ignorance. Of regular judicial procedure there was little or no trace. Every amildár, or district officer, acted much as he pleased: to complain against oppression was dangerous. In one department, however, the Sultán took a special interest, owing to the deep distrust which he entertained even against his principal officials, whose families were compelled to reside permanently at the capital In order to ascertain what went on in their households, the police were directed 'to place spies in the fort, in the town of Ganjám adjoining it, in the bazárs, and over the doors of the great Mírs, so as to gain intelligence of every person who went to another's house and of what was said, thereby acquiring an accurate knowledge of the true state of things, to be reported daily to the Presence.' It was at the same time forbidden that any one should go to the house o( another to converse[1].
Of Tipú's ferocious character there are unfortunately abundant proofs, some of which may be mentioned in addition to what has already been said on this subject. As they are taken from his own correspondence there can be no doubt as to their authenticity. In one letter, written during the progress of the siege of Nargúnd, he says: –
'In the event of your being obliged to assault the place,
- ↑ Latterly, the Sultán appears to have neglected the duties of his State, and to have allowed the control of affairs to remain in the hands of worthless inferiors, while he passed his time in prayer, reading the Korán, and counting the beads of his Tasbíh or rosary.
