383 
heart before the fortress surrendered: the soldier obeyed; and the 
English found the unfortunate pair clasped in a last embrace: the 
commanding officer caused them to be burnt on the same funeral 
pile, agreeable to the custom of their caste. 
The king of Travencore, in whose dominions Anjengo is situ- 
ated, governed a country extending from Cape Comorin south, to 
the kingdom of Cochin north: a district which has always remained 
free from Mahomedan invaders, and most probably was never 
subject to any of the great Hindoo rajahs. Travencore is moun- 
tainous and hilly, difficult of access, and defended at the passes: 
the most formidable, though badly fortified, was the pass of Tine- 
velli, leading into that country. The king usually resided in a 
town called Trevanduram, about eighteen miles from Anjengo, 
mean in appearance, and without defence, the palace excepted, 
which was surrounded by an indifferent fortification near three 
quarters of a mile in extent. His force consisted of four thousand 
sepoys, disciplined in the English style, many of them deserters 
from the Madras army; and about twelve thousand irregulars, 
armed with English muskets: his cavalry never exceeded one 
thousand. On an emergency he could assemble a formidable mi- 
litia, consisting of a hundred thousand men, armed with spears, 
and bows of a large construction. The Malabars are very expert 
with these weapons, especially the Nairs; who always assemble 
under their respective leaders, on the festival of the full moon in 
September, at the breaking up of the moonson; and being drawn 
up in two divisions, commence a serious engagement with bows 
and arrows, spears and lances: this is sometimes protracted for a 
considerable time, and many fall on both sides; who confer a great 
