jS6 G A N G E T I C Ii I N D O O S T A N. 



was a royal menagery, and that the breed was propagated 

 from the bealls which had efcaped. I find in Bernier, part iv. 

 p. 48, that Aurengzebe frequently took the diverHon of lion 

 hunting, but cio not learn that the noble animal was ever turned 

 out for the imperial diverlion. The Ayeen Akberry^ ii. 296, re- 

 lates many inftances of the valour of Akbar the Great, in his 

 engagements with this tremendous animal, but is filent whe- 

 ther they had or had not been a;:origines of Hindnojlan. Mr. 

 'Terry ^ in the vaft forefls utAv Mandoa, fee p. 78, more than once 

 iaw lions, or heard them roaring ; they were alfo frequent 

 about Mahvab ; thefe muit have been their molt fouthernly 

 haunts, as the trail: between Labor and Cacbemere is the m.oil: 

 northerly, where they were the game of Aurengzebe, as related 

 by Bernier. I have never heard of their exceeding the two 

 limits I mention; poffibly they may have been extirpated in 

 other parts of Hindoojlait : certain it is, that it had a Hindoo^ 

 name, that of Smg^ which is no fmall proof of its having been, 

 once fpread over the whole empire, at left as far as climate 

 -». would permit, 



On the downfal of the Mogul empire^ this fortrefs fell to the 

 fliare of the Mabratta chieftain, Madagee Scindia. In 1779, ^^'^ 

 entered into an alliance againft him. I never endeavour to in- 

 veftigate too nicely the motives of our Hindoojian wars. QqXq- 

 v\t\Popbam was fent againft the fort, which was at that time 

 garrifoned by twelve hundred men : but for an accident, 



The caftle's flrength 

 Had laugh'd a liege to fcorrio 



Some 



