2.Z 



EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



oi Ayder AH; is about ninety miles in length, and eighty in 

 breadth : a country abounding in every kind of produ(Stion 

 for the fupport of armies, and which may be confidered as a 

 chain of magazines eftablifhed by Tippoo Sultan for the inva- 

 lion of the fouthern provinces *, To redvice this province was 

 the firft ftep taken previous to the Myforean war ; the great 

 objects were the fupply of provifions for the enfuing campaign, 

 and the depriving T!ippoo of his principal refources. General 

 Meadozvs marched from Madras in May 1790, with a fine army, 

 confiiHng of fourteen thoufand men, and was foon after joined 

 by Colonel Maxzvell with nine thoufand more. Caroor and Coim- 

 betore, with its mud fort, were evacuated, and great quantities 

 of grahi found in each. The Sultan at that time was on the 

 Malabar coaft : but hearing of the advance of Meadows^ in- 

 flantly afcended the Ghauts. He polled himfelf to the north- 

 ward of the general, and retook feveral pofts filled with provifions 

 for the grand army. The commanders on each fide rivalled 

 each other in the judgment of their manoeuvres. Frequent 

 attacks were made, but nothing decifive took place. In a 

 bloody fl^irmifti between T'ippoo and Colonel Lhyd, the laft was 

 defeated. Tippoo was too wife to rifque a battle, as the lofs 

 muft have been fatal. Meadows, by frequent detachments, 

 thought himfelf too weak to hazard a general engagement : 

 and befides the retreats of the Sultan were always too rapid. 

 Tippoo, not thinking it prudent to hazard a battle, made, a 

 fudden march towards the call, and made his appearance near 



* FuUarton's View, p. 112. 



Tritchinopoly 



