TANJORE, a celebrated town and fortress, and capital of the above-mentioned district. The city comprehends two fortresses, which are given up to the rajah; but on the exigency of a war, the British have a right by treaty to re-occupy them. The small fort is a mile in circumference, very strong and in good repair. It has lofty walls, and on the corners of the ramparts are cavaliers. There is also a ditch, broad and deep, cut out of the solid rock, with a well-formed glacis. The small is joined to the large fort, where the rajah resides, which is fortified in a similar manner, and, beside the palace, contains other public buildings. The smaller fort contains the celebrated pagoda, the chief building of which is one of the finest specimens of the pyramidal temple in Hindustan. Within is a bull carved from a block of black granite, an excellent specimen of Hindu sculpture. It also contains a college, formerly a celebrated place of Hindu learning. The fortress, which may be considered as the citadel, is extremely strong, and successfully resisted the arms of both the French and the British, but was taken by the latter in the year 1773. Long. 79. 11. E. Lat. 10. 42. N.