MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
135 
Firewood at Seringapatam is a dear article, and the fewel most CHAPTER 
commonly used is cow-dung made up into cakes. This, indeed, is 
much used in every part of India, especially by men of rank; as, May 20, &c, 
from the veneration paid to the cow, it is considered as by far the 
most pure substance that can be employed. Every herd of cattle, 
when at pasture, is attended by women, and these often of high 
cast, who with their hands gather up the dung, and carry it home 
in baskets. They then form it into cakes, about half an inch thick, 
and nine inches in diameter, and stick them on the walls to dry. 
So different, indeed, are Hindu notions of cleanliness from ours, that 
the walls of their best houses are frequently bedaubed with these 
cakes ; and every morning numerous females, from all parts of the 
neighbourhood, bring for sale into Seringapatam baskets of this 
fewel. 
Many females who carry large baskets of cow-dung on their Women of 
heads are well-dressed, and elegantly formed girls. The dress of Ivarnata ' 
the Karnataca women is indeed very becoming ; and I have never 
seen finer forms than even the labouring women of that country 
frequently possess. Their necks and arms are in particular re- 
markably well shaped. Their nastiness, however, is disgusting; very 
few of the inhabitants above the Ghats being free from the itch ; 
and their linen, being almost always dyed, is seldom washed. 
Timber, for building and furniture, may be had at Seringapatam Timber, 
of excellent quality ; but it is dear; as it is brought from a great 
distance by land carriage. The principal supply comes from the 
neighbourhood of the western Ghats . 
The plan which X have concerted with Colonel Close, for my Plan for fa- 
future investigations, is, to proceed to the chief places of the Raja's ^ 1 t ^ 1 n s '' est1 ’' 
dominions ; and there to make myself master, so far as I shall be 
able, of the state of the country. I am then to draw up a set of 
queries applicable to the state of affairs, which Purnea will circulate 
among the Amildars , and procure their answers for. my information. 
X shall follow a similar plan in the dominions immediately subject 
