Accounts of the Captivity from Various Sources

See The Babylonian Captivity At Seringapatnam of which this page is an annexure — Lúcio

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I. Letter Of Padre Joaquim Manoel Miranda

Pissurlencar: Antegualhas, Fascisculo II, p. 305-310:

"A summary report of the events since the year 1783 when the Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur died at Nelur on November 3 during the absence of his son Prince Tipu Sultan, the present ruling monarch.

"In December of the same year, General Mathew having come from Bombay with his naval armada, landed at Mirjaõ and having taken its fortress went on taking the others from Piro to Barcelor, whence climbing the ghats he took the court of Nagar, the capital of the Kingdom of Canara and thence coming down to Mangalore went on to taking more as far as Durga
(Kalidurga or Cowleydoorga) which borders upon the Naire thus bringing all that kingdom under his sway with great ease.

"The civil population was all happy because they were much oppressed by the coming of the new master. But their happiness was short-lived; for the Nawab Tipu Sultan having come with a third part of his powerful army from the land of Arcate
(Arcot) where he kept in reserve a part of it in order to oppose the army of Madras, entered suddenly in Nagar and having attacked its fortress, in which the French distinguished themselves, to whom he owed his victory, made it surrender under capitulation, which was not later respected by him, interpreting its terms according to his convenience, as he was wont to, like his father.

"The reason why the English suffered this reverse was because everyone engaged himself in collecting and filling his own pockets and not caring what would befall them. They sought their own private interests against one another. They consulted those very persons who were the confidantes of the Nawab whom they proclaimed dead and that there was no one to retake from them the Kingdom they had conquered; they made little of the warning of the civilians, and their army being spread in so many fortresses, along roads and entrances to the ghats, they remained with a small body of men; Hayat Saheb, foreseeing from this continuous disorder his total ruin with the coming of the Nawab escaped out of his dominions for safety.

"As soon as Nagar was retaken, Tipu Sultan entered it seeking the priests and the Christians against whom he was going to wreak his wicked intent proposed in the year 1768 to his father who disapproved of it and reprehended him for it; but now that he was dead, he began to put into execution his former passion and rancor, which he seemed to bear towards our holy religion since his birth, because since he left Arcate he went on pulling down churches which he came across on his way and passed orders to pull down those of the Mission of Mysore, showing signs that all his subjects would be compelled to follow Islam only as he was their sole king.

"The Vicar of Nagar was kept a prisoner with two others of the district of Barcelore; they suffered much for some time, and on undertaking in writing having been taken from them that they would not return to his dominions they were expelled; of all these events herebefore referred to, the English who were at Mangalore knew nothing, there being no one to inform them for sure, nor of the imprisonment of General Mathew and his militia.

"Getting by chance the above news, I wrote to the Nawab and received with great pleasure his reply from Mudbidrem in which he ordered me to go with all haste to him, recommending me a certain task, completing which, I arrived by the time he had arrived at his camp at Cadarete where he had me received with pleasure and made me stay with his commander M. Benthenot and thence he gave me audience in the temple of Bellur, situated in Mangalore conversing with me at length from 8 to 11 p.m. inquiring about various matters which are generally referred to on such an occasion and specially if the wife of General Mathew was in the fort, and being informed that there was no such or any other lady, he smiled and did not proceed with such talk because I showed myself modest in it.

"I showed him on this occasion the charters of privileges and concessions issued by his father in favor of
(the seminary and shrine of) Monte Mariano and his last letter which he wrote to me just before his death, and it was in its own envelope which he himself opened and had it read to him, and as it was in my favor, I requested him to the same effect and he promised me in these formal words: 'Live happy and in health and I will protect and help you much more than my father.'

"In fact there being many complaints against me at the court of his deputy Ma Mira Sadoca and the Ambassador M. Piveron de Morlat having gone to the said Nawab to speak in this connection, the Nawab told him that I was his old prot�g� as well as of his father, as a priest of his government, and soon he issued a charter or order that henceforth no one should meddle with me, and with those of the Monte Mariano and it being justified why I had given a thousand bags of rice to the English, he declared in the said charter or order that even if the priest had given not only a thousand but two thousand bags of rice, he would not take ill of him; he did me many favors at different occasions, releasing more than a hundred and fifty Christians who were in jail and some women who were in the hands of the Mohamedans.

