A RACE OF AMPHIBIANS. 



35 



the water, some in boats, others on the steps half-in and 

 half-out of the river — a race of amphibians. Many of the 

 wooden houses are carved, but there is an utter absence 

 of colour. All is brown except an occasional gold or 

 silver dome of some temple. The Maharaja has a bouse 

 near the European quarter, an ugly bare building that 



looks like the grand-stand of a racecourse, but T believe 

 he usually lives in an old palace in the town. 



Several of the shops are inscribed "Shawl Merchant 

 and Banker," which seems an odd combination. "We were 

 advised to go to one Bahnr Shah. To reach him one had 

 to go up steps into a little yard surrounded by open 

 sheds, where men sat embroidering rugs; then through 



