LUCKNOW. 
155 
(he other from advancing. For some time they continued looking 
at each other, till the mohout of the weaker drove his elephant into 
the middle of the stream, where they had a last struggle, in which' 
the victory was undecided. It was considered as a very admirable 
fight, and certainly was a scene well worth seeing once, but not of- 
tener. There was no variety, nor was any skill shewn in their attack : 
it was mere brutal force ; and the only visible injury was the exco- 
riation of their faces. From the elevated summer-house we had an 
excellent view of the whole without any danger ; fortunately, in- 
deed singularly so, no accident happened. 
April 17. — Early in the morning I went to view the Ina Khanah, 
where are deposited a part of the whimsical curiosities purchased 
by the late Vizier Asof-ud-Dowlah, consisting of several thousand 
English prints framed and glazed, Chinese drawings and ornaments, 
mirrors of all shapes and sizes, lustres, and innumerable other ar- 
ticles of European manufacture. The clocks are the most valuable 
part of the collection, several of them being richly ornamented with 
jewels. Asof-ud-Dowlah was anxious to procure every thing that 
was singular, or that he heard praised ; the price was to him of no 
consequence ; and the imbecility of his mind rendered him a dupe 
of those who, like General Martin, placed no bounds to their extor- 
tions. One of his objects was more worthy of a sovereign, which was 
to render his capital an object of admiration. For this purpose, he 
always inquired after what was considered as splendid in other coun- 
tries. When one of his ministers returned from Calcutta, he asked 
him what was the finest work he had seen there ; and, on being told 
that it was Fort William, he immediately insisted on having a Fort 
William built at Lucknow. It was with great difficulty he could 
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