TANJORE. 555 
In no part of India does the Hindoo religion preserve so much 
powder or splendour as on the coast of Goromandel. As the Mussul- 
maun conquests were never permanent here, the places of worship 
remain in their original state, and their vast endowments are un- 
touched. In almost every village is a pagoda with its lofty gateways 
of massive, and not inelegant architecture, where a great number 
of Brahmins are maintained either by the revenues formerly estab- 
lished, or by an allowance from the government. The great roads 
which lead to these holy places are lined with choultries, built for 
the accommodation of the pilgrims, where frequently Brahmins 
attend to reheve their wants. These sacred men are here the chief 
holders of land, and according to their laws, perform every office of 
husbandmen, except following the plough. As a body they have 
also extensive free lands, but their titles, were they examined into, 
would in many instances be found defective : prudence will probably 
prevent this from being done. The profit, which might result from 
it, would but ill compensate for the certainty of alienating their 
minds, which are at present strongly attached to us by the protec- 
tion which they receive, and by an additional allowance out of the 
revenue of forty-five thousand pagodas per annum, which is dis- 
tributed to the poorer temples, according to a traditionary custom 
of the Rajahs. The deposition of the late Rajah, and the elevation 
of the present, have shown, that the Brahmins may be induced to 
sanction any wish of the British Government ; through them there- 
fore the natives may be ruled with safety, and their very prejudices 
rendered assistant in securing our Government. 
As my stay was to be so short, I accepted Major Marting s invi- 
tation to breakfast with him in the small fort ; it is distant about a 
VOL. I. z z 
