he reserve, politeness and correctness of the
two boys' conduct impressed all who saw them. Abdul Khalik was
dark, with thick lips and a long thoughtful face. Moiz-ud-din was
remarkably fair with a small round face, large full eyes and a more
animated appearance. The boys' mother, described by Dirom as 'a
beautiful, delicate woman,' had died of fright and apprehension
after the British attack on Tipu's lines. 'This melancholy event
made the situation of the youngest boy doubly interesting, and,
with the other circumstances, occasioned his attracting by much
the most notice,' observed the Scotsman. He was said to be Tipu's
favourite son and his intended heir, and also seemed to be the vakeel's
favourite. At their signal, he recited Koranic and Persian verses
which he had learned by heart.
Immediately after their
surrender, the
hostage princes were sent to
Madras, pausing
en route to visit their grandfather Haidar's tomb at Kolar, and
arriving at Madras on 29th June 1792. Before occupying a house in
the Fort, the princes were housed in tents on 'the Island' at Madras.
A contemporary watercolour, dated March 1794, by Thomas Marriott
(British Library OIOC: WD 4240). shows the encampment, surrounded
by a cannaut or canvas awning, with distinctive patterned border.
Major Dirom, describing a similar structure
at Seringapatam, notes that it was scalloped at the top, with richly
ornamented borders. He refers to it as 'the green cannaut or tent
used by the Sultaun in the field, of which we had so often traced
the marks during the war.'
Tipu's sons were well looked after at Madras, where Col. Doveton
was their kindly guardian. They attended a performance of Handel's
'Judas Maccabeus,' and amateur dramatic performances, and on 5th
July 1792, Lady Oakley, wife of the Governor of Madras, organised
an entertainment with dancing. Dirom records that 'the minuets proved
too grave a cast to afford much entertainment to the young princes
�..but a cotillon was very well performed and a strathspey (the
name of a Scottish waltz) pleased them very much.' On 15th August,
the princes gave a dinner '� la Seringapatam' to Sir Charles and
Lady Oakley, while the Calcutta Gazette, quoting an English newspaper,
announced a new drama on stage at Sadler's Wells Theatre, in distant
London, adding 'We fairly predict Tippoo Saib will be the greatest
favourite ever.'
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