52 



is decorated by a profusion of carved work, which does credit to 

 the artist, and indicates some traces still remaining of that inge- 

 nuity which so eminently distinguishes the more ancient buildings 

 in India. Here, seated on a cot in the uppermost apartment, we 

 saw a gosaing, to whom the people who conducted us paid the 

 greatest veneration, and related a number of improbabilities, and 

 not a few impossibilities of this respectable personage. Among 

 others, that he had been cast into a fire without being burnt, and 

 could tread on the surface of the waters without wetting his feet. 

 On questioning the brahmins whether they believed the stories 

 they were now relating, they shrewdly replied, that as the gosaing 

 was in high estimation with Himmut Bahaudur, and other chiefs 

 of consequence, how could they discredit them? 



The introduction of Sir Charles Malet to Shah Allum, " Kins 

 of the World," the present Mogul emperor of Hindostan, or rather 

 the shadow of the former Mogul emperors, has been hitherto de- 

 ferred on account of his grand-daughter's death in the camp, 

 which prevents his majesty from appearing in public ; meanwhile 

 we pass our time pleasantlj r , are well supplied with exceeding fine 

 mutton and other excellent provisions from the Mahralta camp, 

 and good beef from the Mogul bazar; vegetables are scarce, but 

 we have plenty of melons, oranges, grapes, and mangos. 



For some clays past the weather has been extremely wind}', with 

 frequent andees, or whirlwinds, violent and disagreeable forerun- 

 ners of the much-wished-for rainy season, or as Europeans call it, 

 monsoon. The most severe took place yesterday afternoon, which 

 overwhelming us in hot dust for half an hour, terminated in a re- 

 freshing shower of rain. Several of our people have been seized 



