SERINGAPATAM. 417 
Hyderwas indeed a different character : he might be an usurper, 
but he certainly governed the provinces he had seized from his so- 
vereign, or conquered from the neighbouring princes, to the benefit 
of the inhabitants, without permitting his prejudices, as a Mussul- 
maun, to influence his conduct to the detriment of the Hindoos, as 
the following anecdote will very remarkably show. A celebrated 
Mussuiraaun saint, called Peer Zaddah, resided at Seringapatam, 
and was greatly reverenced. On the festival of Shri Runga, the 
Goddess of Abundance, when her statue was, as usual, carried in 
procession from the temple through the streets, it unfortunately 
passed the door of the Peer, whose pupils being irritated at the 
idolatry, sallied forth, beat the people, and drove them and the 
Goddess back to her sanctuary. The Brahmins complained to 
Hyder, who told them that they ought to defend themselves when 
attacked. The next day the procession again went forth, and was 
again attacked by the pupils of Peer Zaddah. The event was how- 
ever very different ; for the Hindoos, being by far the most numer- 
ous, beat their assailants, and continued their procession in triumph. 
The next day the Peer presented himself, with all his pupils, at the 
durbar of Hyder, and complained of the injuries they had received. 
Hyder heard them patiently, and then asked them what they wanted 
of him : they had attacked the party, and had been deservedly 
beaten ; what else could they expect ? and what had induced them 
to act so? The Peer replied, " that the procession was an insult 
" to the Mussjilmaun religion, and ought not to be suffered under 
" a Mussulmaun government, whilst he, a Mussulmaun prince, was 
" at the head of it." Hyder instantly interrupted him, by asking, 
Who told you that this was a Mussulmaun government, or that I 
