The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-15
DARK DEEDsp IN INDIA.

count OF something that fell under his per.
sonal notice in India:
Our conversation was here interrupted
by a gardener, who presented tho Rajah
and myself, respectively, with nosegay !;
and who volunteered the information, that
some wofkmcn, in digging tho foundation
Tor vinc-trells,ha come upon an old
house under the earth, and in it had been
found several gold and silver coins.
"Where? 2" asked the Rajah.
| "Therc !" said the gardener, pointing in
the direction.
| We hurried TO the spot, and found that
the workmen had gone; but sure enough.
there where tho walls of an apartment.
formed of red stone and white marble.
"This quarter of Agra" said the Raiall
to me, twas formerly inhabited by persons
OF the highest rank. Where we arc now
standing, was, no doubt. once the site of
a palace; and these walls are those of the
ty-khana-a vault beneath the dwelling
from which the light is excluded. In these
dark places arc usually perpetuatcd what
you English call "darls decds'
1expresscd desire to explore this newly
discovered apartment Of former days but
the Rajah told me it was then TOO late, rs
the workmen had gone; but he promised
me that if I would come to him at dav
light, on the following morning, he would
have great pleasure in gratifying my Gu
riosity.
On the following morning, having spent
very dreamy night, I was carried in NV
paanquin to the Jatnee Bagl. Such was
the name of the Jooteesperad's garden
house. in which I,all Singh then resided
The Maharajah was dressing. I was con-
fronted by Seik with m enormous beard
whose lair was yard long, and tied up
in peculiar knot on the top of his head,
and who politely inquired if l would lake
coffee. Ere long the Rajah made his ap-
pearance, and wo went together to- the
newly discovered ty-khana, Which was now
guarded, since gold and silver had been
found there. The workmen, some twenty
in number, came and commenced their In.
Dor; that Of clearing away the earth in all
directions, in order to get 10 tie bottom of
the apartment in the ty-hana. This was nc.
compIished in about two hours, and we then
stood upon stone floor in the centre of q
room about xtcep feet square. In several
OF the inches were little lamps, such as are
burnt on the tombs of Moslems, and
hookall and pair Of marble chairs were
found in this subterrancous apartment; of
which the sky was now the roof. Whilst
examining the walls, 1 observed that, upon
upon one side, there was ledge about six
feet high from the floor, (and carried up
thcrefrom) and about a foot in width This |
ledge, which was of brick and plaster, re-
sembled huge mantelpicce, and was con.
tinued from one end of the apartment to
the other. I asked tile Rajah the reason Of
such structure in the apartment. lie re-
piled that he did not know, nor could any
OF the workmen account for it; one of
them, however, took pick-axe and dug
out portion, when, to my surprise and
horror, l discovered that in this human
being had been trickcd up. The skin was
still upon the bones, which were covered
with a costly dress of white muslin spane.
led all over with gold; around the neck was
a string Of pearls; on the wrists and ankles
were gold bangles, and on the feet were
pair Of slippers, embroidered all over with
silver wire OIL, thread F; such slippers rs only
women of rank or wealth
oan afford to wear. The body resembled
we'll preserved mummy. The features were
rory distinct, and were those of woman
whose age could not, Mt the time Of her
leath, have exceeded eighteen or nineteen
years, The head was partially covered
With the'whitc dress. Long black hair was
till clingingto the scalp, and was parted .
'cross the forehead and carried behind tie :
'ars. It was the most horrible and ghastly
igure that Lever bcheld. r T. L
The workmen appeared, to take this dis
'oyery as a matter Of course; or rather to !,
egard itoply with nth reference 10 the goldya
liver ornaments; upon the skeleton, and it
sas with great difficulty. thats1 could pre-:
ent their stripping it forthwith, yass sf for the
sajah; he simply smiled, and, ,coollylyre.1
marked: .tts s,'ys*ttS.t = .s4SS ..rl -, :
. ~ ,.s4s =, = ~; IA. 5. = ..Isy
= A, aseof jealousy. Her hdsband,was ]
ealous q .her, and thongbt ber, gully, and /,
unisbed' her thus --.brieked. !. her npssaiive,|S
u ths wall, With 20 about; sis; II
My staadipg rpor,s Peffliaps' deserved IS
:, lpeIhaps abe was plotting againss Ris d
fe;4pe.hapss sRe; was sinn ooai Wlo cam Z
fI;rd ~ - II