WAR PREPARED AGAINST TIPPOO. 85 



this intention on learning the arrival of Genera! Medows, in 

 whose vigour and capacity he placed full confidence. At 

 the same time lie hastened to conclude an alliance with the 

 nizam and the Mahratta government, who each engajed to 

 employ their whole force against Tippoo ; in return for 

 which, upon the success of the war, all their claims upon 

 the territory of Mysore were to be granted in their fullest 

 extent. The former pressed earnestly for a guarantee that, 

 while his troops were absent on the projected expedition, 

 his country should not be pillaged by his warlike allies ; 

 but, though it was impossible to deny the reality of the 

 danger, it would have been exceedingly ungracious, in a 

 public document, to have supposed that great power capa- 

 ble of such a dereliction of duty and decency. The gov- 

 ernor-general, however, gave private assurances of protec- 

 tion, with which he prevailed upon the Indian prince to be 

 satisfied. 



Tippoo seems not to have been prepared for the prompt 

 hostilities of the English. In June, 1790, they commenced 

 the campaign on the boldest system of offensive warfare ; 

 their aim being nothing less than by the most direct rout tc 

 ascend the Ghauts from the south, and advance upon Se 

 ringapatam. This march had already been projected and 

 considered practicable by Colonel Fullerton at the termina- 

 tion of the last war. As coiripared with the northern road 

 through the frontier district of the Barnmahl, it had the 

 disadvantage of being more remote from Madras, and con- 

 sequently from all military supplies and stores ; but it led 

 through a country more abundant in forage and provisions, 

 and avoided the obstacle presented by the powerful fortress 

 of Bangalore. It was necessary, however, to begin by 

 reducing the strong places possessed by the sultan in the 

 low country ; and General Medows, fixing his head-quar- 

 ters at Uoimbetoor, employed in this service Colonel Stuart, 

 who had much experience of war in Southern India. The 

 most important of these fortresses, and that which was 

 considered the main bulwark of Tippoo in this quarter, was 

 Palgaut, about thirty miles west of Coimbetoor. Stuart 

 immediately inarched against it, but had on his march to 

 encounter an unexpected enemy. At this season tire mon- 

 soon, which deluges the coast of Malabar, conveys only 

 cooling and refreshing showers to the interior and eastern 

 Vol. 0.—H 



