r A OF THE
GAROO.
JURA BE-
ED IN 1751
Barra-mahal (which includes Selim) is to the north-eaft of
Dindigul, and extends in length north-eafterly about a hundred
and fifteen miles. Thefe provinces border on the Carnatic,
and on Coimbetore, and, containing the paffes through which
S’ippoo muft force his way into our territories, are of no fniall
importance to the fecurity of our poffefiions *, and alfo give us
the entrance into the dominions o f our ambitious neighbor.
T h e city of Madura was a fquare defended by a double wall
and a fo fs ; each fide was in extent a thoufand yards : it had
been in antient times the feat of a prince, fovereign not only
of this province, but alfo thofe of Pritcbinopofy and Pinevelly.
Madura ftands on the river Faygaroo, about fixty miles from
the fea, and in Lat. 9° 52' 30". This is the firft river on the eaft-
ern coaft which has its Delta : it includes the great projection
Koyel; and between the mouths of the fouthern and moft
northern ftream prefents a front o f about fifty-fix miles.
To return to Madura!— The city was befieged in 1751, by
a Captain Cope. This is one of the many inftanees in which
the Europeans interfered in the difputes o f thofe very people,
among which they obtained a fettlement in the guife of humble
and fuppliant merchants. Sometimes the French, and
' fometimes the Englijh, were the aggreffors, i. e. fided, and took
a warm part with the Indian princes, who had held up the
allurement o f gold, the price of their afiiftance. Cope made his
breach in the firft wall in Madura with the only cannon he
had. The Europeans, and the Sepoys, or Indian foldiers trained
* See Mr. Rennet’s mott .accurate Memoir on the fubject o f the Partition Treaty, and the
a t ©idant map, 1792.
§ to
to European difcipline, bravely entered the breach. A lingular
fight prefented itfelf at the foot. In the fecond wall
appeared three champions (one a very bulky man in complete
armour) who fought with the utmoft gallantry, till they
fell overpowered with numbers. The Madurians had fo fe-
cured the inner wall, that Cope, after lome lofs, was obliged
to retire, and to burft his fingle cannon, which had done fuch
fervice, leaft it ihould fall a trophy into the hand o f the
enemy*. This war, and another in Tinevelly, were carried on by
the Englijh in fupport of their ally, the Nabob of the Carnatic,
from whofe ufurped power thofe provinces had revolted, pof-
fibly in fome diftant period.
T h e next coaft is that of the two Moravars, the greater and
the leffer: the latter is alfo called Shevigunga. In 1773 we car"
ried our arms into thefe countries, under the conduit o f General
Jofeph Smith, who, after killing the Rajah, effected its conqueft.
Thefe, and the adjacent countries, are covered with thick
forefts, and little cultivated, by reafon o f the favage inhabitants,
the Polygars and Colleries, who may be truly ftyled Sylvejlres
homines : As to the word Collerie.it fignifies a thief, and moft
truly, for plunder is their foie employ : their government, and
that o f the Polygars, is feudal. Of the Colleries, there are thirty
or forty thoufand. Calicoil was the ftrong hold o f the lord
paramount the Pajah, furrounded by woods and artificial
ftrengths: he was in it when furprifed and llain. More will
be faid of the Polygars, when we fpeak of the famous chieftain
of Bobilee, in the northern Circars.
* Orme, i, p. 120.
e 2 t h e
T h e M o r a v
a r s .
P o l y g a r s a n d
C o l l e r i e s .