when he made his famous expedition into' Hindoltan, in the
year 1739, -and had remained in India fince -that time. The
old foldier’s eye appeared in a flame when he mentioned his
name,“ at the recolledtion of the actions and victories he had
afliftedat, or been witnefs to, under his former commander.
After the ceremony of reception, which was by touching the
turban with the right hand, without rifing from their feats,
we were defired to fit, for which purpofe there were old fafh-
ioned chairs brought, which had formerly been rich in carved
work and velvet, but were now greatly injured by the bawd
of time; otter and rofe-water were handed round, as a mark
of diftin&ion. The Nabob Mirza ShulFeh fat in the center
of. 1 femicirde, furrqunded by his Chiefs, with an innumerable
crowd of fervants Handing behind. After remaining
about half an hour, we retired. This was a vifit of cere-
mpny, and the bufinefs of Major Brown’s miffion was not
entered upon for many days- afterwards, for, amongft thefe
people, delay feeiris a fettled principle of etiquette.
WarLf tr we lay encamped at this place,. I made daily ex-
curfions to Agra and the neighbourhood, the weather at this
feafon greatly favouring m y . purfuits. Our journeys were
flaort, and were begun frequently between five and fix in the
morning, fometimes earlier. I had therefore the whole day
for my ftudies. The climate at this feafon is delightful, the
mornings clear and very cold, frequently frofty, in fo much,
that I have feen feveral tanks frozen entirely over; but in the
middle of the day we generally found it .very hot. I puffed
rooftof'my days.afc 4-gra> making drawings either of, the great
fort or:,other buildings, moft of which lay in ruins;-
T he city of Agra is fituated on the fouth fide of the river
Jumna,, which at this place is,not fordable, and rifes immediately.
from the water,, extending in a vail femicircle. It is
fuppo'fcd i©ibe a.place^of high antiquity!. ■ The preferi&feit^.
however, was raifed by the emperor Acbar, about 1566, iand
named from him A’cBUrabad, and was the principal'Ieat of (his
government. .„The fort, in which isc included1 the imperial
palace, is of vail extent. A-view of ‘the fonUs'g&en, arid is
fuch as will afford-a general idea of the building aricp its1
fituation. It is conftrufied o f a red.free:ftoiiep!and it would
appear to have been very' ftrong,. when firft raifed. ,• It originally
bad a double wet ditch, of, great width and depth, ancl
well fupplied from the river. The fort was an ifland, formed
by three ditches; one face of it, that to, the eaftward, was
walhed to the foot of the walls i by the river. The outer ditch
.is now totally ruined* the high road going through-‘it, as may
be obferved in the Plate. The inner ditch is very bad in many
places, and in feveral is quite dry.' The-city was encircled by
a wall and towers at a bow-lhot diftance from each other. ! >
. Shah J ehan,, the'grandfon of Acbar, dilliking the fitua-
tipnof Agra, from the exceffive heats to which it was expofed
in the fummer months, and defiroits tp ratfe a metropolis which
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