| Indu (the moon) | 1 |
| Paksheo (the two fortnights) | 2 |
| Netra (the three eyes of Siva) | 3 |
| Veda (the four holy books) | 4 |
| Sar (the five arrows of Kamdeo, or Cupid) | 5 |
| Shashth (the six seasons, of two months each) | 6 |
| Jaladhi (the seven seas, or Samudras) | 7 |
| Sidah | 8 |
| Nidh (the nine planets) | 9 |
| Dik (the ten corners of the globe) | 10 |
| Rudra (a name of Siva) | 11 |
| Arka (the sun) | 12 |
[25]. [Begūn about 20 miles E.N.E. of Udaipur city.]
[26]. [Medpāt means ‘land of the Med tribe.’]
[27]. [Byron, Childe Harold, ii. 47.]
[28]. A number sacred (according to Chand) to this goddess, who is chief of the sixty-four Joginis.
CHAPTER 15
Begūn
Basi, February 27.—Compelled to travel in my palki, full of aches and ails. I think this will complete the disorganization of my frame; but I must reserve the little strength I have for Chitor, and, coûte que coûte, climb up and take a farewell look.
Chitor.[[3]]—My heart beat high as I approached the ancient capital of the Sesodias, teeming with reminiscences of glory, which every stone in her giant-like kunguras (battlements) attested. It was from this side that the imperial hosts under Ala and Akbar advanced to force the descendant of Rama to do homage to their power. How the summons was answered, the deeds of Ranas Arsi and Partap have already told. But there was one relic of “the last day” of Chitor, which I visited in this morning’s march, that will immortalize the field where the greatest monarch that India (perhaps Asia) ever had, erected the green banner of the faith, and pitched his [756] tent, around which his legions were marshalled for the reduction of the city. This still perfect monument is a fine pyramidal column, called by some the Chiraghdan, and by others Akbar-ka-dewa, both having the same meaning, ‘Akbar’s lamp.’[[4]] It is formed of large blocks of compact lime-stone, admirably put together, about thirty-five feet high, each face being twelve feet at the base, and gradually tapering to the summit, where it is between three and four, and on which was placed a huge lamp (chiragh), that served as a beacon to the foragers, or denoted the imperial headquarters. An interior staircase leads to the top; but although I had the strongest desire to climb the steps, trodden no doubt by Akbar’s feet, the power was not obedient to the will, and I was obliged to continue my journey, passing through the Talaiti, as they term the lower town of Chitor. Here I got out of my palki, and ventured the ascent, not through one, but five gates, upon the same faithless elephant; but with this difference, that I had no howda to encase me and prevent my sliding off, if I found any impediment; nevertheless, in passing under each successive portal, I felt an involuntary tendency to stoop, though there was a superfluity of room over head. I hastened to my bechoba,[[5]] pitched upon the margin of the Surya-kund, or ‘fountain of the sun,’ and with the wrecks of ages around me I abandoned myself to contemplation. I gazed until the sun’s last beam fell upon ‘the ringlet of Chitor,’ illuminating its grey and grief-worn aspect, like a lambent gleam lighting up the face of sorrow. Who could look on this lonely, this majestic column, which tells, in language more easy of interpretation than the tablets within, of