lexander Walker became Political Resident at Baroda 1802-1810.
The National
Library of Scotland preserves his 'Journal of the War
with Tippoo 1799' compiled c.1822; his Description of Seringapatam;
his copy of a 'Memoir of the life and principal transactions
of Tippoo Sultan by a Maratha Sirdar in his service' and
his Madras Notebook, of 1799-1800. This includes illustrated
notes on a variety of sites and curiosities which attracted
Walker's interest: the Madras waterworks, cotton manufacture,
and ancient stone structures, such as the one illustrated
and described on this page. After recording the various
local designations for the structure, the Scotsman concludes
with a term from his own native vocabulary: 'The actual
interpretation of the name is a stone monument. They are
Cairns.'
Walker's sketches provide a fascinating contemporary record
of both natural and man-made landmarks. Drawings also travelled
east, from Scotland to India, to Scots 'in exile' as they
often expressed it. Jessy Harden's sister, Agnes, had travelled
with her husband to India in 1799. From Edinburgh, between
1801 and 1811, Jessy corresponded with her sister in Bengal,
and kept a letter-journal to which, after her marriage in
1803, her husband, John Harden, contributed delightful illustrations.
It was hoped that Jessy's sister might do the same for her
letters home: 'he (Harden) says you ought not to neglect
taking drawings of all the different objects in India, which
may be so novel to Europe eyes, or at least procure sketches
of us much as you possibly can.' Walker's sketches would
have fulfilled this role admirably.
In some of his other writings, Walker reveals himself to
be a man of the Enlightenment, with his sharp and questioning
observation, his curiosity and rational thought. His papers
describe, in February 1799 near Cannore 'the narrowness
of the roads, their steepness, the scantiness of forage
and the confined nature of the country.' There follows a
reflection on the character of Tipu, and a description of
his funeral, 'performed with
due solemnity,' and a graphic description of the 'tremendous
thunderstorm' that afternoon and the 'dreadful state
of the Fort' on 5th May 1799.' Walker describes some of
the buildings of Seringapatam, including the Palace, where
were Tipu's throne and 'In another
corner near the staircase that conducted to the Sultan's
chamber, were couched in chains half a dozen or more Tiger
and Chitres (sic) for the State
of the Chase.' 'The real greatness of Seringapatam,'
he writes, 'consists of its fortifications, which aided
by the advantages of its natural situation renders it one
of the strongest fortresses in India.'
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