194 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
lent to him for a season only ; and he therefore dis- 
posed of them in such a manner as might best 
advantage the state. The horses, and elephants, and 
books, he retained for further service. 
From this day forth, Malimood Gawan always 
wore the plainest apparel ; and, when at leisure from 
the affairs of the state, invariably retired to his 
mosque and madressa, and spent his time in acquiring 
and imparting knowledge, selecting for his com- 
panions persons eminent for their piety and virtue. 
Every Friday evening he perambulated in disguise 
through the various wards of the city, and distri- 
buted alms to the poor, saying, as he bestowed his 
own bounty : — “ The king gives you this.” These 
acts are not regarded as eccentric by good Mohum- 
medans, hut as forming the noblest example for 
every virtuously disposed person. 
The walls of Bidur are about seven miles in cir- 
cumference ; an extent of boundary which appears to 
have been, for some reason, probably superstitious, 
the favourite circuit of Mohummedan fortified cities 
all over India. These walls are built of dark red 
granite, are handsomely embattled, and have solid 
round towers and bastions at every angle. The 
gates, too, appear to have been originally protected 
by out-works ; and the ditch which surrounds the 
whole has been hewn out of the solid rock. Upon 
the eastern side, the walls run in undulations follow- 
ing the inequalities of the ground ; and here the 
