or cushion of cloth, which it fitted tightly. The arrows were tipped with wooden balls, some of which were solid, and others hollow, with four holes in the end, which caused a whistling sound as the arrow flew through the air. When the arrow missed the target, and struck against the butt, it fell to the ground; if it hit the soft shell of the target, it did not disengage the bull's eye; and no arrow was accounted a shot, but that which dislodged the eye from the target. When struck out, the eye did not fall, but dropped a few inches lower than the circle, where it was held by a string from an upper projecting rod. This is altogether not a bad contrivance, as it prevents disputes. These people pull the bow more in the English manner than in that of the Chinese, their neighbours and masters; but their instruments are very indifferent and they are not formidable archers. They use also the sling, but I had not an opportunity of seeing them exercise with it. Leaving the archers, we ascended to the top of a hill about three hundred feet above the level of the lower town, along a ziz-zag road, and through some winding passages excavated with little art in the strata of gravel and indurated clay. The inside of this temple was by no means so rich as that on the other side, and the priest complained of poverty. He said he felt an interest in our welfare, and recommended our departing without delay, as the governing people were not good, and we might, if we stayed long, be caught by severe weather and perish. We thank ed the old man for his good advice, and left him more substantial proof of our regard, for which he was very grateful, and placed round our necks small stripes of gauze. During our stay, the Gelums began an evening hymn, which was not unmusical; but, in a very small cell sacred to Bhavani, three persons were making a noise not unlike the quick chirping of grasshoppers. There were small statues of the last Surejbans Rájá, his son, daughter, priest, treasurer, and other persons of his court. As it is the custom here for a considerable portion of the property of every person who dies in affluent circumstances to go to the church, and as likenesses are sent to the priests, who pray for the repose of their souls, as in the Roman Catholic faith, I apprehend

the series of figures represented the whole of the court; and in this idea my belief was strengthened by observing some females of different age and character on a bench, immediately behind that on which the Rájú was seated. The head dress of two of these was very similar to that of abbesses. The Rújá, whose resemblance was here preserved, in consequence of the frequent inroads of the Ladákis, and of his father being killed by the Tatars, was sent by the principal people to request the protection of the Chinese, who accorded it, and assisted him against the invaders. But in an earthquake his house was precipitated along with himself and his household into the plain, and the Chinese afterwards availed themselves of his death to take this country for their own use, and after a certain period to give it to the Dela Lama.

At this last temple there were few musical instruments; but at the great one, we saw some prodigiously large brass and copper trumpets, made of tubes, which shut in and drew out like telescopes, and had small mouth-pieces or pipes which were distinct. There were also drums of great size, set in frames, and beat upon their sides.

There are granaries in the rock on which the small temple is situated, in which they say that there are many thousand maunds of rice for the use of the people generally, in the event of any great exigency; and this is certainly a very pru◄ dent precaution, as scarcely any grain is raised in this country, and the inhabitants are dependent for their annual supply of rice and barley on the marchas of Niti and Jouúr. Shortly after the period that the Gorkhas made an irruption into the territories of the great Lama, the Chinese government ordered thirty thousand maunds of rice to be taken out of the magazine, which is in fact the property of the public; but how the funds are provided I did not learn.

July 12th.-Thermometer 51°. The Chouar bullocks arrived at day-break; and having paid for their hire, as well as for the food of two horsemen, who were to accompany us, into the hands of the interpreter, we struck our tents and took leave of Dábá. At four thousand nine hundred and six paces arrive at the summit of hills, said to contain gold. To

the right are clay hills broken down by melting snow into strange looking projections and hollows. Scarcely the slightest appearance of vegetation, and yet a hare was seen upon these heights. At five thousand one hundred and sixteen paces reach a narrow pass, through which we go and descend to a stony plain, then enter a very deep watercourse now dry, of which the banks are perpendicular, of vast height, and formed of beds of gravel. I examined their structure with great attention, in hopes of finding some traces of marine productions, but was disappointed. At seven thousand two hundred and thirty paces came to a plain sloping to the Satúdrá or Setlej. It came from the S. W. by W. and ran N. E., receiving here the Tiltil; breadth eighty yards, depth three feet and a half. The current was so rapid that I could scarcely keep my footing. On the plain were two very beautiful poplar trees, in which were many goldfinches, which regaled me with a song while I sat under the shade of the trees waiting for the party, having reached the river half an hour before they arrived.

