Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/354

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PIETRO DELLA VALLE AT AHMADABAD

into the Temperate Zone; which doubt I could not clear for want of my astrolabe, which I had left with my other goods at Surat.

PIETRO DELLA VALLE. After an old woodcut.

On Tuesday following, which to us was the day of Carnoval, or Shrove Tuesday, walking in the morning about the town, I saw a handsome street, straight, long and very broad, full of shops of various trades; they call it Bezari Kelan (Bazar-i Kalān), that is, the Great Merkat (Market), in distinction from others than which this is bigger. In the middle is a structure of stone athwart the street, like a bridge with three arches, almost resembling the triumphal arches of Rome. A good way beyond this bridge, in the middle of the same is a great well, round about which is built a square piazetta, a little higher than the ground. The water of the well is of great service to all the city, and there is always a great concourse of people who come to fetch it.

Going forwards to the end of the market, we came to the great gate which stands confronting the street, and beautifi'd with many ornaments between two goodly towers; 'tis the Gate of a small castle, which they call by the Persian word Cut (Khat). Nor let it seem

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