Travels in India (Tavernier) 17.1.8

17.1.8

Delhi is a large town, near the river Jumna, which runs from north to south, then from west to east, and after having passed Agra and Kadioue, loses itself in the Ganges. Since Sháh Jahán has caused the new town of Jahánábád to be built, to which he has given his name, and where he preferred to reside rather than at Agra, because the climate is more temperate, Delhi has become much broken down and is nearly all in ruins, only sufficient of it remaining standing to afford a habitation to the poor. There are narrow streets and houses of bamboo as in all India, and there are but three or four nobles of the court who reside at Delhi, in great enclosures, in which they have their tents pitched. It is also where the Reverend Jesuit Father who was at the court had his dwelling.