The broken ground in the neighbourhood of Dábá, and which we did not lose sight of until we quitted the bed of the Tiltil, was very extraordinary in appearance. The right bank was of great height, and the melting snow had cut the clay, of which it was formed, into channels, leaving intermediate ridges, which from difference of hardness, or being acted upon by the water in different directions, was fashioned into great diversity of figure; in some places representing castles, fortifications, houses, and masses which baffle description.

We have passed three villages to-day, all painted, and of different colours. These are winter residences of the inhabitants of Dábá and Dong.

Just at the point when we began ascending, the valley narrows suddenly to a channel only just sufficient to give passage to the water. The hills, which are stated to be rich in gold, are granite of mixed colours, the red predominating, with horizontal strata of quartz and small fibrous veins of a white material like agate, descending perpendicularly where the rock has been exposed to the weather, its surface is broken into small pieces, having

little more cohesion than clay burnt in the sun. This decomposition is effected, I suppose, in consequence of the different materials of which the mass is composed not being intimately united, and water entering the fissures, where it congeals, and bursts the structure.

The gold here is separated by washing, there being no fuel in the neighbourhood, or rather no wood; for, from the appearance of some of the hills, I apprehend that they hold coal. In the bed of the Setlej were many large flowering shrubs, which I take to be a species of the tamerisk. I have found it from three inches high to eight feet, in situations more or less favorable. The yaks and goats were very fond of the foliage. I observed, that the bite of the yak is quicker and nearer the ground than any other species of neat cattle I am acquainted with, a peculiarity which fits them for the short and scanty herbage of an Alpine country.

We have descended much to the Setlej, notwithstanding the mountains are high, which intervene between this river and Dábú, and the heat is great. In the tents the thermometer stood at 969. Distance come this day seven thousand five hundred and twenty-five paces.

July 13th.-Thermometer at sunrise 56°, march at 6o 30'. This plain is stony, about half a mile in breadth and length, bounded partly by heights and partly by the Setlej. It is full of shallow pits, made by persons who have dug for gold dust, and left heaps of stones by the sides of the excavations. At three hundred paces ascend to another flat, which has likewise been dug. At one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five paces reach a small flat, where there has been cultivation; caves of gold mines in the rock to the left, now deserted. At five thousand nine hundred and seventy-five paces reach a house, near which are two gold mines, with tunnels under the surface.Heretofore the excavations were perpendicular. The earth is dug out and carried to the brook to be washed.-At six thousand one hundred and eighty-two paces arrive at the ground for encampment near the village of Damoo, situate half way up a rock on the right bank of a watercourse, in the direction of which we travelled most part of this day, con

sisting of a few red houses, and many caves, with two or three temples.

In the evening killed seven hares. There are great numbers of these animals. They are shorter in their bodies, longer in the hind legs, and somewhat smaller than those in England. Their fur is much finer and longer; altogether they are much paler generally. The under part of the neck is fawn colour, sides greyish, belly white, and the thighs are furnished with thicker and longer furs than the rest of the body, and of an ash or lead colour mixed with grey. When disturbed they fly to the mountains, but frequently stop and rise on their hind legs to look at their pursuers. Their flesh is well tasted; and they are very prolific, as in two there were eight young ones. Some cultivated land under the grain called aď'hi jou, well irrigated.

July 14th.-Thermometer 52°; leave our ground at 5h 25'. At five thousand seven hundred and eighty paces much saline efflorescence on the ground, sup

posed to be soda, cracked under the foot like slightly frozen earth. The skeletons of two wild horses were lying in the valley. In various parts of the road we have found many skulls of the male Baral, with enormous horns: some have at least been from fifty to sixty pounds weight. We meet again with rhubarb, which he had long lost sight of. At noon thermometer in the tent 75°; on a high hill to the right three wild horses suddenly made their appearance, probably for the purpose of coming to water; after looking at us for some time, they went off at a smart trot. They were too far off to afford a very clear view, but seem to be about thirteen hands high, a bay colour ran along the upper part of the neck, and the back and sides were of a fawn or azure colour. Their heads appeared thick and short, but well carried; their bodies round, short; general shape compact, clean, and tail thinly furnished with hair.

