ENCLOSED is a letter which we have received from Gopa, the Aumil of Koorumnâd, relating to the depredations of the robbers and highway­men [who infest that district]. Peruse the same, and settle the business. Such of the authors of* [or principle actors in] these flagitious pro­ceedings as have been already killed, are killed. But why should the remainder of them, on being made prisoners, be put to death? Their proper punishment is this. Let the dogs, both black and white, be regu­larly dispatched to Seringapatam.*

As we may be pretty certain, that it was not the object of the present order to extend any lenity to the offenders in question, it would not be easy to guess what sort of punishment was intended for them upon their arrival at Seringapatam. It is equally difficult to explain, what the Sultan meant by black and white dogs; since the solution of the matter which occurs to me (namely, that of the European settlers on the coast of Malabar being alluded to by the latter term) would not seem to be admissible in the present instance. Is it possible that, by the white dogs, he could intend the native Christians of Malabar? This supposition is, it must be owned, opposed by a strong fact; which is, that the Christians in question are as black as any other people in India: so that, if they were in the contemplation of the Sultan, he must have employed the words “white dogs” in the way of metonymy, or as another designation for Nazarenes or Christians.