Benares Illustrated

Language: English
Pages: 130(B & W Illus : 5, Figure Illus: 34)\nPreface
The City of BENARES has long been known to Europe as the principle seat of Hindoo learning and superstition, and as the stronghold of the Brahminical faith in modern times. Its extent and importance have been magnified in all ages, and its wonders depicted in colors far too vivid to be correct. But it has always possessed enough of real attraction to the curious in Indian manners and literature, and deservedly, therefore, occupies a prominent place in the relations of Indian Travellers. Amongst others of less note, the descriptions of TAVERNIER and HEBER will long continue to be read with interest:-the former, as a lively picture of Benaresw in 1668, before the prostration of its temples by AURUNGZEBE, and while there yet remained some vestiges of the splendor of its idolatries; the latter, as introducing the reader, in the amiable prelate's agreeable and instructive manner, to Benares, as it appeared to him on his visit in 1825.
The pencil, though not entirely idle, has hitherto done little to bring the Holy City to the notice of Europe. Sketches of the place, as viewed from the river, are indeed to be found in he volumes both of HEBER and LORD VALENTIA; but they are executed with little either of minuteness or fidelity. A fine drawing of Dusaswumedh Ghat is also to be met with in the magnificent Oriental Portfolio of DANIELL: but these detached views convey to the European reader a very faint idea of the town and its population,-certainly not enough to satisfy curiosity regarding a place which exhibits a larger remnant of the external characteristics of Hindoo taste and habits, than is to be met with in any other Eastern city within the pale of British dominion.
The specimens here presented to the public have no pretension to vie with the works