(To be continued.)

ABOUT twenty years before this period, [A.D. 1606] Chaja Aiass, a native of the western Tartary, left that country to push his fortune in Hindoostan. He was descended of an ancient and noble family, fallen into decay by various revolutions of fortune. He, however, had received a good education, which was all his parents could bestow. Falling in love with a young woman as poor as himself, he married her; but he found it difficult to provide for her the very necessaries of life. Reduced to the last extremity, he turned his thoughts upon India, the usual resource of the needy Tartars of the north. He left privately, friends who either would not, or could not assist him, and turned his face to a foreign country. His all consisted of one sorry horse, and a very small sum of money, which had proceeded from the sale of his other effects. Placing his wife upon the horse, he walked by her side. She happened to be with child, and could ill endure the fatigue of so great a journey. Asiatic Journ.-No. 27.

They had fasted three days: to complete their misfortunes, the wife of Aiass was taken in labour. She began to reproach her husband for leaving his native country at an unfortunate hour; for exchanging a quiet, though poor life, for the ideal prospect of wealth in a distant country. In this distressed situation she brought forth a daughter. They remained in the place for some hours, with a vain hope that travellers might pass that way. They were disappointed : human feet seldom tread these deserts. The sun declined apace: they feared the VOL. V, 2 I

attracted the notice of the Emperor, who raised him to the command of a thousand horse. He became, in process of time, master of the household; and his genius being still greater than even his good fortune, he raised himself to the office and title of Actimâd-ul-Dowla, or high-treasurer of the empire. Thus he, who had almost perished through mere want in the desert, became, in the space of a few years, the first subject in India.

approach of night; the place was the haunt of wild beasts; and should they escape their hunger, they must fall by their own. Chaja Aiass, in this extremity, having placed his wife on the horse, found himself so much exhausted that he could scarcely move. To carry the child was impossible; the mother could not even hold herself fast on the horse. A long contest began between humanity and necessity: the latter prevailed, and they agreed to expose the child on the highway. The infant, covered with leaves, was placed under a tree; and the disconsolate parents proceeded in

tears.

When they had advanced about a mile from the place, and the eyes of the mother could no longer distinguish the solitary tree under which she had left her daughter, she gave way to grief; and throwing herself from the horse on the ground, exclaimed, "My child! my child!" She endeavoured to raise herself; but she had no strength to return. Aiass was pierced to the heart. He prevailed upon his wife to sit down: he promised to bring her the infant. He arrived at the place. No sooner had his eyes reached the child, than he was almost struck dead with horror. A black snake, it is said, was coiled around it; and Aiass believed he beheld him-extending his fatal jaws to devour the infant. The father rushed forward; the serpent, alarmed at his vociferation, retired into the hollow tree. He took up his daughter unhurt, and returned to the mother. He gave her child into her arms; and, as he was informing her of the wonderful escape of the infant, some travellers appeared, and soon relieved them of all their wants. They proceeded gradually, and came to Lahore.

The emperor Akbar, at the arrival of Aiass, kept his court at Lahore. Asuf Khan, one of that monarch's principal omrahs, attended then the presence. He was a distant relation to Aiass, and he received him with attention and friendship. To employ him, he made him his own secretary. Aiass soon recommended himself to Asuf in that station; and, by some accident, his diligence and ability

In the Tarikh Khafy Khan, he is called Ghyas Beg.

The daughter, who had been born to Aiass in the desert, received, soon after his arrival at Lahore, the name of Mherul-Nissa, or the sun of women. She had some right to the appellation; for in beauty she excelled all the ladies of the East. She was educated with the utmost care and attention. In music, in dancing, in poetry, in painting, she had no equal among her sex. Her disposition was volatile, her wit lively and satirical, her spirit lofty and uncontrouled. Selim, the prince-royal, visited one day her father. When the public entertainment was over, when all, except the principal guests, were withdrawn, and wine was brought on the table, the ladies, according to custom, were introduced in their veils. The ambition of Mher-ul-Nissa aspired to a conquest of the prince. She sung-he was in raptures; she dancedhe could hardly be restrained, by the rules of decency, to his place. Her stature, her shape, her gait, had raised his ideas of her beauty to the highest pitch. When his eyes seemed to devour her, she, as by accident, dropt her veil; and shone upon him, at once, with all her charms. The confusion, which she could well feign, on the occasion, heightened the beauty of her face. Her timid eye by stealth fell upon the prince, and kindled all his soul into love. He was silent for endeavoured to confirm, by her wit, the the remaining part of the evening. She had made. conquest which the charms of her person