"Tipu Sultan treated me with great kindness during all the time the other parish priests were in jail; at last on July 27, 1783, while the French were attacking the fort of Mangalore, they suddenly stopped the mortar fire and macronoby (a stone throwing catapult), declaring to have received news of the signing of peace in Europe between the two nations, the French and the English, and because the Nawab compelled them to continue firing, throwing away the torches (fascines), by drum beating and playing all the pipes all three regiments of General Delale, Coronel M. Consigni and the Commander M. Benthenot retired to their camp where formerly they used to remain at quarters and well armed and where they now lay exposed to any assault that the Nawab could make them for being much offended at their said behavior or conduct.

"Some days after M. Consigni set out with his troops who were in the service of the Nawab, marching them to Monte Mariano where he remained two days with me and thence went on by land to Mahim
(Mahe de Labourdonnais in the Malabar); because of this shelter and hospitality which I could not refuse, Tipu Sultan was much offended and aggrieved with me; the reason why he went on getting displeased with me and thenceforward I incurred his anger, it was because he supposed that it was I who showed him the way giving him directions because he (Tipu) said a foreigner could not know it; this was reported to M. Consigni who recommended me therefore to the ambassador M. Piveron de Morlat so that I might not be put to trouble on this account.

"Soon after this incident happened another of grave consequences because the Nawab had sentenced some of his officers, Killedars and other disloyal men among whom there was also a Christian, the interpreter of Mr. Sartorius, to death by hanging on the gallows which he had erected many on a hillock at Mangalore, and among the condemned being the Killedar of the fortress of Mangalore Rustum Bego by name who was singularly patronized by Mam Mandaly, the commander-in-chief of the army of Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur, who had given in his charge, at his death, his seals for being his most faithful servant in order to hand them over to Prince Tipu Sultan who was then away recommending him to guide him (Tipu) and his other son Prince Karim Saheb, keeping them under his care, the said Mam Mandaly repeatedly interceded with the Nawab for the said Rustum Beg; but the Nawab did not want to listen to him and ordered that he should be taken along with the other condemned men to the gallows.

"The said Mam Mandaly came out on this occasion with a few men of his company and went to the gallows and taking hold of the noose from the hands of the hangman, put it to his neck saying that he preferred to die to seeing his prot�g�, his godson, hanged. The Nawab was repeatedly informed about this but he remained adamant, and Mam Mandaly also constant in his resolution; the Nawab getting enraged by his behavior came personally with his new regiment of chales, cannon, etc. having kept in advance the two French regiments ready and marched to the place of the gallows. As soon as Mam Mandaly saw this, he ordered his favorite Killedar to mount on his elephant and he himself mounting a horse drew out his scimitar and in a loud voice called out that those who were of his party and loved him should follow him and he took his way to Nagar.

"Only one French commander of the Risala of Mam Mandaly declined; all the others followed him; in the meantime, the Nawab sent his officers and courtiers to placate with entreaties and promises the fiery temper of the Mam Mandaly and sending his men on the other side surrounded him, and he, being deceived with promises, returned. The Nawab got him carried in a palanquin to his quarters. A friend of his, an officers of 60,000 banadares and piadares, having spoken a few words on his way, the Nawab fearing some rebellion, had him killed at the foot of his elephant as well as 18 other partisans of Mam Mandaly were killed by placing them at the mouth of the cannon. The other officers of his regiment were beheaded and of the rest he had their noses, ears and lips cut off and he had the favorite Killedar together with others hanged in his presence while he went on cursing all the while. On account of this lamentable incident there was such a confusion that evening that almost all felt offended and appeared to be in revolt against the Nawab.

