﻿FROM CHUNARGHUR TO YERTNAGOODUM. 1^3 



immediately reinforced the parties that had been fta- 

 tioned to guard the avenues to the fort. The whole 

 of the troops which were now applied to this purpofe, 

 could not be lefs than 1500 men ; which fhewe^ that, 

 notwithllanding their great fuperiority in numbers, the 

 Rajah was under no fmall apprehenfion at our fituation 

 fo near his fortrefs. The whole night however paffed 

 without any alarm. 



May 17th. This morning the V^akeel cdim^ to me 

 with a requeft, that I would fend my Toorky horfe, 

 and three fheep which I had brought with me from 

 Chunarghur^ for the Rajah's infpection. This 1 readily 

 complied with; and at the fame time demanded an in- 

 terview with the Rajah, and permiffion to depart; al- 

 ledging, that my bufinefs was very urgent, and would 

 admit of no further delay. In about an hour the horfe 

 was returned, with a very polite meffage from the Ra- 

 jah, expreffing how much he had been gratified by the 

 light of fo beautiful an animal ; and requefting to know 

 if any thing would induce me to part with him : but 

 as the evening had been appointed for the interview, I 

 deferred returning an anfwer until that period fhould 

 arrive. In the mean time the Rajah had detained my 

 Iheep, which, having tails, were confidered here as 

 great curiofities; and had fent me three others in re- 

 turn, the produce of his country, on whom nature 

 had not bellowed that curious appendage. The man 

 who had taken charge of them, having intimated that 

 we were badly off for forage, about fifty bundles of 

 grafs were immediately fent to us. 



Towards evening the numerous concourfe of people 

 who affembled round the fort, with all the cavalry 

 that could be muftered, and two elephants caparifoned 

 with fcarlet, and carrying howders, announced to me 

 the preparation for an interview with the Rajah, My 



L 2 tent 



