436 SEEING APATAM. Chap. XXV f. 



used as a choultry for Moslem travellers, another as a mosque, 

 and another as a school for small boys who learn to read the 

 Koran. Government grants an allowance for keeping the 

 place in repair, and paying Moulvies to serve in the mosque. 

 The effect of the snow-white tomb, richly adorned with 

 arabesque-work, the lance-like minarets, the cloudless sky, 

 and the feathery p)alm-trees rearing their graceful heads 

 round the building, was exceedingly like a scene in the 

 Arabian Nights. The tomb of Colonel BailHe, who was 

 taken prisoner by Hyder Ali in 1780, is close by, but in a 

 very neglected state. 



We then went to the Derya Doivlet-hagh close to the town, 

 which was the favourite summer-palace of Tippoo. It is a 

 very richly ornamented arabesque building, every part being 

 covered with gilding and bright colours, and pictures on the 

 walls representing the repulse of Lally, and the defeat of 

 Colonel Baillie. From this place we went to the town of 

 Seringapatam itself, which is built on an island in the 

 Cauvery, and surrounded by a strong wall and two very deep 

 ditches. Close to the gate is the jumma musjid, or principal 

 mosque, with two tall minarets ; and, in one corner, the spot 

 was pointed out where Tippoo was accustomed to pray, 

 entering the mosque by a small side-door. The double ditch 

 is a very formidable defence to the to"s\Ti, but it does not 

 extend along the side facing the river, and it was here that 

 the assault was delivered by the English general. A feint 

 was made in the direction of the Lal-hagh, where the 

 English suffered severely, while the real storming party was 

 formed on the opposite side of the Cauvery, at a spot which 

 is now marked by two upright posts. A bastion facing the 

 river had previously been breached, the four guns on it 

 dismounted, and scarcely any other guns could be brought 

 to bear on the soldiers of the assaulting column at this 



