ALLAHABAD, a fortified town of Hindostan, in the province of Allahabad, most favourably situated in a dry and healthy soil, on a triangle, at the junction of the two mighty streams, the Ganges and the Jumna. It has been occasionally the residence of royalty, and still contains some fine ruins; but it never appears to have been a great and magnificent city, and has now a desolate and ruinous appearance, having obtained among the natives the name of Fakeerabad, or Beggar abode. The city is small, with very poor houses, and narrow, irregular streets, confined to the banks of the Jumna. Nine-tenths of the present native buildings are of mud, raised on the foundations of more substantial brick edifices, which have long ago fallen to decay. The port, which is placed at the distance of a quarter of a mile, on a tongue of land washed by the Jumna and the Ganges, is lofty and extensive, and completely commands the navigation of the two rivers. It is strong both by nature and art, and has a noble castle. It has gained as much in strength as it has lost in appearance by some modern improvements which it has undergone, by which its lofty towers have been lowered into bastions and ravelins, and its high stone ramparts covered with turf parapets, and obscured by a green sloping glacis. It is still, however, according to Bishop Heber, a striking place, and its principal gate, surmounted by a dome, with a wide hall beneath, surrounded by arcades and galleries, and ornamented with rude but glowing paintings, forms a noble entrance to a place of arms. The barracks are handsome and neat. On one side is a large range of buildings, which are still in the oriental style, and contain some noble vaulted rooms, chiefly occupied as officers' quarters, and overlooking from a considerable height the rapid stream and craggy banks of the Jumna. The principal mosque, which is still in good repair, is but little frequented. This building, which is solid and stately, but without much ornament, is advantageously situated on the banks of the Jumna, adjoining the city on one side, and an esplanade before the glacis of the fort on the other. It was at one time the residence of the general of the station, but has since been restored to its original destination. The finest buildings in the neighbourhood are the sultan's serai and garden. The former is a noble quadrangle, with four fine Gothic gateways, surrounded within an embattled wall by a range of cloisters for the accommodation of travellers, the whole now in a dilapidated condition. Adjoining the serai is a neglected garden, plant-
ed with fine old mango trees, in which are three beautiful tombs, raised over two princes and a princess of the imperial family. The houses of the civil servants of the company are at some distance both from the fort and the town.
Allahabad is one of the most noted resorts of Hindoo pilgrimage. It owes its celebrity to the confluence of three sacred rivers, the Ganges, the Jumna, and the Sereswati. This latter river is no longer to be seen; but the Hindoos assert that it joins the other two underground, and that consequently the same religious merit is acquired by bathing at this sacred confluence as by bathing in all the three separate rivers. From this superstition a shameful tax is collected by government, of three rupees, for permission to bathe in the river; and crowds of pilgrims collect for this purpose from all quarters. They amounted in 1812-13 to 218,792; and by their eagerness to rush into the river to bathe, they exposed themselves to risks which were sometimes fatal. The gross amount of the receipts amounted in 1812-13 to 221,066 rupees. In 1815-16 they had fallen off to 79,779 rupees. Allahabad is now the permanent station of the British court of justice, which makes an annual circuit through the province for deciding suits between the natives. Allahabad was taken in the year 1765 by the British army under Sir R. Fletcher. It is 820 miles from the sea by the river. The travelling distance is only 550 miles, from Benares 53, from Lucknow 57, from Agra 296, and from Delhi 212 miles. In 1803 the population, exclusive of the garrison, amounted to 20,000. Long. 81. 50. E. Lat. 25. 27. N. (r.)