4^6 MYSORE. 
in a verandah on the left of the entrance. It was of ivory, fantasti- 
cally carvecj, and had belonged to the former Rajahs. It was found 
amongst the stores of Tippoo, and was used for the inauguration of 
the young Rajah in 1799. It had probably owed its preservation 
to the little value of the materials. The superstition of the Hindoos 
seems to have attached a considerable value to it, for Bucherow 
pointed out to me the great good fortune of its not having been 
destroyed by the tyrant. 
His Highness was dressed in gold tissue, with some handsome 
pearls round his neck; a cress of gold was lying on one side of him, 
on the other a small sword. On entering I made my salaams, which 
he returned, and held out his hand, which I did not perceive. 
Chairs were placed on his left hand for me and my party. Opposite 
to him were the other English gentlemen. On his right were 
Narsingrow and Bucherow, and behind them a great many domes- 
tics. His relations, and several young boys who are brought up with 
him, were seated behind me. The verandah, in which we were 
seated, was covered with white cloth ; the pillars handsomely 
painted and gilded. In front of his Highness was an eperne, filled 
with flowers of the sambac, and on each side a servant held branches 
in which incense was burning. His Highness was considerably 
agitated at first, his breast visibly heaving ; but after a little time he 
recovered himself, and behaved with great dignity and propriety. I 
paid the usual compliments through Major Symons and Narsingrow, 
assuring him of the satisfaction I felt at seeing him on the throne of 
his ancestors, and the confidence the British nation had in his friend- 
ship. He repeated what Narsingrow had before said: that he owed 
©very thing to them, and that his gratitude was unbounded. 
