e, which in past
times was frequently occupied by the sovereigns of the country. It is said
to have been constructed by King William, surnamed _Muzuffer_, or the
Conqueror; others are of opinion that it was founded by Keesar the Roman
emperor; but God alone can solve this doubt. In times past it was also
used as a state prison for persons of rank, and was the scene of the
execution of most of the princes and nobles whose fate is recorded in the
chronicles of England. They still show the block on which the
decapitations took place." Among the trophies in the armoury, he
particularizes the gun and girdle of Tippoo Sultan, "which seemed to be
taken great care of, and were preserved under a glass case;" but the horse
armoury and the regalia, usually the most attractive part of the
exhibition to strangers, are passed over with but slight notice, though,
from the Parsees, the sight of the equestrian figures in the former, draws
the only allusion which escapes them throughout their narrative to the
fallen glories of their race. "The representations of some of these
monarchs was in the very armour they wore; and we were here very forcibly
put in mind of Persia, once our own country, where this iron clothing was
anciently used; but, alas! we have no remains of these things; all we know
of them is from historical works." The crown jewels might have been
supposed to present to a native of India an object of peculiar interest;
but the khan remarks only the great ruby, "which is so brilliant that (it
is said) one would be able to read by its light by placing it on a book in
the dark. I made some enquiries respecting its value, but could not get no
satisfactory answer, as they said no jeweller could ascertain it."

It would appear that the Khan must now have been for several months
resident in London, (for he takes no note of the lapse of time,) since we
next find him a spectator of the pomps and pageants of Lord Mayor's day.
He gives no account, however, of the procession, but contents himself with
informing his readers that the Lord Mayor (except in his tenure of office
being annual instead of for life) is the same as a "patel" or "mukaddam"
in the East: adding that "he is the only person in England, except the
sovereign, who is allowed to have a train of armed followers in attendance
on him." It is not very evident whether the idea of civic army was
suggested to the mind of the khan simply by the sight of the men in armour
in the p