266 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Two large flat-bottomed boats, each bearing a carved horse's head, 

 indicated that the river at a different season is navicjable. 



Crossing the Godaveri, I entered the Nizam's dominions; but Mus- 

 lim rule, did not appear to have wrought any marked change in the 

 character and habits of the population. Among various agricultural 

 details reminding me of ancient customs, I observed strings of bul- 

 locks treading out the grain. 



On the 28th, I arrived at the city of Aurungabad ; the residence of 

 the Nizam ; whose orovernment is still recocrnised, although it is much 

 under English influence. A few Parsees were living here, farming 

 the revenue, as the Banians do at Zanzibar; and one of them, cashed 

 a draft for me. A Parsee priest, who was called by my interpreter 

 "the archbishop," stopped here, after travelling in company with us 

 from Poona. 



The vicinity of Aurungabad, is noted for producing Mandarin 

 orajiges of a superior quality. An English officer was riding the 

 only elephant I met with in India : where, it appears, " elephants are 

 principally confined to two separate districts, to a tract on the Ganges 

 to the northward, and to the extreme south of the Peninsula." 



A man joined our party at Aurungabad, who had overtaken us on 

 the road some days previously, at which time, he inquired our desti- 

 nation. It appeared, that he belonged to the Jair caste, and to the 

 Rajpoot country to the northward ; and being of a more enterprising 

 turn than the local population, he furnished the means of conveyance 

 for the remainder of my journey. 



On the 31st, I reached Adjunta; a place apparently designed by 

 the Early Muslims for an important city ; but the space enclosed by 

 the massive walls, is now principally vacant. I observed here, small 

 burnt bricks, of the same description with those of Southern Arabia ; 

 and also, somewhat unexpectedly, the Muslim custom of carrying 

 water in skins. 



I descended the ghaut which borders the basin of the river Tapti, 

 and proceeded to Purdapur; a fine Muslim caravansary converted 

 into a petty modern village ; the walls affording protection at night 

 to the inhabitants and their cattle. Fires were seen in the distance 

 down the valley, kindled it was said, likewise for the purpose of 

 "keeping off the tigers." 



I first heard of this animal at Adjunta ; and it proved to be, not the 

 true tiger, but the ou7ice or pale-coloured, leopard. A skin was shown 

 me by a person, who stated, that " he had shot twenty-six of these 



