IS O O T A N. 
113 
every quarter,, have been vain; he has lain completely concealed, until 
this his sudden appearance at the head of a misguided mob.” 
The Raja then spoke to me of some cannon in his possession, which 
he wanted to get mounted, and begged me to lend him the assistance 
of some person who could instruct his people in the management of 
them; professing a desire to employ them for the preservation of his 
subjects. He wished to batter down the houses, in which the rabble 
had lodged themselves ; concluding, that when they had lost their 
shelter, they would disperse to their respective homes. “ They are 
my deluded subjects,” said he: “ I would reclaim, but not destroy 
them.” 
Our conversation chiefly turned upon the commotions abroad, which 
the Raja repeatedly assured me would soon be quelled. He appeared 
evidently discomposed, and I determined not to add to his distress by 
a long visit: so, expressing a wish to take my leave, tea was intro¬ 
duced, and we retired. 
It was hinted to us, as we were leaving the palace, that it would 
be agreeable to the Raja, if we looked at the cannon. We found them 
lying upon some rising ground, pointed towards the villages. They 
were two small cast cannon, old and honeycombed; in the calibre of 
one were hollows, that would receive an egg. They were crammed 
with powder and shot, almost full. I thought the greatest mischief to 
be apprehended from this ordnance, was to the person who applied 
the match. As they were not mounted, we could flatter them with 
no very essential service from them; but as the best advice we could 
give, we begged they would be careful how they ventured to discharge 
