descriptions were seen, having open 

 fronts, with tiie goods exposed on an 

 inclined platform. The slreels narrow, 

 and thronged with people; among whom 

 niii5;ht he discovered tiie sedate, de- 

 cently clad Braliman ; the delicate and 

 pretty featured Hindoo female; the 

 portly, dignified, and handsomely- 

 dressed Mussulman; Arah horsemen 

 Completely armed, prancing along upon 

 their fine chargers; rakeers in a ttate 

 of nudity ; Mahrulta foot-soldiers, with 

 sword and huckler ; and groups of peo- 

 ple from other countries in their various 

 costumes, and with peculiar casts of 

 coiuiteuance. In this diversified mov- 

 ing uiass we must not forget a few Jews 

 and Portuguese Christians, and occa- 

 sionally a British Siphauee in his neat 

 undress, on leave of ahsence foi' a few 

 hours. This living picture has the ad- 

 dition of state elephants, splendid ca- 

 valcades of puhlic officers, decked out 

 with parade and show, accompanied by 

 richly-caparisoned led horses, and 

 camels trotting along at a quick pace, 

 with rows of little tinkling bells sus- 

 pended round tlieir necks. If to all 

 this we add crowded markets, religious 

 processions, and hands of noisy musi- 

 cians, some idea may be formed of the 

 tumult and bustle of the capital city of 

 the Mahratta empire towards evening. 



Notwithstanding all the absurd cry at 

 home against the fanaticism and bigotry 

 of the Brahminicai character, the Portu- 

 guese Christians iiad a chapel in the 

 centre of Pooiia ; nor were the Maho- 

 medans less favoured, for at the annual 

 festival of the Taal)out, in commemora- 

 tion of the martyrdom of Husseiu and 

 Hassan, the Peishwa, in great state, 

 with all his iiuIjIIc officers, attended, 

 with every symptom of good will and 

 respect, aud even public salutes were 

 fired on the occasion. I have seen the 

 Mahomedans pay respect to the Hindoo 

 processions and worship, and Join in the 

 prayers and shouts of tlie multitude with 

 decorum and friendship ! 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF FLORA. 



Dhrutarass, a blind and holy mMii, 

 iDuch favoureil by Bralnnn, had a son 

 called Conroo, and a brother nameil 

 Pnndoo or Pandoo: it was so orderfd, 

 that the uncle and nephew were to 

 govern the world ; but it happened they 

 could not settle about their respective 

 sovereignties. They were ordered by a 

 vision to settle the (lispiite by playing a 

 certain game of hazard ; and Pandoo, 

 the uncle of C"uroo, lost it. 'i'o hide his 

 misfortune, and to obliterate from bis 



Setly's Wonders of Elora. 58 1 



mind all ideas of his former power and 

 greatness, he vowed to retreat from the 

 face of mankind, accompanied by his 

 wife Contee. After travelling a great 

 distance, they came to this part of In- 

 dia: the retirement of the place was 

 congenial to their heavy sorrows, and 

 here they fixed themselves. In the 

 course of a few years they begat five 

 sons; these were Yudishteer, Bheem or 

 Bhima, Urjoon or Urzuna, Nacool, and 

 Seyhuder. From a pious motive, and to 

 please tiie god Crislina, they commenced 

 excavating caverns for religious purposes; 

 and, that the undertaking might appear 

 miraculous and wonderful to mankind, 

 they entreated the god for a night that 

 might last one year; which request was 

 granted. Bheem, the second son, was 

 the principal assistant, he being ama- 

 zingly strong, and eating the enormous 

 quantity of one candy and a half of meat 

 during the day (900 lbs.) When the 

 five brothers had fiin'shed their excava- 

 tions, day broke forth ; the brothers 

 were then despatched to propagate the 

 wonder; and millions of people flocked 

 from the farthest parts to behold the 

 mighty and favoured family of the Pan- 

 doos. Their father Pundoo was re- 

 moved from this world to a better, for 

 his piety ; the sanctity of the brothers, 

 and their supposed influence with the 

 Deity, bronglit over boundless countries 

 and dominion to their sway: in a short 

 period of time they had seven millions 

 of warriors and fighting men; while 

 others were daily flocking to their 

 standard. They then determined to 

 wage war against their relation Couroo, 

 who, from the length, mildness, and vir- 

 tues of his reign, was universally be- 

 loved by his subjects. Even those that 

 had deserted, and had gone over to the 

 five brothers, from a mistaken notion of 

 their being deified heroes, by the great 

 wonders of the cavern being produced 

 in one night, seceded, and joined 

 Couroo, who called together his faithful 

 followers, and found that his fighting 

 men exceeded eleven millions, eager to 

 rrpel aggression ; but the event of the 

 conlliet was disastrous to Couroo, for 

 the brothers had found favour with 

 Crishna (Vishnu), as they had per- 

 formed great and holy works. So much 

 were they favoured, that Crishna stood 

 before Urzoon while he mounted his 

 charger, and bade him not fear the hosts 

 of Couroo. Thus were the caves of 

 Tslora exeavaliHl: Visvacarma being the 

 architect employed by the Pandoos. 



GENERAL 



