51 



camp, on business of importance. The first interview took 

 place the following da} r ; they met at a settled spot, rather nearer 

 to the tents of the nabob than the Mahratta chief; there they 

 alighted and embraced, and then proceeded together to Sindia's 

 durbar tent. The interview was of considerable length, and many 

 guns were fired as a compliment on both sides. 



The following morning the nabob sent an invitation to the two 

 English ministers, and the gentlemen accompanying them, to dine 

 at his tents. We went there at three o'clock, and found about 

 thirty dancing-girls collected for our entertainment. When the 

 first civilities were over they began dancing, and continued for an 

 hour; dinner being then announced, we adjourned to another tent, 

 and found a table set out in the nicest order, profusely covered 

 with a variety of dishes in the European and Mogul style. At 

 seven we took leave, much against the wish of the nabob, who 

 pressed us to stay a few hours longer. 



On die 26th we went to Bhindera Bhund, a town about seven 

 miles from Muttra, in high estimation with the Hindoos, and par- 

 ticularly celebrated as the birth-place of Crishna, the Apollo of 

 India, in the brahmin mythology. The town is rather large, plea- 

 santly situated on the banks of the Jumna, on which also, for near 

 a mile in length, extends a range of small buildings called Dieuis- 

 thans, little Altars or Temples, with steps down to the water from 

 each, for the convenience of the inhabitants, and religious pilgrims 

 who resort thither to perform their ablutions. They are very neat, 

 and form a pretty crescent of buildings, as the river takes that 

 form in its course under them. In the centre is an elegant house 

 on a small scale, lately built by the Jaypoor rajah. The exterior 



