1835.] Biographical sketch of Col. Mackenzie, 265 



ously cultivated, in consequence of the frequent changed 

 and removals from province to province, from garrison 

 to camp, and from one desultory duty to another. Of- 

 ficial encouragements to study the languages of the vast 

 countries that have come under our domination since my 

 arrival in India, were reserved for more happy times, 

 and for those who are more fortunate in having leisure 

 for the purpose. From the evils of famine, penury, and 

 war, the land was then slowly emerging ; and it strug- 

 gled long under the miseries of bad management, before 

 the immediate administration of the south came under 

 the benign influence of the British government. 



5. On the whole of this period, in which I have 

 marched or wandered over most of the provinces south 

 of the Kistna, I look back with regret ; for objects are 

 now known to exist that could have been then examin- 

 ed ; and also traits of customs and of institutions that 

 could have been explained, had time or means admitted 

 of the inquiry. 



6. It was only after my return from the expedition to 

 Ceylon in 1796, that accident, rather than design 

 (though ever searching for lights that were denied to my 

 situation), threw in my way those means that I have 

 since unceasingly employed, not, I hope, without some 

 success, of penetrating beyond the surface of the anti- 

 quities, the history, and the institutions, of the south of 

 India. 



7. The connexion I then formed with one person, a 

 native and a Brahman,* was the first step of my intro- 



* The lamented Kavelli Venkata Bouia, a Brahman, then ahuost a 

 youth, of the quickest genius and disposition, possessing that conciliatory 

 turn of mind that soon reconciled all sects and all tribes to the course of imiui- 

 ry followed with these surveys. After seven years' service he was suddouly 

 taken off from these labours, but not bei'oro he had formed his younger bro- 

 thers and several other useful p(M\s;)us nl' all ca^li -, lM\ihmar.v; Jainas, "and 

 Makbars, tethe iuveitigatious lliiif h;u o s;rc<, hQ-j:\k\) satisfactorily ^.ui^uca". 



