CHAPTER XXX. 



The imperial city of Ahmedabad is situated in the latitude of 

 23 degrees north, and in 72° 37' east longitude, and is built on the 

 banks of the river Sabermatty, which washes its western walls. 

 From being formerly one of the largest capitals in the east, it is 

 now only five miles and three quarters in circumference, surrounded 

 by a high wall, with irregular towers every fifty yards, in the usual 

 style of Indian fortifications; there are twelve principal gates, 

 and several smaller sally-ports. 



Ahmedabad was built in the year 1426 A. D. by sultan Ahmed 

 Shah, on the site of a more ancient town. The sultan being on 

 a hunting party at a great distance from Gulburga, his usual place 

 of residence, was so delighted with this spot, that he resolved to 

 build a magnificent city, and call it after his own name Ahmed- 

 abad. In its greatest splendor, it extended, with the suburbs, 

 twenty-seven miles in circumference; Thevenot, who visited it in 

 the seventeenth century, says it was then seven leagues: and the 

 Ayeen Akbery thus describes it; " there are two forts, on the out- 

 side of which is the town; it formerly consisted of three hundred 

 and sixty pooras, or quarters; but only eighty-four are now in a 

 flourishing condition: in these are a thousand mosques, each hav- 



