TANJORE. 
359 
priated to those who represent Majesty, is equally absurd : Highness 
is certainly his proper title. He expressed his gratitude to the 
English nation, and assured me his attachment was unalterable. Of 
the sincerity of this declaration he gave a very convincing proof 
on the breaking out of the Polygar war, when, at three hours notice, 
his little army was ready to march, under the command of Captain 
Blackburn, to oppose the enemy, who had made an irruption into 
the country. 
I assented with great pleasure to a proposal of his to show me 
some part of the palace, and was conducted by him to a very large 
and excellent room up stairs, where, he informed me, he generally 
lived. It was carpeted, and had English chairs. Opposite to each 
other were four bookcases, filled chiefly with English books, amongst 
which I was not a little pleased with discovering my grandfather 
Lord Lyttelton's, History of Henry the Second, which I immedi- 
ately pointed out to his Excellency. One side of the room opened 
to a verandah ; the opposite side was covered with portraits of the 
Tanjore Princes of the Mahratta dynasty, downwards in succession, 
from Sevagee its founder. 
This celebrated chieftain had two sons ; the eldest succeeded to 
his power at Poonah, and is represented by the Rajah of Satarah, 
Eccogee, the second son, was the commander of a body of forces, 
sent, in 1680, by his father, to assist the Hindoo Prince of Tanjore, 
who was attacked by another prince that ruled over Terichinopoly. 
Eccogee easily raised the siege of the capital, but only retired to a 
village at the distance of five miles, whence he sent to demand a 
remuneration, which his unfortunate ally was unequal to advance. 
An arrangement was however made after a negotiation of six months, 
