EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 21 



the center, the place of the facred image. It is faid that at their 

 entrance into the firft, a Brahmin from the top of the gate, hy 

 the moit pathetic fupplic.itions endeavoured to avert this inun- 

 dation of pollution. When he found them to be in vain, he 

 fprung from the height, and daflied out his brains on the ftones 

 beneath *. 



The E}2gliJJj^ not thinking their poll tenable, quitted the 

 pagoda. The Frenchy under M. Law^ took poiTeffion both of 

 that of SeringhauL and Jajnhakijlna. In the following year 

 Major Laurence entered the ifland, and fent the commandant 

 fummons to furrender at difcretion, which, after a vain refu- 

 fal, he thought proper to do. The unfortunate Cbiinda.-faheb 

 was found in one of the Pagodas, and the aged prifoner imme- 

 diately put to death by order of a Tanjorean general, to whofe 

 lot he had fallen t. A thoufand Raipaots were found among 

 the garrifon of Seringbajn. Such was their regard for the 

 fand:ity of the place, that after the reft of the garriibn had re- 

 tired, they refufed to quit the temple, and threatened the 

 vidors to cut them to pieces, if they oifered to come within 

 the third wall. The Engli/b, in admiration of their cnthufiaf- 

 tic valour, engaged to give them no caufe of offence %, 



In Lat. 11°. Long. 78° ao', E. the Cavery begins to be the Coimbetors. 

 boundary between Barra-mabal and Coimbetore. Caroor, the 

 ftrongeit frontier town of the latter, \vas befieged and taken by 

 our fouthern army in April 1783, and the works in a little time 

 after totally demoliflied. Coimbetore was one of the ufurpations 



* Sketches of the Hindoos, i. 20g. f Once, i. 241. J Orme, i. 240= 



of 



