The twelfth and last volume of that unique record of
French rule in India from the native standpoint, The Diary of Ananda Ranga Pilled, has just been issued by the Madras Govern- ment Press (3 rupees) in the translation edited by Professor Dodwell. Ranga Pillai was the leading Hindu merchant in Pondicherry and the faithful ally of Dupleix and his successor Leyrit. This closing volume deals with the fatal year 1780. There is no entry about Wandewash, where in January Coote destroyed the last French field army. But the straits to which Pondicherry was reduced as Coote slowly approached the town and cut off supplies are very vividly indicated by the diarist. Lally, the French commander, tried to raise money from the rich Indians, and searched the houses for food, while he waited in vain for a French fleet to drive off the besiegers. Ranga Pillai died in January, 1761, four days before the town surrendered.
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