HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
consisting of two divisions; one of 
thousand horse and foot ; 
ithe other of twelve. The first was 
gommanded by Purseram Bhow, a 
celebrated Mahratta warrior; the 
ther by Hurry Punt, a Brahmin 
of the highest rank, who was like- 
‘wise meant to act as minister ple- 
mipotentiary of the nation. They 
expressed great satisfaction at this 
‘meeting, and made many apologies 
for their past conduct. From Mil- 
gottah the confederate armies pro- 
ceeded to Nangimungulum: they 
then turned eastward, took the fort 
of Hooleadroog, and reached Ban- 
galore about the beginning of July. 
The Mahrattas immediately sepa- 
rated company with our army, and 
marched to Sera, a fertile district, 
where they might more easily be 
supported. The English troops, 
_smpon their return to Bangalore, 
‘had been extremely sickly and dis- 
‘Spirited; but they were now plen- 
tifully supplied with every con- 
veniency ; and they soon regained 
their health and spirits. Captain 
Read had collected from the ban- 
jarries 10 or 12,000 bullocks Joad- 
ved with grain; the confidence of 
the natives becoming great in their 
mew masters, they every where 
‘again cultivated their fields; the 
communication was open with the 
Carnatic; and hundreds of sutlers’ 
veve arrived in camp from 
yt iy Shard Coroaall laa 
made the necessary arrangements 
for being properly supplied with 
provisions the ensuing campaign, 
and for having his battering train 
enewed,—and the troops being 
®ested and refreshed, determined 
‘to:remain no longer inactive. 
_ The first object which engaged 
his attention, was, the establishment 
of a safe and easy communication 
with the Carnatic, by which the 
vil 
[aia 
supplies which he had ordered 
might be conveyed to him. The 
Mugglee pass, through which he 
himself had come, was greatly too 
far to the north. The only one, 
by which a train of artillery could 
be conveniently conducted to Ban- 
galore, was that by Polycode; and, 
unfortunately, this was commanded 
by several strong forts, which were 
in the possession of the enemy. 
However, it was determined to lay 
open this passage; and about the 
middle of July the army marched 
to the attack of Aussoor, which 
stands at the head of it. 
The country through which they 
passed was beautiful, fertile, and 
in the highest state of cultivation. 
Indeed, notwithstanding the reli- 
gious tyranny of Tippoo, his do- 
minions were every where found 
flourishing, his subjects opulent and 
happy, and the condition of every 
class of inhabitants far superior to 
that in Bengal, or any of the Com- 
pany’s possessions. Aussoor.is na- 
turally strong; and Tippoo, sensible 
of its importance, had sent his 
chief engineer regularly to fortify 
it. The war broke out before the 
fortifications were finished, and 
luckily the weakest part had been 
left ‘to be fortified last. Still it 
might have stood a considerable 
siege; but the garrison, .intimi- 
dated at the approach of the Bri- 
tish army, judged it untenable; and, 
having blown up one of the has- 
tions, basely abandoned jit. The 
guns were spiked; but a large 
quantity of provisions,and military . 
stores was found in the fort. 
To the south-east of Aussoor, 
farther down the Polycode pass, 
stands Rayacottah, a hill-fort of 
immense strength. From this, fly- 
ing squadrons of horse might have 
been sent to intercept our con- 
[P] 2 Voy 8% 
