fuaded M. BuJJy, then in the neighborhood, to remove the hated
rival. The French general marched with part o f his forces, and
with infinite difficulty inverted the fort. The Polygar and his
garrifon fought with the indignant ferocity of wild hearts, defending
their dens and families, and boldly ftriving to overthrow
the fcaling ladders at the certain expence of their lives.
Rangarao feeing that no hopes were left, affembled his principal
men, told them there was no hopes of defending the fort,
and that it was immediately; neceflary to preferve their wives
and children from the violation of Europeans, and the more
ignominious authority of Vizeramrauze. A number called
without diftinbtion, fummoned to perform the horrid Joar;
they proceeded, every man with a torch, his lance, and poi-
gnard, to the habitations in the middle of the fort, to which
they fet fire indifcriminately, plying the flame with ftraw prepared
with pitch and brimftone, and every man ftabbed, without
remorfe, the woman or child whichfoever attempted to
efcape the flame or fuffocation, to the amount o f near five
hundred: not the helplefs infant, clinging to the bofom of its
mother, iaved the life o f either from the hand of the huiband
and father. The utmoft excefies, whether of revenge or rage,
were exceeded by the atrocious prejudices which dictated and
perfopned this horrible facrifice; the maflacre being finifhed,
thofe who accompliihed it returned, like men agitated by the
furies, to die themfelves on the walls. Rangarao was in that
inftant killed by a mufquet-ball, after which his friends, attempting
to revenge his death, fell with the mbit defperate
valour j
valour; nor in the laft agony would they refign their poignard
but into the hands o f death.
T h e daughter o f the conflift being completed, another,
much more dreadful, prefented itfelf in the area below. The
tranfport of vibtory loft all its jo y ; all gazed on one another
with filent aftoniihment and remorfe, and the fierceft could not
refufe a tear to the deplorable deftrubtion ipread before them.
Whilft contemplating it, an old man leading a boy was perceived
advancing from a diftant recefs; he was welcomed with
much attention and refpebt, and condubted by the crowd to
Mr. Law, to whom he prefented the child with thefe words:
“ This is the fon of Rangarao, whom I have preferved againft
“ his father’s will.” Another emotion now fucceeded, and the
prefervation of this infant was felt by all as fome alleviation to
the horrible cataftrophe o f which they had been the unfortunate
authors. The tutor and child were immediately fent to
M. Rujfy, who having heard o f the condition o f the fort, would
not go into it, but remained in his tent, where he received the
facred captives with the humanity o f a guardian appointed by
the ftrongeft claims o f nature, and immediately commanded
patents to be prepared, appointing the fon lord of the territory
which he had offered his father in exchange for the diftribts o f
Bobilee, and ordered them to be ftribtly guarded in the camp
from the malevolence of enemies.
V e n g e a n c e moft fpeedily overtook Vizeramrauze, the author
of the dire tragedy. Four o f the foldiers o f Rangarao, on
feeing him fall, concealed themfelves in an obfcure part of the
fort till night was far advanced; they dropped down the walls,
and