fruits, together with different kinds of excellent sherbet. The Persians appeared much to enjoy their Hookas, and maintained a most lively and interesting conversation. Most of them were of very distinguished families in Persia, and were not only men of great natural abilities, and well acquainted with eastern literature, but several of them were very well skilled in music, poetry, and painting, and evinced talents very far superior to any of the Asiatics with whom I have conversed.

It was about ten o'clock, when we descended into a large saloon to supper. This magnificent apartment was covered with the richest carpets, and was illuminated by waxen tapers, suspended in most elegant chandaliers of cut glass, whilst the walls were ornamented by rare and costly paintings, executed by Persian artists, which were descriptive of the soft and voluptuous manners and customs of their ladies and youths of distinction, who were here represented as reclining upon rich sophas, and indulging in all the transporting witchery of love and wine, amidst a vast variety of fruits, flowers, fountains, plates of ice, and many other luxuries, which hold out so many temptations to the Asia

tics. This saloon was open to a spacious court, which was planted with small beds of flowers, disposed in very pleasing groupes, together with several canals and fountains, which cooled the air and had a very beautiful appearance. The scene which was here opened to my view, realized all those warm and luxurious descriptions, which are contained in the Persian and Arabian tales, in a much greater degree than any which I have seen in the east.

We were seated at a table in the upper end of the hall, after the English manner, while the Moguls and Persians were placed in two rows apon the carpet. The repast consisted of an astonishing variety of rich dishes, which were all intended to be eaten with rice. They drank sherbet only, in public, but they very frequently perform private sacrifices to the altar of Bacchus.

The Nabob being himself of a Persian family, has given protection to several of his countrymen, who were driven from their country by the late disturbances in that kingdom: and who are now settled at Cambay, where they meet with tolerable good treatment, when due allowance is made for the despotism of such an oppressive government. These refugees generally bring

with them a large assortment of pearls, and valuable jewels, into which the small remains of their shattered fortunes are usually converted, for the convenience of travelling. I saw a very fine collection of jewels and precious stones for sale, during my stay at Cambay, amongst which there was one very fine diamond, shaped like a prism, weighing one hundred and seventeen carats, and valued at twenty-five thousand pounds sterling. Although the size of this diamond is so great, yet it is very far inferior to one in the royal jewelry of Persia, which weighs two hundred and sixty-four carats, and is valued at four hundred and thirty thousand pounds. This imperial gem is of a fine shape, and is called by way of eminence "the hill of lustre!"-Another, in the same regalia, which is styled "the sea of lustre !" being of a more flat surface, is but little inferior to it.

Both of these inestimable jewels, formed part. of Nadir Shah's plunder, when he conquered the province of Delhi, in his memorable invasion, in the year 1739. The riches he then car. ried off with him, were immense, and in real value amounted to upwards of seventy millions

conquests was the celebrated Tuchr Tapos, or Peacock Throne, in which the brilliant plumage of that bird, was imitated by the most costly jewels, and was alone estimated at ten crore of rupees, or more than twelve millions sterling. After the assassination of Nadir Shah, all the plunder he had obtained from Delhi, was scat tered abroad, and since the death of Carim Chan (one of his successors) it has been very widely dispersed.

Amongst the principal buildings of Cambay, there is a large Mosque and subterraneous pagoda, which deserve more particular notice, but not being permitted to enter them, I could only regard their exterior decorations, which were extremely magnificent and extensive. To the westward of the city, are a number of very elegant tombs, and splendid mausoleums, which the Nabob was then destroying for the purpose of obtaining their marble, and other valuable materials, for the use of his own private buildings, which was an act of despotism beheld with the utmost horror by his Mahometan subjects; but whatever their thoughts might be, prudence dictated a strict silence on so delicate a matter, as questioning the rights of their despot.

After remaining a few days at Cambay, we took our leave of that declining city, at a very early hour in the morning, and reached the village of Sejeutra, which was fifteen miles distant, by eight o'clock. At this place we pitched our tents, amongst the trees of a beautiful grove tamarinds, which grew on the margin of an extensive lake, and under their refreshing shade, we passed away the sultry hours of noon.

of

The country through which we were travelling, was well enclosed, and in a very high state of cultivation, having numerous picturesque plantations of mangoes, tamarinds, and kirneys, which latter are luxuriant and widely spreading fruit-trees, that much adorn the inclosures. The high road leading to Ahmedabad, is broad, but very heavy, on account of the light sandy soil of which it is principally composed.

Sejeutra, which is a pleasant and very popu lous village, is situated in the Pitlad Purgunnah, and belongs to a set of dancing girls, who very frequently have whole villages and extensive lands given to them by the Princes of India, whom they have doubtless pleased in more vo cations than merely dancing, to obtain such great