DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.644#0209
i86 GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN.
was a royal menagery, and that the breed was propagated
from the beafls which had efcaped. I find in Bernier, part iv.
p. 48, that Aurengzebe frequently took the diverfion of Hon
hunting, but do not learn that the noble animal was ever turned
out for the imperial diverfion. The Ayeen Akberry, ii. 296, re-
lates many inftances of the valour of Akbar the Great, in his
engagements with this tremendous animal, but is filent whe-
ther they had or had not been aborigines of Hindooßan. Mr.
'Terry, in the vaft forefts near Mandoa, fee p. 78, more than once
faw lions, or heard them roaring; they were alfo frequent
about Malwah; thefe muß: have been their moft fouthernly
haunts, as the tracT: between Lahor and Cachemere is the moft
northerly, where they were the game of Aurengzebe, as related
by Bernier. I have never heard of their exceeding the two
limits I mention; poffibly they may have been extirpated in
other parts of Hindooßan : certain it is, that it had a Hindoo
name, that of Sing, which is no fmall proof of its having been
once fpread over the whole empire, at left as far as climate-
would permit>
On the downfal of the Mogul empire, this fortrefs feil ro the
fhare of the Mahratta chieftain, Madagee Scindia. In 1779, we
entered into an alliance againft him. I never endeavonr to in-
velligate too nicely the motives of our Hindooßan wars. Golo-
nel Popham was fent againft the fort, which was at that time
garrifoned by twelve hundred men : but for an accident,
The caftle's ilrength
Had laugh'd a fiege to fcorn.
Some
was a royal menagery, and that the breed was propagated
from the beafls which had efcaped. I find in Bernier, part iv.
p. 48, that Aurengzebe frequently took the diverfion of Hon
hunting, but do not learn that the noble animal was ever turned
out for the imperial diverfion. The Ayeen Akberry, ii. 296, re-
lates many inftances of the valour of Akbar the Great, in his
engagements with this tremendous animal, but is filent whe-
ther they had or had not been aborigines of Hindooßan. Mr.
'Terry, in the vaft forefts near Mandoa, fee p. 78, more than once
faw lions, or heard them roaring; they were alfo frequent
about Malwah; thefe muß: have been their moft fouthernly
haunts, as the tracT: between Lahor and Cachemere is the moft
northerly, where they were the game of Aurengzebe, as related
by Bernier. I have never heard of their exceeding the two
limits I mention; poffibly they may have been extirpated in
other parts of Hindooßan : certain it is, that it had a Hindoo
name, that of Sing, which is no fmall proof of its having been
once fpread over the whole empire, at left as far as climate-
would permit>
On the downfal of the Mogul empire, this fortrefs feil ro the
fhare of the Mahratta chieftain, Madagee Scindia. In 1779, we
entered into an alliance againft him. I never endeavonr to in-
velligate too nicely the motives of our Hindooßan wars. Golo-
nel Popham was fent againft the fort, which was at that time
garrifoned by twelve hundred men : but for an accident,
The caftle's ilrength
Had laugh'd a fiege to fcorn.
Some