1838.] Notes of a journey to Girndr. 875 



from the earthquake of A. D. 1819, but is still a very magnificent build- 

 ing ; its roof affords some fine views : the most splendid is that of the 

 " Mighty Girnar" as seen through the opening in the hills, with the 

 causeway and bridge crossing the ravine in the foreground. In the rear 

 of the musjid is a very curious piece of ordnance, with an Arabic in- 

 scription ; its material appears to be a composition something like bell- 

 metal ; its length is 17^ feet ; circumference at the breech 5 feet, this 

 latter quite flat ; bore capable of carrying a 121b. ball. The following is 

 a translation of the inscription on this gun : " Sultan Suleeman Bin 

 Suleem Khan ordered the manufacture of this gun, in the year of the 

 H. 937, to the intent, that it should be employed in the destruction of 

 the infidels of Hind. Maker of the gun, Mahomed Bin Humzal of 

 Misar" In another part of the fort is a piece of the same description 

 as the above ; but smaller in size. There are also some curious speci- 

 mens of iron guns : so rude is their construction, that firing them 

 must have been attended with no little danger to the artillery men : 

 they are evidently first efforts in the art of casting. The greatest 

 curiosities in the fort however are two wells, or more correctly, to 

 designate them according to their construction, a bouree, and a well or 

 kooa : the dimensions of these places which I subjoin, will shew the 

 immense scale on which they are constructed*. The well is square, 

 and lined with masonry for a few feet from the top. An excavation 

 has been made at the distance of about one third of its depth, where is a 

 bathing place and entrance to a gallery, which descends by steps to the 

 bottom, the light being admitted by large square holes or windows open- 

 ing into the well. The softness of the stone offers every facility for such 

 a work, and I observed that the strata here dip at an angle of about 

 30°, with a strike to the north. Owing to the great elevation of the 

 interior of the Uparkot, water could not be found but at an immense 

 depth. The bouree is nearly circular, and occupies the whole of a large 

 bastion to the eastward. Its interior is lined with solid masonry, and 

 the descent is by a fine flight of steps ; these, with a portion of the walls, 

 and the whole of the entrance to the west, are all the remains now 

 traceable of the Rajput possessors of this place, the last of whom, raja 

 Mundaltk, descended from a line of princes, who it is stated ruled 

 here for 19 centuries, gave up the fort and his throne to Mahmud 

 Bigarraha, H. 877, A. D. 1472f. I was fortunate in discovering a 



* Depth of well, ]S0 feet, 37 feet square. Ditto of Bouree, 96 ditto. Circum- 

 ference ditto, 74 ditto. Length of descent to ditto, 240 ditto. 



f For a detailed account of the capture of this place, conversion of the raja to the 

 Muhammadau religion, &c, see the Mirati hkandari ; the following extract from 



