1849.] Slatisiics of ilic Circar of Dowlutabad. 519 



Besides these two, Sultan Mahomed Toghlak made the Doodeah 

 ka Talao, a small tank at the footof the Lambgaon ghat; a stone faced 

 tank at the north-west entrance to Rouzah, and five others in its 

 vicinity, all of which appear to have been formed for the convenience 

 and necessities of the colony he had twice planted on these heights, 

 when removing the whole population, as he did from Delhi, on two 

 several occasions. 



Near Elloora, a fine tank has of late years been repaired by Go- 

 vernment, and afibrds the means of irrigation to a very fertile tract 

 of land. Outside the northern gate of this town, stands the beauti- 

 ful stone koond constructed by the amiable Alac Bae, the mother of 

 the Holkar of the day and grandmother to the present one. The 

 spring that here rises, is supposed to possess miraculous properties, 

 and to have cured the Rajah Eloo of his leprosy ; in gratitude for 

 which, he is said to have excavated the remarkable temple of Kailas, 

 in the neighbouring hills. This most excellent Princess, whose life 

 was devoted to acts of philanthropy and piety, has built many wells 

 and baolees in this part of the country, for the use of the wayfarer. 



In the valley watered by the river Geerja, in many places are to 

 be seen the magnificent remains of former aqueducts and bundaras ; 

 more especially about the neighbourhood of Sooltanpoor. Tradi- 

 tion assigns these works to Sultan Gheias ood deen Toghlak. Judg- 

 ing from their present ruinous condition this system of irrigation 

 must have been very long abandoned. 



Irrigation. Irrigation may be regarded in the light of an ele- 



gant mode of supplying manure, the fertility of soils 

 mainly depending upon the quahty and quantity of water, employed 

 for this purpose, impregnated as it is with mineral and vegetable 

 matter. In these districts the attention of the earlier Mahomedan 

 conquerors hajd been directed specially to the effectual, and ample 

 supply of this essential element ; the traces of these useful works are 

 still visible, scattered about the country, indicating the munificent 

 spirit that formerly prevailed, nor are such undertakings to be lightly 

 considered in countries like this, subjected to uncertain monsoons, 

 and possessing but a shallow soil. Artificial irrigation converts the 

 ordinary lands producing but single crops of common grain, into those 

 giving three, and of the richest description. The mode by which the 

 mountain streams were made available for purposes of irrigation, was 



