“The palace of Hyder Ali, built by himself, is very beautiful according to the style of Eastern architecture. It is entirely of hewn stone with numerous pillars. At the extremity of the pagoda stands the ancient palace of the Kings of Mysore. The former possessor of the throne, to whom Ali allows an annual income, still inhabits it. He has his servants, but is treated as a prisoner of state; Hyder himself sometimes visits him and stands in his presence as a servant. Thus men of the world can dissemble. The King’s sons are all dead and the general opinion is that they were secretly dispatched. “Opposite the palace is a large square, on two sides of which are open buildings in which the military and civil servants of Hyder have their appointed stations for conducting public business. He can overlook them from his balcony, and as they are required at appointed times to be in the places assigned them, to receive the reports of the country and army, whoever has business to transact knows where to find them. Here reigns no pomp but the utmost regularity and dispatch.... Though Hyder sometimes rewards his servants, the main spring of action here is terror. Everyone performs his part from a motive of fear, well knowing the consequences of any neglect of duty. Persons of the highest as well as of the meanest condition are punished with the same instrument. The tyrant keeps two hundred men with whips in constant readiness; and no day passes without many being chastised. The Governor of a whole district is whipped in the same manner as the meanest groom. Hyder treats them all alike. Even his two sons and his son-in-law are liable to the same cruel usage. When any one of his highest officers has been thus publicly flogged he does not allow him to resign his employment but compels him to retain it, that the marks of the whip on his person may serve to deter him from repeating the offence; for he seems to think that almost all persons who seek to enrich themselves are devoid of all principles of honour. “Entering the palace one evening I observed in the audience chamber a number of people sitting in an arch. By their dress I perceived they were collectors of districts and in their countenances the marks of anxious fear were visible. I was informed by Hyder’s Persian secretary that they were come to submit their accounts. They appeared to me like criminals expecting death. Very few were able to render them to Hyder’s satisfaction and in consequence dreadful punishments were daily inflicted. I hardly know whether to mention how one of these unhappy men was treated. The poor criminal was tied to a post, two men approached with whips and flogged him in the most cruel manner, the pointed nails lacerating his flesh. The cries of the wretched victim were most heart piercing.