Major llennell is of opinion that Canouge and Palibrothra were the same. Others endeavour to prove the contrary; and that both may have existed at the same time capitals of the Prasii, as Delhi and Agra have dome in later times.
The precise period of the origin of Delhi is not correctly ascertained : according to the Ferishta, it was founded by Dein, who usurped the throne about 300 years before Christ. The Ayeen Akbery fixes it about the commencement of this :era, and informs us, that twenty princes of the name of Bal, or Paul, followed in regular succession for 437 y ears; that the last of its native princes was Pithoura, when it was con quered by the Mahomedan slave Crumb, named by Herbelot, Cathbaddin Ibek, who male Delhi the capital of the vast empire he established in Hindoostan ; and that each succes sive monarch of the Mahmnedan dynasty adorned it with splendid edifices, appropriated to the purposes of religion and commerce. At the invasion of Timm. Beck, it had arrived at the highest distinction for commerce and wealth, being then the centre of the traffic carried on between Persia, Arabia, and China. Timur entered it on the 4th July, 1399 ; and on the 13th of the same month, this celebrated city was destroy ed. Sherifedden, the Persian historian, says, that old Delhi was celebrated for a mosque and palace, built by an ancient. Indian Icing, in which were a thousand marble columns. Under the dynasty- which succeeded Timur, it recovered its original splendour, and was again ornamented with mosques, baths, caravanseras, and sepulchres.
The great Akbar, the glory of the Timur house, having fixed his residence at Agra, Delhi, of course, experienced a partial eclipse ; but in 1647, according to Fraser, Ischaim Shah, the grandson of Akbar. restored Delhi under the rune of Ischainibad, where he built a magnificent palace, formed extensive gardens, and constructed a throne in the shape of a peacock, whose expanded tail was entirely composed of dia monds. and other precious stones. It continued the capital of I lindoostan till 1738, when it was sacked be Nadir ; and afterwards repeatedly by Ahmed Abdallah, from 1756 to 1760, when it was totally destroyed. During the reign of Aurungzebe, it was said to contain two millions of inha bitants.
Lahore is situated to the north-west of Delhi, on the banks of the 1:auvee, the ancient Hydraotes : it appears to have been the Bucephalus of Alexander. Jeipal, the rajah of
Lahore, during the incursions of Subuitagi, and his son Mahmud, defended his possessions with great bravery, and so great were his riches, that, when taken prisoner, around his neck alone were suspended sixteen strings of jewels, each of which was valued at 180.000 rupees, and the whole at .€320,000. Lahore continued to flourish under the sultan of Cosro, and was the imperial seat of Cuttub before he removed it to Delhi ; even afterwards it remained the general store house for the traffic of Persia, Arabia, India, and China. It was restored by Homaion, who amongst other magnificent buildings, erected a palace, which was completed by lschaim Geer, the son of Akbar. This palace, according to Mr. Finch, who visited it in 1609, had twelve gates, nine towards the land side and three towards the river. Ile says, the rarities were too numerous and glorious to be represented m a description ; that the mahls, courts, galleries, and rooms of state, were almost endless; and that, in the king's lodg ings. the walls and ceilings were overlaid with plates of phi. M. Bernier, who was in this city in the suite of Aurungzebe, speaks of this place as a high and magnificent building, but then hastening to ruin.
Agra, the Agara of Ptolemy, situated in 27° 15' north latitude on the banks of the Junina, we have already observed, was raised to splendour by the great Akbar. Ile caused the earthen wall, by which the city had been enclosed by the Pam] monarchs, to be taken away and replaced by one of hewn stone, brought from the quarries of Fettipore.
collected the most skilful artificers from every part of his dominions; and the palace alone employed above 1,000 work men for twelve years. The castle was built in the form of a crescent, upon the banks of the Jumna ; and in a line with it were ranged the palaces of the princes and great rajahs, in tersected with canals and beautiful gardens. Akbar also erected many caravanseras and mosques. He invited foreigners of all nations ; he built them thetories; and permitted to all the free use of their religion. It was soon crowded with Persian, Arabian, and Chinese merchants, besides those immediately from European settlements. But when Ischaim removed the imperial insignia and treasures to Delhi, and made it the residence of his court, Agra sunk rapidly to decay.