BOPAL, or BOPALTAL, a town- of- and capital of a territory of 'the, same' name in. the country:of Malwa. 'the only correct account of this` town is that which is given by Mr Hunter, in his Narrative of a Journey from :Agra to ,0i.jein, perfOrmed in the year 1792, we shall make .no gy for presenting it•in his own words.
The town of. Bopal is extensive, and surround ed with a stone wall. 'the outside is large, gtinge, with streets wide and straight.. On arising' ground, to the. southlwest of the town, is a'fort call ed Futteli-gurh, newly) erected, and not yet.quite nished.' It hai—a7stione 'wall with square: towers, but no ditch.- The spot on which it.is built is one, solid rock. To the south-west, under the walls of, this fort, ista:very extensive tank, or pond, farmed by aii.einbankraent,'at the confluence of:five streams, issuing from the neighbouring, hills, which form a• kind of,amphitheatre round the lake. Its length is. about six miles, and froM it the.town has the addition, of tal.to its name. These. hills, and others in the, neighbourhood; contain a .soft free, stone, and a red-. dish granite, the latter of which seems well for • buildings that will resist water and. the injuries, of the weather.' -.If is accordingly Used in .the, new
embankment, which is now building at the east end: of the lake. From tbis- part issues the •small Patara, and it is said that the Betwah takes its frOm another pare of the same. -- • I m n and territory of Bopal arc occupied• iy of Pitans, to whom-they.were assigned , by Aureng-Zebe. The present-Ndwab, Mohammed. Hyat, a'man about sixty years-of age, had, -from.in-. dolence, love of pleasureovant of capacity, or devo tion, resigned the whole administration into the hands of his dewari, who was born a Bramin; but purchased, when a child, by the Nawab, and educated in the Mussulman faith.
The revenue of Bopal is. estimated at ten or twelve lacks of rupees. It does not pay any regular tribute to the Mahrattas; .but, from time to time, a handsome present is given to conciliate their friend ship. The -people seem to be happy Under the pre: sent government ; and the' dewan, by his hospitality; and the protection afforded to strangers, bad induced• the caravans, and travellers in general, to take this road between the Deccan and Hindostan." EaSt. Long. 77° 28', North Lat. 14'. . Researches, vol.:I. -p. 31, 32. (j) • •