formerly a part of the suburbs of Ahmedabad, but which is now merely a detached village, situate at a few miles distance from the city walls. Here we were shewn a large square, containing several elegant temples or mausoleums which were beautifully executed in marble and stone, that was covered with a white stucco, having a very superior polish. The pillars that supported the domes, were light and elegant, and the carved fretwork, contained in the concave of the dome, with the marbled mosaic of the pavement, seemed alike executed in an excellent taste. The paintings on the windows exceeded the most celebrated I have seen in the cathedrals or episcopal churches of Europe, at least in the smaller compartments, for here there was none of those bold and lofty arches which in the latter allow of such superior disposition of subjects and figures.

The small domes by which each of the tombs are covered, are formed of fine marble, most cu riously inlaid with beautiful foliage and festoon of flowers, made of what is commonly terme mother-of-pearl, which are executed with all th neatness that is displayed on the lids of Eur

are adorned with gold and silver stuffs, strewed with jessamines and other fragrant flowers, and are hung round with lamps that are kept perpetually burning by the Faqhirs and Dervises, who are maintained there for those and similar services.

As the day became extremely warm, we were obliged to quit Betwah somewhat earlier than we wished, and travelled to Ahmedabad through a tract of rich country, which was once covered with crowded streets and populous mansions but which was now a cultivated plain filled with trees and verdure, except where the yet splendid ruins of some falling mosque, or mouldering palace, rose to our view, and served in some measure to give us an idea of their former magnifi. These recence, now for ever passed away.

mains of public buildings increased in number as we approached the city, until the latter part of our journey was continued over whole acres of splendid ruins. We were much surprised at scarcely meeting with one single inhabitant of the city. No solitary being now dwelled amidst the grand scene of untimely desolation: "No sad historian of the mournful plain" could we meet with to inform us of the rise and fall of those magnificent structures,

"Now obscur'd

"By sorded moss, and ivy's creeping leaf:
"The princly palace, and stupendous fane
Magnificent in ruin nod; where time

"From under shelving architraves hath mow'd
"The column down, and cleft the pond'rous stone."

1

At nine o'clock we reached this famous city, which is now only five miles in circumference. It is surrounded with an high wall, having towers at about fifty yards distance from each other, after the usual modes of Indian fortifications.

Here are twelve principal gates, and some smaller ones used as sally ports. Those of the latter are near the river, and are kept open for the use of the inhabitants.

The city of Amedabad is most delightfully situated on the banks of the river Sabrematty, whose waters wash its western walls. The city together with its suburbs we were informed formerly measured twenty seven miles in circumrence. Thevenot and other European travellers, who visited it in the last century, mention its being at that time seven leagues, and even now whereever we turned our eyes, for several miles round, we beheld lofty minarets, falling palaces, ruined aqueducts, which at once bespoke its for

But its

mer extent and vast magnificence. It was then enriched by commerce, peopled by industry, and adorned by superabundant wealth. glory has long since faded away, and is now lost amidst its ruin and desolation. Long wars and oppressive governments have produced its hasty decline, and will soon sweep over its total annìhilation.

Many of the streets are broad, but not now planted with trees on each side as Mandelslae and others mention, as having formerly been the case, neither are any of them paved. The triumphal arches in the principal street, the grand entrance to the Durbar, several of the Mosques and other public buildings of the Puttans and Moguls, yet remain as monuments of their vast splendour and magnificence. The streets were spacious and regular, the mosques, aqueducts, courts of justice, and public wells on a grand scale, and well disposed.

When a splendid court was held in this city, and so many of the most distinguished nobles accompanied the imperial princes, every thing was conducted with that grandeur which so eminently distinguishes eastern potentates, but more especially those who have unlimited controul

and power. But now it exhibits a strange mixture of Mogul splendour and the wretched taste of the Mharattas. We very frequently saw a small ill-fashioned door or a window having wooden bars, fixed into a bold arch, filled up with mud or cow-dung. The whole city presents this unpleasant picture.

But the awful spectacle of magnificent palaces and other monuments of human powers and human grandeur now lying in gigantic ruins; or the still more melancholy state of a rapidly declining commerce, form not all the miseries or the calamities that await the inhabitants of Ahmedabad. In that city, there are too many instances of unfortunate Patan and Mogul families, who, having survived the splendour of their houses, livenow in the dismal gloom of an unmerited obscurity, where, shrouded in the torn mantle of poverty, they feel the most bitter pangs of want. The young men, indeed, of such unfortunate families, can and do go abroad to more propitious climes, and improve their fortunes; but it is not so with the aged, the infirm, and the softer sex. These, who have seen happier days, who have been accustomed to all the comforts, and indeed all the luxuries of life, are unable to dig, and to beg,