American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-27
A Rich RaIah.

q
A Rich Rajah. ;ef hol1sd
ieCALcurTA. in. 18. 1855: 8:.-with
friend I took a second jsunt on the East
Incia railway to Burdwan, an important
station nearly seventy miles from here
found IL very pleasant this cool season,
but it Is said to be excessive hot in the
summer months. There is an extensive
jail here, and ! hear it is well filed at all
times.
The principle object Of my visit was to
see the places and grounds Of the Rajah Of
Burdawn. and my desires were fully gratis
fled. We we're acquainted with the Ra
iah's secretary and mauager and be kindly
showed us over the gardens and camp
grounds and two Of the palaces; the third
and finest one was undergoing repairs and
closed to visitors. The estate Of this veal
thy petty PRICE (afne looking fellow o.
thirty eight } is only ieventy FIVE miles
square, Of rice land, etc. In addition. he
owns bazaars and considerable property in
| Calcutta. Twelve thousand men are em
ployed on all his lands, four thousand in
| The Immediate vicinity Of his palaces
His annual income is eighty lacs Of rupees
about four, million Of dollars. over four
hundred and 6fty dollars per hour. With
these great means he might become a for.
midable eremy 10 the East India Govern
ment, but he seems very peacebly dispo!
sed, and doubtless finds il 10 bis interest
10 remain SO. -" s''-
| speat many hours in pleasantly stroll
ling about the grounds: there are over sew.
enty five acree ofgardens { nd "a ks, inter.
spersed with Duinber Of large tanks
One is the largest / lave seen in In 1ia,
being full mile round its sides. with
many stone stairways leading down to the
water. The entire compound is surround.
ed by a wide canal. '+' X = N'sI
There are large aud separate parks for
almost every class Of animals: in one were
three hundred and fifty deer. Of different
species Another was for couple Of os.
,riches and huge tortoises; one half dog
en- kangaroos; two for blackbears; others
for pelican, hamingoes. rhinocsroses, croc-
odiles. two stately giraffes, &c. In most
OF these enclosures were tanks, and those
containing the larger animals were built
arouud with high pukah walls, succeed
! with walks on top. The menagerie, Of
: solid masonry, was well worth seing; ca
) ges were all capacious and very secure
, In them were tigres. leopards and chetes,
! hyenas, foxes, wolves, porcupines, an e.
/ normous ouraug -outang. monkeys, baboous
e boaconstrictors, &c., and large aviaries
= with canary and rice birds, pigeons Of the
J. choicest kind. psscocks. parrots. vulturas,
;. ornaments DC. Two lAtge ,ealeries con.
q tanned nearly thousand ducks, Of every
variety. There were many other speci
"A mems Of rare birds that cannot now re
: member. At Calcutta saw the King O
Il Oude's tigers-thirteen enormous animal
If which the rajah is about to purchase 70
Y bis menagerie.
Il The stud Of rajah contains eight bundre,
# Of the best horses that can be produced il
|. India and he has besides about thirty fin
i elephants in his stables. We were Offered
the use OF one of them if we would max
up a hunting party at another time. w
In the grounds is an elegantly and rich
ly carved monument, with atempie bull
over it. and an iron railing placed arount
= it to protect its sanctity; the inscription
Is reads "to the memory Of the Rajsh's .bes
'' friend and companion, etc" with lonl
J. catalogue Of his virtues, referring TO a faith
full dog ho had lost. We were puzsle'
;, long time in a labyrinth maue Of vines
y trained on arbors, Many Of the tanks a
Of bound in 6sh and furnish delicacies for th
I, princes table.
10 The monthly expenditure for the supper
r Of all thisi about four thousand dollars
N which seems to me not extravagant, a
81 though the native labor is the cheapest paI
,e Of it,. The palaces are large and richl
o furnished, the wall covered with elegar
- mirrors. paintings, engravings, DC. A
~ together we were much pleased with wis
70 we saw, and the attention we received
IS and would advise any one on visiting Ca
U cutta. lot to forget 10 take run to Burt
q wan.