Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v3.c43.t1.167

v3.c43.t1.167

The reader can easily conceive the scene of our encampment; it was at the north-eastern angle of the lake, having in front that little fairy islet with its light Saracenic summer abode (p. 1521). Gardens fringed the base of the embankment, which was bordered with lofty trees; the extended and gigantic circumvallation, over the parapets of which peeped the spires and domes of temples or mosques, breaking the uniformity, and occasionally even showing the distant and elevated land beyond the Chambal. We had also close to us a spot sacred to the manes of the many heroes of this noble family. I frequented the cenotaphs of the Haras, which, if less magnificent than those of Marwar or Mewar, or even of the head of their line of Bundi, may vie with them all in the recollections they conjure up of patriotism and fealty, and of the deadly rancour attendant on civil strife. This cluster of monuments approaches near to the city wall, but is immediately under the dam of the lake, and being enveloped in foliage, almost escapes observation. I was rejoiced to see the good order in which they were maintained, which was another of the anomalies in the regent's character : for what can so much keep alive the proud spirit of the Haras as these trophies of their sires ? But whatever the motive of the act, it is a tribute to virtue ; nor could I resist an exclamation of respect to the veteran regent, who is raising a monument to the last prince, which, if it survive to distant times, will afford room to some future [665] traveller to say, that, with Maharao Ummed Singh, Kotah appears to have attained the summit of its power. Nor should I deny myself the praise of having something to do with this harmless piece of vanity ; for I procured for the regent free permission from the Rana of Mewar to take from the marble quarry at Kankroli¹ whatever suited his purpose, without price or duty : a request he was too proud to make himself since their ancient quarrel. We had also the range of Madho Singh's magnificent gardens, of many acres in extent, abounding in exotic flowers and fruits, with parterres of rose-trees, each of many roods of land. But what were all these luxuries conjoined with cholera morbus, and tap tijari, ‘ tertian fever,’ and every other fever, around us ? But even these physical ills were nothing compared to the moral evils which it was my duty to find remedies for or to mitigate ; and they were never adverted to in the many despatches addressed, during our residence in this petit enfer, to supreme authority.