326 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



native city. One side of the castle is built on the edge of 

 the precipice, and the walls almost seem a continuation of 

 the cliff. Seen from the distance, the palace and citadel 

 look bare and plain ; but as you ascend the long, winding 

 road, masses of beautiful carvings reveal themselves, and the 

 front becomes broken with quaint windows and picturesque 

 overhanging galleries. 



As you enter by the arched gateway, lumps of dried clay 

 in rows down its pillars at once catch the eye. They are 

 silvered, or gilt over, and each bears the impress of a small 

 hand — the last mark of a Ranee before she went forth to 

 perform suttee, and throw herself on the funeral pyre. The 

 Maharaja's Zenana is still situated in the fort, and here the 

 ladies of his family now live. 



Part of the old palace surrounds a courtyard built of red 

 sandstone perfectly covered with carving and tracery, so 

 finely executed that it looks more like the work of a jeweller 

 than a stonemasoD. Another pavilion at the side is of 

 marble, also beautifully carved and decorated. Inside it is 

 little different from other Indian palaces. There is the 

 inevitable Shish-mahal. and the usual heterogeneous collection 

 of indifferent furniture. But the jewel-room is a wonderful 

 sight ! In the centre are many glass-cases filled with every 

 description of ornament ; diamonds without number, and 

 ropes of pearls as common as strings of onions. All round 

 the room are shelves aud cupboards piled up with gold 



