HORA BAUG. 
1^9 
horse and elephant were at the gate, as presents to his Highness. 
These are always given on state occasions, but without being ha- 
bited, as up the country. It was nearly dark before the Paishwa 
departed. The ministers staid a short time afterwards ; they re- 
ceived presents according to their rank ; the jewels were tied by 
Colonel Close's Pervee. They then received pawn and attar 
from my hands, and departed. The nautch-girls had sung some 
very interesting Mahratta, or, as they called them, Deckany songs, 
which we now made them repeat, as a relaxation from the fatigue of a 
state visit. I afterwards learned that on this day there was a great 
religious festival, at which his Highness ought to have assisted, 
and that he was fined several hundred rupees for his absence. 
This provided a handsome feast for the Brahmins. Parbuttee 
pagoda was illuminated all over at night. 
The J) resents were provided by the India Company. His 
Highness's were worth about twelve thousand rupees. The others 
altogether nearly eight. 
October 50. — At a little after four we set off with the usual 
suwarry to pay a visit to the Paishwa at his country-house, the 
Hora Baug. The road for a considerable distance was covered by 
his Highness's suwarry, chiefly horsemen, so that it was rather 
difficult to get to the gate ; fortunately I had a party of sepoys from 
the lines, who joined on the opposite bank of the river, and made 
way for me. It is prettily situated on the bank of a very large tank, 
perfectly irregular in its shape. In the centre of it is a small 
island with a pagoda. The opposite bank rises gradually into a sugar 
loaf hill, the summit of which is capped by the white buildings of 
the pagoda dedicated to Parbuttee. The house itself is insignificant, 
