Major Rennel is of opinion that Canougc and Palibo thra were the same. Others endeavour to prove the eon trary ; and that both may have existed at the same time capitals of the Prasii, as Delhi and Agra have done in later times.
The precise period of the origin of Delhi is not cor rectly ascertained : According to the Fcrishta, it was founded by Dclu, who usurped the throne about 300 years before Christ. The Ayeen Akbery fixes it about the commencement of this xra, and informs us, that twenty princes of the name of Bal, or Paul, followed in regular succession for 437 years ; that the last of its na tive princes was Pithoura, when it was conquered by the Mahometan slave Cattub, named by Herbelot, Cathbad din Ibek, who made Delhi the capital of the vast empire he established in Hindostan ; and that each successive monarch of the I\lahomedan dynasty adorned it with splendid edifices, appropriated to the purposes of reli gion and commerce. At the invasion of Timur Bec, it had arrived at the highest distinction for commerce and wealth, being then the centre of the traffic carried on be tween Persia, Arabia, and China. Timur entered it on the 4th July 1399 ; and on the 13th of the same month, this celebrated city was destroyed. Sherifedden, the Persian historian, says, that Old Delhi was celebrated for a mosque and palace, built by an ancient Indian king, in which were 1000 marble columns. Under the dynasty which succeeded Timur, it recovered its original splen dour, and was again ornamented with mosques, baths, caravanserahs, and sepulchres.
The great Akbar, the glory of the Timur house, hav ing fixed his residence at Agra, Delhi, of course, ex perienced a partial eclipse ; but in 1647, according to Fraser, Ischaim Shah, the grandson of Akbar, restored Delhi under the name of Ischaimbad, where he built a magnificent palace, formed extensive gardens, and con structed a throne in the shape of a peacock, whose ex panded tail was entirely composed of diamonds, and other precious stones. It continued the capital of Hin dostan till 1738, when it was sacked by Nadir ; and after wards repeatedly by Ahmed Abdallah, from 1756 to 1760, when it was totally destroyed. During the reign of Aurenzebe, it was said to contain two millions of in habitants.
Lahore is situated to the north-west of Delhi, on the banks of the Rauvee, the ancient lIydraotes : 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 was suspended sixteen strings of jewels, each of which was valued at 180,000 rupees, and the whole at 320,0001. Lahore continued to flourish under the sultan of Cosro, and was the imperial seat of Cuttub before he removed it to Delhi ; even after wards 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 Ischaim Geer, the son of Akbar. This palace, according to Mr Finch, who visited it in 1609, had twelve gates, nine towards the landside, and three towards the river. He says, the rarities were too numerous and glorious to be represent ed in a description ; that the mall's, courts, galleries, and rooms of state, v. arc almost endless ; and that, in the king's lodgings, the walls and ceilings were over laid with plates of gold. M. Bernier, who was in this city in the suit of Aurengzebc, speaks of this palace as a high and magnificent building, but then hastening to ruin.
Agra, the Agara of Ptolemy, situated in 27° 15' north latitude, on the bank of the Jumna, we have already observed, was raised to splendour by the great Acbar. He caused the earthen wall, by which the city had been inclosed by the Patan monarchs, to be taken away, and replaced by one of hewn stone, brought from the quar ries of Fettipore. He collected the most skilful artifi cers from every part of his dominions ; and the palace alone employed above 1000 workmen for twelve years. 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, intersected with canals and beautiful gardens. Acbar also erected many caravanserahs and mosques. He invited foreigners of all nations ; he built them factories ; 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.