3
7. There are no persons living now inside the Arkilla, though near the
Sat Mazli there is an ancient Hindu temple, the shrine of Bijanagar, the original
name of the city which the Musalmans converted into Bijápur where the priests
and their families reside.
8. The ground around all these buildings is covered with debris and with
low jungle, and the old pit-privies that are to be seen attached to each house
demonstrate the fact that bhunghis must have been scarce at Bijápur in the
days of the Adilshahi dynasty, and this fact would tend to throw discredit on
the legend connected with the erection of the Mehtri Mahal. Mr. Molecey has
already filled in the low lying ground in front of the granary and the Adalut Mahal,
and in my opinion this course will be necessary round all the houses chosen for
the use of these officers, and the greatest attention should, I think, be especially
paid to the old pit-privies I have mentioned. They should be filled in. There
was, even after-the lapse of so many years, a distinct privy odour about them, and
I have no doubt the ground in their neighbourhood was formerly saturated with
fœcal matter, though in some of them the stone-work was as carefully finished as
the buildings to which they were attached. They would, however, to a certainty,
be again used by the native followers and servants, and I think this work should
be most carefully attended to. I also think that the approaches to and from
the kutcherry for the clerks and the numerous persons who will attend it and the
Courts, should be clearly defined by walls 7 feet high on either side ; this could
be done at small expense, as there is plenty of stone to hand, but this action is
necessary to prevent persons getting into the ruins of the neighbouring buildings
and defiling them in places which it would be impossible to detect or to keep
clean.
9. If the ground round these buildings is levelled, the pit-privies filled in,
the jungle removed, I see no reason whatever why they should not be healthy ;
on the contrary, I believe that the thick masonry walls with which they are sur-
rounded are far better calculated to keep out the heat than the flimsy bungalows
in which Europeans in India live. Of course I can give no opinion until I see
the plans as to the efficiency of the means of ventilation, &c., provided, but judg-
ing from the very interesting and instructive report of Mr. Molecey, which I have
had the opportunity of reading, I believe that every care has been taken in this
respect by that able officer. In my opinion it will be absolutely necessary to
drain the Arkilla more thoroughly than it is at present, and to prevent the flow
of storm water from the main ditch, which runs through the city into the moat
round it.
10. The buildings outside the Arkilla, but inside the city which are to be
converted are the China Mahal which is designed for the residence of the Superin-
tendent of Police. It is on the south of the city, and is on a very good situation
as the ground all round is open. It is not quite, I believe, determined whether
the Second Assistant should live in the Two Sisters or the Ibrahim Roza ; I should
imagine the former would be the best, as every visitor to Bijápur would be justi-
fied in my opinion in invading the privacy of this gentleman to view one of the
most beautiful structures in the world, in which art, skill and taste are equally
evident. If " The Two Sisters," or the mausoleum erected by Khawas Khan, for
himself and his friend, is chosen, the ground in its vicinity should be carefully
drained.
11. Outside the walls it is proposed to locate the Police lines in the Idghur,
which in my opinion would be a very proper site for them as it would afford
ample space. The Serai, a large enclosed quadrangle round the tomb of
Mustapha Khan, which is situated about a mile from the walls, has been selected
as a site for a Jail, for which purpose it could in many respects be made well.
suited. I refrain from further remarks on the buildings or with reference to
the alterations it is proposed to make in each of them until the plans are sent to
me for opinion by the proper authorities.
12. One of the principal questions I inquired into was the water-supply.
There are undoubtedly springs in the city itself and in the Arkilla, but though
it is stated that the tank in front of the Asár-i-Sharif is supplied from the Torweh