DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25987#0170
ng6 VIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONDUCT
hopes that the Princes might be induced to inform him where their
father was; and he even threatened to search the most secret
recesses of the palace, if the Sultaun was not instantly produced.
Unable, however, to obtain the least information concerning him,
and desirous of conveying the Princes out of the fort before it was
dark, he deputed Lieutenant-colonel Close and Major Allan to
take charge of them. Having brought them to General Baird,
they were received by him with every mark of kindness, and with
the strongest assurances of protection. He delivered them to
Lieutenant-colonel Agnew and Captain Marriot, who conducted
them, under an escort, to the Commander in Chief in camp.
General Baird now proceeded to search the palace, accompanied
by Lieutenant-colonel Close and Major Allan ; taking care, how-
ever, to avoid the Zenana, around which, a sufficient force had
been posted to prevent the possibility of the Sultaun's escape. In
the palace, they were informed by the Killedar, on being severely
threatened, that Tippoo was not there, that he had been wounded
during the assault, and lay in a gate-way on the north face of the
fort;* that he would conduct them to the spot, and if found to
deceive them, he was willing to suffer death.
General Baird, upon receiving this information, quitted the
palace, and accompanied by several officers, proceeded to the
gateway, which was filled with dead bodies. The number was so
great, and the place so dark, that it was impossible to distinguish
* From this circumstance, it seems very probable that Tippoo Sultaun was not
killed until the last discharge of musquetry at the north gate, which was nearly an
hour after General Baird was in possession of the fort.
hopes that the Princes might be induced to inform him where their
father was; and he even threatened to search the most secret
recesses of the palace, if the Sultaun was not instantly produced.
Unable, however, to obtain the least information concerning him,
and desirous of conveying the Princes out of the fort before it was
dark, he deputed Lieutenant-colonel Close and Major Allan to
take charge of them. Having brought them to General Baird,
they were received by him with every mark of kindness, and with
the strongest assurances of protection. He delivered them to
Lieutenant-colonel Agnew and Captain Marriot, who conducted
them, under an escort, to the Commander in Chief in camp.
General Baird now proceeded to search the palace, accompanied
by Lieutenant-colonel Close and Major Allan ; taking care, how-
ever, to avoid the Zenana, around which, a sufficient force had
been posted to prevent the possibility of the Sultaun's escape. In
the palace, they were informed by the Killedar, on being severely
threatened, that Tippoo was not there, that he had been wounded
during the assault, and lay in a gate-way on the north face of the
fort;* that he would conduct them to the spot, and if found to
deceive them, he was willing to suffer death.
General Baird, upon receiving this information, quitted the
palace, and accompanied by several officers, proceeded to the
gateway, which was filled with dead bodies. The number was so
great, and the place so dark, that it was impossible to distinguish
* From this circumstance, it seems very probable that Tippoo Sultaun was not
killed until the last discharge of musquetry at the north gate, which was nearly an
hour after General Baird was in possession of the fort.