CHAPTER XXV. Great Britain-Chand Bebee-Interior of Ahmed-Nuggur-Salabaat Khan's Tower-Savajee and Descendants-PeishwasBattle of Paniput-Raganath-Nana Furnavese-HolkarScindia-Peishwa-Sir A. Wellesley-Battles at Poona and Nagpore-Author's Departure from Ahmed-Nuggur-Personal Narrative-An Etymologist-Panwell. As we contemplate the changes which have taken place in this part of India, where the Persians, the Moghuls, and Mahrattas, have by turns had the ascendancy, they remind us of the revolutions caused by Buonaparte in Europe. Looking at the English, from their first settlement at Surat down to the present day, our gaining the superiority over the Portuguese, Dutch, and the French, after many hard struggles, in which our native valour and policy appear equally conspicuous, we cannot but wonder at the almost incredible stretches of power made by a nation whose present state and population is scarcely a tenth part of those she has subjugated in India alone. These numerous millions are treated with a mild but firm rule, and are a docile and loyal people. Thus have we permanently established a mighty empire upon the basis of security. Nor did we stop here; for while conciliating and protecting our millions in India, we were punishing millions in Europe for their bad conduct or treachery. It is wonderful to a thinking mind to see how these astonishing events have been brought to pass by a small country like England; but how gratifying is it, in these almost incredible exertions and extension of power, to see Great Britain still rich and prosperous, and none of her rivals having it in their power to charge her with baseness or ingratitude. Did not the rescue of Spain appear a Quixotic enterprise? but the same general who took AhmedNuggur saved Spain. England, England, thou hast rescued many countries, conquered many, punished many, and art still feared by all! This digression is occasioned by Charles having married the Infanta of Portugal, by which said marriage we got Bombay, and Ahmed-nuggur this brass gun, no doubt. How this said gun came from Bombay to Ahmed-nuggur is for the reader to find out. In the arsenal are several old pieces of ordnance, and a variety of military stores, both old and new. The interior of the fort is much oc * A curious historical coincidence occurs to me here. Sir A. Wellesley restored the Peishwa to power: he did the same for the dethroned Ferdinand in Spain. Misfortune did not teach the former prudence, and it is problematical whether Ferdinand has benefited by the reverses he experienced. The Peishwa, in due season, tasted the effects of his impolicy and baseness: whether his brother in Spain has such a fate awaiting him, time will develope. cupied by buildings, either intended for residences or public offices. The remains of the palace of Chand Bebee* are still sufficient to show that when in their original splendour they were a fine pile of buildings. The gothic arches and the ceilings are very highly finished; the quartering of the ceiling into a variety of angles and curves has a very pretty effect; and some paintings in a minaret adjoining the palace are very well executed. Suites of rooms may be traced running parallel from the minaret. In front are some fountains which still throw up water conveyed by aqueducts from a distance of two miles or more. The bathing place for the women of the harem is easily known by its having only a sky-light on the top in the middle of the roof to admit light; and leaden pipes run in different directions through the wall of the room. The well into which the heroic and offended Chand Bebee threw herself, after her husband had stormed the walls and carried the breach, is now filled up, but it is easy to be discerned by the pretty gothic arches that surround it. The next building of any consequence is the Killahdar's+house; in which there is an irregular *This name, in a general figurative sense, signifies "Lady of the Moon:" she was as much distinguished for her virtue as for her beauty, and would not survive the infidelity of her husband, who, during his campaign, had wandered a little from the paths of celibacy with one of a low caste. †This is now occupied by the officers attached to the Seroor range of apartments on the ground floor. On the upper floor the rooms are commodious, and have communication with each other by galleries or passages; but they partake much of that heaviness which we often meet with in Asiatic buildings. In the front of them is a neat little garden; at the farther end of which, and in front of one of the virandas, plays a fountain. As this is beneath one of the best apartments, and at the end of one of the avenues that lead through the garden, having a few cypress trees on each side, it gives a pleasing appearance to the scenery. The inner gateway of the fort is said to have been built by a fakeer, who sat on the spot, and by the donations of those that passed into the fort collected money sufficient to build the gateway and the arch that is over it. The best apartments were inhabited by the British officers here on detachment, and to whom I shall ever feel indebted for many acts of hospitality received at their hands. The detachment consisted of three companies of Siphauees, which, in the then peaceable state of the adjoining districts, was supposed sufficient for its protection. In 1707 Aurungzebe died here at the advanced age of ninety. His heart is said to have been placed in an urn and deposited in a mausoleum very near to this place: it is rather a small building, has a tower at each force, and stationed in the fort. I enjoyed many social happy hours in their company, for every thing about is romantic in appearance, and rich in historic lore. angle, is lighted up constantly, and perfumes are burnt in it by day and night. Twenty-four fakeers are attached to the building, who watch the lamps, and offer up their orisons for the soul of the deceased emperor. The building is very inferior to what would be expected for so great a monarch as Aurungzebe; in fact, it has nothing to recommend it, either in materials or design. After visiting this repository of departed greatness, I went to the Feroka-baug*, which is a beautiful retreat. The gardens have been in former times very prettily laid out, but are now wild and desolate. On an artificial island is a neat little building after the usual Mahomedan style of archi tecture. The next novelty, and one that is particularly worthy of the traveller's observation, is a large hollow stone edifice, of an octagon figure, standing upon a high hill in the rear of the fort. It is intended to commemorate the memory of Salabaāt Khan, who built it as a sepulchre for himself. Having, however, incurred the displeasure of the emperor, by exactions, while in charge of the country about Ahmed-nuggur, he poisoned himself, having first asked his wife if she would die with him. Her good sense, and relish for the pleasures of this world (being a Mussulmanee), made her, Baug signifies a garden, and it is not an improbable conjecture that Feroka may be an abbreviation of Ferokesheer, the emperor. |