CHAPTER XXXVII. 



On our arrival at Oojen, the capital of Mhadajee Sindia's terri- 

 tory in Malwa, we found our tents pitched in a pleasant situation 

 on the banks of the Sepra, not far from its western walls. The 

 next morning, the 11th of April 1785, an officer and suitable attend- 

 ants, came by Sir Charles Malet's desire to conduct us within the 

 gates, and also to view the suburbs. Our first visit was to Mhadu- 

 Ghur, called also Byro Ghur, a fortress a mile and a half north of 

 Oojen, by a road running on the banks of Sepra. At the entrance 

 ofMhadu Ghur, is a large Hindoo temple; the outer walls and 

 towers are irregular; within is another fort, or citadel, of an exact 

 square, with four gates, leading to a palace of good dimensions, in 

 an unfinished state. The Sepra, as before observed, flows on the 

 western side of the fortress, and part of its channel is to be con- 

 ducted into a deep ditch, now forming round the remainder. It 

 is altogether a place of little strength ; the walls and towers appear- 

 ing more like those round an oriental pleasure ground than a forti- 

 fication. The whole is a recent work, commenced by order of 

 Mhadajee Sindia, not yet finished, nor likely to be. 



Our guides then conducted us to a very extraordinary build- 



