50 



tent, where Sir Charles delivered Sindia a letter from the governor 

 of Bombay. General conversation ensued, in which the Mahratta 

 chief took a principal part, and in the course of it a gun of his 

 own making was handed round for approbation, which was very 

 liberally, and not undeservedly bestowed, if it really was of his 

 own construction. But although he certainty has a turn for me- 

 chanics, the gun \Yas rather supposed to have been the production 

 of the artificers whom he employs than of his own hands. 



After the presents had been distributed, and the usual forma- 

 lities performed, the English gentlemen proceeded to their tents. 

 On examining the khelauts, or presents, from the great Maha 

 rajah Madajea Sindia, the serpeych (an ornament for the turban) 

 presented to Sir Charles Malet was found to be composed of false 

 stones; the horse and other articles of mean quality. The pre- 

 sents to the gentlemen of his family were two pieces of coarse 

 chintz, a pair of very common shawls, an ordinary turban, and a 

 piece of the cheapest keemcab. 



Mr. Cruso's journal then proceeds. We rode the next morn- 

 ing to Muttra, or Mutturah, a large town on the banks of the river 

 Jumma, much celebrated by the Hindoos. Several parts of it are 

 in good repair, but much more in a state of ruin; there are still 

 some good houses, the remains of a handsome serai, and two large 

 musjids, one with four minarets and abundance of ornaments; the 

 other more simple and more elegant. 



On the 22d Sindia returned Sir Charles Malet's visit, and 

 brought with him the favourite gun, to receive a second set of 

 compliments. On the 24th the nabob Rujutt Coolee Khan, a 

 man of great distinction and consequence, arrived in Sindia's. 



