S55 
TANJORE 
as to the etiquette to be observed on our meeting, and it was settled 
that we should visit as equals. 
Serf'agee, the present Rajah, is the adopted son of Tuljagee, who 
died in 17 86. To make an adoption valid by the Hindoo law, 
three things are necessary ; first, that the person adopted should be 
an infant ; secondly, that he should be taken from the family of the 
nearest relation ; and, thirdly, that the consent of the immediate heir 
should be obtained. Tuljagee complied with none of these, and 
consequently at his death the India Company set aside the claims of 
Serfagee, and placed on the musnud Amerring, the brother of the 
Rajah. Part of the security that the English had received from the 
Nawaub of the Carnatic, to pay their subsidy, was the revenue of 
Tanjore, and the Rajah was bound by treaty not to mortgage it to 
any one. He however did do it, and the original mortgage deed 
was obtained by the Resident, and sent to Lord Hobart at Madras. 
His Lordship wished to have immediately removed the Rajah, but 
Sir John Shore pertinaciously opposed it, and would not even 
permit the decision to be delayed till a reference could be made to 
England. Amerring continued to govern the country ; but his mis- 
management became at length so evident, that it was considered 
necessary to propose to him a treaty, by which he was to give up to 
the British, the civil and military controul of Tanjore. Encouraged 
by the impunity that had attended his former misconduct, he re- 
fused to comply, and set the Company at defiance. In the mean 
time the young Serfagee had been educated carefully, first at 
Madras, and afterwards under the respectable Danish missionary, 
Mr. Schwartz. It was naturally wished by the India Government 
that he had been acknowledged, instead of his uncle; and qonceiv^ 
