Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/191



, February, 1871.

Eremember seeing upon one of the coupors of a fanciful ticket, “Round the World,” iseped by the Evia Rullway, “Calcutta to Bombay (1,500 miles) via Allahabad June- tion.” The latier placo sounded to me like a mylh, bui bere I am, and fird the “City of Allah,” aa ths name signifies, a very substantial reality. Tt is situated about one hundred miles above nares, at the confluence of the Jumna and the Ganges. The Histoos, from time immemorial, have considered Allehabad ose of the most sacred places in India. Hera they say dhree rivers join, Only two ef there are yisible—the third, unseen by mortel eyee, flows dircet froma Heaven. It is said thatover two hundred thousand pilgrims visit this spot every year. When 4 pilgrim arrives, he sits on the daak of the river, and has his head and body shaved so thst his hair may fal! ints the water; for his sacred writings promtse him for every hair thus deposited s thousand years of Para- digs.

At the junction of the two rivers isa very strong fort, built three hundred years ago by Akbar, one of the Mogul Emperors, when the Mohamedan power in India was in ita glory. The walls are of red cand: stone, and 2 500 asbhes in circuit, and present a very imposing appearence. It ia thor- oughly armed and garrisoned, and one of ibs strongest places held by the British io this country. An English officer very politely