20? 



the possession of Tippoo Sultaun, and the English factory with- 

 drawn. The external appearance of Calicut remained much the same 

 as when formerly described. The Dutch, Portugueze, and Danish 

 flags waved over their respective factories, while the Mahomedan 

 colours usurped the place of the zamorine' s standard, in this once ce- 

 lebrated emporium, which was completely conquered by the sultaun 

 of Mysore, now become one of the first potentates in India; while 

 the zamorine of Calicut, so great and powerful a sovereign when De 

 Gama arrived here, was annihilated — or, like the queens of Allinga, 

 and other Malabar princes, enjoyed only the name and shadow of 

 royalty. The zamorines, or kings of Calicut, according to the Nel- 

 lore manuscript, were ascertained to have maintained twelve hundred 

 brahmins in their household; and until they had been first served 

 with victuals, the zamorine never tasted any himself. It was an eti- 

 quette also, that he never spoke to, nor suffered a Mahomedan 

 to come into his presence. Hyder Ally, after taking Calicut, 

 sent a complimentary message, and desired to see the zamorine, 

 but was refused: he, however, admitted H} r der's head brahmin to 

 speak to him, and carry his answer back to his master, then wait- 

 ing at some distance from them. After this interview, Hyder, in- 

 stead of sending rice sufficient for the daily food of twelve hundred 

 brahmins, ordered only enough for five hundred; this they dis- 

 pensed with. The second day he diminished the allowance to a 

 sufficiency for three hundred; and on the third they received 

 only enough for one hundred. All further supplies were after- 

 wards refused; nor did the conqueror take any notice of the zamo- 

 rine's complaints and applications. The unfortunate prince, after 

 fasting three days, and finding all remonstrances vain, set fire to 



