Page:Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan.djvu/130

126 having on pretence of trade obtained settlements on the western coast, had prohibited Musalmáns from practising their faith, and expelled Hindus from their territory, those who remained, in spite of the prohibition, being enrolled as Christians. He added that, in process of time, they won over the local Rájás to tolerate their proceedings, and by cajoling the pliant population, made numerous converts to their 'abandoned religion.' 'His Majesty, the shadow of God,' so runs his bombastic effusion, 'being informed of these circumstances, the rage of Islám began to boil in his breast. He ordered that an enumeration and description of the houses of all Christians should be made, and then sent detachments under trusty officers who, after early prayers, acting in accordance with their instructions, seized 60,000 (sic) persons, great and small of both sexes, who were carried to the resplendent presence. They were then despatched to the capital, and the males being formed into battalions of five hundred each, under the command of officers well instructed in the faith, were honoured with the distinction of Islám, and distributed in the principal garrisons.' These unfortunate people received the appellation of 'Ahmadi' or 'praiseworthy,' and the date of their forcible conversion was commemorated by the phrase, 'God is the protector of the religion of Ahmad .'