TANJORE. 
351 
Tanjore, I prevailed upon those who brought me here to go on 
fifteen miles farther to that place. By eight I met a servant of 
Captain Blackburn^ with a letter, which cleared up the mistake. 
There are, it seems, two ways from Ramnad to Tanjore ; the one, 
which I came, by the sea-shore ; the other through the hills and 
Poligar country, where is the capital of Tondiman, the chief of those 
tribes called Poodoocottah. By a mistake of Colonel Marting, from 
whose memoranda I had copied, I had desired the boys to be sta- 
tioned at the latter place, instead of the former. Captain Black- 
burn thought my inclination had led me to choose that road, to 
visit the court of Tondiman, who is one of these half-savage 
chieftains, resembling in their power and manners, the European 
lords of feudal times; but fortunately he had also supposed it 
possible that a mistake of the names might have taken place, and 
had sent off two bandys this road to meet me. 1 got into one, and 
soon arrived at his house at Tanjore, a distance from Ramnad of 
one hundred and twenty-one miles, which I travelled in forty-eight 
hours. I found my host a most gentlemanly and well informed 
man. The house in which he resides, was built by himself, and, 
for its size, is the pleasantest I have entered in India. After break- 
fast I received a present of fruit from the Rajah, with enquiries 
after my health, and congratulations on my arrival : to-morrow 
was fixed for paying him a visit. 
In consequence of letters from Lord Wellesley, Lord William 
Bentinck had issued orders for my being every where received 
with the utmost attention. Being the first nobleman that ever 
visited Tanjore, the Rajah was much pleased with the idea of re- 
ceiving me. He acceded to every proposal of Captain Blackburn's,. 
