SERINGAPATAM 
413 
to be here in great abundance, but our numerous lights secured us 
from any attack. By twelve I reached Ramageri and received the 
usual presents almost without awaking. 
February ^9. — At six this morning I found myself attended 
by the Aumildar, who, on my opening my palanquin, presented 
me with the greatest quantity of fruit I had yet received : the jacks 
and water-melons were remarkably fine. Before I could dispose 
of it, the Cutwal of Muddoor, to which place I was approaching, 
made his salaams and presents, so that my palanquin was quite 
loaded ; I therefore began to toss the fruit among the crowd that 
attended ; for which breach of etiquette, and want of proper dignity, 
I was soon punished by the clouds of dust they raised in the 
scramble. By ten I reached Muddien ; by twelve the thermometer 
was 91* in the palanquin. My guard soon tired, and was left behind; 
we kept on however till half after one, when, I reached a single 
house at Tooperkera. 
The country from that place was extremely rocky, but in many 
parts cultivated. I saw several tanks, which I learnt were the 
works of former Rajahs, and not of the Mussulmaun dynasty. 
Tippoo destroyed many, but built none. After a small ascent, 
the plain of Mysore broke on my view, with Seringapatam in its 
centre. The view of the capital disappointed me much; the only 
conspicuous objects are the minarets of the mosque, which are 
neither lofty nor elegant, and a cavalier of several stories, on which 
the British colours were flying. At a village two miles from the 
town I was met by Major Symons, who delivered me a letter, inform- 
ing me that Colonel De Meuron, who commanded in Seringapatam, 
had prepared the palace of Tippoo for my reception. Bucherow, 
