General Sir Hector Munro served in India for many years and was involved in the Battle of Negapatam, destroying Dutch power on the Coromandel coast in 1781. In providing relief work for his tenants here in Ross and Cromarty in 1783, it is likely he chose Indian style architecture for the 'folly'. Southey (1819) hinted as much in writing of his visit to the Highlands.