"That gives you a general idea, Dick, of the war with Tippoo.

I saw little of the events after the battle of Porto Novo, as my father was taken ill soon after, and died at Madras.

Seeing that there was no probability, whatever, of the English driving Hyder back, until they had much larger forces and a much better system of management, I remained in Madras until peace was made; then I came back here, rebuilt the palace, and have since been occupied in trying to restore the prosperity of my poor people.
"It is, I feel, a useless task, for it is certain that, ere long, the English will again be engaged with Mysore; and if they are, it is well-nigh certain that Tippoo's hordes will again sweep down from the hills, and carry ruin and desolation everywhere.
"He would, as Hyder had, have the advantage on his side at the beginning of the war.

He has a score of passes to choose from, and can descend on to the plain by any one he may select.

And, even were there a force here capable of giving battle to the whole Mysorean army, it could not watch all the passes, as to do so the army would have to be broken up into a dozen commands.