"If on the occasion referred to the English fired their guns sparingly or if few came out of it the very men of the Nawab would have put an end to him, fearing which he remained well guarded that night, and soon after he made peace with all his officers etc. Some say Mam Mandaly killed himself in a fit of passion either by taking poison or as some say by pulling out his own tongue.

"Some time later peace was made between the Nawab and the English who surrendered their forts to him, the Ambassadors having come from Madras for this purpose; finally on February 22, the day on which all the Christians of that Kingdom were taken prisoners, I too was taken to the court of Ma Mira Sadoca by a minister of his, together with the Rev. Parish Priests arrested before and there was issued the decree of the expulsion of all the missionaries of that kingdom on pain of being hanged if they or their successors returned to it, any of the above mentioned workers paying the fine of two lac
(2,00,000) pagodas. At the same court, another separate bond was drawn up against me, on which the other missionaries were also compelled to sign by dint of beating, I being separated from them on that occasion.

"On Saturday, the eve of the first Sunday of Lent, I was arrested with other priests and jailed in the fortress, and two days later taken with the priests and seminary students of Monte Mariano to the said court on April 2 whence I was banished along with my companions of Monte Mariano to Cochin under guard, at the great request of the ambassador M. Piveron; otherwise I would be detained along with my companions in the said Monte Mariano for another purpose of his wicked design which the Nawab wanted to secure of me, this being reason why he did me favors and protected me so much, from which God saved me along with my seminary students because he wanted to circumcise them, by the intervention of the ambassador who did trouble himself very much also in order to get the jailed parish priests released in consideration of your Excellency to whom he professed to bear great friendship, as he assured me, saying that for no one else would he trouble himself so much as he did for your Excellency.

"I had soon lowered the flag which the Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur had given to the Monte Mariano on account of the devotion which he had taken to the temple after his triumph in the famous battle of Percupatanam in which with a few of his reserve risalas he completely destroyed the formidable army of the Mahrattas who had besieged him. Then taking leave of the said M. Piveron and of the Mahomedans, the brother-in-law of the Nawab and his Bagxis
(Bakshis) and his generals who used to pray for help to Our Lady in order to be successful in their undertakings, offering Her flowers, candles and music, I left that Monte Mariano to their great sorrow on April 7, and since then ceased there Divine Worship and it remained uninhabited and in a deplorable condition where there had been baptized many Mahomedans, by which your Excellency may form an idea in what devotion that temple was held by all — "about which many great things will be told always and greater things happen."

"On arrival at Cananore in the company of my companions I was released by the guards of the Nawab without their being able to get something from me because whatever I had was invested in the immoveables there and a part of the moveables with which I sailed were taken away by Bonnsulo — God's will be done; God's name be blessed. Now I remain at Cochin, to which place I have been banished by the Nawab. Here I took shelter in the seminary of the Carmelite Fathers who support me and my companions for the love of God.

"What has happened after me is as follows: The Christians of Nagar have been banished to Chittaldurga and all the others in the kingdom who number about 40,000 have been taken to Seringapatam. A great number of these died of small pox; of the three fathers who had been found disguised in the company of the Christians, two died, and the third having been found out was banished, and he came to Tellicherry; the churches of the Mission of Mysore have been demolished and its missionaries who have been Jesuits were banished; they send me their news. The leading Christians of Pattanam and those of Kanara together with the sacristans and their families were all circumcised with express orders not to communicate with their priests. The temples of the Hindus have also been demolished together with the famous temple of Pattanam. Its chief priests like Somangollos and others were also circumcised; also the English in great numbers have been circumcised; likewise many others have been circumcised even the military men of his army without considering their nationality whether friendly or not, according to the old adage: 'As is the king, so is the law, and as is the law so are the subjects.' Salvoes of guns were fired, banquets were held, bands were played and money was distributed on the day on which the Christians were circumcised; General M. Delale being annoyed and angry at all this killed the horse which the Nawab had given him and on account of this display of his feelings, I do not know for this reason or another, he had been placed under guard and the troops under his command divided and assigned to the various resalas of the Nawab.

