I 
POONAH. 117 
warry. The only interesting part of the sight was the British troops, 
now for the first time assisting at this holy ceremony, at the capital 
of the Hindoo empire. Formerly Holcar, Scindiah, and the other 
chiefs, used to attend, and their prodigious bodies of horse covered the 
surrounding plains. Whole fields were then devastated, the Paishwa 
himself setting the example ; but now his attendants only gathered 
a few heads of grain. After celebrating together this festival, they 
were accustomed to set out on their predatory excursions into the 
neighbouring countries ; but these excursions are now probably ter. 
minated for ever. It was considered a fortunate day to begin a war, 
after a celebration of the victory obtained by Ram over the giant 
Rawan. 
As I could see but little, I applied for information, through 
Colonel Close, to the most intelligent Brahmins, who gave me the 
following account. "When Ram was on his way to attack the giant 
Rawan, who had carried off his wife Seeta, he arrived at a place 
called Kiskinda, which was governed by an ape or monkey named 
Walee. Walee had seized the wife of his brother Soogreoo, and 
expelled him from the to\^ n. Soogreoo, attended by four other 
monkeys, viz. Hunooman, Nul, Neel, and Jamoowunt, took up 
their abode on a mountain six coss from Kiskinda. Ram happened 
to pass over the same mountain. As soon as he was seen by 
Soogreoo at a distance, the latter sent Hunooman to ascertain who 
he was. Hunooman explained to Ram the case of Soogreoo, and 
prevailed on him to espouse his cause; and he then introduced 
them to each other. In a short time Ram destroyed Walee, restored 
the wife of Soogreoo, and gave him the government of Kiskinda. 
Ram, attended by Hunooman, on whose back indeed he rode, 
