DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9696#0035
INTRODUCTION
xxxi
and but little further progress was made, owing to " bad
passages of water." The sight of tdri trees induced the
hope of obtaining toddy, "haveing neither seene nor Tasted
any theis manye dayes," but to Mundy's disappointment
he found that the trees were only grown for their leaves,
from which mats were made. On the 7th September the
ill-omened Karamnasa, " a pernitious River to the super-
stitious Hindoes " (p. 125 «.), was passed, and on the
shore, in the sand, Mundy was surprised to find cockles
like those with which he was familiar in England, but with
black shells. From Benares almost to the gates of Patna
the road was very trying for carts, so much " tough mire "
and marshy ground that the oxen were " sore laboured "
with " tugging," and a halt was necessary at Sasaram to
refresh them. Thus Mundy had time to visit the tombs
of Slier Shah Surand Salim Shah Sur and to make a sketch
of the former, though he could not gain admittance to it
at that time, as Muzaffar Khan's harem was encamped
there. Mundy also visited the tomb of Hazrat Chandan
Shahld, regarding whose canonization he has a story not
found elsewhere, but one that was evidently current in
his day.
On the 14th September the Son was crossed with great
difficulty on account of the sands and "shoaldes." From
thence, about 18 miles distant, the fortress of Rohtasgarh
"one of the most famous of all India for height, bignes
and strength " was descried (p. 134).
On the 15th September Mundy and Sundar Das left
the carts to follow slowly and went on to Patna to "provide
a place to howse our goods." On the way, they could
purchase " noe wyne for any money, a straight prohibition
against it." They reached Patna on the 17th and the carts
arrived on the 20th September, 44 days after leaving Agra.
Thus, the journey occupied about nine days longer than
the average time, owing to " mire and dirt, it being tyme of
Raines" (p. 143) and "not then the tyme of Travell for
Laden Carts" (p. 144).^
Having unpacked his goods and paid off his carters,
xxxi
and but little further progress was made, owing to " bad
passages of water." The sight of tdri trees induced the
hope of obtaining toddy, "haveing neither seene nor Tasted
any theis manye dayes," but to Mundy's disappointment
he found that the trees were only grown for their leaves,
from which mats were made. On the 7th September the
ill-omened Karamnasa, " a pernitious River to the super-
stitious Hindoes " (p. 125 «.), was passed, and on the
shore, in the sand, Mundy was surprised to find cockles
like those with which he was familiar in England, but with
black shells. From Benares almost to the gates of Patna
the road was very trying for carts, so much " tough mire "
and marshy ground that the oxen were " sore laboured "
with " tugging," and a halt was necessary at Sasaram to
refresh them. Thus Mundy had time to visit the tombs
of Slier Shah Surand Salim Shah Sur and to make a sketch
of the former, though he could not gain admittance to it
at that time, as Muzaffar Khan's harem was encamped
there. Mundy also visited the tomb of Hazrat Chandan
Shahld, regarding whose canonization he has a story not
found elsewhere, but one that was evidently current in
his day.
On the 14th September the Son was crossed with great
difficulty on account of the sands and "shoaldes." From
thence, about 18 miles distant, the fortress of Rohtasgarh
"one of the most famous of all India for height, bignes
and strength " was descried (p. 134).
On the 15th September Mundy and Sundar Das left
the carts to follow slowly and went on to Patna to "provide
a place to howse our goods." On the way, they could
purchase " noe wyne for any money, a straight prohibition
against it." They reached Patna on the 17th and the carts
arrived on the 20th September, 44 days after leaving Agra.
Thus, the journey occupied about nine days longer than
the average time, owing to " mire and dirt, it being tyme of
Raines" (p. 143) and "not then the tyme of Travell for
Laden Carts" (p. 144).^
Having unpacked his goods and paid off his carters,