The Mankarnika is a deep basin, paved with stone, about sixty feet long, and of equal breadth; broad steps lead from the four sides into the water.  A similar tradition, but connected with the god Shiva, is attached to this place.  Both deities are said to have continued to reside in these waters down to the present day.  Every pilgrim who visits Benares must, on his arrival, bathe in this holy pool, and, at the same time, make a small offering.  Several Brahmins are always present to receive these gifts.  They are in no way distinguished by their dress from the bulk of the better classes, but the colour of their skin is clearer, and many of them have very noble features.

Fifty paces from this pool, on the banks of the Ganges, stands a remarkably handsome Hindoo temple, with three towers.  Unfortunately, the ground sunk in a few years since, and the towers were thrown out of their proper position:  one inclines to the right and the other to the left; the third is almost sunk into the Ganges.

Among the thousand of other temples, there is here and there one which is worth the trouble of a cursory inspection, but I would not advise any one to go much out of their way on their account.  The place for burning the dead is very near the holy pool.  When we went there, they were just roasting a corpse—­the mode of burning cannot be described by any other name, the fire was so small, and the corpse projected over on all sides.

Among the other buildings, the Mosque Aurang Zeb is most worthy of the notice of travellers.  It is famous on account of its two minarets, which are 150 feet high, and are said to be the slenderest in the world.  They look like two needles, and certainly are more deserving of the name than that of Cleopatra at Alexandria.  Narrow winding staircases in the interior lead to the top, upon which a small platform, with a balustrade a foot high, is erected.  It is fortunate for those who are not subject to dizziness.  They can venture out, and take a bird’s-eye view of the endless sea of houses, and the innumerable Hindoo temples; the Ganges also, with its step quays, miles long, lies exposed below.  I was told that on very clear, fine days, a distant chain of mountains was perceivable—­ the day was fine and clear, but I could not see the mountains.

The observatory is a very remarkable and artistic building.  It was built by Dscheising, under the intelligent Emperor Akbar, more than two centuries since.  There are no ordinary telescopes to be found there:  all the instruments are constructed of massive blocks of stone.  Upon a raised terrace, to which stone steps lead, stand circular tables, semicircular and quadratic curves, etc. which are covered with signs, writing, and lines.  With these instruments, the Brahmins made, and still make, their observations and calculations.  We met with several Brahmins busily engaged with calculations and written treatises.