3993. the Indian cottage, a tale. : 199) 
ty, Icrofsed the magnificent quarter of the Omrahs, situated along 
the river Gemma, full of palaces and gardens. There every thing 
resounded with the musical instruments and songs of the bayaderes, 
who were ‘dancing by the light of flambeaux on the banks of the 
river. I presented myself at the gate of one of the gardens in order 
to enjoy so aggrceable a sight; but I was pufhed back by slaves, 
who, with the blows of their batons, kept off such wretches as me. 
Removing from the quarter of the great, I pafsed several pagodas, 
where a great number of unfortunate creatures, prostrate on the ground, 
were abandoning themselves tosorrew. Smade haste to fhun the» 
Sight of these monuments of superstition and of fear. Farther on, the 
piercing cries of mollahs, proclaiming to the fkies the watches of the 
night, apprised me that I was at the foot of the minarets of a mosque. » 
Near by were the factories of the Europeans, with their pavillions and - 
their watchmen, crying incefsantly, kaber dar! take care of yourselves. 
I next went along the side of a great building, that I knew to be 2 
prison, from the clanking of chains, and the groans of the prisoners. 
Soon after I heard thricks of pain that proceeded from a vast hospital, 
out of which came at the same time carts loaded with dead corpses. 
Travelling along, Imet rabbers and house-breakers flying along 
the streets, and patroles of the watch running after them; groups of 
beggars who, in spite of the blows of the rattan, were begging at the 
gates of the palaces of the great, some of the off-falls and- remains of 
their feasts; and every where those unhappy females who are public 
siguiltones order to procure the means of subsistance. .In (hort, after 
a long walk in the same street, I arrived at an immense square which 
surrounds the fortrefs inhabited by the great Mogul. This square was | 
filled with the tents of the rajahs or nabobs of his guard, and their 
regiments, distinguifhed from each other by flambeaux, colours, and 
}ong canes adorned with cow tails of the kingdom of Thibet. A large 
trench filled. with water, and fenced with artillery, as well as the square, 
ran quite round the fortrefs. By the light of the fire belonging to the 
guard I considered the towers of this castle, which rose to the clouds 
and the extent of the ramparts, the length of which was lost inthe 
horizon. I fhould have wifhed much to enter it ; but some great.» 
“korahs or whips hung upon posts removed every desire of setting my 
foot in it. I therefore stopped at one of its extremeties, near some 
black slaves, who Permitted me to rest myself beside the fire round 
whieh they were ‘seated. Thence I considered the imperial palace ; ° 
and said to myself, is this then the abode of the happiest of the 
