A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
Skadar 
Ganjam . 
CHAPTER stone , and then finish with a coat composed of eight parts of Abra- 
cum > or niica, one part of powdered Balapum, and one of size. The 
May 20, &c. Abracum is prepared from white mica, by repeated grindings, the 
finer particles being removed for use by washing them from the 
grosser parts. The wall, when finished in this manner, shines like 
the scales of a fish ; and when the room is lighted, has a splendid 
appearance : but in the day time, the wall white washed with the 
powdered potstone alone, in my opinion, looks better than when 
washed with either quick lime or mica. 
In the space between the city and the two gardens, the greater 
part of the island of Seringapatam is covered with the ruinous mud 
walls of the suburb, called Shahar Ganjam ; and nothing can have 
a look more dismal and desolate. Tippoo, before the siege, had 
entirely removed the roofs ; for he expected that the British army 
would have taken possession of the island, as they had done under 
Lord Cornwallis. It must not be supposed, however, that the huts, 
of which we now see the ruins, have been at any one time all 
inhabited. They were, in fact, cantonments for the troops, who 
were removed from one side of the island to another as caprice 
dictated. In Shahar Ganjam a new town is fast rising up, in which 
the streets are laid down broad and regular. In the old canton- 
ments, the huts had been miserably huddled together. 
According to the register of houses which I received from the 
Cutwal, the fort, or city, contains 4,163 houses, and 3,499 fami- 
lies; and the Shahar Ganjam contains 2,216 houses, and 3,335 fa- 
milies. At five inhabitants to each house, we may estimate the 
population of the city to be 20,815, and of the suburbs 11,080'; in 
all, 31,895 persons. This, however, is independent of a strong 
garrison and its numerous followers. The principal merchant 
in the place says, that in the reign of Tippoo the island contained 
500,000 inhabitants ; and he pretends to found his estimate on 
the quantity of grain consumed. In this calculation, I think 
he exaggerates grossly ; as I see no place where such a number 
Population. 
