﻿102 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



memory, or papers, could not furnifh ; but that the 

 whole might be attained by reference to records which 

 were now difficult to be found. Upon ray expreffing 

 much folicitude to poflefs them, they told me that they 

 doubted if there were any in RuUunpour ; for that the 

 oppreffion and calamity which had befallen the city, 

 fince the Mahrattas had got pofleffion of it, had de- 

 ftroyed that encouragement which the Brahmens, under 

 the government of their ancient Rajahs, had been ac- 

 cuftomed to receive; and having deprived them of 

 fmall grants of land, upon which they had formerly 

 fubfifted, they had not only didurbed their literary 

 purfuits, but had diftrefTed them to fuch a degree, 

 that they had been compelled to wander in fearch of 

 the means of fubfiftence, and of peaceable retirement, 

 elfewhere ; and it might naturally be fuppofed that 

 they had taken their books and papers with them. 

 There were at this time, they faid, only two or three 

 families remaining, in the fervice of the Mahratta 

 government, upon ftipends fo (lender, that they were 

 barely enabled to fubfift. 



The fpring from which the Nurhudda takes its 

 fource, is faid to be enclofed by a circular wall, which 

 was built by a man of the name of Rewah, and on 

 that account the river is called Maht Rewah^ from its 

 fource all through Mundilla, until is reaches the con- 

 fines of Bhopaul. The images at Omercuntuc are faid 

 to reprefent Bhavani, (who is there worlhipped under 

 the fymbol of N armada, or the NarbuddaYwtr,) much 

 enraged at her (lave johilla, and a great variety of 

 attendants preparing a nuptial banquet; to which a 

 very romantic fable is attached: That Soane, a 

 demi-god, being >nuch enamoured with the extreme 

 beauty of Narmada, after a very tedious courtfhip, 

 prefumed to approach the Goddefs, in hopes of ac- 

 compli (hing the objed of his wifties by efpoufing 

 her. Narmada fent her flave Johilla to obferve in 

 what ftate he was coming ; and, if arrayed in jewels, 



of 



