Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/25

 CHAPTER XVI.

RESIDENCE AT CAWNPORE—THE DEWĀLĪ.

1830, October.

Aghā Meer the Nawāb—Elephants Swimming the Ganges—Cashmere Goats—Discontent of the Soldiers—Buffaloes—Methodism—Desertion of Soldiers to Runjeet Singh—Marks of Age on Stud-bred Horses—Abolition of S[)u]tēē—Pilgrim Tax—The Dewālī—The Ph[)u]l[)u]-h[)u]rēē Festival—Arrival of Aghā Meer and his Zenāna—Vicious Horses—Turquoise Mines in Persia—Lament of the Hindoo Women—Burning the Dead—The Mug Cook—Brutal Punishment—Plagues of Egypt—Conversion of Hindoo Women—The Races—The Riding School—Kishmish Bakhshish—Apples and Grapes from Cabul—Arab Merchants     159

CHAPTER XVII.

SCENES IN OUDE.

1831, January.

New Year's Day—Meeting of the King of Oude and the Governor-General—Visit of Lord William Bentinck to Lucnow—A Native Christian—Elephant, Tiger, Buffalo, and Bear Fights—Constantia—Beautiful Buildings—Departure of the Governor-General—The Padshāh Bāgh—The Royal Hummām—The King's Stables—The Party at the Residency—Dil-Kushā—Zoffani's Picture—Doves released from Captivity—The Menagerie—A Zenāna Garden—Letter of Introduction to the Begams at Delhi—Gardner's Horse—The Sorrows of the Begam     173

CHAPTER XVIII.

REVELATIONS OF LIFE IN THE ZENĀNA.

1831.

Pedigree of the Kings of Oude—Lucnow Mohurs—Anniversary of the Coronation—The Prime Minister—Khema-jah—Feredooa Buckht—Evil Omens—Mossem-ood-Dowla—Largesse—Hārs, Pān, and Atr—The Zenāna—Sultana Boa—Mulka Zumanee—Gosseina—Tajmah[)u]l—Plurality of Wives     186

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RETURN TO ALLAHABAD—EXECUTION OF TWENTY-FIVE THUGS.

1831, February.

Removal to Allahabad—Crocodiles—Aurunzebe's Fort—The Old Well at Kurrah—Arrival at Allahabad—The Thermantidote—The King's