The Seven Cities of Delhi
entrance to which is rather hidden; in the garden-wall of the house are built two "bells-of-arms," belonging, in 1857, to the king's personal troops: the road then ran nearer to the house.This house bears evidence of being an old "Barahdari," having twelve doors to the centre room, around which other rooms were built afterwards. It had been the residence of the Raja of Kishangarh, and it was here that Mr. Fraser dined with the raja on the night of his murder.
In 1857 the house was occupied by a Mr.Aldwell, a Government pensioner ; his son, who is still alive, can tell the story of a stubborn defence by a small body of people in the face of a considerable body of rebel Sepoys, aided by the rabble of Delhi and several guns. After two nights of attack the odds became too great, and there was not a drop of water to be had,so the little garrison decided to escape. Only Mr. Aldwell and his son were able to do so, the remainder being taken prisoners, and shot on the edge of a ditch, which runs through the infantry lines ; into this their bodies were thrown. Mrs. Aldwell and her daughters had previously been smuggled out, and were taken into the palace, where they again escaped death when the other poor people were massacred in the court of the Nakkar Khana.164