Selim, distracted with his passion, knew not what course to take. Mher-ulNissa had been betrothed, by her father, to Aly Cooly Shere Afgun, a Turkomaniau nobleman of great renown. Selim applied to his father Akbar, who sternly refused to commit a piece of injustice,

though in favour of the heir of his throne. The prince retired abashed; and Mher-ul-Nissa became the wife of Shere Afgun. The latter, however, suffered in his prospects of life, for not having made a voluntary resignation of the lady to the enamoured prince. Though Selim durst make no open attack upon his fortunate rival during the life of Akbar, men in office worshipped the rising sun, and threw accumulated disgrace on Shere Afgun. He became disgusted, and left the court of Agra. He retired into the province of Bengal, and obtained, from the Subahdar of that country, the superintendency of the district of Burdwan.

The passion for Mher-ul-Nissa, which Selim had repressed from a respect and fear of his father, returned with redoubled violence when he himself mounted the throne of India. He was now absolute; no subject could thwart his will and pleasure. He recalled Shere Afgun from his retreat. He was afraid, however, to go so much against the current of the public opinion, as to deprive that amyr of his wife. Shere was inflexible; no man of honor in India can part with his spouse, and retain his life. His incredible strength and bravery had rendered Shere extremely popular. He was naturally high-spirited and proud; and it was not to be expected that he would yield to indignity and public shame. His family, and his former reputation, were high. Born of noble parents in Turkomania, he had spent his youth in Persia; and had served, with uncommon renown, Shaw Ismael the third of the Sufviye line. His original name was Asta Jillô, but having killed a lion, he was dignified with the title of Shere Afgun, or the Overthrower of the Lion. Under the latter name he became famous in India. In the wars of Akbar, he had served with great reputation. He had distinguished himself in a particular manner under Khan Khanan, at the taking of Sind, by exhibiting prodigies of personal strength and valour. Preferments had been heaped upon him; and he was highly esteemed at court during the life of Akbar, who loved in others that daring intrepidity for which he himself was renowned.

Jehangire kept his court at Dehly, when he called Shere Afgun to the presence. He received him graciously, and confer

red new honors upon him. Shere Afgun, naturally open and generous, suspected not the Emperor's intentions. Time, he thought, had erased the memory of Mherul-Nissa from Jehangire's mind. He was deceived: the monarch was resolved to remove his rival; but the means he used were at once ungenerous and disgraceful. He appointed a day for hunting; aud ordered the haunt of an enormous tiger to be explored. News was soon brought, that a tiger of an extraordinary size was discovered in the forest of Nidarbari. This savage, it was said, had carried off many of the largest oxen from the neighbouring villages. The Emperor directed thither his march, attended by Shere Afgun, and all his principal officers, with their train of dependants. Having, according to the custom of the Moghul Tartars, surrounded the ground for many miles; they began to move toward the centre, on all sides. The tiger was rouzed his roaring was heard in all quarters; and the Emperor hastened to the place.

The nobility being assembled, Jehangire called aloud, "Who among you will' advance singly, and attack this tiger?" They looked on one another in silence, then all turned their eyes on Shere Afgun. He seemed not to understand their meaning. At length three omrahs started forth from the circle, and, sacrificing fear to shame, fell at the Emperor's feet, and begged permission to try singly their strength against the formidable animal. The pride of Shere Afgun arose. He had imagined that none durst attempt a deed so dangerous. He hoped that after the refusal of the nobles, the honor of the enterprise would devolve in course on his hands. But three had offered themselves for the combat; and they were bound in honor to insist on their prior right. Afraid of losing his former renown, Shere Afgun began thus in the presence: "To attack an animal with weapons is both unmanly and unfair. God has given to man limbs and sinews, as well as to tigers: he has added reason to the former, to conduct his strength." The other omrahs objected in vain, "That all men were inferior to the tiger in strength, and that he could be overcome only with steel." "I will convince you of your mistake," Shere Afgun