183.;.] Biographical sketch of Col. Mackenzie. 2G9 



nisliing the commissioners with geographical informa- 

 tion^ to assist in the arrangement of the limits of the 

 siihject of partition. On my return to Madras, the go- 

 vernor-general (the Earl of Mornington) being justly 

 of opinion that a more complete knowledge of thes© 

 countries was indispensably necessary for the informa- 

 tion of government, was pleased, in the most handsome 

 manner, without solicitation or any personal knowledge 

 to appoint me to survey Mysore, with an establishment 

 suited rather to an economical scale of expenditure than 

 to so extensive an undertaking, intended to be carried 

 through a country so little known, that the position of 

 some of the provinces ceded by the treaty of partition 

 could not be ascertained* till this survey w^as carried for- 

 ward, and that under peculiar circumstances of embar- 

 rassment. 



15. In conformity with my original ideas, I consider- 

 ed this opportunity favourable for arranging a scheme of 

 survey embracing the statistics and history of the coun- 

 try, as well as its geography ; and therefore submitted a 

 plan for this purpose, which was approved of by the go- 

 vernment. Threef assistants and a naturalist were then 

 for the first time attached to me ; yet this moderate es- 

 tablishment was immediately afterwards disapproved of 

 in England, and a design that originated in the most 

 enlightened principles was nearly crushed by the rigor- 

 ous application of orders too hastily issued, which were 

 received in India in the end of 1801, when I had, at 

 very considerable hazard of my health, just completed 

 the survey of the northern and eastern frontier of My- 

 sore. 



*- For instance, Hollollkaira, ceded to the Mahrattas ; Gildikatta, on the 

 N.W. of Chittlednif)-, mistaken for a small part north of Kolar, in the east 

 of TMvsore ; and many otlier instances, Avhence some knowlodge of th« 

 country rendered a survey indispensable. 



f Mr. Matiiei!, Li. uionaul Wai;i:i n. and Lieutenant A«tiu k, assistant 

 survcvors; and Dr. liKVM;,. Hirgeon and uaturaliiit. 



