100 OONJEVERAM. 



as the base of Lord Olive's operations, during his 

 successful campaign against Arcot in 1751, six years 

 before he won the battle of Plassey, the two greatest 

 events in the history of India of tlie last century. 

 Also our fight at Conjeveram in 1780, against the 

 forces of Hyder Ali, will be remembered by those 

 versed in Indian history. 



The country we passed through is flat but well 

 wooded ; teak, with its large ragged leaves, acacia 

 and mango trees there are in abundance, also the tulip 

 tree and the portia ; and birds of every variety of 

 plumage, including the prettily marked florikan 

 (Syphrotides auritus), so much appreciated by the 

 aourmets of Madras. The extensive rice fields, swarm- 

 nig with white ibis, and innumerable w^omen weeding, 

 clothed in bright red and yellow sarees, a kind of 

 tunic, bangles on wrists and ankles, presented a very 

 lively scene, and one not easily forgotten. The men in 

 tnese country districts seldom encumber themselves 

 much with dress, a dhotee or loin cloth, and turban, 

 complete their toilet. 



On reaching Conjeveram, my khidmatgar or butler, 

 who had accompanied me, produced from the recesses 

 of his tifiin basket a most acceptable breakfast, cold 

 cnicken and other delicacies, to be washed down by 

 Liehfrauenmilchy and a No, 1 Trichinopoli by way of a 



