127 



they would repel force by force. That having written to Bom- 

 bay and Goa for refreshments, the boats which brought them, 

 should, on their arrival be permitted to come into the river and 

 land their cargo; if they were fired at by the party on the 

 south side of the bar, the guns of the fort should return the fire, 

 In the present uncertainty respecting letters intrusted to the sul- 

 taun's halcarrahs, they should no longer be sent by them, but 

 some other mode of conveyance adopted. On these resolutions 

 being communicated, a party of British troops was posted on the 

 north point, "to assert the command of the river, on which the cessa- 

 tion was founded. 



In consequence of this determination, (and while waiting for 

 Lutoph Ally's reply) the daring spy before employed was dis- 

 patched with information to the commanding officer of the British 

 forces, and was promised that on returning with an answer, he 

 should himself name his reward for the service performed. It may 

 not be irrelevant to observe, that although this man had to pass 

 through the enemy's camps before Onore and Mangulore, he 

 effected the purpose required by entering through a hole in the 

 wall of the latter fortress, when strictly blockaded by Tippoo Sul- 

 taun. The messenger returned with Colonel Campbell's answer, 

 and being then desired to take whatever sum he thought proper, 

 from a bag of Venetians (or gold ducats) placed before him, he not 

 only declined this mode of remuneration, but submitted it entirely 

 to the generosity of the commandant; and further requested he 

 would become his banker, declaring he would continue to serve 

 him faithfully, and would never receive any recompence for his 



