70 



any in Hindostan. lis light and fertile soil yields a rich return of 

 every thing committed to its bosom, and great quantities of coarse 

 coloured cottons are manufactured in the city, and exported for 

 the African markets. 



A few miles from Cambay we passed over gentle hills, covered 

 with groves, commanding a delightful view of the surrounding 

 plain. I mention this circumstance, because in the whole Guze- 

 rat province there is seldom a rising ground to the west of Powagur, 

 or the mountains which separate it from the interior parts of Hin- 

 dostan. The rich prospects in this country delight the traveller, 

 but afford little variety for description. The heavy roads retarded 

 our arrival at Cambay ; in that light sandy soil the rainy season is 

 preferable for a journey ; the sands then become solid, and the rains 

 are not so violent as in the southern latitudes. 



In the tract of country through which we had now travelled, we 

 observed several neat modern temples at the Hindoo villages, simi- 

 lar to those in other parts of Guzerat. There are also scattered 

 remains of ancient and magnificent structures, both Hindoo and 

 Mahomedan ; handsome wells and extensive tanks lined with 

 stone, indicated the former wealth of the country. The villa o-e 

 temples as usual were near a grove or burr-tree, and where there 

 was no temple the ryots were content to join their brahmin in 

 sacrifice and prayer under these verdant fanes. The Ling am 

 seems to be a general object of worship among the villagers; the 

 image of Ganeish, or Ganeasa, the god of wisdom, denoted by 

 the elephant's head, the symbol of sagacity, is often placed against 

 the trunk of the banian tree; as is also that of BnAVANi,or JBowan- 

 nee, the goddess of fecundity. 



