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on the borders of Cachemire, and the deserted country near the 
Indus, presents a scene of lofty mountains and woody hills, skirt- 
ing a champaign, irrigated by livers, or artificial streams, which, 
with the tanks and wells, were the noblest works of former 
princes: the emperor Firoze, in the fourteenth century, made a 
canal of a hundred miles in length: and cut channels from the 
Jumna and other rivers, to supply distant towns with water, and 
facilitate the inland commerce of his dominions. 
With great difficulty and fatigue we ascended the lower Gauls; 
only called so in comparison with the stupendous barrier of the 
Deccan, on the eastern side of the Concan plains: our guides 
mistook the proper route, and bewildered us in a wild and savage 
scene: no sooner had we attained the summit of what we imagined 
the highest mountain, than one still higher reared its majestic 
head, and thus continued in long succession: fortunately during 
the extreme heat of noon, the woods and rocks afforded a friendly 
shade. We at length accomplished the arduous task, and hailed 
the western sea will) delight. Descending by a narrow pass, we 
entered the lower part of the Concan, through rocks, woods, and 
glens; the haunt of tigers, hyenas, and serpents. 
On entering Ram-Rajah, the first town in the low country, we 
were welcomed by a venerable Mahomedan, who, like Abraham, 
was silting at his gate to receive strangers: his snowy beard 
reached to his girdle; his countenance inspired reverence and 
love: an urbanity and courtesy marked a distinguished character; 
and his whole behaviour evinced a superior knowledge of the 
world. He conducted us to the portico of his house, where we 
saw him surrounded by many branches of his children and grand- 
