639. Estimating the total number of Europeans engaged (including two regiments with the Bombay army) at about 7,000, and the native troops (exclusive of the Nizám's contingent) at 20,000, this would show that the proportionate loss in the ranks of the former was about four times that in the native troops. The fact may be attributed in great measure to the heavy loss among the Europeans in the actual assault.
It is not within the scope of this narrative to detail the steps taken by Lord Mornington after the fall of Seringapatam. It may perhaps suffice to say that they evinced in an uncommon degree political sagacity, sound judgment, and generosity. The claims of our allies, the Nizám and the Maráthás, were duly considered. To revive a hostile power in the person of one of Tipú's sons was clearly inadvisable, and the question therefore arose as to how to dispose of the conquered territory. The solution which the Governor-General arrived at was to divide part of the Sultán's dominions between the allies. The British Government received a territory yielding 537,000 Kánthirái pagodas[1], and including all the western coast, while to the Nizám were allotted
- ↑ These pagodas were originally struck by Rájá Kánthirái (1638-58), six of them equalling five star pagodas. The native name for this coin is 'varáha,' or 'boar,' one of the incarnations of Vishnu, which was the crest of some of the older Mysore dynasties. The word pagoda is a Portuguese name for the coin, and a supposed corruption of the Persian 'but-kadah,' an idol temple, many of the pagodas showing a temple on the obverse face. [But see Jule's Glossary for a discussion of its possible derivations.] The intrinsic value is about three rupees.
