WESTERN H I N D O O S T A X. 119 



covered the plot: he appeared before Aydcr in prefence of the 

 Queen, the King, and whole court, and charged the confpirators 

 v>ith their crime. The trial comirenced on the ipot, the charge 

 was proved, the Queen and her hufband put to death, and the 

 king confined. Poffibly the complaint of the fon was uncon- 

 Ititutional, for the throne of Canhara is faid to have always been 

 filled with a female, who had the privilege of marrying whom 

 fhe pleafed, but exempted herfelf from the cruel rite of burning 

 with the body of her hufband, in the manner thr.t the affec- 

 tionate fpoufes of her fubjedts were accultomed to do. Axder Seized by 



^ -^ - Ayder. 



AlU feized on the kingdom, and all the immenfe treafure of the 



capital; but, what he thought of more importance, was a line of 

 coall:, which flattered his ambition with the hopes of becom- 

 ing as invincible by fea as he had hitherto been by land. 



From the time of the ftorming Onore, the General's conduct 

 was totally altered. He grew irrefolute refpetling his proceed- 

 ings, paid no attention to the plan he was to execute by the 

 orders of the Prefidency, and neglecSted every comm.unication 

 with them. Before this, he v.as held in high eftimation, as an 

 officer * and a man. He remained a long; time in a ftate of de- 

 fpondency. At length, aifluated by a paffion before latent, he 

 fuddenly took the refolution of performing the fervice he was 

 appointed to. He alcended the Ghaut, in the manner related. 

 He appeared before Bednore, at that time wholly defenfelefs. It Bednore sur- 



r ' <• 1 • RENDERED. 



was then governed by Hyat Sato, a perfon or conlummate abdi- 

 lities, and firm fidelity towards his mafter. He reflecffed on the 



* Hon. Charles Grevile, Britifh India, iii. p. 843. 



impoffibility 



