EASTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 75 



hQtwc^n B a }ig a lore and Seringapatam^ were next to be redaced. 

 The firft is feated on a rock half a mile in perpendicular height, 

 from a bafe eight or ten miles in circumference. It divides in the 

 middle into two heads, by a vaft chafm, each head crowned with 

 a citadel : the lides, wherever acceffible, defended by walls above 

 walls, even in places where it might be thought that fecurity 

 was needlefs. The name even is tremendous ; Saven-droog, the 

 rock of death, furrounded by a vaft foreft, which emits a pefti- 

 ferous vapour, fatal to any troops which lie long before it. 

 Tippoo called this rock Gurdon Sheko, or the Neck of Majesty, 

 and exulted, as for certain vi6lory, when he heard that our troops 

 intended to fit down before it. We gave dileafe no time to 

 operate againft us. After cutting roads through the forell, the 

 commander of the adventure. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart, open- 

 ed two batteries on December 17th, and another on the 19th. Taken. 

 Lieutenant Colonel Nejbitt dirccfted the ftorm, led in different 

 points by the Captains Monjon, Gage, Lindfay, and Robert/on, 

 Two guns gave the fignal of affault, and the troops marched 

 to the animating mufic of Britons strike Home ! An hour, 

 in open day, put us in pofleffion of this important place, with 

 lofs of an arm only, to a fingle private ! The garrifon confifted 

 of fifteen hundred men ; about a hundred were killed : num- 

 bers perifhed by flying to the precipices to efcape the afTailants ; 

 and the reft either had deferted, or found the means of re- 

 treat. 



It is fingular that the name of this hill fliould agree in found 

 and fenfe with the Weljh, figuratively taken : Safn-drwg figni- 



L 2 fying 