"The ambassador M. Piveron has since long retired to Pontecheyra
(Pondicherry), to which place has gone also after him M. Benthenot. The Nawab and the English have exchanged the fortresses that were about Arcoate, thus finalizing completely the peace between them. It is now said that the Nawab is going to invade (the Kingdom of) Travancore and both are preparing for battle. And as your Excellency has already received news from the Rev. Fathers who have come from the Mission, namely about the funds and the assets of the churches, I do not want to speak about them more, thus depriving you of the precious time that you require to attend to more important matters. Pardon me for being impolite in my writings and for want of order in this summary account because this is justifiable in a person who has lived for 27 years among the illiterate. Considering the worth of your illustrious friend the Count of Ega and Albuquerque whose letter I have not received since 1783, should your Excellency receive his letter among those you receive from Lisbon, please send it to this unworthy useless and humble servant of yours.

"May God preserve you for many years...."

II. Letter to the Secretary of State Martinho de Melo e Castro

Silva, Vol. II, Appendix No. 26, pg. 25. Letter probably written by a Francisco Meneses...

I have already informed you that after the death of Nawab Hyder Ali Khan I had congratulated his son Tipu Sultan and rendered him favors which times (chance) permitted such as that of not allowing the lands of the State (Of Portuguese India) the permanence of Hayat Saheb who had been the governor of the Kingdom of Canara, and who surrendered it to the English, these bringing him to this city in order that he might remain here. Tipu Sultan was grateful because I did not allow the said Hayat Saheb to remain here in Goa and because I ordered certain things which he had asked for to be sent to him; since he had made peace with the English, however, he has acted as an enemy, causing much vexation and oppression to the Christians who number about twenty thousand souls more or less who lived in the said Kingdom of the Ghats and below, ordering the arrest of the parish priests, and compelling the said Christians to go live in the lands beyond the Ghats, imputing to them that they had been the cause for the English to conquer the said Kingdom, teaching and guiding them along the paths and places by which to enter. And although I wrote to him requesting him to release the parish priests and let the Christians live peacefully as his father Nawab Hyder Ali Khan had done, he replied to me on another matter without saying anything about this matter. He has passed orders that the ships of the State should not be provided with rice from his lands and villages.

The distrust of this untrustworthy neighbor has increased because not only he has ordered the forts that lie on the frontiers of the province of Canacona to be garrisoned with an excessive number of troops, but also it is reported that he intends to conquer Goa as he informed Mahomad Sofi, Mahomedan, son of Mahomad Aurazan Saheb Surio of a ship who has been to that kingdom, as can be seen from a copy attached to the letter, which he wrote to me. The said Mahomad Sofi had settled here with a house and business. His father had been a governor of one of the lands of Nawab Hyder Ali Khan and thus having become acquainted with the said Tipu Sultan, the latter invited him promising to appoint him Governor of Mangalore, so that he might transfer himself from the State to his lands. Thinking that this man at Mangalore could be useful to trade and the interests of the State, I advised him to go and accept the offer, made to him by the Nawab, and be useful to the trade and navigation of the subjects of Her Majesty
(Queen Maria of Portugal); and it was for this reason that he gave me the said information. I take all precautions against the invasion of this untrustworthy neighbor, about which there is no more news at present because he has gone from the Kingdom of Canara to Seringapatama.

As regards Bonsulo, the Armistice is still maintained, and the terms of peace have not been agreed upon for waiting for the resolution of Her Majesty by the frigate St. Anne
(Santa Ana) which has not arrived yet and is thought to have touched at Moçambique, although the said Bonsulo continues to make some insults by arresting the ships of the State and other hostilities.

Goa, May 9, 1784


(Pissurlencar: Antegualhas: Fascisulo II LXXVII, p. 303. The "surio" that is mentioned in the letter is a Moplah, which community was specially favoured by Tippu.)

III. Kirkpatrick Version of Tippu's Account of the Babylonian Captivity at Seringapatnam

Source: Kirkpatrick, Select Papers, p. 59.

