the embassy, with its reduced equipment, left Agra on the 21st of July, to cross the Doaub, the Mesopotamia of India, for Caunpore, the nearest military station belonging to the East India Company under the Bengal government. From Surat to Agra, Sir Charles and his party had travelled entirely on horseback; from hence to Caunpore they intended proceeding in palanquins. CHAPTER XXXIX. CONCLUSION OF THE JOURNEY FROM SURAT TO CALCUTTA, CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTRY CALLED THE DOUAB, FROM AGRA TO CAWNPORE: WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ALLAHABAD, BENARES, AND THE PRINCIPAL PLACES ON THE BANKS OF THE GANGES FROM CAWNPORE TO CALCUTTA. 1785. "Thrice happy, blest Britannia's bounded kings! "Make a whole glorious people sing for joy, "Bless human kind, and through the downward depth "Of future times to spread that better sun "Which lights up British soul: for deeds like these, "The dazzling fair career unbounded lies; "While (still superior bliss) the dark abrupt "Is kindly barr'd, the precipice of ill. "O luxury divine! O poor to this "Ye giddy glories of despotic thrones! "By this, by this indeed, is imag'd Heaven, "The boundless Good, without the pow'r of Ill." THOMSON. Departure of the embassy from Agra for Calcutta-―rainy season in Nautches-beauty of Cachemirian dancing-girls—dreadful ferocity of the wolves at Cawnpore-anecdotes of their carnage—Budge- rows, boats on the Ganges-embark at Caunpore for Calcutta- Allahabad, description of that fortress, the abode of God-Hindoo temple and sacred pepel-tree-palace-grand mosque-remarkable trees-tomb of Kusroe-junction of the Jumna and Ganges-Chu- nar—mausoleum—stone quarries-Ramnaghur—arrival at Benares -description of that city, observatory, pilgrims, and beggars— Hindoo astronomy, a most extraordinary system-Buxar-battle of Buxar-affectionate recollection of Bombay-Chuprah-overflow of the Ganges-Dinahpore-Monheer-Banquepore-Gola, or public granary-Patna-monument in commemoration of the mas- sacre-bird-sellers at Patna-snowy mountains-hot wells—Ming- |