MONGHYR. 
87 
Khan, when he thought of throwing off all dependence on the 
English. He added considerably to the strength of the fortifications, 
and endeavoured to discipline the natives to defend it. In this he 
failed ; and it was taken by the British, after a siege of nine days, 
in the year 1763. Since that period, it has remained in our posses- 
sion, and as a frontier town is become a place of considerable im- 
portance, and a depot of arms and ammunition. It is too exten- 
sive in its present state (being above two miles round) for defence, 
as an army sufficient to garrison it would always be able to keep 
the field. Lord Gornwallis built here some very excellent store- 
houses, and had planned to fortify the rising ground, on which the 
old palace stands, and level the rest. The hill, on which the Gover- 
nor's house is situated, would have given some trouble to the work- 
men, as it is a solid rock ; but it commands the other position, and 
must therefore have been reduced. It was too small in circum- 
ference to be chosen itself for a fort. The obtaining of the ceded 
provinces from the Nawaub of Oude has made it of little import- 
ance, and Alahabad is now chosen in its stead as a frontier depot. 
The protruding point of the rock, which braves the whole force 
of the river, is considered as a sacred bathing place by the Hindoos. 
At the full of the moon of the months Cartic and Maug, they pro- 
ceed on a pilgrimage to the hot well of Sitacoon, so named from Setah, 
the favourite wife of Ram, and having there performed their ablu- 
tions, they visit the rock of Monghyr, and purify themselves in the 
Ganges. The crowds at these seasons are prodigious ; probably the 
intention of collecting tribute from the pilgrims first gave rise to the 
fort. There is a tolerably handsome Hindoo temple, directly above 
the bathing-place. It had five arched entrances, facing each of 