"The Portuguese Nazarenes established themselves about three hundred years ago in a factory near the seashore and on the banks of a large river. This place they obtained of the Rajah of Sonda under the pretext of trading, and here awaiting themselves of the opportunities, they acquired possession of a territory yielding a yearly revenue of three or four lacs of rupees throughout which they equally prohibited fasts and prayers among the Mussalman inhabitants and the worship of idols among Hindus; finally expelling from thence all who refused to embrace their religion, which the Hindus were required to do within three days, under pain, if they remained in the country after tat time, of being forcibly converted to it: some of the people alarmed at this proceeding abandoned their property and homes, and took refuge in other countries but the greater part, considering the danger as improbable and not possessing means of removing their effects, preferred remaining: whereupon these infidel Nazarenes, at the end of the appointed time, obliged them all to embrace their false religion. Some time after this, by means of gifts and presents distributed among the Rajahs and Amils of that quarter, they were suffered to erect from eighty to hundred idol temples in the countries of Nagger (Bednore), Sunda and Kurial-Bunder (Mangalore) in each of which they placed a Padre or two whose religion in fact was that of the Guebres (the ancient Parsis or Fire-Worshippers); and by whose means they prevailed, partly by artifice and partly by tempting the avarice (of the poor classes) on vast numbers of the inhabitants to adopt their faith. Such was the state of things here, when, by the divine favor, and through the aid of the Asylum of Prophecy and with the help of the conquering Lion of God, the port of Kurial fell into our hands: on which occasion the odious proceedings of these accursed padres becoming fully known to us, and causing our zeal for the faith to boil over, we instantly directed the Dewan (Minister) of the Hazur Kutchery (Chief Office) to prepare a list of houses occupied by these Christians, taking care not to omit a single habitation. The officers of the Kutchery, accordingly, employing the Matusudis of Sonda, Naggar, Kurial etc. for this purpose soon prepared and delivered to us a detailed report on the subject. After this we caused an officer and soldiers to be stationed in every place inhabited by the Christians, signifying to them that, at the end of a certain time, they should receive further orders, which they were then to carry into full effect. These men and officers being all arrived at their respective posts, the following orders were transmitted to them viz. on such a day of the week and month and at the hour of the morning prayer let all the Christians be made prisoners and dispatched to our presence: and on the sealed cover or superscription, of each of these dispatches was specified the day of the week and month on which it was to be opened and read. Accordingly, our orders were everywhere opened at the same moment and at the same hour (namely that of morning prayer) were the whole of the Christians male and female without the exception of a single individual to the number of sixty thousand made prisoners and dispatched to our presence from whence we caused them, after furnishing them duly with provisions to be conveyed under proper guards to Seringapatam to the Talukdars of which place we sent orders, directing that the said Christians should be divided into Risalas or Coops of five hundred men and a person of reputed and upright character placed as Risaldar at the head of each. Of these Risalas four (together with their women and children) were directed to be stationed at each of the following places... where they were duly fed and clothed and ultimately admitted to the honor of Islamism; and the appellation of Ahmedy was bestowed on the collective body."

IV. James Scurry's Account

James Scurry, The Captivity, Sufferings And Escape of James Scurry Who Was Detained a Prisoner During Ten Years In The Dominions of Hyder Ali and Tippu Saheb. Written by himself, London, 1824.

Pages 99-100:

