70 



EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



iVIarch to Se- 

 ringapatam. 



Battle of. 



for the want of provifions. The country to th€ eaft was laid 

 wafte by the Sultan. It was therefore impoffible to receive 

 them in quantities adequate to the great wants of a nunaerous 

 army, and its more numerous followers. A convoy of provifions 

 and ftores, and a reinforcement of troops from the fouthern pro- 

 vinces, arrived at the head of the Ghauts. The army was alfo 

 obliged to make feveral excurfions for the purpofes above men- 

 tioned : to Vincatighery weftward, to Deounnelli and Cbimta' 

 balabariim northward. Both the laft were unfinifhed, but 

 built on an excellent plan. Thefe were defigned as part of a 

 wife and regular fyftem of adding great ftrength to numbers of 

 his fortrefles, which might have ilood a regular fiege, and long 

 obftru(5ted the progrefs of any invader. The army began its 

 march from Bangalore on May 3d, and took the more dillant 

 route to Seringapatam, that of ninety-four miles, by Cancakelly 

 to Sultanpetta, where it quitted the mountains, and after that 

 to Arakeery, not rem.ote from the capital, which ftands in an 

 iiland of the Cavery, and bovmded to the north by the rude Ca- 

 rigat rocks. Tippoo quitted the iiland, and encamped on a poll 

 of great ftrength, moft judicioully chofen, which the Marquis 

 was determined to furprife and force. The attack was made 

 on the 15th, under his lordlhip. Colonel Maxivel vinA Colonel 

 Lloyd were the great charadlers of the day. The enemy were 

 defeated with much lofs, and many trophies added to the vic- 

 torv. Our flain and wounded moft inconfiderable. General 

 Abercrombie, who with his army had furmounted the Ghauts, 

 advanced as far as Periapatan, twenty miles from Seri^igapatam, 

 where he lay. The Marquis intended to form a junction with 



him : 



