New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-04
pAYARD TAYLoR's LETTERS.

TIE City OF Akbar.

differs from Delhi which, although still called ~ tue
Mathematician shahIehanabad from Shah Jehsn the
s,sn5son Of AkbarJ il more especially the Capital Of
0e Noeul Emperors, and bears the memorials Of many
sneeessiye reens Yet doubt whether their combined
feehlcr lights equal the sunlike luster of Akbars
name sno whether their city, with all It's stores of his
iore associations interest and attract the travel
err as this the capital Of greatest man who ever ruled
In India. .,.-.
The modern city isnot even the shadow Of the ancient
eapal That has wholly passed away, except the Fort
"a city in itseland some ruined palaces on the BANK
of the Jumna But for nearly two miles in every drec
iicn the mounds remains of walls and other Indications
of hsbations are abundant Much more was 70 be seen
few years ago than at present, but az The Old bricks
we're constantly taken TO construct new buildings these
yestiges gradually disappeared The population, which
onee numbered more than half million, has dwin ied 70
about O0O and the native city has little more to intcr
est the traveller than any ordinary Indian tOwn-ln1ore
Cor instance There is principal street. passing
through il whole length to the gates OF the Fort aud
10 this are situated the residences Of the wealther lit
habants which are generally Of brick or red sandstone
The verandahs and hanging balconies, with their exqui
Kte Saracenc arches carved ornaments and stone lat
ficework remind of Cairo Thestreet is also sort
Of bazaar and during the day presents very busy and
animated scene II is 30 narrow that two vehicles can
with difficulty pass, while all the other streets Oi The
city arc only attainsble by pedestrians. On the side
facing the Jumna there few striking buildings, ex-
eept the Custom House. the palace OF rich native
Stone ghauts, here aud there, lead down 70 the holy
stream which is now 90 much diminished by the dry
that IL does not occupy more than onerd oil It's
bed
South Of the city are the environments, divided into
The civil and military lines aud occupying space OF i've
miles in length by nearly two in breadth. The bunga-
lows Of the English residents are neat, cottageke
buildings Of one story, with steep matched roofs Each
stands in It's compound or garden 80 that the
eantopInents present truly suburban aspect Broad
roads as smooth and hard floor, run in all direc-
lions and offer admirable drives TO the inhabitants,
whose bugRes may be at all hours OF the day. dash
ipg back and forth. spacious square plot, planted
with young trees, Is called the Park, and beyond TINS
rises the lofty spre Of the English Church The various
public budiDgs-the Bank the Pcst-Oiee, the Govern
ment House, aud Others are distinguished from the
private residences by their size. but have little preten
SION TO architectural beauty
On entering Agra was taken 20 the travellers bunga-
low which stands waste plat OF ground adjoining
the Park The succeeding day was so cold dull and rainy
that remained indoors and rested my shattered frame
Mr. Thomson, the Governor Of the North Western
Provinces t. whom bad letters absent at Bsnares
but was most Hospitality received by Rev Mr. Warren
an American Missionary, under whose roof now
iourning Under his guidance and that Of Mr.. Hutton,
Editor Of The Agra Messenger have seen all the OBJECTS
Of interest in the city and vicinity except the Ta Mlhal
which, as the of ALL have reserved for the last
The Fort which contains the Palace Of Akbar and the
celebrated Notice Museed Pearl Mosque, is one of
the grandest structuTest the Kind ia India II is about
nile and half in circuit aud IFS stately embrasared
battemes Of red sandstone are seventy feet IN hight
mtnse Of masonry rising high above the buildings
of the modern city and almost overlapping the dones OF
The Jumma Mueed which stands without IFS gates Its
appearance, nevertheless is very deceptive with regard
81 its strength for the walls mprenable they look
are mere shells and would not stand single days can
nenading.
Before entering the Fort, I visited the Jumma Mus
iced The front Of the mosque faces the principal gate
broad enclosed square, which is used market
place, intervening between. The mosque stands on
lofty platform which is reached by spacious flight OF
steps In India all places of worship, except the inner
shTlnesthe holy of hoiesare open che conluercrs,
Who walk in booted and spurrod where the Hnioo and
Noslem put THEN shoes from of their feet. should
willingly have complied with this form, as did in other
Mahommedan countries, but told that il Was now
never expected Of European and would be in fact,
depreciation Of his dignity. The Jumma Nus eed is
melancholy picture OF ruin. The walls which inclose
the fore court tumblng down, aad the nlad iuscrp
tons which surround the facade falling out piece by
piece The body Of the mosque is divided into CEN
tral and two smaller side halls, each Of which opens
uYon the courtyard by loy arched portal AMI sur
mounted by q swelling oriental dome, Of corresponding
proportions. India being east Of Mecca, the mosque
Of course occupies the western side of the court and at
each Of the adjacent corners rises lofty and graceful
minaret This Is the plan upon which all Indian mosques
are built and they vary in architectural beauty accord
iBg A. the portals the dOmes aud mnarets approach
true artistic proportion.
Crossing BY drawbTidge over the deep m0at which
SURROUNDS the Fort, passed through massive gaze
way and up paved SsctlttO the inner entrance, Nalch
shows considerable taste IL consists OF two ocagcns
fowers of red sandstone maid with ornamental designs
In white marble The passage between them is covered
by two domes to rise from accrerisms Of prS
matte staiuetes in the domes Of the Moorish Alham
bra This elegant portal however instead of opening
upon the courts OF palaces ushers you into the waste OF
barren mounds, covered with wiihered grass But
the blank red walls in front you sec three marble domes
ALTERING In the sunshine ae neRNfien snow aud stu
further the golden pinnaee OF Akbars palace and these
objects hint that your dream Of the maguicence Of the
Great Mogul viii not be entirely dispelled.
But first let us visit the modern Arsenal which
once the dirrzR or Judgmeut.Seat OF Akbar it was
formerly an open rortieo, ggg1 the roof resting on
three rows pillars which connected by Saracenic
arches; but present the outer row OF arches beng
walled up il forms spacious hall. divided into three
sisles An the weapons of modern warfare, with here
aud there crooked soimetsr batOe-sXe OF ancient
tines are ranged around the pillars aud between the
arches in those symmetrical groupings peculiar to IT,
strumenis of death AZ TIE intersections OF the central
arches hang tricooyed Banners OF rO blae and yellow,
With the names Of the British victories in India inscribed
npcn them in English and SauscTi 1Ae great curiosity,
however is the celebrated gates Of SOmnauth, which
were carried oil by that stern coaocissi Sultan MAI.
mood Of Ghuznce. Somnsuth wss hely Brahmnicsl
city the coast Of GOcSraV and noted AZ that time for
hevcah and msguiScence OF its temples Ii is related
of MAhmoOd that after HAVING taken tho CITY ANA On
immense sums heWoUl spare the deity OF their great
temple NaAOood cnv tempted t0y Sa Instant
"Tathr he said is better than gold" and raising his
iron mace he Smete the idol. which as Il split poured
from its holew body store Of gold and jewels sr
eeeding what the Btahins had offered him TINS incl
dent has afforded subject tor poetry to Raekert the Ger
man, and Lowell, the AmesicSnPoet.
The gates we've taken by Mshncad 10 his capitSl
Of GhuTnec where they remained until the recent nys
sion Of AnShsustan BY the Engsh when that fantastic