1830 .] 
On Artificial Fountains. 
347 
its wide surface such another wreck of worldly vanity, as a terrible earthquake 
would leave, in a place, where so horrible a calamity had recently occurred. The 
poor ignorant guides, who had long observed how much this ornamental work was 
admired, (even if they were entirely ignorant of its beauties themselves,) detailed 
in their simple language hy whom the spoliation had been committed, and seemed 
to lament it as I did. The hand of man was not indeed required to aid the unre- 
lenting destroyer— time. Still further, with a view, no doubt, to preserve this 
massive pile from destruction, the whole was enclosed by a high wall, and the 
court yard within paved throughout, and planted here and there with a few stately 
trees.— There were also commodious colonnades for sheltering the resident 
Mulvis appointed to pray for the souls of the departed, and the open marble 
fret work of the gate and balustrades appeared to me unusually light and pretty, 
and contrasting with and therefore adding to the gloomy air and solemn purpose 
of the structure. Our Mahomedan predecessors in India, I think, have left behind 
them such specimens of their architectural style in this respect, as ought to give 
us a higher opinion of their taste than generally prevails. — If it he wanting in va- 
riety, and I acknowledge there is too much of sameness, their designs are Always 
appropriate in themselves, and seldom fail to impress the spectator with an idea 
always in unison with that they are intended to create. During the half hour or so 
I loitered here, three wandering Faqirs entered, and with that unconcern, and l 
may say, sincerity of purpose, ever apparent in their actions, proceeded forthwith, 
and without regarding the presence of an intruder, to perform their several de- 
votions. No saldms were spared— a light was quickly brought, the frankincense 
burnt fragrantly and sent its fumes high up, accompanied with prayers, when these 
self-elected ministers packed up the few trifling articles of apparel, which, on first 
entering, had been laid down without, put on their slippers, and once more left 
me to solitude and contemplation ! 
The short time circumstances allowed me to remain, did not allow of my 
continuing long enough at Mandu, to permit of visiting one half of the re- 
mains thickly scattered over its expanse. The palace of the dancing girls, its 
fort, tanks, and I may call them, lakes, though hurriedly seen, were -ufticient to 
create in me a high idea of the luxury which must have prevailed among the 
inhabitants of a city, now possessed but hy disciples of Hinduism, whose com- 
pulsory residence alone causes even them to continue in it. I would have gladly 
occupied weeks in searching out the curious midst this unexampled chaos of ruins, 
and have feasted on the many landscapes that may be seen from its walls, with 
all that enthusiasm I feel for a beautiful prospect: their extent and variety rau 
hardly, I think, he exceeded any where. The eye can scarce survey the distance 
before him, or reach the bounds nature has placed to intercept his gaze ! 
IV On Artificial Fountains. By B. Bevan, Civil Engineer, Leighton 
Buzzard. 
[From the Technical Repository , vol. iv.p. 245.] 
To the Editor of the Technical Repository. 
D Ohsendng in your useful Repository, No. 20, p. 140, some queries respecting the 
present mode of boring for water, and finding none of your correspondents have 
noticed the subject in the last No. I take the liberty of sending > j few observa- 
tions, in reply to the said queries, in case you may not be already furnished with 
more useful particulars. . . , . .. , 
From the manner in which the art of obtaining water has been often mentioned, 
it might be supposed that it might be practised with success -n any s -a oji 
whereas the possibility of succeeding is confined to certain districts, •nddepends 
upon the succession of the strata and the elevation o a sur u , , J . 
impervious stratum of moderate thickness, resting upon an op en stratu.n chartgcd 
with water, from a source of greater elevation than the surface of the spot to be 
b °If the substratum is altogether porous, and open to the passage of water, it nail 
be in vain to look fora supply above the natural outlet of the springs in 
vicinity : and if the relative height of the situation, w ere wa e VI : t ^m also 
out crop of the underlying porous stratum, should not e > 
