368 
POLYGARS. 
when shut up in their fort of Caliarcoil, resisted, for five months, 
the whole force that could be brought against them. The superiority 
of discipline and numbers at length gave victory to the British: 
Caliarcoil was taken by storm ; and though the Murdoos escaped into 
the jungle, which for seven miles surrounds it, yet they were soon 
hunted out and hanged ; the one at the age of fifty-five, the other 
at sixty. The Panjalamcourchy Rajah fled to Pylney, where he also 
was at length taken and executed ; an act which I cannot but deeply 
regret, as I think the provocations his family experienced from the 
Resident were such as to palliate his rebellion. It might be advis- 
able to prevent his return to his own country, but I think the Madras 
Government would have consulted their own honour in sparing his 
life. In the Shevagunga family there existed no female heir; the 
country was therefore given to a relation who had been betrothed 
to the late Rannie, but was prevented from marrying her by the 
Murdoos. No advantage was taken of the conquest to raise the 
tribute, which still continued at 50,000 pagodas per annum. 
The conduct of Tondiman had been so friendly, that the Madras 
government determined to requite him; they therefore restored to 
him the district of Killinelli, valued at six thousand pagodas per 
annum, liable to the tribute of an elephant annually. This had 
belonged to Tanjore, but in Tippoo's war was in his po!5session. As 
it was considered an important place to recover, the English offered 
to give it to Tondiman if he would conquer the forts. He did so ; 
but, on the peace, the Tanjore influence prevailed at Madras, and he 
had been obliged to surrender them. They also presented him with 
two gold sticks to be carried before him, a mark of high distinction 
in this country, and conveying a title. A perseverance in the system 
