The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-25


domes, supported on piers and arches, one
over each corner circular apartment. The
centre chamber is surmounted by double
dome; the one forming the ceiling being
about eighty feet from the ground, and the
upper one being about two hundred and
sixty feet high, and is the principal feature
in distant view of the Tai group.
The external elevation of the four prin-
cpal sides is the same; also the four angle
fronts are the same design.
In the centre rises the huge bulbous dome,
which forms the grand central feature of the
Tai. It springs from plain, straight, circu-
lar shaft, which rises to about the height of
the tops of smaller domes. A plain twisted
bead-mould marks the springing. The pecu-
harity of this and other Mussulman domes in
India is the bulbous shape obtained by making
them swell out considerably beyond the
springiug line. This dome is topped by
huge gilded final, with golden crescent.
The walls are mainly built of red sandstone,
but completely encased with white marble.
This is not done in the veneering fashion of
Italy and Egypt Each slab of marble is four,
six, or even eight inches in thickness
One general feature in the ornamentation
of the Tai is the inlaid black marble. Every
angle, arch, panel, recess, in fact the outline
Of each component part, is marked by black
marble, either one, two, three or more inches
in breadth, according to the size or import
ance of the detail requiring accentuation.
Probably the greatest ornaments to and
most perfect pieces of work in connection
with the Tai are the four minarets at the
corners. They are about two hundred feet
high, and about twenty feet in diameter at
the base; but the proportion of these is so
subtle that the slightest alteration, by either
increasing or decreasing the diameter or taper
or height one feels would Immediately spoil
their effect. They are most elegant, but have
not the starved appearance of the minarets of
Egypt, Constantinople, and Delhi. They are
three stages in height. At each stage light
balcony, supported on cantilevers, rams
round the tower, and they are surmounted
by domes on gilt columns and foiled Saracenic
arches and gilt finals. Winding stairs take
one to the summit, to which stairs access is
obtained by means of square-headed doors
The mausoleum itself is ornamented to a
height of about six feet, with panels, form
ing a sort of dado, edged with border of
inlaid work in semi-precious stones of various
colors, and each panel being carved in relief
with flowers growing out of pots-the lotus
rose, etc. The carving of these is very beau-
tiful, finished as finely, and as polished in
every little detail, as any Italian work, and
with all the freshness of detail and arrange
ment of medieval art. Around the arches
the Koran is illuminated in black. In this
manner, it is said, the whole Koran is in
scribed on the Tai walls. The spandres of
the arches are inlaid with flowing orna-
ment, of graceful design, in semi precious
stones, The angle-shafts, forming minarets
have zgzag lines inlaid in black marble.
Under the parapet is running pattern, also
inlaid; and in the parapet itself is an inlaid
pattern, of bold design, in colored stones.
Were it not for the elaborate inlaid work,
which partakes more of the nature of jewelry
than of architecture, this building would be
the simplest in the world, but very effective,
nevertheless; first, of course, owing to its
grouping and proportion. Then its large,
broad, plain surfaces are undisturbed in their
repose by any projecting mouldings, while
the cool, delicate shadows in the large arched
recesses cause quite sufficient balance be-
tween light and shade.
One thing that lends most peculiar charm
to this tomb is the wonderful delicacy of the
shadows, caused by the strong reflected
all white marble, it reflects in so powerful a
manner that it reduces the depth of all the
shadows by quite half, if not by more.
The interior is, ,sin the same manner as the
outside, ornamented with a carved and inlaid
dado; but the carving is richer, and the inlay
| ing more elaborate.
The dome, which is very dark, is covered
all over with the pattern peculiar to Indian
! Mussulman architecture, which is formed by
|
and the spaces thus formed (Which of course
increase in size as the lines approach the
spripgipg of the dome) are followed; by this
means the radiating lines are in reality
formed by the ridges dividing the followed
spaces. This is often elaborated to such an
extent that it is impossible for the eye to fol-
low the pattern.
But the most wonderful and elaborate part
of all are the tombs and the screen enclosing
them, all of purest white marble. The screen
encloses an octagonal space. Each side of
the octagon is divided into three bays; the
centre bay of the side facing the entrance
door is an archway into the enclosure; all the
other bays are like to each other, and of
similar design to the part at the side of the
arch. At each angle, and between each bay,
are posts supporting perforated screens, each
of single slab of marble. 1t is very Italian
in feeling. An eighth portion of it contains
the whole Designs this is reversed and turned
upside down to form the whole screen. 1t is
the most elaborate piece of marble perfora-
ton in the world, and is polished all over;
both sides are finished alike. The screens
are surmounted with sort of balustrade OF
carved and inlaid work.
But the most extraordinary part is the in
laid work on the pure white marble posts,
rails, arch, and tombs. The tombs, both in
the enclosure and in the crypt below, are
simple parallelograms about two feet high
with q small sarcophagus in the centre o.
each, on q plinth formed of two cymatiun
members, and fillets, and the top slab having
an ogee mould The inlaid work is most ella
borate. representing all sorts of flowers
worked in semi-precious stones-the stone
carefully pickedfor each particular leaf, so tina
all shading and drawing OF leaves is obtained