1829.)] Tam Garai, the Good Banyan. 135 
- «© Rajah of rajahs! Fora long time we had no resource but war. We 
have more than once given proofs enough of our prowess, in our recep- 
tion of the united forces of your father and the kings of Decan, Cam- 
baya, and Balagata. Let those convince you that, when we submit, it 
is only because we do not choose to conquer. It was once our highest 
ambition to be feared. We are changed now: we have a nobler ambi- 
tion. The circumstance which wrought this change is one of too exalted 
a character to be concealed. Hear it. A merchant junk, captured by 
our Sanganians, had on board of her a passenger who proved to be a 
subject of yours. He was about to incur the usual fate of our prisoners,* 
when some former inhabitants of Guzzerat, who served among us, recog- 
nized him, and implored his pardon of our queen. Struck with their 
touching picture of his virtues, she commanded him to be brought before 
her. The words spoken by the sage sunk deep into her heart. The 
effect of his counsels was soon conspicuous in the improvement of every 
thing around us. By hisadvice our numerous prisoners were no longer 
treated worse than brutes; their condition was rendered comfortable ; 
their respective talents were ascertained, and called into active exercise. 
The arts and embellishments of society were thus suddenly implanted 
among us ; and we began to find better uses for life than the making it a 
mere scourge to others. That maddening beverage, bang,t which, by 
inflaming our imagination, excited us to ferocity, fell into disuse; and, 
with its rejection, the natural gentleness of the Indian character returned. 
Our disarmed vessels offered to make exchanges with the neighbouring 
nations. At first, the offer was scarcely credited ; but, gradually, we 
were believed. Commerce, at length, entered our ports. Our fields, 
which had been left uncultured, became productive. Our manners grew 
conciliating. The Warrels, who had ever been the allies of our sterner 
character, soon recognized the blessing of the change, and changed with 
us. True, there were some few untameable spirits who would not con- 
cur in the improvement, and who strove to throw us back into barba- 
rism ; but the virtues of our new legislator, and the firmness of our 
queen, prevailed, and established the revolution. This miraculous rege- 
neration of two nations is the work of a few months, and of one man; 
_ and now the Sanganians and the Warrels, in union, repeat the favourite 
ballad of Guzzerat— 
“ «Oh, Brama! bless the good Garai.’” 
At this name, the prince started, and his brow fell. The ambassador 
went on :— 
“ Disturb not, great rajah! the happiness we are beginning to enjoy. 
Every pretext for war shall be removed. The ships captured from your 
subjects shall be restored. But leave our prosperity to increase unmo- 
lested, and name your own amount of tribute as an indemnity for the 
expense of this uncalled-for expedition, and it shall speedily be paid. 
Meanwhile, accept these hostages as guarantees of our sincerity,” added 
he, presenting two of the sons of the queen of Sangania to the rajah ; 
“let them learn in thy kingdom the art of rendering nations happy. 
How can they acquire aught but virtue under his eye who can reckon in 
the number of his subjects a Tam Garai ?” 
Sr 
* These people, the moment they have made a prisoner, cut the tendon Achilles, to 
render it impossible for him to escape. 
+ Mixture of opium and henbane. 
