ALLAH A BAD, anciently Prueg, or Piyag, the capi tal of the province of the same name, siwated at the confluence of the Junina and Ganges. According to Dr Robertson, this city stands 011 the same ground with Palibothra, the ancient and famous capital of the Prasii; and it must be acknowledged, that the description of the latter place given by Strabo, (lib. xv. p. 1028.) and by Arrian, (Hist. Lnl. c. 10.) corresponds exactly with that of Allahabad. Major Runnel, however, is of opi nion, that Patna now occupies the ground where the ancient Palibothra stood. Ills reasonings on this topic, which do not appear to be so conclusive as those of Robertson, may be found in the " Ilistorical Disquisi tion concerning the knowledge which the ancients had of India, &c. pp. 197, 198, ed. 1791. 4to, or in Benne-Ps Memoir, p. 49. et seq. The modern city is divided into two parts, the Old Town and the New ; the foi Ater situated upon the Ganges, and the latter upon the Jum na. A fortress erected by the emperor Akber, occupies a large space within its boundaries; and a pillar ol one stone 40 feet in height, and ascribed by tradition to one of the heroes of the Mahabarat, together with the ele gant tomb of Khufru, which is to be found here, give is no contemptible idea of the Mahometan architecture.
Allahabad is the favourite seat of devotion and the re sort of pilgrims; and it is held in such veneration by the Hindoos, that, if a man happens to die in it, they believe he will attain to the accomplishment of all his wishes in his next regeneration. The city itself is de nominated " The King of Worshipped Places ;" and the adjacent country, to the extent of 40 miles, is re garded as sacred, and not to be trod upon by any one without the performance of the appointed ceremonies. To the S. NV. of Allahabad, at a small distance from it, are situated the diamond mines of Penna. E. Long. 5'. N. Lat. 27'. See Strabo, lib. xv. .lrrian Hist. Ind. c. 10. Antig. de l'Inde, p. 53. 56. Ber noulli, tom. i. 223. et seg. .4yeen .14bfrry, vol. ii. P. 35., and vol. iii. p. 256. (h)