AN INTERESTING ARMOURY. 247 



entrance to the city. The first view was distinctly 

 striking. An amphitheatre of bare rocky mountains 

 forms the background, and half encloses the palace and 

 quaint-looking native buildings grouped around and below 

 it. The crest of the hill is crowned by the old fort, and 

 from this descend long lines of stone battlements, forming 

 the outer defences of the town. Although thoroughly 

 Indian in character, there is something in its fantastic 

 crenellated walls, which strongly recalls Gustave Dore's 

 medieval castles. Beyond the gate, a long narrow street 

 goes up hill through a picturesque bazaar, and passes 

 under an arched cupola-roofed building in the centre of 

 the town, which covers the rond point whence four streets 

 radiate. 



The palace is entered through high arched doors, 

 opening into the outer courtyard. The buildings are 

 in the same style of architecture as those at Deeg, with 

 this advantage over the latter, that instead of sandstone 

 they are built of white marble. They first show you 

 the armoury, which holds a wealth of curious old arms. 

 Many of the swords are jewelled all over, the blades as 

 well as the handles. A few Damascus blades are even 

 more valuable. 



One plain steel sword originally cost 15,000 rupees. 

 There are many varieties of hideous-looking daggers, used 

 for thrusting, with steel side-pieces to protect the hand. 



