This is a British government forecast of Indian troops available
for service in the British army elsewhere in the world. At the time,
Tipu Sultan was still
resisting the British, and Lieutenant Campbell points out that fewer
soldiers will be available if Tipu has not been defeated within the
year. Note that here 'Lascars' is used to describe soldiers. In other
contexts, particularly in Britain itself, the term usually referred
to Indian sailors.
CO 77/26, ff. 10-11 (March 1791) |