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built of chrystal, the windows of diamonds and precious stones of 

 every colour, and embroidered canopies before all the houses. All 

 the streets and lanes were entirely free from dust and filth : there 

 were also many curiously-painted temples adorned with water- 

 gilding. The shops in the bazars, with pillars on every side, were 

 all set out to the best advantage, and the palaces of the great were 

 superb beyond all description, uniting magnificence with elegance. 

 The houses of the eight Nayega and 16,000 wives of Creeshna 

 were built in a line by themselves with the utmost symmetry, 

 beauty, and splendor. Nared, on approaching them, beheld the 

 pillars of every house formed of coral, and the courts and Serais 

 embellished with jewels ; canopies of cloth of gold were every 

 where suspended with valuable strings of the finest pearl ; beauti- 

 ful children were playing in the courts ; while charming slave-girls 

 were diligently attending their several mistresses. The peacocks 

 on the house tops were rejoicing and singing in the exhalation, which 

 arose, from the constant burning of aromatics, in such quantity, 

 as to form a cloud that resembled the rainy season, and num- 

 berless rubies that were distributed about the buildings preserved a 

 constant light over the place. Nared, with all his curiosity of in- 

 spection, could not distinguish between the slaves and the mistres- 

 ses. In the first house which he entered he beheld 1,000 maids, 

 perfectly handsome, standing with their hands joined before them 

 round their lady, who, with a fly-flap, the handle set with jewels, 

 was preventing Creeshna from being molested with flies. When 

 Nared came in, Bhagavan spied him at a distance, and, immedi- 

 ately rising from his Musmud, went to meet him, laid his head at 

 Nared's feet, and welcomed him. Nared was ashamed of so great 

 an honour, and made an apologizing speech. Creeshna then 

 washed Nared's feet, and poured that water on his own head ; after 

 which, he seated Nared in the place of honour, paid him worship, 



