1835.] Biographical skelch of Col. Machenzis, 267 



ed or impeded by measures which it is unnecessary here 

 to detail : the voyage and campaign in Ceylon may be 

 noticed as introductory to part of what followed on my 

 return to resume the examination of the geography of 

 Dekkan. 



9. Some voluntary efForts for these purposes had at 

 last excited the notice of a few friends in the field, in 

 the campaigns in Mysore, too partial, perhaps, to my 

 slender talents, and my ardour for the pursuit; and in 

 1 792, after the peace of Seringapatam, I was sent from 

 the army in Mysore, by the desire of the late revered 

 Lord CoRNWALLis, with the small detachment at first 

 employed in the Nizam's dominions, for the purpose of 

 acquiring some information of the geography of these 

 countries, and of the relative boundaries of the several 

 states then assuming a new form and new limits. 



10. It would be tedious to relate the difficulties, the 

 accidents, and the discouragements that impeded the 

 progress of this design from 1792 to 1799, — the slender 

 means allotted, from the necessity of a rigid (no doubt, 

 a just) economy ; the doubts and the hinderances ever 

 attendant on new attempts ; ditFiculties arising from the 

 nature of the climate, of the country, and of the go- 

 vernment—from conflicting interests, and passions, and 

 prejudices, both difficult to contend with and unplea- 

 sant to recollect. 



11. In the year 1796, a general map of the Nizam's 

 dominions was submitted to government for the first 

 time, compiled and digested from different materials of 

 various authorities, described in a memoir that accom- 

 panied it, and designed rather as a specimen for future 

 correction, and to shew what was wanting, than to prove 

 what was done. It had, however, the use of bringing 

 the subject into one point of view ; further inquiry in 

 1798 and 1799 improved its supplements, and some en- 

 couragement was then held forth that inthiced persevcr- 



