Chap. XXVI. MYSORE. 433 



sale of sandal-wood. The export trade in sandal-wood and 

 oil is even now very considerable. The road from the foot of 

 the Seegoor ghaut to Mysore, a distance of sixty-four miles, is 

 excellent, and there is a very good bridge over the river IMoyaar, 

 We passed the night at the half-way bungalow of Goondul- 

 pett, whence there is a grand view, with scattered date-palms 

 in the foreground, a vast expanse of undulating plain beyond, 

 bounded by the belt of forest, with the blue line of the Neil- 

 gherries in the distance. There is nothing of interest between 

 Goondulpett and Mysore. 



Mysore is on a table-land 2450 feet above the sea. On the 

 western side of the town flows the Piu-neah canal, which 

 comes from a distance of seventy miles to supply Mysore 

 with water, and was made by the Brahmin minister Purneah, 

 who came into power dm-ing the present Rajah's minority, 

 after the death of Tippoo. In approaching the town, the 

 isolated rocky hill of Chamandi is seen on the right. Mysore 

 is fortified, and, after passing under the ramparts, we entered 

 a square, one side of which is occupied by the Rajah's palace. 

 Here, and in the adjoining streets, there was an unusual 

 amount of life and bustle owing to the presence of a native 

 court ; and we met crowds of nautch-girls, men in various 

 costumes, elephants, camels, and bullock-carts. Some of the 

 houses have upper stories, but the majority are dark places, 

 with red- tiled roofs extending far over, and forming varan, 

 dahs. 



Mysore is so called from its having been the abode of the 

 buffalo-headed demon Mahesh-asur, who was slain by Parvati, 

 tlie wife of Siva, in her most hideous and repulsive form, as 

 Call, the impersonation of vengeance. The country, from 

 1336 to 1565, formed a part of the Brahminical kingdom of 

 Bijayanuggur ; and in 1576 one Raj Wadeyar established his 

 independence as ruler of Mysore, from whom the present 

 Rajah is descended. After the death of Tippoo Sultan, and 



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