619
as he pofleffed alfo Rama-giri, and a great extent of the neighbouring hilly trad:.About five years ago, Tippoo , with his ufual policy of removing every monument ofHindu government, deftroyed Magadi, and forced the inhabitants to fettle in a newtown, which he erected in the woods, and called Ali-nagar. The people are now de-ferring this place, and returning to their old abode in Magadi.
In the hollow ground near the river are fome of the belt forefts in the country, thetrees growing to a confiderable fize. The cattle of the inhabitants never go into them;nor can any one cut the timber without an order from government. Much of thelower land in this foreft might be cleared and cultivated.
Throughout thefe hills, which extend northward from Capala-durga, are many cul-tivated fpots, in which, during Tippoo ’s government, were fettled many baydaru, orhunters, who received twelve pagodas (4I. 5s.) a year, and ferved as irregular troopswhenever required. Being accuffomed to purfue tigers and deer in the woods, theywere excellent markfmen with their match-locks, and indefatigable in following theirprey ; which, in the time of war, was the life and property of every helplefs creaturethat came in their way. During the wars of Hyder and his fon, thefe men were chiefinftruments in the terrible depredations committed in the Lower Carnatic .They werealfo frequently employed with fuccefs againft the Polygars, whofe followers were menof a fimilar defcription. At prefent, as they receive no pay, they are obliged to applymore clofely to agriculture; for in that way they always employed their leifure; andthere is a profpect of their becoming a quiet and induftrious people, although they{fill retain their arms, and an anxious defire for plunder.
16th June. — I remained at Magadi, endeavouring to complete my collection of thevarious timber trees. I fent alfo to Ghettipura to inquire after the iron mines: but wasinformed by the officers of government, that, nobody having wrought them for fomeyears, their fituation was not now known. After a long fearch, however, they had founda few ftones, which they fent, believing that they might be iron-ore. I then fent for 'the man who had given me the information ; and on the following day,
17th June, — I took him along with me to Ghettipura, where I not only found theore in feveral places, but alfo the pits, from which the people were then aftuallytaking it to fupply their furnaces. I am at fome lofs to account for this defire of con-cealment relative to minerals, which alfo extends to every kind of quarry throughoutthe country, and which equally pervades the officers of government and the other in-habitants. Men, who have given me apparently correft information relative to theirfarms, have eagerly denied a knowledge of the foffile kingdom, which they, no doubt,pofleffed, and for which denial I can affign no plaufible motive. The late Sultan,indeed, is faid to have haraffed his fubje&s exceedingly, by making them work atquarries, and alfo to have been very fevere on the fmelters of iron; and the peoplemay have fufpefted, that my inquiries might lead to fimilar oppreffions; but accordingto the iron-fmelters’ own account, the Sultan gave them a high price for their iron,and by his great demand afforded them conftant employment. It is probable, however,that he compelled them to work much harder than they were inclined to do, and thatthey were defrauded by thofe who were entrufted with the payment.
Much Heel was formerly made at Ghettipura, from whence it derives its name,which fignifies literally hard town. It is a fmall village fituated by the compafsW. S. W. from Savana-durga, and is diftant from Magadi about feven miles. Nearit are many cultivated fields intermixed with low rocky hills. The ore is found both inthe fields and hills.
4 k 2
The