.MYSORE, CANARY, AND MALABAR. 73 
and into which very few persons, except Meer Saduc , were ever CHAPTER 
admitted. Immediately behind this, was the bed-chamber, which v^p 
communicated with the hall by a door and two windows, and was May 20, &e, 
shut up on every other side. The door was strongly secured on 
the inside, and a close iron grating defended the windows. The 
Sultan, lest any person should fire upon him while in bed, slept in a 
hammock, which was suspended from the roof by chains, in such 
a situation as to be invisible through the windows. In the ham- 
mock were found a sword and a pair of loaded pistols. 
The only other passage from the private square was into the Zenana , Zen&na , 
or women’s apartments. This has remained perfectly inviolate under 
the usual guard of eunuchs, and contains about six hundred women, 
belonging to the Sultan, and to his late father. A great part of these, 
are slaves, or attendants on the ladies ; but they are kept in equally 
strict confinement with their mistresses. The ladies of the Sultan 
are about eighty in number. Many of them are from Hindustan 
Proper , and many are the daughters of Brahmans , and Hindu princes, 
taken by force from their parents. They have been all shut up in 
the Zenana, when very young ; and have been carefully brought up 
to a zealous belief in the religion of Mahomet. I have sufficient 
reason to think that none of them are desirous of leaving their 
confinement ; being, wholly ignorant of any other manner of living, 
and having no acquaintance whatever beyond the walls of their 
t 
prison. 
Without the walls of Seringapatam are two gardens and palaces, Sultan^ 
which formerly belonged to the Sultan, but are now occupied by gardens * 
the Commandant of the forces, and by the Resident at the court of 
Mysore. The gardens have been laid out at a considerable expense ; 
and canals from the river afford them a copious supply of water. 
The palace at the Laul Bang, which occupies the lower end of the Laul Baug» 
island, though built of mud, possesses a considerable degree of 
elegance, and is the handsomest native building that I have ever 
seen. Near to it stands the Mausoleum of Hyder r where his son also 
Vol.. L L. 
