VELLORE. 
399 
family, from its being one of the strongest places in India. The 
walls are built of very large stones, and have bastions and round 
towers at short distances. A fausse-bray lines the wall between 
them, and with its embattled rampart, and small overhanging 
square towers, produces a very handsome effect. A deep and wide 
ditch, chiefly cut out of the solid rock, surrounds the whole fort, 
except at one entrance, where there was a causeway, according to 
the Indian system. They are now removing this, and constructing 
the more certain defence of a drawbridge in its stead. In addition 
to the usual defence, the ditch is filled with alligators of a very 
large size. With these, a serjeant of the Scotch brigade engaged 
in battle for a small wager. He entered the water, and was several 
times drawn under by the ferocious animals. He, however, escaped 
at last, with several severe wounds. A glacis has been formed 
where the ditch is narrow. The whole reminded me very much 
of the architecture of the antient English baronial castles. 
The fort of Vellore is so completely commanded from the hills, 
that a six pounder can from any of them throw a shot over it. On 
the three loftiest summits are three forts : one only has water, and 
is too large; did it occupy only the summit, it might be easily 
rendered impregnable; and till it is taken, no attack can be made 
on the forts below. Hyder was aware of this, and when he besieged 
Vellore, he, by great exertions, got some pieces of cannon up to a 
fourth point, from which he made a breach in the small fort, and 
intended to have stormed it in the night ; but was prevented by a 
drummer deserting, and giving him notice that just within the 
breach was a deep pit, into which his whole party would other- 
wise have fallen and perished. He was, however, obliged to com- 
