, including many officers, with several choice mechanics, altogether not less than 100 British subjects, for reasons peculiar to themselves, to the most merciless tyrant that ever disgraced authority. I will not add what was told us by many who went with them in their palanquins from Seringapatam, from the impression, that it might not be strictly true; but this I can affirm, that we were not noticed; and the above-named gentlemen, while the prisoners lived, were followed by the curses of all. The few that did survive were about nineteen.
Our lives were now at stake; we expected every hour to be our last by poison, and coppers for that purpose were ready; but after keeping us in the most alarming suspense for several hours, exposed to the scorching heat of the sun, we were remanded to our prison.
Tippoo’s force at this time was equal to any, single-handed, in India; but the Company not pressing their demands, or from some other cause, for which we could not account, our lives were spared. At the expiration of six months, we were again joined, and marched back to the capital, where we were put in a square by ourselves, wondering what they were going to do with us next; our guards, however treated us civilly, which we looked on as a good omen. A month elapsed, when we were again incorporated in his four slave battalions, and promoted to habildars, equal to a sergeant; each of us having a silver plate, value two rupees, to hang upon his breast. We were now once more separated; myself and about twenty others were removed into four of his Christian battalions, which I have before mentioned, and sent to Chindroypatam, a town situate about four days’ march from his capital, the rest remaining where they were.
Tippoo wished now to strengthen himself by an alliance with Nizam Ali Cawn; in consequence of which, he sent his vackeil, or ambassador, to demand his daughter in marriage to Abdel Killick, his eldest son. His presents were not accepted, and his request was denied; in consequence of which, an army was assembled of 100,000 men: they encamped near the capital ten days, then struck their tents, and marched direct to the Mogul’s territories, in order to chastise him for this insult. Our lads, who were left in the before mentioned battalions, were taken by Tippoo to this campaign. His marches were rapid, and he soon reached Idonia, a strong fortress belonging to Nizam, to which he immediately laid siege; and, after losing a great number of men, he got possession of the place. One thing looked well in his character during this siege; opium and bang, which are both much used by the Asiatics, and particularly in their armies, he ordered to be collected, wherever found, and burnt in the most conspicuous places in his camp. A few days after he had made himself master of Idonia, he intercepted a letter from the Mahrattas, (a designed thing on their parts,) stating, that they were in full march to join the Nizam: this intelligence caused him to decamp with the greatest precipitancy; and his retrograde movements were so rapid, both by night and by day, scarcely halting four hours at a time, that numbers died of fatigue. During the siege, two of our youths made their escape by swimming across the river Tongabadra; the result was, the rest were directly put in irons, and sent off to Patam. In their route to this place, they were halted at Chindroypatam, the place in which we then were; and on seeing their condition, and hearing the cause, it gave us no small uneasiness, for we well knew we should partake of their fate. The next morning they proceeded to Patam, and, three weeks afterwards, we also were marched thither.
On our arrival, we joined them, and remained three months in a state of starvation. One of our lads, James Fletcher, died, merely from want of food. Nor was it in our power to relieve him, however we might wish to do so; as we had not enough, even of the worst kind, to suffice nature; and we every hour expected death in one shape or other. While we were in this wretched state, brooding over our misfortunes, calculating on the worst, which we had every reason to do, who should make his appearance, one morning, but the myre, the same who had bound us so unmercifully some years before! He was by no means a pleasing object to us, for we well guessed he came on no friendly errand. Having morosely ordered us to pack up what we had, the guards, which were doubled, hurried us away to the square in front of the palace. Here, being ordered to sit down, the guards surrounding us, we remained four hours, under a scorching sun, nor could we procure a drop of water, or stir one step from the spot. Here was a scene indeed! our women in tatters, our children naked, and ourselves nearly in the same state, without food, or any means of procuring it; the women weeping aloud, the infants crying for nourishment, and ourselves expecting to be massacred. Whilst under these trying circumstances, four men approached us: on their appearance, something like a glimmering of hope seemed to shed a faint ray; but, alas!
“How oft a day, that fair and mild appears,
Grows dim by fate, and mars the toil of years.”
It was over! They approached us, but with baskets laden with irons, instead of food. This was no time for appetite. Had loaves and fishes been spread before us, disappointed hope would have destroyed nature’s cravings. Oh! if Hogarth had been present at this crisis, what a fine subject for his pencil! Exclusive of the women and children, whose cries now became loud and strong, we were ourselves differently agitated; some wringing their hands, others casting a piteous look toward heaven, and not a few looking at our persecutors (who were now exulting) with a manly defiance. After being ironed two and two, to which we were well accustomed, we were marched out of the fort, to the distance of a mile. Several poor Bramins were with us in heavy leg-irons, and in that condition forced to walk, or stride rather, as fast as their unfeeling guards could make them go. Our situation was bad enough, but theirs was still worse; we were certain their fate was sealed, but there was still room for a little hope on our parts. Here we were halted for the night, as motley a group of miserables as ever met together. In the evening they gave us a small portion of rice, and the next morning early we were on our march; but for what place we knew not. The Bramins continued with us—for we were halted when they were behind—for about six miles, when their guards took another road, and, no doubt, they were soon murdered.
About an hour after this, we were halted at a spot where three roads met, and divided into three parties; when the division was complete, the parties were driven one on each of those roads, and such was the haste of the guards, that we were at some little distance before we knew we were to be separated. Here we waved a final adieu to each other in this world, as the sequel will shew.