360 
TANJORE. 
and Eccogee declared he would depart, but that he wished first to 
pay his compliments to the Prince in his fort ; which was assented 
to, on condition of his bringing with him only a small escort. The day 
was fixed, as is customary by the astrologers, who also, by his orders, 
warned Eccogee that it would be unfortunate if he entered the fort 
before six in the evening. Accordingly at that hour he advanced with 
only one hundred horse; but he had previously mtroduced a great 
number of his men, disguised, with their daggers concealed under 
their dress. On entering the gate, he pushed on for the palace 
with sixty horse, leaving the forty to be joined by a body that he 
had ordered to follow him, which they did unobserved in the dusk 
of the evening. The whole immediately overpowered the guard, 
and rushed on to support their master, which they were in time to 
do. The Prince and most of his family were put to death, and 
Eccogee took possession of the sovereignty, which has remained in 
his family to the present day. 
The pictures were in handsome gilt frames, painted on canvas 
by a native artist, from drawings on the walls of the palace^ many of 
which were going to decay. They had considerable merit, and were 
interesting, as being likenesses of persons who had made a conspi- 
cuous figure on the theatre of English politics. Hung up against the 
wall were several native musical instruments, somewhat resembling 
a guittar, richly ornamented with diamonds and pearls. The Rajah 
made one of his people play several tunes, and amongst others, God 
save the King, and Marlbrook. In one corner was an English pedal 
harp, his favorite instrument ; but as it is beneath his dignity to be 
supposed to understand music, I could not request him to play. 
He however composes tunes, and is training an English band, 
