The king of Cochin was able to withstand his enemies till the year 1760; and perhaps would have gained the superiority, had he been in a condition to overawe the petty princes who were dependent on his government. These princes, who were not unanimous among themselves, attacked each other’s territories; carried away their subjects as captives; excited the chief men against one another; deprived several families of their property; and, as they were too weak to subdue an opulent and high-spirited people, gave to some private individuals full freedom to revenge the injuries which they had suffered. Scarcely a week now passed in which some murder was not committed. Children massacred their parents; and even the sovereign was no longer safe in his palace. Such crimes could not remain unpunished; and the inhabitants soon experienced that chastisement which their cruelty deserved. The kings of Travancor had hitherto been insignificant princes, whose territories extended only about fifteen or twenty miles up the country from Cape Comari; and were, besides, not very fruitful. The sovereign of this district, at that time _Vira Martanda Pala_, was uncle to the present king _Rama Varmer_. He was a man of great pride, courage and talents; capable of undertaking grand enterprises, and from his youth had been accustomed to warlike operations. As he had concluded an alliance with the king of _Madura_, it needs excite no wonder, that, agreeably to his character, he should conceive the idea of making conquests, and of enlarging his unproductive dominions by the acquisition of new provinces. For this purpose he crossed the river _Palur_ in the year 1764; fought a decisive battle with king _Ciangaceri_, and, having entirely subdued him, laid waste his territories with fire and sword; caused all the palaces, and even some of the Pagan temples, to be demolished; and took prisoners the neighbouring petty princes. The latter had been called in by _Ciangaceri_ to his assistance; but they were at open variance with each other, and too much occupied with their own feuds to unite in one common cause against _Vira Martanda Pala_, who advanced to _Airucutti_, which is only three leagues distant towards the south from Cochin. His commander in chief, _Martandapulla_, laid siege to the place, and continued his conquests, which were completed by M. Eustatius de Lanoy, with whom I formed an acquaintance at _Curriapalli_ in the year 1777. He drove _Samuri_ on the other side of the river from _Alangatta_ and _Codungalur_; assigned a small spot to the king of Cochin for his support; made himself master of all the fortresses; put the king’s troops on the same footing as the European; divided among them the conquered lands; caused them frequently to march through the country with full military parade, in order to keep the people in subjection to their rulers; and after _Vira Martanda_’s death, gave the kingdom, in which perfect