126 



cessful, Captain Torriano communicated once more to the com- 

 manding officer at Mangulore the painful predicament in which 

 he was placed, and the little reason he had to expect better treat- 

 ment, unless the sultaun sent him decisive orders ; at the same 

 time hinting a suspicion, that the treatment he experienced was 

 sanctioned byTippoo Sultaun himself. 



At length the stock of cattle being nearly consumed, and the 

 patience of the garrison almost exhausted, the commanding officer 

 communicated to Lutoph Ally his suspicion that the letters con- 

 fided to him had never been sent to Mangulore, and consequently 

 being deprived of all hope of redress from his commander in chief, 

 he must seek it himself. If in so doing he should adopt measures 

 incompatible with the existing treaty, and those measures should 

 lead to a renewal of hostilities, the blame must fall upon Lutoph 

 Ally himself: the English had, in all respects, religiously kept 

 their faith, while he had uniformly sported with his master's ho- 

 nour ; and, in defiance of a sacred treaty, aimed to effect by per- 

 fidy, what by direct and open hostility he had been unable to ac- 

 complish. He was therefore informed his promises were like the 

 wind, of which British officers would not be the sport ; on the 

 contrary every nerve should be strained to frustrate his designs ; 

 but as it was the character of the English to deal openly and ho- 

 nourably, he forewarned him of the consequence. In the first 

 place, as the commandant was determined the men who had bled 

 in defence of the fortress, should not be starved out of it, he re- 

 solved so soon as his stock of cattle was expended, to send a de- 

 tachment in search of a supply, which should be paid for; but if 

 such detachment should be molested by Lutoph Ally's troops, 



