Page:Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.djvu/204

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200
TIPÚ SULTÁN

levelled his musket and shot him in the head, causing instantaneous death. A considerable time elapsed before any authentic intelligence of the Sultán's fate was obtained; but the British troops being now in possession of every part of the ramparts, and opposition having ceased, General Baird proceeded to make inquiries as to what had become of him.

Major Allan, Deputy Quartermaster-General, was accordingly sent to the palace with a flag of truce to demand the surrender of Tipú, and after some delay ascertained that a report had been received there that he had been wounded at the gate above-mentioned. On repairing thither at dusk, the body of the Sultan was, after much labour, discovered in a heap of slain, and clearly identified. It was still warm, and the eyes were open, the countenance being in no way distorted, although there were three wounds in the body and one in the temple. His turban, jacket, and sword-belt had disappeared, but the talisman on his right arm, containing an amulet with Arabic characters on the manuscript inside, was at once recognized. The body was placed in his palankeen, and, by General Baird's orders, conveyed to the palace for the night.

The next day the funeral cortége, escorted by four companies of Europeans, proceeded from the fortress to the Lál Bágh, where the remains of the ambitious and unfortunate sovereign were interred by the side of his father, Haidar Alí. The bier was borne by his personal attendants, and followed by Prince Abd-ul--