When we were about a mile distant, we looked back, and saw a man running after us; we stopped, and waited his arrival: when he came up, he gave us to understand, that the killadare had sent his salam, (compliments,) to request a few cartridges. We would sooner have parted with our clothes, such as they were, than our ammunition, for we knew not what dangers we had still to encounter: however, we could not refuse without ingratitude, and we agreed to send him five, one from each, with our respects, &c.
Towards the evening, we came to a river, which, with much difficulty, we forded; and, after gaining the opposite side, we began to think of our night’s lodging, and of preparing the only meal of rice we had left from the killadare’s bounty. Some little distance from the margin of the river, we found a spot which suited our purpose; here we pitched, and after preparing our food and sleeping soundly that night, we found ourselves in the morning quite refreshed, and cheerfully pursued our journey.
About twelve o’clock, we saw some men coming towards us; they did not appear numerous, and we met them: they were eight pulligars, or pikemen, belonging to a fort in the possession of our allies, which was distant a coss, or three miles. We asked them who commanded the fort? They answered, a Moor, and a cheerful good-natured man. This information was received by us with much pleasure, and we immediately made for the fort, without fear. On arriving at the gates, we inquired for Eusin Cawn, the killadare, for we had learned his name from the pulligars; when we were answered, that he was in the interior of the place, and that they would send a messenger to him to announce our arrival. On the Moor’s return, we were informed that the killadare wished to speak to one of us, unarmed. We had confidence here, and deputed one of our party, disarmed, to speak to the chief; and on his return, we found every thing to our wishes, with the additional pleasure of hearing, that at the distance of eighteen miles there was an English doctor, with a number of sick Sepoys. This, to us, was news indeed! This killadare was just the man he had been represented to us; open, generous, and facetious, he formed a striking contrast to the generality of Asiatic Mohammedans, who are empty, subtle, and cruel.
We were now led to a choltree,[[30]] where we were soon informed that the killadare would pay us a visit. We received, prior to his making his appearance, provisions of an excellent quality, and while in the act of preparing it, he, with his guard, was approaching. On his arrival, we made our salam, which he most cordially returned; then followed interrogatories: our answers were extremely pleasing to him, and he appeared highly gratified. He paid us many compliments on our courage in effecting our escape, and closed by shrewdly observing, “I suppose you will soon lose sight of the Prophet, now.” To this we made no reply, not being willing to offend our benefactor. We gave him a hint that we were hungry, which he quickly understood, and politely withdrew. Here we staid one night, and fed on the best this good Mussulman could procure for us; and as our fears and cares were in a great measure removed, we enjoyed ourselves in a superlative degree.
In the morning, we waited on the killadare, to thank him for his kind attention to us. He very warmly expressed himself our friend, and most cordially invited us to tarry with him; adding, that every thing should be done to make our stay comfortable: but to this we could not accede; and after many jocose remarks on his part, and mutual good wishes on both, we proceeded on our journey towards Hurryhur, a place of some strength, situate on the margin of the Tonguibadra river. At noon we came within sight of the fort, which we beheld with transports of joy.
We now concluded ourselves safe from the fangs of Tippoo, and fired a feu de joie, in our own way, on the occasion. On our approaching the gate, the first object that struck our attention was an English Sepoy sentinel: he very properly asked us, where we came from? and what we were? and when he received our answers, his heart participated in our pleasure; for numbers of the Sepoys, taken by Hyder and Tippoo, had suffered more cruel treatment than the Europeans, and with this they were well acquainted. He kindly pointed out where the English doctor resided, whose name he informed us was Little. We immediately went to his abode, where we found another Sepoy sentinel. We asked him if Dr. Little was within? He answered in the affirmative. We requested to see him, and his servant made his appearance at the door. This man was an English, or, which is all one, a Scotchman. His surprise was so great, that we could not, for a while, get any words from him; and no wonder, for he had never seen such a sight before. We were in Tippoo’s full uniform, that is, all that was left of it; blue turbans on iron hoops, tiger jackets, with a camel over our shoulders and tied round our loins, mustaches nearly reaching our ears, two of us sorely wounded by falls, and the whole, in pushing through thickets, completely scarified. Finding this man to be the doctor’s servant, we requested to speak to his master; who soon appeared. His surprise was not less than his servant’s. He asked, who we were? where we came from? and several other questions, almost in one breath. We informed him we had been taken in the Hannibal, 50-gun ship, in the year 1782, by Count de Suffrein, and delivered over to Hyder Ali; and that we had, after a variety of hardships, providentially effected our escape. Here a pathetic scene took place; the good doctor’s sensibility was touched, and the tears trickled down his face as fast as they could flow. Recovering from his emotions, he, in broken accents, requested us to walk in, when he kindly desired us to sit down; but some minutes passed before any conversation took place. Here we had many good things provided for us, and among them some French brandy, of which we drank moderately, thankfully, and cheerfully. The good man partook of our joy, and was very attentive to every thing we said; in fact, he used every effort in his power to make our stay comfortable.
Two months elapsed, while we were in this place, when it was announced that the Mahratta army was within three days’ march of us; and as there were three battalions of English Sepoys acting in conjunction with their army, commanded by Major Little, our good friend, the doctor, thought this a safe and favourable opportunity to send us to the camp. We accordingly set out, in company with some Sepoys, who were recovered of their wounds and disorders; mustering about fifty altogether, well armed and accoutred, and, after three days’ march, we reached the camp.
Here we were treated like little kings; and Major Little, in company with his officers, was pleased to say, we were an honour to our country. This observation, from a gentleman of his known courage and ability, was not a little in our favour; we were respected by all who knew our circumstances. Here we ranged every day where we pleased, having nothing to do, but to march with the camp, and strike and pitch our tent when we came to the ground. The Mahratta army consisted of 40,000, and its followers three times that number; their infantry was the most contemptible I ever saw, but the cavalry was good, and has often proved fatal to troops once broken. Here we had some painful opportunities of seeing the Bramin women ascend the funeral pile with the dead bodies of their husbands, apparently with as much composure as we would sit down to our breakfast.
We were several months in this camp, during which time, the Mahratta chief, in conjunction with our little detachment, took the important post of Simoga, with several other places of some strength, and defeated Riza Saib, and near 10,000 of the sultan’s cavalry. This success flushed Purso Rhamboo to that degree, that he immediately pushed on for Hyder Niger, or Bednore, (the fatal spot for General Matthews, which I have already mentioned,) with an intention of laying siege to it. This was a wonderful undertaking for a Mahratta army; but in those cases he placed his confidence in our little detachment, who were always the van in all danger.
In pursuing our march to the above place, we learned that a body of Tippoo’s troops was strongly entrenched at the extremity of a thick bamboo jungle, to dispute the passage. Our brave Major, with his three battalions, and a weak company of European artillery, was ordered to proceed through the jungles, to dislodge them. They consisted of 4000 men, and the road would admit of but four abreast. This service was performed in a most gallant manner, but with heavy loss both of officers and men. Nine pieces of cannon, with their tumbrils, &c. were brought into the Mahratta camp, amidst the acclamations of thousands, who were astonished at the bravery and rapidity of this affair.