24 NARRATIVE OF A JOURXET 



made to form a very large pond (in Hhidu'i^ Sagur') at 

 the back of the fort or caftle. The village is fmall, 

 but contains feveral g;ood houfes, and the tields about 

 it are very well cultivated. The caftle, in which the 

 theSoubahdar redded, rcfembles an old Gotliic build- 

 ing. It was built by an ancient Rajah of Oiouha^ and 

 is laid to be one of fifty-two forts, for the building of 

 which he gave orders on one day. This ancient city 

 of Ounchay lay on our right, on this day's march ; it 

 is lituated on the banks of the Beiiva, about nine miles 

 S E by S from JJumfi. The Rajah of Ouncha was for- 

 merly the head of the BundeJah tribes, from whom the 

 other Rajahs received the tee\a^ or token of inreftiture. 

 But his revenue hfis, by various defalcations, been re- 

 duced to one lac of rupees, and his confequence has 

 proportionably declined. The name of the prefent 

 Rajah is Bickekmajeet. 



On this day's march, we pafTed the Betiza, for the 

 tirft time. This river, from its force, fouth of Bopal^ 

 to its confluence with the Jianna, below Calpee, de- 

 Icvibes a courle of 340 miles, in a north-eafterly di- 

 rection. Its bed, where we croffed, was three furlongs 

 in breadth ; fandy, and full of round ftones. The water, 

 at this feafon, is only knee-deep ; but in the rains, it 

 fwells to fuch a height as to be impaflable. Two miles 

 from Buriza-Sagiiry we paifed the Bhood Kid I ah, on a 

 bridge of eight arches, built by the prefent Soubahdar. 



On our arrival, we were agreeably furprizcd to re- 

 ceive from the Soubahdar,. a prefent of cabbages, let- 

 tuce, ceiery, and other productions of an European 

 garden. In the evening, the Soubahdar paid us a vilit; 

 he appeared Co be about lixty years of age, rather be- 

 low the middle ftature; his countenance befpoke intel- 

 gence, and his manners were plealing. Having had 

 occalion, on account of fome bodily infirmity, to re- 

 pair to the EngViJh ftation of Kunhpoor, for medical 

 affiftance, he had contracted a relifh for European 



manners 



