62 



selves; and no periodical supply of the fruits, &c. usually produced 

 in the rainy season, could be expected in a country of which nearly 

 two-thirds of the population was destroyed. 



" This mournful scene, however, gradually drew to a close. 

 The unfortunate group had either died, or had been restored to 

 health, and were capable of returning to their occupations. The 

 wolves now felt themselves bereft of their usual prey, but did not 

 lose their habit of attacking men ; many of whom, though in gene- 

 ral provided with some means of defence, which circumstances had 

 rendered necessary, yet became victims to their depredations, till 

 at length measures could be taken to check their rapacity, and they 

 were obliged to have recourse to their former researches for food." 



Jamboseer, the capital of the purgunna, is onljr seven miles 

 from Ahmood, although I have made a long digression from the 

 direct road to the distant provinces of Bengal. The town is two 

 miles in circumference, surrounded by a mud wall. The gurry 

 was deemed a place of strength against the country powers, but 

 these citadels soon fell before European artillery. Some of the 

 Hindoo houses are large; the exterior style of architecture has nei- 

 ther elegance nor proportion ; the interior generally consists of 

 small dark low rooms, surrounding an open area, Avhich sometimes 

 contains a garden and fountain, with an altar of tulsee, the sacred 

 plant of the brahmins. The stairs are always steep and narrow; 

 the roofs are often flat, but frequently covered with tiles. The 

 inferior houses have either tiled roofs, or are thatched with jungle 

 grass, or the leaves of the palmyra. Like most large towns in Gu- 

 zerat, Jamboseer is situated near an extensive lake, the banks 

 adorned with Hindoo temples and caravansaries, overshadowed by 



