ABDULNUBBI KHAN. 
117 
the copper from the bamboo three times out of five. 
The mark was covered with a piece of white linen in 
order to render it the more visible. While I am 
on this subject I may remark that in the island 
of Madagascar the natives exhibit equal dexterity in 
hurling the segai, or javelin. They will pierce an 
ox through the heart at the distance of twelve yards. 
I once saw this done three time successively. The 
last ox was opened, and I stood by during the pro- 
cess, when the head of the spear was found buried 
in the animal’s heart. The weapon used on this oc- 
casion was a light javelin with a thin ebony shaft 
about the thickness of a mould candle of the largest 
size, having a small steel head of an elliptical shape 
not barbed, but edged on two sides and very sharp. 
Upon quitting the Chauter Serai we reached Mat- 
hura, a town celebrated for an establishment of mon- 
keys, supported by a bequest from Mahadajee Scin- 
dia, as stated in the former volume of this work. 
Here is a very magnificent mosque, said to have 
been built by Abdulnubbi Khan, a foujdar* of the 
Emperor Aurungzebe. The account given of its origin 
is somewhat singular. Mathura was at that time, 
as it has been ever since, a place of much resort 
by the votaries of Krishna. On the invasion of 
Mahmood of Ghizni, the celebrated Mahomedan con- 
queror, in 1018 , Mathura was taken and razed to the 
* The foujdar is an officer who has the charge of a troop of 
elephants. “ The foujdar’s business is to teach the elephants 
to be bold, and not to be frightened at the sight of fire or at the 
noise of artillery, and he is answerable for their discipline in 
these respects.” — Ayeen Akbery, vol. i. part I. 
