"t 173 '] 



XXVII. Memorandum refpecling the "Hunting Eftablijhment 

 of Tippoo Sultaun, at Seringapatam ; with an Account of 

 the Chetas fent to his Majcjiy, and now kept in the Tower 3 

 London *. 



T, 



H E principal amufement followed by Tippoo Sultaun, 

 at Seringapatam, for feveral years, was to hunt antelopes with 

 chetasf. His predilection for this diverfion was manifefted 

 in the precautions taken to preferve the game, and the at- 

 tention paid to render the fport as perfect as poffible. A 

 considerable tract of ground to the fouth-weft of Seringapa- 

 tam, and called the rumna, was 'exclufively appropriated for 

 the maintenance of the game, and guarded with the ulmoft 

 vigilance. There were Teveral hunting bungalows J in dif- 

 ferent part3 of the rumna for the fultaun to retire to after the 

 fatigues of the day. To each of thefe was attached a fmal! 

 eftablifhment of fervants, who were refponfible for the care 

 of the buildings and gardens §. The number of chetas in 

 Tippoo's pofleffions at the period of the capture of Seringa- 

 patam amounted to fixteen ; the greater part of them were 

 well trained. Each cheta had an etiablifhment of four menjj, 

 one cart, and four bullocks ; and the whole were under the' 

 fuperintendance of a meer fhikar, or chief huiitfman, with a 

 certain number of afliftants. 



Whenever Tippoo determined to take the amufement of 

 hunting, one day's notice was generally given to the huntf- 

 men, to prepare the chetas and bullocks ; and on the even- 

 ing preceding the day appointed for this amufement, fix or 

 eight chetas were carried out to fome village near the fpot 

 of the rumna fixed on as the rendezvous for the hunters. At 

 day-break the following morning, the fultaun, accompanied 

 by one or two of his fons, and ten or twelve favourite noble- 

 men, proceeded to the rumna. On thefe excurfions he was 

 attended by a few horfemen, and fome officers called Moota- 



* From the famr. 



\ A fpecies of fpotred tieer, and known, in the relations of travellers, 

 under the name of hunting leopard. 



\ A name ufed in India for a fmall light building. 



§ Each of thefe gardens contained four fmail but neat buildings regu- 

 larly difpolod, and fionting each other; the ground between them being 

 laid out in walks of cyprefs trees. The ground adjacent ro the buildings 

 was alfo laid out in eat dens; and the whole was furrounded by a thick 

 hedge, through which there were entrances and gates. 



N. li. The fultaun choll* whichever of the buildings he preferred, and 

 the party took the others. 



Jj One huntOnaBj two keepers, and one bullockman. 



farrikas, 



