EASTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 71 



him : but his evil genius interfered. When his lordfliip in- 

 tended to crofs the ford of the Cavery at Kanainbuddy^ he per- 

 ceived it was impoffible to move the heavy artillery from the 

 place they were. Moft of the bullocks were dead or dyin"-, and 

 provifions began to fail after the junftion of the Nizaurs army, 

 on yipril 13th, which was prefent at the battle, and by its igno- 

 rance obftrucled rather than promoted the attack of ours. 

 He was ohliged to dtftroy the whole of the heavy artillery (\Qi- 

 tined to reduce the city, and indignantly compelled to retire, 

 and to leave the glorious vifion to be realized in the following 

 year. Mr. Rennel mentions the lingular circumftance of "Tippoo 

 feeing three hoftile armies lying encamped feven miles from 

 his capital, the Byitljb, the Mabrattas, and the wretched ca- 

 valry of the Nizam, which had marched from Hydrabad, a dif- 

 tance of four hundred and fix miles, eager to partake of the 

 prey. General Abercrombie was directed to defcend the Ghauts^ 

 which he did in light of Kummer iil Deen-t the boafted favorite 

 officer of 'TippooH, without the left impediment, except from 

 the inceiTunt rains which at that feafon deluged the coaft. 



I SHALL not trace our army's retreat from S^ringapatam Battle of 

 farther than Mailcotta, about fifteen miles to the north of that 

 city, a fpot famed for the bloody defeat of Ayder AH by the 

 Mabrattas, in 1772, under the Paijbzva Madab-ro%t\ a gallant 

 youth of twenty-two. The quarrel was, a clam>e of the Cbout, 

 or tribute, made by him in behalf of his people, which was 

 evaded by Ayder. His hiftorian, ii. p. 180, calls the Mabratta 

 army two hundred thoufand, half of which was cavalry. The 

 youthful warrior feigned a retreat : The exp)erienced Myforean 



was 



