victim's head as evidence of the deed. This was immediately sent to Mahomed Ali, who, after gratifying himself and his court with an inspection of it, directed that it should be publicly exhibited for the pleasure of the multitude.
"Under whatever impressions the event be considered," says the historian, to whose admirable work we are so deeply indebted in the compilation of this little volume,[1] "no one can fail to be struck by the remarkable fact that upon the very spot where Chunda Sahib had, by a false oath upon a counterfeit Koran, set at nought the bonds of friendly alliance and good faith, there, after the expiration of sixteen years, ensnared by a similar act of perfidy, did he meet his death by the hand of an assassin. Fiction affords not a more extraordinary illustration of poetical justice than is furnished by the termination of the life of Chunda Sahib."
The fortune of those whom Chunda Sahib had quitted, so unhappily for himself, remains to be noticed. Before his departure, the English force had received a battering-train from Deir-Cottah; and Law, the French commander, had been required to surrender at discretion. Subsequently a more peremptory demand was made; and Law, now satisfied that D'Autueil's force had really fallen into the hands of the British, requested a personal conference with Major Lawrence. The result was that, after much altercation, partly grounded on the anomalous position of the English and French, in thus being at war in India while in Europe they were at peace, terms were agreed upon, and a capitulation signed. The officers were to depart on parole, the privates to remain prisoners, the deserters to be pardoned. On the 3rd of June, 1752, Captain Dalton took possession of Seringham, with the artillery and military force. The troops immediately in the French service were marched to Fort St. David; those of their allies were suffered quietly to disperse; and
- ↑ Thornton. "History of the British Empire in India."
