Valley of Ood'ipoor. 9.65 



is broken and rugged ; craggy and precipitous cliffs rise around 

 us, and nature assumes a peculiarly barren and sterile aspect. 

 We look in vain for any trace of that amazing fertility for 

 which this valley is famed, and our first impression is decided- 

 ly an unfavourable one ; nor is this impression much relieved, 

 when, on gaining the summit of a steep ascent, at no great dis- 

 tance from the barrier, the palace of the Ranah presents itself 

 to our view, rising in the vista like a huge mass of unfashioned 

 masonry, amid apparent ruin and sterility. All, however, who 

 have examined the engravings of Colonel Todd''s Rajasthan, 

 must be well aware, that this valley includes within its circum- 

 ference some of the most beautiful scenes in nature, and that 

 the modern capital of the Hindu Put, the descendant of a 

 thousand kings, is not altogether unworthy of the glory of his 

 ancestors. Scenes such as those which the painter has so beauti- 

 fully and correctly delineated, are frequently concealed from 

 view, till, by a sudden turn of the route, the doubling of a pro- 

 jecting point, or the ascent of a rising ground, they burst upon 

 us in all their splendour. But I must not dwell on details of 

 this nature. 



Within the Valley of Oodipoor, there are two lakes of consi- 

 derable extent*. One (the Puchola) washes to the westward 

 the narrow ridge upon which the city stands, the other (the 

 Oodisagor) at the southern extremity of the valley, is bounded 

 by the range of hills which forms the eastern barrier of the Ara- 

 vulli plateau. Besides these, there are numerous small tanks and 

 sheets of water, and, during the rains, the greater portion of the 

 low land is flooded. The level of the Puchola is high above the 

 surrounding country -I*. A bimd has been thrown across a deep 

 and precipitous chasm in the ridge immediately to the south of 

 the palace, and the overflow of the lake here forms a picturesque 

 waterfall. Another rivulet, during the rains, issues from the 



• About six miles in circumference during tiie dry season. During and 

 immediately after the rains about ten to twelve. 



t A great portion of the city is situated below the water level of the 

 Puchola. The Bund to the south of the Palace, was, during the rains of 1829, 

 reported in a dangerous condition, the inhabitants were in daily dread of its 

 bursting, and watchmen were stationed in a proper position to give the first 

 alarm on the approach of danger, when the inhabitants were recommended to 

 betake themselves to the heights?. This Bund has been lately repaired. 



