severing intrepidity. On the 24th of January, 1758, a second assault was made and repulsed as the former had been; but the number of the besieged being now much diminished, Rangarow assembled his kinsmen, and informed them, that as it was impossible to defend the place much longer, or probably even to resist another assault, he had resolved not to survive his misfortunes, nor expose himself and family to be dragged as captives before an enemy whom he despised he did not wish, however, that his own feelings and sentiments should have any influence on their conduct; nor did he see that they stood in the same predicament that he did. But they unanimously approved and adopted his determination. He then sent for his only child, an infant son, and taking him in his arms, and giving him his last embrace and blessing, delivered him to the care of two officers, on whose intrepidity and prudence he could depend, with directions to convey him to one of his friends, a Rajah, among the

western mountains, with this message: Rangarow sends you his son, as the last proof of his confidence and friendship.”

The resolution taken by the men was universally approved and adopted by all their female relatives. A short time was now employed in performing religious ceremonies, and in preparing for the flames those dwellings where they had hitherto lived in peace and happiness. The women assisted the men in that office with alacrity and zeal, and every one received the wound of death, from the hand of the person to whom she was most nearly allied, or gave it with her own. This dreadful scene being closed, the men set fire to their dwellings, that they might yet see this last ceremony performed, and be certain that the bodies of their women should not be exposed to insult.

The enemy observing the conflagration, had again mounted the breach at the time. Rangarow and his followers returned to it. He fell with all who accompanied him, as they disdained to receive quarter. The

only living persons found in the fort were a few Brahmins, who related the dismal tale.*

M. de Bussy, deeply affected by this dreadful catastrophe, resolved to quit a place that constantly recalled to his mind the unhappy fate of its late inhabitants.

The two officers to whose care Rangarow had confided his son, having successfully executed the trust that was committed to them, came disguised as Yogeys, or ascetics, into the camp of Viziaramrauze the day preceding that on which the army was to march from the neighbourhood of Boobeli. With the freedom allowed to those devotees, they took their station under a tree near his tent, without being questioned. In the night they privately entered it, by creeping on the ground, and cutting a

* In Quintus Curtius we have an example similar to this" Sed cum in obsidione perseverasset, oppidani, desperatâ salute, ignem subjecere tectis, se quoque ac liberos conjugesque incendio cremant. Quod cum ipsi augerent, hostes extinguerent, nova forma pugnæ erat; delebant incolæ urbem, hostes defendebant."-Q. Curt. lib. ix. c. 4. (tom. ii. p. 168, ed. Bipont.)

passage in a side of it where there happened to be no centinel. He was a corpulent, unwieldy man: they found him lying on his bed asleep; but awaking him, and telling him who they were, they struck him with their poniards. The guards, on hearing a noise, rushed in; but Viziaramrauze was dead, being pierced with many wounds. Though the murderers might, probably, have escaped by the way they came in, they made no attempt to do so; but standing, and pointing to the body, said, "Look here; we are satisfied." They related the means they had taken to avenge their chief; and, having declared that no other person was concerned with them in their enter

prize, they suffered death with the composure of men who had foreseen their fate, and were perfectly resigned to it.*

* According to the customs of the Hindus, the history of the Boobeli Rajah, and the circumstances above mentioned, are commemorated in songs; as the adventures of chieftains were formerly celebrated and sung by the Bards and Troubadours of Europe.

When Devi-Cotah was taken by the English in 1749, some officers examining the different buildings of the fort, found in one of the chambers a Tanjorine lying on the ground desperately wounded; whom, being unable to move without assistance, the garrison in their precipitate flight had neglected to carry off. He was an officer of rank, and an Indian of a superior cast. He was taken care of by the captors, but with a sullen obstinacy refused every kind of aid, nor would submit to the necessary treatment for his wounds until he found that the surgeon was about to use force; but he was no sooner left alone than he stripped off the bandages, and tore open his wounds. Some persons were, therefore, appointed to watch him. He was removed from the place where he was found into a thatched hut in a distant part of the fort, that his rest might not be disturbed. Finding himself constantly watched, he behaved for three days with so much composure, that they, to whose care he was entrusted, thought he was reconciled