SERINGAPATAM. 419 
are now repairing; and towns, which he had depopulated by his 
armies, or by the no less sure, but slower, operation of a prohibition to 
trade with their neighbours, because he bore an antipathy to them, 
are recovering their trade and inhabitants, and rising to more than 
their former prosperity. 
It was with heartfelt satisfaction that 1 saw such evident marks of 
the good government of Purneah, who, as Dewan, has the manage- 
ment of the country during the Rajah's minority ; for it was the 
British influence which had elevated him to the situation, and it 
was the British arms which had banished the tyrant's family, and 
left him at liberty to act for the benefit of his country ; for, although 
under Tippoo he had very great power, it was impossible to remove 
the bigotted prejudices of his master against his Hindoo subjects, or 
to control his chief favourite, Meer Saduc, who was a monster of 
tyranny and avarice. 
I dined with Colonel De Meuron, who had invited all his officers 
to meet me. He resides in a part of the palace of Hyder. The state 
room was painted green, which seems to have been a favourite co- 
lour of that chief, with much gilding. It joins on one side to the 
harem, and opens into the public square. 
March 12- — After breakfast I descended to Tippoo's durbar, at- 
tended by Major Symons, who kindly acted as interpreter, where I 
received the compliments ofNarsingrow, eldest son to Purneah, and 
Bucherow, his deputy. They dehvered the Rajah's congratulations 
on my arrival at Seringapatam, and an invitation to his residence 
at Mysore, which 1 accepted for the morrow. Narsingrow presented 
a nazur of fruit, shawls, kc. He assured me of his father's regret 
that his necessary absence with the army on the frontier prevented 
VOL. I. _ 3 H 
