ITO EASTERN HINDOOSTAN. 



meafiire contributes. Nature contributes in feme parts by the 

 vaft hollows between the hills, but the water contained in them 

 is increafed by dams made acrofs their difcharges, fometimes 

 half a league long. After they are filled up by the rainy feafon, 

 the inhabitants introduce the water into the lower country by 

 means of fluices, which fpreads unfpeakable fertility into the 

 fubjacent grounds. 



Capital. The capital was antiently named Bagnagar, and afterwards 



Hydrabad. It is the prefent refidence of its monarch the Ni- 

 zam ; it is a large city. Thevenot fpeaks of the palace as a mag- 

 nificent building, and alfo a place called The Four Towers, 

 which feems defigned to convey water to the former. Here 

 was a citadel of confiderable ftrength ; but after feveral afl^aults 



Fort of Gol- it was, in 1 687, taken by Aurengzebe. The king had retired 

 to a fort on an impregnable rock, but doubting the fidelity of 

 his troops, appeared before the Mogul in filver chains, and fur- 

 rendered himfelf in the mofl abjecSl manner. He was refiiored 

 to his dominions ; but in a little time the conqueror repented of 

 his generofity, and again took the field. He in perfon en- 

 gaged in the fiege, and fixed his quarters at Hydrabad ; he after- 

 wards refigned the condudl of it to one of his fons, Sultan 

 Azim. The king was ftill in his flirong fortrefs, which bore the 

 name of his kingdom. It ftood at the difiance of two leagues 

 from the capital ; on the fummit are five round towers : the 

 lower defences were fix miles in circumference, and above them 

 others of far greater firength, fome of which were cut out 

 of the live rock : a breach was effected, but the courage of the 

 garrifon was never tried ; the king being betrayed by two or 



three 



CONDA. 



