WESTERN H I N D O O S T A N. 175 



hill to the north of the cape, which from the fea appears in- 

 fulated : poffibiy the Nubia7t Geographer might have received 

 an account of that eminence, miftaken for an illand, and its 

 iize exaggerated. 



Cape Comorin is the termination of the kingdom of T^ravan- Kingdom of 

 core.) which extends along the weftern coaft, from that of Cran- 

 ganore^ as far as this headland, a hundred and forty miles. In 

 1730 it began to rife into importance, by the abilities of its mo- 

 narch, who reigned forty years. In giving audience to two 

 embafllidors, whom he forefaw would weary him with prolix 

 harangues, he cut the firft fliort with this fenfible remark ; " Be 

 not tedious,'' fays he, " life isJIjortT He raifed a fine army, and 

 well difciplined, and meditated the conqueft of Malabar. A mid ft 

 all his great talents, he mingled the weaknefs of being aQiamed 

 of his cajl or tribe. He wiflied to be a Brahmin ; he ordered a 

 golden calf to be made, he entered at the moirth, and came out 

 at the oppolite part; this was his Metempfychofis; and he dated 

 all his edi6ts from the days, fays Abbe Raynal^ of this glorious 

 regeneration. 



This kingdom begins in Lat. 10° 18', near Cratiganore. 

 The breadth is greatly contradfed, by reafon of the approach 

 of the Ghauts towards the Ihore. Interfe^led by rivers, and 

 covered with thick woods, it feems almoft unconquerable. 

 The Rajah, whom I have mentioned, gave his country ad- 

 -ditional ftrength, by which he faved his fuccelibr from the 

 cppreflion of the rifing ufurper, Ayder Alii. " Around his 

 ^' capital, and chief province," fays the author of the War in 

 Afia, i. p. 266, '* he fuffered the woods to grow for a number of 



*' years, 



