had really just seen their beloved monarch slaughtered before their
eyes, to such a pitch were their imaginations worked up by the scene
which had been acted. Had I not witnessed what I describe, I could
scarcely have believed it possible; and as the Cholas sang their songs
of mourning, the tears streamed down their cheeks, the groans seemed to
come from the hearts of the men, and every countenance wore an
expression of the most profound sorrow. Just at that moment I saw a man
hurrying up the path which led into the village from the valley below.
Almost breathless with exertion, he uttered a few words to the first he
met. His communication flew like lightning among the crowd. They
scattered in every direction, as if a thunderbolt had fallen among them.
Masks were torn off and hastily concealed, dresses were changed, and
the block and axe, and all the things connected with the representation,
were carried away, while the people ran along the streets, and shut
themselves up in their houses in evident fright.

We were not long in ascertaining the cause of the commotion. As I
watched the approach to the town, I caught sight of the bayonet and
shako of a soldier rising above the brow of a hill. Another and another
followed, till about twenty men and two Spanish officers formed in the
square of the town. That they had come for no good purpose, was soon
made manifest by their charging a small party of the Indians who had
neglected to escape from the square. So unexpected was the attack, that
some were captured, while others were cruelly wounded before they could
conceal themselves. The soldiers having thus whetted their thirst for
blood, hurried from cottage to cottage, breaking open the doors and
dragging out the terrified inmates. Those who were found with a mask,
or any portion of the ancient Indian costume about them, proving that
they had taken part in the forbidden representation, were without mercy
shot, in spite of the entreaties and cries of their wives and children.
A considerable number were also dragged from their huts and bound
together with ropes, preparatory to being carried off as prisoners.

We had hitherto remained concealed in the house where we had rested for
the night, and which had been unvisited by the soldiers. Had we been
able to leave the village unobserved, we would gladly have done so to
avoid contact with the troops, though we had no reason to apprehend
ill-treatment from them. My fathe