OF THE OLD WORLD. 6 



ferent kinds, the morning of our arrival, but the 

 next day they came just as numerous as ever. 



Having seen that our tents were properly pitched 

 and our horses firmly picketed, we accompanied the 

 Killadar to his quarters in the fort, the ascent of 

 which is very steep, and almost impracticable for 

 horses, and he took us round the fortifications, which 

 were tolerably strong for a native fort, consisting, 

 as usual, of a loop-holed wall, with square bastions 

 of masonry, and a kind of fausse brae, with a line 

 of interior defences, which form the citadel. He 

 appeared to thmk the place impregnable, and neither 

 Walter nor myself cared to undeceive him, although 

 we both made up our minds that it would take 

 our troops somethmg less than an hour to get into 

 it. 



He showed us some curious old native guns, one 

 of which was of very large calibre, being formed of 

 bars of iron welded together and fastened with large 

 iron hoops, and the shot, which were of stone, we 

 found to be rather heavier than we could lift. 



After our inspection we adjourned to the Killa- 

 dar's house, which appeared to have been formerly 

 the gateway of an old Hindoo temple, but all the 

 images had been destroyed and replaced by stone 

 slabs bearing Persian inscriptions. We were shown 

 into the " dewan-khana," or guest-room, where a 

 very nice dinner, in the native style, was served, and 

 our host conversed with us whilst we partook of 

 his hospitality, and appeared much amused at my 



