breath of inspiration, to a nearer abode with worldly objects and worldly cares, he recollected that Mecca was situated in his own country, to which he immediately transferred the dignity he had intended to bestow upon Jerusalem, justly considering that the interests of his own country must be very materially benefited by so great a resort as it would doubtless be made, by the pilgrimage of such myriads of true believers as it was his ordination and his law should so journey thither.

Both the heavenly and the worldly speculations of Mahomed answered fully to his most ardent expectations. There are large annual caravans of commercial pilgrims who resort to Mecca even unto this day, where there is in consequence a very considerable trade carried on for several weeks. This conduct of the pilgrims betokens great judgment and good sense, for, according to the old English proverb, they "kill two birds with one stone." They administer unto the wants of the soul with the same enviable zeal they display in their worldly matters, and all is accomplished with one and the same trouble and expence.

We next visited and spent a day at Shake.

Baugh, which is a summer's palace and gardens, situated about two miles to the northward of the city, on the banks of the Sabrematty, built by the emperor Shah Jehan, when he was in the capacity of viceroy to this province. It is yet in very excellent repair, although it was finished in the sixteenth century, and has not now been inhabited for á considerable period. The principal saloon is spacious, and of a noble height;. the walls are finished with the finest stucco, and the ceiling is painted and ornamented with great

taste.

This hall occupies the whole height of the building, and the recesses from it lead to eight small octagonal rooms, four of which are below and four above. Each of the upper rooms have separate stairs, and they are all finished in the same splendid style as the grand saloon, having their walls (if possible) more beautiful than polished marble, and their ceilings painted in the mosaic style.

Under this building there are several subterraneous apartments, which in this hot climate must have afforded most delightful retreats, when the heat of the sun was too intense to admit of

On every side of the palace ran a small canal, which here and there threw up a number of beautiful fountains. Round this canal a fine terrace walk was raised to a considerable height, that afforded a most charming view; and below this terrace, on a parallel with the subterraneous apartments, were the flower-gardens overhanging the river, into which we descended by two flights of steps.

The principal pleasure-grounds and gardens were situated in the front of the palace, and extended to a great length towards the city. These were surrounded by an high wall, and presented scarcely any remains of their former magnificence, excepting the rows of large trees which adorned the spacious walks, and the ruins of fountains and other water-works, that were disposed with great taste throughout the grounds.

The zenana, or Sultana's palace, was situated at a small distance on thesame banks of the Sambrematty, having separate gardens, baths, and fountains, all of which are now in ruins. The apartments appropriated for the officers and servants of the court, are likewise detached from the royal palace. The scite of the whole is convenient and very delightful, and when Shake

Baugh was in perfection, it must doubtless have been a splendid retreat for so voluptuous a prince as the emperor Shah Jehan; but it is now hastening with great rapidity in its decline, and must in a very few years share the same fate with all the other mouldering monuments of mogul splendour.

Notwithstanding I am a great admirer of fountains, shade, and verdure, wherever I meet with them in this sultry climate, yet the most pleasing Asiatic gardens which I have seen can make but a poor boast of those agreeable imitations of na ture, artless shrubberies, sloping lawns, meandering walks, and that great variety of beautiful scenery, which characterises the gardens of England. The Indian grounds are laid out more in the Dutch style, which has too much of formality to please an enthusiastic admirer of

nature.

About a mile from these gardens there is a large well, that was built by a nurse to one of the sovereigns of Ahmedabad, and which is yet called the Nurse's well. A noble flight of steps conducted us through rows of pillars and pilasters, all formed of hewn stone that were very elegantly finished, to the reservoir of water..

The well is lined with large stone, and is surrounded by galleries that have circular flights of steps leading to them, and a small dome, supported by eight pillars over each. These galleries severally communicate with the grand -stair-case.

This public well, which is a noble monument of private charity, cost upwards of thirty thousand pounds in its erection. There are several traditional stories related respecting its origin. Some assert that it was built by the nurse I have mentioned, but others affirm that it owes its. origin to a rich and beautiful dancing-girl, who built the whole with the price of one of the jewels which she wore round her ancle, and that she threw the other into the well to reward the search of those who should dive for it, but from whence it was never brought to light.

This anecdote, although very generally credited in Ahmedabad, I should be inclined to deem fabulous, and wholly inconsistent with the good sense and benevolent disposition of that celebrated woman, who also founded a splendid mosque at no great distance from the same well, in which her mortal remains are deposited, having a noble mausoleum erected over them.