CHAPTER XLI.

TRANSACTIONS ON THE MALABAR COAST; SUFFERINGS OF

THE BRITISH OFFICERS AND PRISONERS TAKEN

BY TIPPOO SULTAUN; AND CONCLUDING

VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND.

1784.

VOL. IV.

"Now swell on every side the steady sail,
The lofty masts reclining to the gale;
On full-spread wings the vessel springs away,

And far behind it foams the ocean grey :

Afar the lessening hills of India fly,

And mix their dim blue summits with the sky.

"Their foreign tale on Albion's shore to tell

Inspires each bosom with a rapturous swell;
Now through their breasts the chilly tremors glide,
To dare once more the dangers dearly tried.
Soon to the winds are these cold fears resign'd,
And all their country rushes on the mind:
How sweet to view the native land!-how sweet
The father, brother, and the friend to greet!
While listening round the hoary parent's board,
The wondering kindred glow at every word;
How sweet to tell what woes, what toils they bore,
The tribes and wonders of each various shore:
These thoughts, the traveller's lov'd reward, employ,
And swell each bosom with unutter'd joy!

CAMOENS' LUSIAD, by MICKLE.

2 A

1

CONTENTS.

Residence at Tellicherry-parties of pleasure-climate and healthy situation of Tellicherry-subjects in natural history—plants — Gloriosa superba-cruel fate of the English prisoners with Tippoo Sultaun, taken at Bedmure-savage treatment of the officers and privates in marching through the country-fate of General Mathews and two other gentlemen taken off by poisoned coffee-mechanical tiger-refinements in cruelty-contrast between Domitian and Nero-rigid discipline of Tippoo-different account of General Mathews' death-fate of the captains and subaltern officers-Hyder Ally's character superior to his son's-origin of Hyder -commencement and rapidity of his military career—further accounts of his family and exaltation-his high command and dignity under the rajah of Mysore--usurps the sovereignty, imprisons the rajah, and takes the title of Nawaub-makes Seringapatam his capital-sea-ports-Mangulore-splendor of the tiger throne-the Huma—the tiger a family emblem—prayer of Tippoo—a letter of tremendous brevity-account of Hyder's durbar—mary particulars of Tippoo's character, dress, &c.-character of Mahomet and his immediate successors--magnificence of the Arabian caliphs—reflection of Abdalrhaman-remark of Gibbon—palace at Seringapatam -Tippoo's bed-chamber guarded by four tigers-predilection of the