Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/500

 the pachīsī-board is in an open court of the zenāna; the squares of the board are formed of coloured marbles, and on so large a scale, that women were used as counters. Imagine the great Akbar playing at pachīsī with eight cowries, and sixteen ladies of the zenāna squatting down on the squares of the board as counters! Jīta rako Akbar!

The game is played with eight cowries, or with three long narrow dice, and so named from the highest throw, which is twenty-five. The shape of the board is a cross, covered with squares, alternately of a different colour. The natives have them made of red and purple cloth, which can be folded up, and easily carried about; they are passionately fond of this game, and play it at the Dewālī. The counters are sixteen in number, in sets of four, each set of a different colour.

Adjoining the temple of the magician is the anannās-i-ghur, built in the shape of a pine-apple (anannās), as the natives aver.

The taksāl (the mint) is at this place; in it rupees were first coined; unlike the circular rupees of the present day, those coined by Akbar are square; he also coined square gold mohurs, and eight ānā pieces of the same form. The square rupee, if ''without a blemish'', is reckoned of great value; it is used in conjuring the truth out of thieves, who are much afraid of it, and often confess the truth from a belief in its virtue.

If a rich native can obtain one of Akbar's rupees, or, what is better, an akbārābādee gold mohur, he puts it away with his hoard of riches, firmly believing that by its virtue robbers will be prevented from discovering his gold. There is an old saying, "To get possession of the wealth without disturbing the snake that guards it ." The square rupee appears to act chaukidarr?] as well as the snake. An akbārābādee rupee and an eight ānā piece were procured at Sicri, and added to my museum. The mint has been dug up in every direction by treasure-hunters.

In the plate entitled "Superstitions of the Natives," No. 5 represents the rupee, and No. 4 the eight ānā piece; No. 7 is an akbārābādee gold mohur, which I purchased at Allahabad.