One Smith, a deserter from the Company's service, was sent for one morning to read what was written on the bottom of the pewter plates or dishes; but not pleasing the Killadare (Commandant of a killa or fortress) in deciphering the words, he was sent away, and another, who could read better, ordered to be brought to the durbar, or court of audience. I was selected; and approaching with fear, I made my salam with as much reverence as I could to one of the greatest men in his kingdom. He ordered the buxer, or paymaster, to give me one of the dishes. It was very legible and I read it to his satisfaction, interpreted by a youth who was taken with the general; the other three were were put into my hands successively and I read them all. The purport was that he knew that he was poisoned, and by order of Tippoo; that his time was short; that he must submit to his fate; that he had borrowed 3,30,000 Rupees from the Malabar Christians, for the support of his army, since he left Bombay; closing with a sincere request, that those who read what was written, or engraven rather, for it appeared to have been done with a fort or a nail, and should be so fortunate as to reach any of the Presidencies (i.e. Bombay, Calcutta or Madras), should make it known to the Governor and Council, when they would be amply rewarded — when the passage relative to the money was first mentioned, the Killedare appeared quite sanguine, under an idea that it was attainable; but when he understood the meaning of it, he, with the most sovereign contempt, and in the most indignant manner, cried, 'Ah! Bannchut!' the meaning of which I cannot, with decency, explain; those who know the Moorish language will understand it. One of the general's servants suffered with him. The other, Goerge Madan, was with us some years after; he was not removed till the general was taken away by night; where he was buried, we never could learn, but, no doubt, in some dirty hole."

[Footnote: This shows that General Mathews wrote on the plates after he was poisoned and before his death. It was intended that General Mathews should die by poison administered in milk; but as it did not operate, in their view, with sufficient expedition, his guards closed his existence with the butts of their firelocks.]
James Scurry, "The Captivity, Sufferings And Escape of James Scurry Who Was Detained a Prisoner During Ten Years In The Dominions of Hyder Ali and Tippu Saheb." Written by himself, London, 1824.

Pages 102-106:

"Now followed the fate of the poor Malabar Christians, of which I shall consider myself the innocent cause, in reading what was written by General Mathews, as stated in the preceding note. Their country was invested by Tippu's army, and they were driven men, women and children to the number of 30,000 to Sirangapatam where all who were fit to carry arms were circumcised and forwarded into four battalions. The sufferings of these poor creatures were most excruciating: one circumstance which came under my immediate notice, I will attempt to describe: when recovered they were armed and drilled, and ordered to Mysore, nine miles from the capital, but for what purpose we could not learn. Their daughters were many of them beautiful girls; and Tippu was determined to have them for his seraglio: but this they refused; and Mysore was invested by his orders, and the four battalions were disarmed and brought prisoners to Sirangapatam. This being done, the officers tied their hands behind them. The Chambars or Sandalmakers were then sent for and their noses ears and upper lips were cut off. They were then mounted on asses, their faces towards the tail and led through Patan, with a wretch before them proclaming their crime. One fell from his beast and expired on the spot through loss of blood. Such a mangled and bloody scene excited the compassion of numbers and our hearts were ready to burst at the inhuman sight. It was reported that Tippu relented in this case, and I rather think it true, as he never gave any further orders respecting their women. The twenty-six that survived were sent to his different arsenals where after the lapse of a few years I saw several of them lingering out a most miserable existence.

Note: No doubt many of them survived the downfall of Tippu and I should have been proud to hear that the Company had done something for those brave unfortunate men, and particularly so as all their miseries originated from an English general. The prison from whence the Malabar Christians were brought to have their noses and ears cut off for refusing their daughters when Tippu demanded them for his seraglio was a horrid dismal hole which we named the Bail (Buffalo), as there was a image, considerably larger than life, of that animal on that building, which was originally designed for a Hindoo place of worship, but by Tippu converted into a dungeon. This prison we frequently passed and expected sooner or later to occupy some part of it. Very few who were so unfortunate to be confined here, escaped with less punishment than the loss of their nose and ears. The Chambars by whom the operation was performed are held in abhorrence by the Mahomedans, and, on that account they were consigned to this office; and such was their brutality that they frequently cut, or sawed rather, the upper lip off with the nose leaving the poor unfortunate wretch a pitiable object, to spin out a most miserable existence, being always sent to Tippu's arsenals to hard labor on a scanty allowance."

V. Wilk's Version

Wilks, Mysore, Vol II. p. 100-101

[Quoting a document dating from Tipu Sultan's time:]
"Among the memorable events of this wonderful year was the making Mussalmans of the Nazarene Christians. Now Christian in the language of the Franks is applied to designate a new convert to the religion of Jesus (on whose race be benediction and peace) and as compound word it is synonymous with Eesovian — persons of the religion of Jesus, for in the language of the Franks Christ is a name of the Lord Jesus; but to proceed with our subject.

