ITS 



part taken by his father sincere. He stated that 

 hi.e father was anxroiis to remain a peaceable sub- 

 ject of the Briti^-h^ but that he was completely in 

 the power of Dool Syed» several members of his 

 fanuly being hostages at Taboo, and himself hav- 

 ings been fvummoned ihither the day on which his 

 house was burnt ; that he had only returned in 

 time to see it smouldering in ashes, and was will- 

 ing, provided his personal safety were ensured, 

 to euler the camp and tf nder his allegiance. 



Here was a gleam of sunshine indeed— and* 

 within ten minutes, the old mari entered the 

 ramp, and, after being somewhat re-assured, 

 dwell upon the complicated miseries which he 

 and his family were undergoing in consequence 

 of the war. It was little suspected that his chil- 

 dren w^tre at that very moment houseiess wan- 

 deters in the surrounding jungle. 



The Dattoo was advised to throw himself un- 

 rei^ervedly on the protection of the British, ond 

 to bring, as a test of his sincerity, the inhabituuts 

 of the circumjacent villages into camp for the pur- 

 pose of offering; their submission. He promised 

 so to do; and, not being one of the chuf ring- 

 Jeaders, was permitted to depart. 



But the moment had now arrived %vhen the 

 trottps, Po far from being able to protect the in- 

 habitants, were compelled to direct their atten> 

 turn more exclusively, not so much to their owh 

 fratetirin particular, which, with military nien. is 

 the \vL^i consideration, as to the defence of Ma- 

 lacca itself, w hich rested mainly on the preserva- 

 tion of that body which formed a full half of the 

 garrison ofihatlowu. At mne a.m. the havil- 



