C o m p o n e n t
T r e e s a n d
P l a n t s .
This begins oppofite to each end of the ifland, and reaches
the edge o f the river. It extends northward, oppofite to the
weftern end of the ifland, but contrails in breadth as it paffes
to the eaftern end. The bound hedge is often defended at
certain intervals or openings by fmall redoubts, to interrupt the
pioneers employed in cutting a breach through it : Such were
thofe in the bound hedge at Pondicherry, which fo long im*
peded the taking of the place, in 1760, by Colonel Coote *.
T h e s e local defences are formed o f every thorny tree or
cauftic plant of the climate. Palmira trees, or the Borajus fla-
belliformis, are the primary. Thefe are planted to the depth
of from thirty to fifty feet. In the interfiices of the trees,
which are very clofely placed, are confufedly fown or fet, the
following plants. Pandanus odoratijjimus, or wild pine; fée
my preceding volume, p. 241 ; Caffus Tuna, Euphorbia Tira-
culla, or milky hedge. The juice o f this is fo cauftic as to
fcald not only the human ikin, but the hide o f a horfe, on
whom it may fall in forcing through this infernal hedge. Several
other forts of Euphorbia : The Aloe littoralis of Koenig, Convolvulus
muricatus, and other Convolvuli. The Mimofa cinerea,
hórrida, injlia, and another, as yet undefcribed, armed with moft
dreadful thorns. The Guiliadina unite their powers ; intermixed
is the Guil. Bonducella, Guil. Bonduc, and another not laid before
the public, to which Koenig gives the epithet lacinians,
which it fully merits. The Calamus rotang, or rattan, and the
Arunda bambo, often afiift in the impenetrability. The laft is
* Orme’s Hjift. i. p. 101. ii. p. 665.
remarked
E A S T E R N H I N D O O S T A N . &7
remarked to be admirable for the purpofe, fince nothing equals
it in refitting the edge o f the ax, or the fubtile fury of fire*.
To conclude, plants innumerable, o f unknown fpecies, the feeds
o f which, arrefted by the antient hedge, grow and intermix,
preferving it in order and verdure everlafting.
W i t h i n the limits of this ftrong defence Tippoo formed his
fortified camp, ftrengthened with every thing which his exten-
five. mind could invent. In his front line, were a hundred
pieces of cannon. In the fort and ifland, or the fecond line,
three, hundred more. Numbers of redoubts, well provided with
artillery,, were difperfed in various places ; one, called the Sultan's,
was under his. peculiar care;, it was ill defended, and
bravely attacked : it fell beneath our fuperior valour. The enemy,
afhamed of their conduél, made feveral defperate attempts
to retrieve their charaiter, and regain the royal charge. We
preferved our honor, but at the expence of numbers o f brave
men, officers and privates. Captain Sibbald, the commander of
the detachment, was killed, bravely fighting. As a pofthumous
reward, the name o f Sultan's was changed to S i b b a l d ’s redoubt
t : this may be faid to have decided the fate of Serin-
gapatam. To Mr. T)irom\ I leave the conclufion of the glorious
event.— Let me only give the difparity of numbers between
the aflailants and defendants, as> the moft convincing
proof of the fuperiority of Britijh valour. Our troops con-
fifted only of two thoufand eight hundred Europeans, and five
thoufand nine hundred natives. The total eight thoufand
* Dirom, p. 68.
9
t P. p. 170,171. i P. 218.
feven