PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 449 



tinue, when the place was besieged by the Mahrattas 

 in 1788. The river Jumna running directly under- 

 neath this bastion, the tyrant crossed it immediately, 

 and fled to Meerut, in the Dooab. 



The Gentur Hunter, or observatory, in the vici- 

 nity of Delhi, has been described by former travel- 

 lers. It was built in the third year of the reign of Mo- 

 hummed Shah, by the Rajah Jeysing, who was assisted 

 by many persons celebrated for their science in astro- 

 nomy from Persia, India, and Europe ; but died be- 

 fore the work was completed ; and it has since been 

 plundered, and almost destroyed by the Jeits, under 

 Juwaher Sing. 



I will only add a short account of the royal gardens 

 of Shahmar. These gardens, made by the Emperor 

 Shah Jehan, were begun in the fourth year of his 

 feign, and finimed in the thirteenth ; on which occa- 

 sion, according to Colonel Dow, the Emperor gave 

 a grand festival to his court. These gardens were laid 

 cut with admirable taste, and cost the enormous sum 

 of a million sterling : at present iheir appearance does 

 not give cause to suppose such an immense sum has 

 been laid out upon them ; but great pan of the most 

 valuable and costly materials have been carried away. 

 The entrance to them is through a gateway of brick; 

 and a canal, lined with stone, having walks on each 

 side with a brick-pavement, leads up to the Dewaun 

 Khanah, or hall of audience -, most part of which is 

 now fillen down : from thence, by a noble canal, hav- 

 ing a fountain in the center, you proceed to the apart- 

 ments ot the IJaram, which embrace a large extent of 



Vol. IV. Gg ground. 



