Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/276

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252
OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.

his staff were speedily disturbed, and it was communicated to the General that the city was on fire, and outrages were being committed, which he took immediate means to remedy. Having again composed himself to rest, a new alarm disturbed him: "The treasury of Tippoo had been forced, and the soldiers were actually loading themselves with gold!" This was true. The door generally used was securely guarded; but another had been discovered, and by that the plunderers had obtained access to the treasure. Colonel Wallace found the place crowded with soldiers and one officer, all busily employed in pocketing gold and jewels. The individual who disgraced his rank died soon after; and Baird, as it is supposed, out of respect to his family, kept his name a secret.

The body of the late Sultan was removed to the palace, and there respectfully deposited until the necessary preparations were completed for an honourable interment, which took place on the afternoon of the 5th of May. The arrangements were under the superintendence of the principal Mahomedan authorities, and the chiefs of the Nizam's army joined with the followers of the Sultan in the solemn procession which followed his remains. As it moved slowly through the city, a keeraut of five thousand rupees was distributed to the fakirs, and verses from the Koran were repeated by the attending Moolahs. Minute-guns were fired from the batteries; and a guard of honour, composed of European flank companies, followed the remains of the late ruler of Mysore to the sepulchre of his once haughty father, in the Laul Baugh. The following epitaph was written by Lyud Abd-ul-Kadir, one of the Nizam's officers, and suspended over the tomb: –

"As Tippoo Sultan vowed to wage a holy war, the Almighty conferred the rank of martyrdom upon him; the date of which Shehir declares thus –