wild huzza, told that the victors were everywhere advancing. Instead of quitting the city, as he might have done, the Sultan crossed the bridge over the inner ditch, and entered the covered gateway, which was now crowded with fugitives, vainly endeavouring to escape from the bayonets of their conquerors, who were heard approaching at either side. A random shot struck the Sultan in the right side, and another soon after on the left; he pressed his horse forward, but his passage was impeded by a mob of runaways, who literally choked the gloomy archway. Presently a cross-fire opened, and filled the passage with the dead and wounded. Tippoo's horse was killed, but his followers managed to disengage him, dragged him exhausted from beneath the fallen steed, and placed him in his palanquin.
But escape was now impossible; the British were already in the gateway – the bayonet was unsparingly at work – for quarter at such a moment was neither given nor expected. Dazzled by the glittering of his jewelled turban, a soldier dashed forward and seized the Sultan's sword-belt. With failing strength Tippoo cut boldly at his assailant, and wounded him slightly in the knee. The soldier, irritated by the pain, drew back, laid his musket to his shoulder and shot the Sultan dead. His companions, perceiving the struggle, rushed up; the palanquin was overturned, the bearers cut down, the body of the departed tyrant thrown upon a heap of the dead and dying, and the corpse, despoiled of everything valuable, left among the fallen Mussulmauns, naked, unknown, and unregarded.[1]
During these transactions. General Baird was informed by some officers that they had discovered the palace, and seen in a species of durbar or court a number of persons
- ↑ When the Sultan left the palace, he was dressed in a light-coloured jacket, wide trowsers of fine-flowered chintz, a sash of dark-red silky stuff, and a turban with one or two distinguishing ornaments. He wore his sword in a rich belt slung over his right shoulder, and a small cartridge-box hung to another embroidered belt thrown over his left shoulder; his talisman was fastened under the jacket on his right arm, a little below the shoulder.
