Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-05-03

ms outside the walls, which extend I'D
some directions for nearly two miles,
show that its population must have
been very large. The wall inclosln9 |
what was originally the city, IS eight
miles in circumference, and IS built OF
hewn stone, having towers at intervals
of about one hundred or two hundred
wards. 1t is surrounded by deep
ditch. excayated much Of the way in
solid rock, and in some places now
partly filled up. This is said to be the
largest fort in the world. Within this
is another fort which contains also
within itself strong castle. The jun.
ma Musjid, or great mosque, in which
we have taken our lodging, is sPlen-
did edifice, 800 feet long, and l65 wide.
The two wings which project from the
front corners are each 2i0 feet long
by as feet wide. The rool Of the edi.
fec consists of one largo dome in the
centre, and many small ones around
ii, and is supported by rows of pillars
united at the top by arches. The place
for prayer contains many extracts from
the Koran, beautifully carved in stone,
the letters covered with gold. The
design and execution Of the structure
in all its parts, display great genius
and skill. Il is built Of stone or brick
and lime, no wood appearing to be
used in any part Of the structure. 1t
was erected 270 years ago 10y Ali Adj
Shah, then king Of Beejapoor, and 1t is
still in a good state of preservation.
To-day beng Friday, about twelve
or fifteen persons, with their moolah,
came to worship. They were engag-
ed about an hour in hearing the Koran
reud, and in prayer. They appeared
TO be earnest and dovout. To hear
men thus offering up their prayers to
one who was an lmpostor, and calling
on him 10 hear and save them was
truly affecting. But how different the
scene before us from what formerly
took place here every Friday at this
same hour, when kings and princes,
with all their splendor and train, came
here TO worship
Near the Jumma Musiid is the mau.
solemn erected by Mohammed Shah,
sometimes called Sultan Mohammed, J
over the tomb which he had prepared
for himself aud his family. This odi.
fee is described by an English travel.
Ter to be 24O feet square. The interi.
or is one vast room, covered by sin.
gle dome. In the centre on large
elevated platform, are the tomb.stones
of the royal builder and his family, Sc
ven in number. Their bodies were
deposited in vault or vaults beneath. |
AT each corner OF the maUsoleum, and |
contiguous to it, is large minaret. In
each minarct is winding passage, as
ccnding through eight stories to the
top, where it communicates with the
mausoleum at the base OF the DOME
4 view Of the interior of the mausole-
um from this position exceeds any
which can be had on the ground floor.
From this place men walking on the
floor appear like children. The top
of tho dome appears still to be as high
above the observer as it did when he
stood On the ground floor, now proba-
bly, more than one hundred leet below
him, while all the upper parts Of the
edIfce appear much larger. The echo
Of our voices when speaking to each
other from opposite sides Of the dome
was loud and distinct. This stupen-
dous ediice was erected by Moham-
med Shah, one of the kings Of Beeja>
poor, who died one hundred and seven
ty-fve years ago. Though slightly
injured and decayed in some parts, yet
few structures have so well endured
the destroying influence of time.
Last night an intelligent native man,
well acquainted with the history Of
this place, called on us and engaged to
accompany US early this morning to
see some of its principal curlositios.--
He accordingly came, and as soon as
it was sufficiently light, we went to ex.
anime the ruins of this once splendid
city. We looked at two or three Of
the royal palaces and gardens. One
of these remains about entire, and
enough remains Of all to show their
form, extent, and magniGcence. The
mosques and mausoleums are very nu.
Notwithstanding those outside the
wall, they probably amount to several
hundreds. A considerable number of
these are Of a size, sohdity, and beauty
seldom to be met with. One mausolc. |
UNI, nearly sixty feet square, exclusive |
of double verandah, each fifteen feet
wide and twenty-five feet high, entire
ly surrounding it, has large part of
its surface covered with extracts from
the Koran, beautifully carved in the
stone. The mausoleum, in all its
parts, with the yerandah which sur.
rounds it, is bull; of granite finely
wrought, and the structure is covered
by splendid dome. In the centre of
the building are the tomb.stones of the
81 : ls,