Estimates of Captive Numbers[1]

Barkur Manuscript 80,000              Moore 1905: 41

Ravenshaw               80,000              Silva 1958: 223

Pe Jose Mendes        80,000              Silva 1958: 216

1868 Memorial          80,000              Saldanha 1933: 9

Asiatic Register        70,000              AAR 1799a: 2, Characters

Stewart                      70,000              Stewart 1809: 52

Tipu                            60,000             Wilks 1817a: 528)

Kirkpatrick                60,000             Kirkpatrick 1811: Letter XLII, observations

Abbe Dubois                      40,000      Launay 1898: 139

Abbe Dubois                      44,318               Launay 1898: 139

Abbe Dubois                      50,000             Moore 2003: 317

Abbe Dubois                      60,000           Dubois 1995: 74

Hamilton                   60,000            Hamilton 1820: 255

Munro                                 60,000           The Fifth Report... 1812: 79

1860 Memorial          60,000            Saldanha 1933: 56

Imperial Gazetteer   60,000            Vol XIV: 346

Bristow                      40,000            Bristow 1793: 85

Pe Miranda               40,000            Silva 1958: 211

Punganuri                 30-40,000      Punganuri 1849: 36

Wilks                          30,000            Wilks 1817a: 530

Bowring                     30,000            Bowring 1893: 125

Scurry                                 30,000            Scurry 1824: 103

Viceroy of Goa         20,000            Pissurlencar Antigualhas: LXXVII: 303

Viceroy of Goa         30,000            Pissurlencar Antigualhas: LXXX: 311

Viceroy of Goa         40,000            Pissurlencar Antigualhas: LXXXI: 314

Analysis

The number of captives deported from Kanara should not be confused with the total number of Christians arrested throughout Tipu's domains. A large number lived in the Kanada, Tamil, and Telugu speaking regions as well.[2] Tipu’s figure of 60,000 includes all Christians arrested, including including these. The number from Kanara would, therefore, have been considerably less.

The Goan viceroy’s figures refer to only those coming under the jurisdiction of Goan priests belonging to the padroado posted to the parishes of Kanara. Tipu sent these priests back to Goa. Their reports would have formed the basis for the viceroy's initial estimate of 20,000 (May 1784), revised to 30,000, and in March 1785 to 40,000. This last figure is likely from Pe Miranda's letter to the Goan governor. It referred to Kanara's entire Christian population, and did not take into account those who had escaped (about 7,000). The number of captives were therefore around 33,000.

This estimate aligns with those given by the English chelas, Scurry and Bristow, and by Wilks, who as resident in Mysore from 1803, had access to official documents preserved there. Wilks refers specifically to only those taken from Kanara. Punganuri, an official in Tipu’s revenue department, records a like number.

The highest estimates come from the survivors. Ravenshaw probably obtained his figure of 80,000 from Pe Mendes. The memorial of 1860 revised this downward to 60,000, but in the 1868 memorial it was back to 80,000.

Abbe Dubois's first estimate of 40,000 (December 7, 1799) was revised upwards to 44,318 in 1801 (Launay 1898: 139). The following year, he raised it to over 50,000 after including those from Tanjore, Coimbatore, and other parts of the Carnatic (More 2003: 317). Finally in 1815, he came out with his most-quoted figure of 60,000, saying he got it from “good authority”, evidently government sources in Srirangapatna with whom he was in close contact (Dubois 1823: 74). He also writes that 20,000 had already returned to Kanara. Considering that almost all Kanara Christians had returned to their homeland 15 years after the Captivity ended, and a loss of about 60 percent of the population, the number from Kanara inferred from Abbe Dubois's estimate would be about 33,000.

[1]  Machado (Prabhu), Alan. 2015. Slaves of Sultans. Goa 1556. Saligao

[2] A French priest estimated Tanjore’s Christian population at 60,000, of whom 40,000 were circumcised (More 2003: 317).