124 CONQUEST OF MYSORE. 



sultan's horse, then his palanquin, and beneath it a wounded 

 man, who was soon recognised as a confidential servant, 

 and who pointed out the spot where his master had fallen. 

 The body was found, and forthwith identified by the kille- 

 dar and the other attendants. The features were in no de- 

 gree distorted, but presented an aspect of stern composure ; 

 the eves were open, and the appearance of life was so 

 strong, that Colonel Wellesley and Major Allan could not, 

 for some time, believe him actually dead. It appears, that 

 after having issued armed from the palace, with a band of 

 trusty followers, he saw the English advancing along the 

 rampart, and his men flying. He rallied them by the ut- 

 most efforts of his voice and example, shooting several of 

 the enemy with his own hand; and he thus called forth 

 that resistance which had proved so formidable. At length, 

 when the determined valour of the British troops prevailed 

 against all opposition, he was left at one time almost alone, 

 and obliged to accompany the fugitives ; but, with a few 

 resolute adherents, he maintained the combat, till, being 

 exposed to a fire from different quarters, he received two 

 musket-balls in the side. His horse was killed under him ; 

 and, becoming faint with the loss of blood, he was unable 

 to make his way through the crowd. He was overtaken by 

 a party of the conquerors, when one of his attendants be- 

 sought him, as the only means of saving his life, to make 

 himself known ; but he peremptorily forbade the disclosure. 

 An English soldier then made an attempt to detach his 

 sword-belt, when the sultan, with all his remaining strength, 

 made a cut at the man, and wounded him near the knee. 

 The soldier presently fired a ball, which entered the tem- 

 ple, and the wound proved speedily mortal. The body was 

 carried to the pi-lace, and was afterward interred, with royal 

 honours, in the splendid sepulchre of the Lall Baug, erected 

 by Hyder. 



Thus terminated a dynasty which, though short, and 

 limited in respect of territorial dominion, was undoubtedly 

 the most vigorous and best organized of any that had sprung 

 out of the wreck of the Mogul empire. It arose, indeed, 

 from the distracted state of India, and rested almost entirely 

 on the personal character of its two rulers, the qualities of 

 whose minds, striking though dissimilar, we have had re- 

 peated occasion to describe. It may be further noticed, 



