56 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
years 1740 and 1760, when it was frequently in the 
hands of the refractory Polygars, who desecrated its 
temples, and destroyed many of its public edifices for 
the sake of plunder. The lower apartments of the 
palace, once the abode of the most powerful prince of 
southern India, are at present used for stalling cattle, 
and for purposes equally remote from their original 
destination. Even in its present state of decay there 
is one chamber especially that cannot be entered with- 
out forcing the mind back upon times when kings trod 
its pavement, surrounded by their retinue of courtiers 
and nobles. It is conjectured to have been the hall 
of audience of the Madura sovereigns. The roof is 
arched and highly ornamented, falling on either side 
upon richly wrought pillars connected by arches, 
forming a magnificent gallery, which is supported 
upon similar arches, terminating in strong massy co- 
lumns below. The architecture is something of the 
Saracenic order, blended with the graver severity of 
the Hindoo. It has all the grandeur of the choultry 
without its exquisite richness of ornament ; the de- 
tail, however, is alone wanting to render it a glorious 
rival. The floor is stuccoed several feet below the 
present surface, where there is a large reservoir, appa- 
rently intended for the admission of water, and sup- 
posed by some to have been constructed for the pur- 
pose of a bath. 
During Trimal Naig’s reign, Sadakay Tewen, Ra- 
jah of Ramnad, having rebelled, was made prisoner, 
taken to Madura, and put into irons. This severity 
having excited the indignation of Sadakay Te wen’s 
subjects, the pillage of pilgrims on their way to Ra- 