"The Portuguese Nazarenes who for a long time possessed factories on the sea coast, obtained about 300 years ago, an establishment of this nature, on pretence of trade on the coast of Soonda at a place situated midway in the course of a large river and estuary, and in process of time, watching their opportunity, obtained from the Rajah a country yielding a revenue of three or four lacs of rupees. They then proceeded to prohibit the Mahammadan worship within these limits and to expel its votaries. To the Brahmins and other Hindus they proclaimed a notice of three days within which time they were at liberty to depart, and in failure to be enrolled in the new religion. Some alarmed at the proposition abandoned their property and possessions; other deeming the whole to be an empty threat ventured to remain; and on the appointed day the Nazarenes enrolled them in their own foolish religion. In process of time and by means of rare presents and flattery and pecuniary offerings they prevailed on the senseless rajas of Nuggar, Coorial and Sonda to tolerate their further proceedings and began gradually to erect shrines and chapels (Kelusha — ecclesia) and in each of these idol temples established one or two padres, that is to say monks who deluding the weak and pliant populace by a fluency of tongue alternately soothing and severe, and by liberal and munificent gifts led they way to their abolished religion; and in this manner made a multitude of Christians and continued to that day the same practices. When his Majesty the Shadow of God was informed of these circumstances, the rage of Islam began to boil in his breast. He first gave orders that a special enumeration and description should be made and transmitted of the houses of the Christians in each district; detachments under trusty officers were then distributed in the proper places with sealed orders to be opened and executed on one and the same day after the first devotions of the morning; and in conformity to these instructions 60,000 persons great and small of both sexes were seized and carried to the resplendent presence; whence, being placed under proper guardians and provided with everything needful, they were dispatched to the royal capital and being formed into battalions of five hundred each under the command of officers well instructed in the faith they were honored with the distinction of Islam. They were finally distributed to the principal garrisons with orders for a daily provision of food apparel and other requisites; and in the year of their reception into the pale of Islam is designated in the following district, each hemistich of which contains the date. The firmament is enlightened by the sect of Ahmad — God is the protector of the religion of Ahmad; and as a distinctive appellation off this race, they were thenceforth called Ahmady."
A proceeding of this horrible nature recorded in his own words and sung by the laureate of the court as one of the exploits of his reign gives an authentic impress of his mind which no professed delineation of character is capable of conveying; the true numbers were about 30,000. The murderous consequences of this wantonly driving off the peaceful and unoffending inhabitants of his own country into captivity and agony were not so fatal as in subsequent cases when the captives were exclusively from the sea coast; but as far as could be ascertained from conjecture one-third of the number did not survive the first year.

VI. Letter to the Secretary of State Martinho de Melo e Castro

Pissurlencar: Antegualhas: Fascisulo II, No. 85, and reproduced in Silva as Appendix No. 28. Letter probably written by a Francisco Menezes...

December 7, 1785.

The conquests which Tippu Sultan has recently made in the dominions of the Mahrattas of the fortress of Nargunda and of the whole district of Kittur has put him in a position to blockade this State to a distance of five days of marching from the eastern side to the south-south-east where his dominions bound the State, and of preventing the entry of his goods and supplies easily as since last year have shown difficulties absolute prohibition of exporting goods from his port to that of Goa the same time his lands abound in supplies which are allowed to export to the ports of Tellicherry, Mahe and Rajapur and others. This hostile conduct practiced by some chieftains even of those that show less aversion that Tippu Sultan to the European establishments in Asia would easily show his projects as regards the port of Goa which has been since he ascended the throne one of the objects on which he has shown great interest as it has been assured to me by some persons of his own kingdom. He has put me into a strong suspicion that this tyrant who has all the bad qualities of his father in excess without having any of his good qualities has the same hostile intentions against this Government as without any motive which he has shown against his other neighbors. The unfaithful character of this potentate, duplicity, his powerful army and above all his nearness compel me to take all precautions for the proper defence of this State in case it is attacked as it is constantly rumored. If that happens all the ardent desire i have in serving your Majesty and give you glory and success to the arms of Portugal, I will do it to the utmost; thus you can assure yourself to His Majesty. But I would be failing essentially in my duties if I were to omit to bring to the notice of His Majesty two important failings of Government.....

