113 



enemy, and the liberty granted to the other prisoners, began to 

 return home with their families and effects. 



On the 23d Fortified Island, a 'post belonging to Tippoo 

 Sultaun, situated a little to the northern entrance of Onore river, 

 capitulated to captain Torriano. The month of February was 

 ushered in by the important intelligence that general Mathews 

 had forced the formidable pass of Hussen-ghurry, and that the 

 English colours were then flying on the ramparts of Bednure. 

 But, alas! this glorious news was of short duration; for, on the 

 second of March, a cavalry officer, with a small party of horse, 

 arrived at Onore, bringins; the afflicting intelligence that on the 

 preceding afternoon the Sultaun's troops had carried Hyder-nuggur 

 ghaut, or pass, by storm; and that before day- break the next 

 morning they forced the small party posted at Ciddapore river. 

 To this was added the disgraceful report, that in consequence 

 of the arrival of the fugitives from Hyder-nuggur, a council of war 

 had been called at Cundapore, (or Barcelore) the members of 

 which had unanimously declared their post to be untenable; and 

 when the cornet's party left the place, measures were actually 

 takino- to abandon it, though not a man of the enemy had ap- 

 peared. The circumstance of Cundapore being deserted by the 

 English troops was confirmed a few hours afterwards by an 

 officer, Avith the melancholy addition that many guns were spiked, 

 a quantity of stores burnt, .and ammunition destroyed ; the whole 

 garrison proceeding in a straggling manner towards Onore. 



Alarmed for the glory of the British arms, and animated by a 

 zeal for the good of the service, to which a fatal blow would be 

 given by the loss of its grand magazine, which had been removed 



VOL. IV. Q 



