191 



feet by five, surrounded by a low railing, on which were ten smaD 

 tiger heads made of gold, beautifully inlaid with precious stones: 

 The ascent to the throne was by small silver steps on each side. 

 From the centre of the back part, opposite the large tiger's head, 

 arose a gilded iron pillar, seven feet high, surmounted by a canopy, 

 superbly decorated with a fringe of pearls. The whole was made 

 of wood, covered with a thin sheet of the purest gold, richly illu- 

 minated with tiger stripes and Arabic verses. The huma was 

 placed on the top of the canopy, and fluttered over the sultaun's 

 head. This bird, the most beautiful and magnificent ornament of 

 the throne, was sent by the Marquis Wellesley to the Court of 

 Directors. It was about the size and shape of a small pigeon, 

 and intended to represent the fabulous bird of antiquity, well 

 known to all Persian scholars; a bird peculiar to the east, supposed 

 to fly constantly in the air, and never to touch the ground. It is 

 looked upon as a bird of happy omen, and that every head it over- 

 shades will in time wear a crown. The tail of the huma on Tip- 

 poo's throne, and its wings, were in the attitude of fluttering. It 

 was formed of gold, entirely covered with diamonds, rubies, and 

 emeralds." 



" Tippoo Sultaun seems to have adopted Ally as the guardian 

 genius, or tutelary saint, of his dominions ; as the peculiar object 

 of his veneration, and as an example to imitate. His selection of 

 the tiger as an emblem, appears to have been intended in honour of 

 Ally ; for the natives of Hindostan make no distinction between a 

 lion and a tiger. Hyder, which also signifies a lion, but interpreted 

 by the natives of Hindostan, tiger, is another title of Ally ; it was 

 likewise the name of Tippoo Sultaun's father. The name of Hyder ? 



