Travels in India (Tavernier) 10.2

10.2

Ballor is also a large village, and is situated on a tank which has about a league in circuit, upon the edge of which you see a good fort, which, however, they neglect to keep in repair. Three-quarters of a league on this side of the village you pass a rivulet by a ford, but with much difficulty, because there are many rocks and stones under the water which are liable to overturn a carriage. You travel this second day nearly altogether in woods. From Balor to Kerkoa, or, as they now call it, the Begum’s caravansardi, 5 coss. This caravansardi is large and spacious, and it is Begum-Sahib, the daughter of ShAh JahAn, who caused it to be built as a work of charity. For formerly the stage from Ballor to NawapurA was too long, and this place being on the frontier of the country of those Rajas who are generally unwilling to recognise the Great Mogul, whose vassals they are, scarcely a caravan passed there which was not ill-treated; moreover, it is a forest country. Between the caravansardi and NawapurA you pass a river by a ford, and another close to NawapurA. From Kerkoa to Navapoura (NawapurA), 15 coss.