9 



roses and jessamin surrounds immense beds of various coloured 

 poppies, closely sown; which having the appearance of a richly 

 variegated carpet, forms a parterre much liked by the Indians. 

 While we were enjoying our tea and hookas, fanned by the even- 

 ing breeze on one of the garden terraces, a set of dancing-girls, 

 with their duenna and musicians, unexpectedly made their appear- 

 ance, requesting to have the honour of amusing us. The principal 

 dancers were two sisters; the eldest a pretty girl not sixteen, the 

 other about a year younger; both performed with an elegance and 

 grace beyond the generality of these courtezans. 



Every attention was paid to the embassy during its stay at 

 Oojen, and on the 12th the governors waited on Sir Charles, by 

 whom they were handsomely received, and presented with the 

 usual tokens of friendship. 



On the 14th of April we left the Malwa capital, attended by 

 an honorary escort as far as Shah-Jehan-pore, to repair as soon as 

 possible to Mhadajee Sindia, then with his army near Agra; which, 

 with its castle, had lately surrendered to him; and Shah Aalum, 

 the Mogul emperor, was then a sort of state prisoner in his camp. 

 After a pleasant journey of twenty-two miles we arrived at Tur- 

 rana, a tolerable town, with a neat fort. We passed the Chota 

 Colla Sind, about four coss from Turrana: this river had now a 

 plentiful stream, flowing over a rocky bottom ; it falls into the 

 Chumbul. We crossed several smaller rivulels in this march, 

 which lay generally through a cultivated tract of country, partly 

 belonging to Sindia, and the rest to Holcar, another great 

 Mahratta chieftain, in whose dominions Turrana is situated. 



We proceeded the next day to Shah Jehanpore, a distance of 

 VOL. iv. c 



