DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0079
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A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER II.
SERINGAPATAM, AK0 ITS VICINITY.
CHAPTER
II.
May 18.
Beception at
Seringajia-
tam.
Purnea.
Ti/fAY 18th, I Avas employed at Ser'mgapatam in delivering my
It J. credentials.
l^th May,.—I had an interview with Purnea, the Dewan of the
Mysore Rdja, and, during that prince's minority, the chief admini-
strator of his government. By means of Colonel Close, I have re-
ceived assurances of every assistance in forwarding the objects
of my mission; and a Brahman has been appointed to accompany
me, with orders to call upon every person that I shall desire for
information.
Purnea is a Brahman of the Madual sect, and descended from a
family of the Coimbetore country. His native language is, of course^
Tamul; but he speaks the Karnataca, Mussulman, Marattah, and I
believe the Persian. He is said, by good judges, to be a person ex-
tremely well versed in the affairs of the country, and is much more
active than Brdhmans in general are. By the inhabitants he is now
called Sri Mantra, the same title that is given to the Peshwa at
Poonah. It is said to signify a person who has been fortunate from the
time of his having been in the womb. Next to Meer Saduc, he seems
to have enjoyed a greater power, under the late Sultan, than any
other person; but his authority was greatly inferior to that of the
above-mentioned favourite; and he is said to have been in no
small danger from the bigotry of his master. The Sultan is reported
to have once proposed to Purnea to become a convert to the faith
of Mahomet: as all proposals from a Sultan are tantamount to orders
that must be obeyed, the Brdhman replied, " I am your slave," and
GO
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER II.
SERINGAPATAM, AK0 ITS VICINITY.
CHAPTER
II.
May 18.
Beception at
Seringajia-
tam.
Purnea.
Ti/fAY 18th, I Avas employed at Ser'mgapatam in delivering my
It J. credentials.
l^th May,.—I had an interview with Purnea, the Dewan of the
Mysore Rdja, and, during that prince's minority, the chief admini-
strator of his government. By means of Colonel Close, I have re-
ceived assurances of every assistance in forwarding the objects
of my mission; and a Brahman has been appointed to accompany
me, with orders to call upon every person that I shall desire for
information.
Purnea is a Brahman of the Madual sect, and descended from a
family of the Coimbetore country. His native language is, of course^
Tamul; but he speaks the Karnataca, Mussulman, Marattah, and I
believe the Persian. He is said, by good judges, to be a person ex-
tremely well versed in the affairs of the country, and is much more
active than Brdhmans in general are. By the inhabitants he is now
called Sri Mantra, the same title that is given to the Peshwa at
Poonah. It is said to signify a person who has been fortunate from the
time of his having been in the womb. Next to Meer Saduc, he seems
to have enjoyed a greater power, under the late Sultan, than any
other person; but his authority was greatly inferior to that of the
above-mentioned favourite; and he is said to have been in no
small danger from the bigotry of his master. The Sultan is reported
to have once proposed to Purnea to become a convert to the faith
of Mahomet: as all proposals from a Sultan are tantamount to orders
that must be obeyed, the Brdhman replied, " I am your slave," and