SERINGAPATAM. 415 
additional defence. When in the vicinity of Seringapatam he never 
slept at any of his country palaces, but constantly returned to this 
more secure fortress. Tippoo seems to have been deservedly pu- 
nished for his tyranny, by the fears that ever attend it. He knew 
that his oppression had alienated the affections of a large propor- 
tion of his subjects, whose innocent prejudices, his bigotry had 
driven him to violate in the most cruel manner, not only by destroy- 
ing their temples, and depriving the Brahmins of their revenues, 
but by violating their daughters, and forcing them to conform to 
his religion. We need not therefore wonder if he felt that every 
precaution was necessary for his personal safety. 
I cannot help expressing my astonishment that any one should 
have been found to approve the conduct, and praise the character 
of Tippoo; yet in the pubHc meetings of the India Company it has 
been asserted that he was not a tyrant. If he was not, I confess my- 
self incapable of conceiving any character to which that title can 
be affixed. The internal government of his country w^as most oppres- 
sive, having placed unlimited confidence in a set of Aumils, who 
had no other^ recommendation than that they were Mussulmauns, 
and who, being bound by no oaths, not only embezzled a large 
proportion of the revenue, but plundered the unfortunate Hindoos 
without control ; and even carried their depravity so far as to make 
secret inquiries respecting the females in their districts, and if they 
heard of any remarkable for beauty, to have them forcibly removed 
to their zenanas. As there was no regular police throughout the 
country, some districts were generally in rebellion ; and it was not 
an unfrequent circumstance for the Pattels, or head men of two or 
three neighbouring districts, to assemble together and oblige the 
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