CHAPTER XIII.
Tippoo's Schemes of Vengeance – His Embassy to Zeraun Shah – His chimerical Religious Project – He entertains French Adventurers – Arrival of the Pirate Ripaud at Mangalore – He is joyfully received at the Court of Tippoo – Vain Boasting of Ripaud – Tippoo sends him on an Embassy to the Isle of France – Ostentatious Reception there of the Ambassadors – Sad Disappointment of Tippoo's Hopes – A Jacobin Club formed at Seringapatam – The bonnet rouge conferred upon Citizen Tippoo – Lord Mornington's Opinion of these Proceedings – His Inquiry into Tippoo's Intrigues – His Conviction of their dangerous Tendency – Formidable French Corps in the Nizam's Service – Its Dispersion by the Governor-General – Lord Mornington's Remonstrance slighted by Tippoo – Declaration of War against the Sultan – Mysore invaded by the Anglo-Indian Army – General Stuart's Force unexpectedly attacked by Tippoo – Gallant Defence of the Sepoys – Battle of Malavilly – The Anglo-Indian Army advance on Seringapatam – Despondency of Tippoo and his Chiefs.
Notwithstanding the humiliations which Tippoo had suffered, and the losses he had sustained by the late war, he still cherished the fond but delusive hope of inflicting the most ample vengeance upon his enemies.[1] He had lost during the last campaigns one-half of his territorial possessions, sixty-seven forts, eight hundred pieces of cannon, and 49,340 men; but his restless soul brooding, in the retirement of his palace, over his misfortunes, and agitating schemes of retribution for the insults he had suffered, was now preparing new triumphs for his enemies, and paving the way for his own destruction.
Hopeless of assistance from his French allies, the baffled Sultan of Mysore turned his thoughts towards
- ↑ "Tippoo's thoughts were constantly bent on war and military preparations, and he has been frequently heard to say that in this world he would rather live two days like a tiger than two hundred years like a sheep." – Beatson's "War with Tippoo."
"The name Tippoo signifies tiger in the Canarere language. The adoption of the tiger-stripe in the uniform of the infantry, and as a distinctive ornament in the palaces, in casting guns, and on all the insignia of royalty, was founded on this name. Royal tigers were chained in the court of entrance of the palace, and the construction of the throne was made to conform to the same terrific emblem." – Colonel Wilks' "Sketches of South of India."
