A RUN THROUGH KATHIAWAR. 293 



for a European ; but there is one wing of the latter 

 which is usually set apart for the few Europeans who 

 visit Gi'rnar ; and I took up my residence there, witli 

 my two Portuguese servants the young Brahmans 

 and Kooshal preferring to sleep in the native dhar- 

 amsaln. My own room, both for sitting and sleeping 

 in, was a very small one, which must originally have 

 been intended for a guard or watch house, on the 

 roof of this wing of the palace. It was rather 

 peculiarly constructed ; for half of it projected out 

 beyond the Avail, and consequently over the terrific 

 2000 -feet precipice below. On the precipice side 

 there was, not exactly a window, but an aperture, 

 with a wooden door to it, between two and three feet 

 square, or nearly so. By putting your head out of 

 this aperture, as also by bending over the low parapet 

 of the roof, you could look down into the giddy 

 depth below. The guard-house was certainly well 

 fitted for commanding the country ; but, when alone 

 at night, it became a curious subject of speculation 

 as to whether, in ancient times, any too enthusiastic 

 Biidhist, or any of the Rajah Khengar's wives, had 

 ever been thrust through that aperture ; and if so, as 

 to what their real feelings may have been on the 

 occasion. The nights were often rendered hideous 

 by the blowing of a fierce north wind, which swept 

 round the Mata peak on the side of the guard-house 

 with such force, that it would sometimes burst open 

 the shutters of the aperture, and sometimes the door 



