Page 269 - Eye of the beholder

RAYACOTTAI IN BARAMAHAL BOOK III ORIENTAL SCENERY, PLATE 12, MAY 1792
Rayacottai is one of the highest and strongest hill forts of the Baramahal. It is the hilly country between the Mysore plateau and the plains of Tamil Nadu. Like Hosur it formed part of a chain of military outposts used by Tipu Sultan forces on their campaign in the Tamil country. It was captured in July 1791 by Major Gowdie, during the third Anglo-Mysore War. According to the Treaty of Srirangapatna, this fort came into the hands of the British, who soon carried out the assault in the area, which contained the commercial suburb outside the fortress. Initially the commandant of the fort, after slight resistance gave up this lofty and spacious fort to the British, because holding on to it would have meant starvation and a tiresome blockade.
Rayacottai commanded the southern end of the pass whose northern end was guarded by Hosur. Thomas Daniell proudly shows the British flag flying from a lookout halfway up the hill in the fortification to the left proclaiming the recent victory.
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