at "their arrival is of the utmost consequence, as, on
measuring our bags to ascertain the rice they really contained, they
were found so much diminished, by loss or fraud, that eighteen days
provisions for the fighting men, at half allowance, is all that remains
in camp; our supplies must, therefore, arrive before the 6th of May, to
save us from extreme distress." Papers, p. 49.

Further beyond this coincidence, Captain Macleod's second of two
reports, dated Seringapatam, 29th June, 1799, says, "N.B. The 9025
mercals of rice remained in charge of Captain Macleod till Seringapatam
was taken; no part of it was issued before the 18th May. E.E. (Signed)
William Macleod, _late_ Superintendant of Supplies." Notwithstanding,
then, the extreme distress of the army, as just mentioned by Lord
Harris, we here find Captain Macleod admitting that he was a holder of
three days grain for 30,000 men, at whole allowance, not before but
after the 18th of May. Our inference is, what others have frequently
drawn in this case, that there was always a plenty rather than ever any
scarcity of grain.[G]

[G] N.B. One mercal is twelve seers.

Finally, we are to produce Major Hart's dubash, the already mentioned
Sadashevah Moodiliar, as tampering among other of Major Hart's head
people, with Subidar Enom Beg, during the intervals of this native
soldier's examination by the Committee of Inquiry.

The Committee says, "from the very exact concurrence observed throughout
the depositions of the maistries (carriers) and head owners, (of
bullocks,) already examined, it appears that a further examination
of persons of those descriptions will not tend to afford any new
information on the subject under investigation; but as the native
commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the details which were
employed with the grain-department may, from their observation of the
conduct of the maistries and bullock-owners during the service, be able
to speak particularly to points connected therewith, the Committee call
upon Subidar Enom Beg, of the first battalion of the 12th regiment of
native infantry." Papers, p. 53.

And having first disproved, in common with other guards during the
march, the alleged irruptions of the enemy's horse, as counterpleaded
by the benjarries, even in phalanx form, Subidar Enom Beg, "of his own
accord," next informs the Committee, that, "about eleven o'clock in the
forenoon of yesterday, the _head conicopoly_ of the grain-