The Oriental Annual Or Scenes In India Comprising Engravings From Original Drawings By William Daniell And A Descriptive Account PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...The Emperor, however, -notwithstanding what may be deemed his sanguinary predilections, so far as related to the destruction of wild beasts, --was by no means deficient in the social qualities of urbanity and tenderness. He was no less distinguished for his virtues as a father and husband than for his qualities as a sovereign; and although in every character he showed an inflexible determination in the pursuit of truth and in the administration of justice, he was still ever ready to reward merit and to return with manly love the affections of his kindred. Among the numerous public works which distinguished his long and prosperous reign is a celebrated boulee, or well, near the capital of Allahabad: it is at this moment the admiration of all travellers. The circumference is about eighty feet, and its ordinary depth from the top of the circular wall to the water perhaps between sixty and seventy. In very dry seasons the water subsides considerably; but when the rain has been extremely abundant, this, so it is said, sometimes reaches nearly to the top. Such a casualty, however, rarely occurs, if it ever did occur; for the fact does not appear to be by any means well authenticated, and little trust is to be placed in Hindoo statements, whether these be of recent events or of such as are based upon the still more doubtful authority of tradition. The well was built by Akbar for the benefit of his Hindoo subjects, to whose comforts, with a liberal and wise policy, he was ever careful to administer. Upon the summit, several yards from the brink, there is a handsome pavilion built in the peculiar style of the period. It is a hexagon, composed of two stories, the last surmounted by a small dome, from which a graceful culice rises, forming an elegant.