"Kirmani proudly recounts the manner in which Tanjore was ravaged by the forces of Tipu: Prince Tippoo with seven thousand horse, four thousand regular and irregular foot and five guns, [marched] towards Tujawur [Tanjore] and Nuthurnuggur [Tiruchirapalli]. With this force, the Prince Tippoo boldly advanced into the country of Tujawur. His soldiers, brave as Roostum, in obedience of his orders, plundered and destroyed the environs of that town, which in population and fertility, may be called equal to Kashmere . . . the habitations and idol temples of that country, which threw shame on the best paintings of China, and resembled the beauties of Paradise, they levelled with the ground, and setting fire to most of the houses, shops and bazaars, they laid waste the whole of the country. They set the country in a blaze, they took the lock or latch, and set fire to the door. By the hoofs of the Islam horse, plains and mountains were rendered indistinguishable. Sacks upon sacks of corn, herd upon herd of cattle, flocks of sheep and goats, with other articles considered worthy the notice of Hydur were sent to him . . . and plundered Seerung [Srirangam?] and Jhumgiri [?], ancient temples, seated between the waters of the Kaveri and Kaverum held in great veneration by the Hindoos, and the gaze and delight of the world . . . the young men, fond of beauty and enjoyment, obtained lovely virgins and slave girls, of the Brahmun caste, and Bayaderes, beautiful as the moon, arrayed with ornaments of gold and jewels, to their hearts desire, and warmed themselves thoroughly in the arms of beauty. Of the whole of the plunder taken, one fourth was returned to the Sirkar.30"