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tation of an organ, within the body of the tiger, and a row of keys 

 of natural notes. The sounds produced by the organ are intended 

 to resemble the cries of a person in distress, intermixed with the 

 roar of a tiger. The machinery is so contrived, that while the 

 organ is playing, the hand of the European is often lifted up, to 

 express his helpless and deplorable condition. The whole of this 

 design was executed by order of Tippoo Sultaun, who frequently 

 amused himself with a sight of this emblematical triumph of the 

 Khoodadaud (or God-given) sircar over the English." 



A human being, who could pass his hours of relaxation and 

 amusement in this savage manner, may be easily supposed to have 

 enjoyed the death of an European who unhappily fell into his 

 power, whether effected by poison, sword, or bow-string. Tacitus, 

 desirous to paint Domitian's cruelty in the blackest colours, thus 

 contrasts his character with another imperial monster : " Nero had 

 the grace to turn away his eyes from the horrors of his reign ; he 

 commanded deeds of cruelty, but never was a spectator of the 

 scene. Under Domitian, it was our wretched lot to behold the 

 tyrant, and to be seen by him, while he kept a register of our sighs 

 and groans. With that fiery visage, of a dye so red, that the blush 

 of guilt could never colour his cheek, he marked the pale languid 

 countenance of the unhappy victims, who shuddered at his frown." 



How far Tippoo imitated Domitian's refinements in cruelty, I 

 cannot determine. I received my account of the poisoned coffee 

 in the durbar from a gentleman who had just arrived from Man- 

 gulore. He also communicated an additional instance of the 

 tyrant's rigid and cruel discipline during the siege of that fortress. 

 The sultaun, on being informed that the killedar who commanded it 



VOL, IV. 2 B 



