JUNCTION WITH THE MAHRATTAS. 95 



Purseram Bhow, seconded by a small detachment of Eng- 

 lish, sat down before it in September, 1791 ; but our officers 

 were almost distracted to see the manner in which this im- 

 portant siege was conducted. The Mahrattas, in working 

 a battery, never pointed their cannon so as to make a breach 

 in a particular spot, but aimed at random all round the 

 wall. After loading a gun they sat down, smoked, and 

 conversed for half an hour ; then fired, reloaded, and re- 

 sumed their conversation. Two hours at midday, by mu- 

 tual consent, were set apart for meals and recreation. 

 The English calculated seven years as the period in which 

 a breach might be effected ; and Colonel Frederick, an 

 officer of high spirit, and animated with the most eager 

 anxiety for the success of this important service, was seized 

 with such chagrin that he fell ill and died. However, at 

 the end of six months the garrison, finding their provisions 

 become scarce, and discouraged by the fall of Bangalore, 

 proposed terms of capitulation, which were granted, though 

 ill observed. The great Mahratta army then moved leisurely 

 forward into Mysore, where, in the manner before men- 

 tioned, they met with their European allies. Had Corn- 

 wallis been aware that this large force was advancing to 

 his aid, he would probably have made every exertion to 

 maintain his ground before Seringapatam ; but the activity 

 of Tippoo's light troops completely intercepted the intelli- 

 gence. 



As soon as these auxiliaries arrived, the scarcity in the 

 cantonments of the English, which previously amounted 

 almost to famine, ceased, so far as they were willing to pay 

 the enormous prices that were extorted from their necessi- 

 ties. Every article abounded in that predatory host : it ex- 

 hibited " the spoils of the East, and the industry of the 

 West, — from a web of English broad-cloth to a Birming- 

 ham penknife; from the shawls of Cashmere to the second- 

 hand garment of the Hindoo ; from diamonds of the first 

 water to the silver earring of a poor plundered village- 

 maiden ;" while " the tables of the money-changers, over- 

 spread with the coins of every country of the East, gave 

 evidence of an extent of mercantile activity utterly incon- 

 ceivable in any camp, excepting that of systematic plun 

 derers, by wholesale and retail." These allies, however 

 introduced the commander to a most useful class of men, 



