bridges; to the south and west had been one of the most populous parts of the town, which was partially levelled at the time of the Mutiny; towards the east. the position commanded the Residency and overlooked some much frequented thoroughfares.
The Palace within the Machhi Bawan faced the Gumti. It contained six principal courts, or quadrangles, surrounded by pavilion-like buildings. In the first of these were two lofty gateways. On the outer, there was a handsome chamber, called the Naubat Khana, or Music-room, forming an orchestra upon a splendid scale.[1] The second court, encompassed by state apartments, was laid out as a garden, having a well, or bouli. in the centre, round which were two pavilions, opening to the water, and intended to afford a cool retreat during the hot weather; the air was refreshed by the constant dripping of the fountains; and the piazzas and arcaded chambers beyond, within the influence of its luxurious atmosphere, were well adapted as sleeping apartments in the sultry nights of summer.
The high ground, on the river side, crowned by the Musjid, or Mosque, built by Aurungzeb of Delhi, is Lukshmun Tila, the site of the original Lukshmunpur. Behind the Machhi Bawan itself, in a southerly direction, is an open space, once a depot for ordnance stores, that marks the site of the Panch Mahalla (now demolished), the oldest house in Lucknow, built by the family of Sheikhs who formerly owned territory here.
When Sadat Khan, the first member of the late reigning family, came here as Subahdar, or Governor of Oudh, in 1732 A. D., he hired the house from the owners at a monthly rental of Rs. 565; the money was paid at first, but his successors claimed the house as State property and confiscated it.
Shortly before the investment of the Residency, the fortification was strengthened and guns were planted, at different points, on the ramparts, but though to all appearance the place seemed impregnable, It was really not so, as it was afterwards condemned by the Engineers and had to be abandoned (see para 43).
On the 2nd of July, 1857, this fort was blown up by the garrison who retreated to the Residency (vide para. 60).
- ↑ Much cannot be said in praise of the native music. Their orchestra is composed of small drums, called tom-toms, long shrill pipes, and a kind of cymbals: it is dreadfully loud and by no means harmonious, Like all the Eastern music, it is exceedingly monotonous to an ear accustomed to the cadences and varied harmony of our music. The natives, however, are passionately fond of it as it is, and will sit and listen for hours to the hunting of tom-toms and the screaming of pipes.
