ADVANCE UPON SERINGAPATAM. 97 



effort. A coup-de-main had meantime been attempted 

 against Kistnagherry, the capital and bulwark of the Bara- 

 mahl. This attempt failed ; Colonel Maxwell being only 

 able to burn the town, that it might not serve as a cover to 

 predatory inroads. Tippoo, in the interval, had sent an 

 expedition to the south, which succeeded, by a series of 

 manoeuvres, in carrying Coimbetoor with its English gar- 

 rison ; and, violating the capitulation, by which they were 

 to be allowed to join in safety their countrymen at Pal- 

 gaut, he caused them to be marched prisoners to Seringa- 

 patam. 



After some abortive attempts at negotiation, Lord Corn- 

 wallis, having completed his preparations, and brought his 

 army into a state of full equipment, determined no longer 

 to delay his march upon the capital. He was now joined 

 by the army of the nizam under his son Secunder Jah, 

 which had been hitherto detained by the siege of Goorum- 

 conda. His followers consisted of a tumultuary host, 

 closely resembling the corps already described, and giving 

 little hope of an effective co-operation. Purseram Bhow, 

 who, with his numerous body of Mahrattas, might have 

 performed with great advantage the services assigned to 

 light troops, had concluded that it would be more profitable 

 to himself to turn aside and plunder the rich country of 

 Bednore ; and to this personal interest he hesitated not to 

 sacrifice all the grand objects of the confederacy. Captain 

 Little, who, with a corps of about a thousand men, had 

 been attached to the army of the Bhow, was obliged to 

 second him in all these irregular pursuits ; the most ardu- 

 ous services devolving upon himself and his followers. At 

 one time he was urged to attack a large detachment of Tip- 

 poo's army, stationed in an almost impenetrable jungle, 

 covered by a deep ravine. With less than 750 bayonets he 

 undertook the service, and, after a severe and even doubtful 

 contest, dislodged the enemy with great loss, — an exploit 

 considered one of the most brilliant by which this war was 

 distinguished. 



By these circumstances Lord Cornwallis was reduced to 

 depend on the force under his own immediate command, 

 amounting to 22,000 men, including 42 battering-guns and 

 44 field-pieces ; and on that of General Abercromby, con- 

 sisting of 8400 men, v/hich he ordered immediately to ap- 



VOL. II.— I 



