Lot Essay
See the note on Southern India above lot 65.
Sankaridrug was one of the most important of the hill forts which had been captured the British.
'24 May 1792: The morning Cloudy - our Journey to Sankry Durgum pleasant (abt 15 Miles). Waited on Lieut MacDonald who introduced us to Major Cuppage commanding at Sankry Droog with whom we dined. Pitched near the East Gate of the Pettah [i.e. the town at the base of the hill]. 25 May: At daybreak we began to ascend the Droog - the road the whole way up, pretty good - rough steps tho' in part so slippery from their not being horizontally laid, that obliged us to move with Caution - took our breakfast with us. Descended the Rock abt 1 oC found our thighs a little tired before we reached the bottom - the Day cloudy which to us was a fortunate circumstance. On the top are several reservoirs of good Water which we were informed was sufficient to supply 5,000 men for Six Months - there are also Granaries for Rice, Sugar, Ghee, Oil, Powder &c' (Journal).
'The fortress ... seems elevated almost into the clouds; its sides are in many parts formed of perpendicular cliffs; it is moreover surrounded with every impediment, natural or artificial, that can render access either impossible or difficult; and all this to enable one little tyrant to resist the hostility of another, or to favour his own projects of vengeance or plunder...In fact, while we contemplate the nature and situation of the place, with the circumstances combined with it, we cannot but be strongly impressed with an idea of the ferocious and sanguinary propensities of all animated nature' (Oriental Scenery).
A different view of the same fort appears in Oriental Scenery, vol.IV, no.7.
Sankaridrug was one of the most important of the hill forts which had been captured the British.
'24 May 1792: The morning Cloudy - our Journey to Sankry Durgum pleasant (abt 15 Miles). Waited on Lieut MacDonald who introduced us to Major Cuppage commanding at Sankry Droog with whom we dined. Pitched near the East Gate of the Pettah [i.e. the town at the base of the hill]. 25 May: At daybreak we began to ascend the Droog - the road the whole way up, pretty good - rough steps tho' in part so slippery from their not being horizontally laid, that obliged us to move with Caution - took our breakfast with us. Descended the Rock abt 1 oC found our thighs a little tired before we reached the bottom - the Day cloudy which to us was a fortunate circumstance. On the top are several reservoirs of good Water which we were informed was sufficient to supply 5,000 men for Six Months - there are also Granaries for Rice, Sugar, Ghee, Oil, Powder &c' (Journal).
'The fortress ... seems elevated almost into the clouds; its sides are in many parts formed of perpendicular cliffs; it is moreover surrounded with every impediment, natural or artificial, that can render access either impossible or difficult; and all this to enable one little tyrant to resist the hostility of another, or to favour his own projects of vengeance or plunder...In fact, while we contemplate the nature and situation of the place, with the circumstances combined with it, we cannot but be strongly impressed with an idea of the ferocious and sanguinary propensities of all animated nature' (Oriental Scenery).
A different view of the same fort appears in Oriental Scenery, vol.IV, no.7.