VII. Account of a Surviving Captive, A Mr. Silva of Gangolim

Letter of a Mr. L.R. Silva to his sister, copy of which was given by an advocate, M.M. Shanbhag, to the author, Severino da Silva, and reproduced as Appendix No. 74:

November 22, 1904.

My dear Sister,

Though you are so old, I have not yet told you what our beloved grandfather did and what he suffered. I am now narrating to you what he told me in almost the same words. They were seven brothers and one sister. The sister died at an early age. She was buried by putting on the clothes which are seen on pictures of angels. All the brothers were much grieved at the sad loss.... After this, a rakshasa
("demon" or monster) by name Tippu Sultan seized all the Christians from Sadashivgad to Coorg and marched them to Pattana. My grandfather and all his brothers also were taken by the sepoys ("soldiers"). Only because grandfather's father and mother were too old and weak, they were left behind. All these seven were imprisoned. For many days they were confined to different rooms separated from one another. Sometimes they were taken out. They suffered much because they were not given food. If they were given one handful of ragi flour, they were not given salt or anything else. Even this ragi flour was given occasionally. There was nothing to dress and nothing to cover in the night. With such afflictions, six brothers died. My grandfather, while he was allowed to go out for a while, used to eat leaves or pieces of leather if available, because he could not sustain the pangs of hunger. But he used to recite the Rosary daily, with the rosary in hand. One day when the grandfather was brought out along with or by (illegible) he disappeared without the knowledge of anybody into a bamboo bush. The sepoys had not seen him. There were thousands of people; and there were the solemnities of the Moharrum festival. Taking this opportunity, grandfather concealed himself. Then the sepoys took all the people inside and closed the gates of the town. At that time my grandfather was eight years old. If a person who had escaped was found, the punishment under the orders of Tippu was the cutting off of the ears, nose, the feet and one hand. The meting out of this punishment was seen by him; and he was much afraid that if he was caught he would be punished similarly. He began reciting the Rosary and praying that he should not be a victim to such punishment, this boy of eight years got out of the bush and began to run. To come home was a question of many days. He looked to and from on the road and very carefully too. The sight of any man even at a great distance was enough to drive him into the dense jungle to take shelter in some bush. He suffered much for want of rice. He lived on leaves and whatever he found in the jungle. While he was in this weak and lingering condition, one day he met a sepoy, who caught him and took him with him. There was no other alternative but to follow the sepoy. While he was in this plight and waling on the road of a place known as Asthari, he was given a severe blow on the head by the sepoy. Immediately, grandfather fell down senseless. The sepoy left him there thinking that he was dead, and walked away. After a long time, he recovered his senses. Yet his head was reeling and was very weak. Then the fright that if caught again, he would be taken back, forced him to remain in a jungle. Days and nights he passed in jungles. One day, he met two cartmen of his acquaintance going to the house of their relations. They recognized grandfather and treated him affectionately and took him to their relations and gave him food. The food consisted of bakri, curry of eggs and rice. Praising the Lord, he took the food which he craved for a long time. Later, by the grace of God, this boy returned to the house of his parents. 'Out of the seven brothers, this was the only one who returned alive,' so saying, his aged parents clasped him. After this he was educated and later he became an important man; he rendered assistance to several priests who loved him. He remained amidst them assisting them in all their needs. He was engaged to a girl in Goa. The girl belonged to a good family and was given a large dowry. Her name was Anna Maria Rodricks (Lúcio — Ana-Maria Rodrigues). The marriage was duly celebrated. There are many priests in that (i.e. Rodrigues) family.
©Lúcio Mascarenhas
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