[Footnote 255:  This is probably a stair.—­E.]

[Footnote 256:  A dowle, dowly, or dooly, is a chair or cage, in which their women are carried on men’s shoulders.—­Purch.]

About half a coss within the gate is a goodly square tank, cut out of the solid rock, said to be fifty fathoms deep, and full of excellent water.  A little farther on is a goodly plain, shaded with many fine trees, beyond which, on a small conical hill, is the sepulchre of King Hasswaard, who was a great soldier in his life, and has been since venerated as a great saint by the people in these parts.  Near this place is said to be kept a huge snake, twenty-five feet long, and as thick as the body of a man, which the people will not hurt.  This castle, which is eight coss in circuit, is considered as the gate or frontier of Guzerat.  Beyond it is Beelmahl, the ancient wall of which is still to be seen, near twenty-four coss in circuit, containing many fine tanks going to ruin.  From thence to Ahmedabad or Amadaver, by Rhadunpoor, is a deep sandy country.

Ahmedabad is a goodly city on a fine river, the Mohindry, inclosed with strong walls and fair gates, with many beautiful towers.  The castle is large and strong, in which resides the son of Azam Khan, who is viceroy in these parts.  The streets are large and well paved, and the buildings are comparable to those of any town in Asia.  It has great trade; for almost every ten days there go from hence 200 coaches[257] richly laden with merchandize for Cambay.  The merchants here are rich, and the artisans very expert in carvings, paintings, inlaid works, and embroidery in gold and silver.  At an hour’s warning this place has 6000 horse in readiness:  The gates are continually and strictly guarded, no person being allowed to enter without a licence, or to depart without a pass.  These precautions are owing to the neighbourhood of Badur, whose strong-hold is only fifty coss to the east, where nature, with some aid from art, has fortified him against all the power of the Moguls, and whence some four years ago, proclaiming liberty and laws of good fellowship,[258] he sacked Cambaya by a sudden assault of 100,000 men, drawn together by the hope of plunder, and with whom he retained possession for fourteen days.

[Footnote 257:  Perhaps camels ought to be substituted for coaches; or at least carts drawn by bullocks.—­E.]

[Footnote 258:  This is very singular, to find liberty and equality in the mouths of Indian despots and slaves.—­E.]

Between Ahmedabad and Trage, there is a rajah in the mountains, who is able to bring 17,000 horse and foot into the field, his people, called Collees or Quuliees, inhabiting a desert wilderness, which preserves him from being conquered.  On the right hand is another rajah, able to raise 10,000 horse, who holds an impregnable castle in a desert plain.  His country was subject to the government