The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-02-25
East India Arehitecture-The Famous Tai.

The famous Tai the gem of India and
the world, the Kohinoor of architecture, is
situated about three miles from Agra, on
the west side of the Jumna. On approach
ing it, one sees white marble minarets ris-
ing among the trees. We halt at the grand
portal of the great garden, and the entrance
hall, or gate, SO arrests us that we feel
inclined to ask, with little feeling of dis
appointment, els this the Tai ," This
being a splendid building of hard red stone
whether sandstone or granite, cannot
remember-inlaid with white and black
marble, and various colored stones. It's
arched halls are spacious. We were con-
Quoted to the upper story, and from a great
open arch, behold the Tai. All sensible
travellers here pause, when attempting to
describe this building, and protest that the
attempt is folly, and betrays only an
unwarranted confidence in the power of
words to give any idea of such a vision in
stone. | do not cherish the hope of being
able to convey any true impression of the
magniticence and beauty of the Tai but,
nevertheless, l cannot be silent about it
From the arch in the gateway the eye fol-
lows long, broad, marble canal often full
of crystal water, at the extreme end of
which rises the platform OH which the Tai
is built. Each side of the white marble
canal is bordered by tall, dark cypress
trees, and on feast days about eighty foun-
tains-twenty-two being in the centre
fling their cooling spray along its whole
length, while trees of every shade, and
plants of sweetest odor, fill the rest of the
garden.
The buildings which make up the rest of
the Tai are all erected on platform about
twenty feet high, and occupying a space of
about $50 feet square. These buildings
consist of the tomb itself, which is an octa-
gon, surmounted by an egg-shaped dome
Of about seventy feet in circumference and
of four minarets, about q hundred and fifty
feet high, which shoot up like columns of
light into the blue sky. One feature pecu-
liar to itself is its perfect purity; for all
portions of the Taj-the great platform,
the sky piercing minarets, the building
proper-are of pure white marble. The
only eXception-but what an exception =
is the beautiful ornamented work, of an
exquisite flower pattern which wreathes
the doors and wanders toward the dome,
one huge mosaic of inlaid stones of differ
ent colors. Imagine, if you can, such a
building as this
'White as the SHOWS of Apennine,
lndurated by FROST
arising amid the trees of an Eastern gar
den rich in color, fruit and flowers, and
standing against sky of ethereal blue,
with nothing to break its repose save the
cleaning wings of iocks of paroquets,
adding to the glory of color and all seen
in perfect silence, with no painful associa-
tons to disturb the mind, OF throw it out
of harmony with the pleasing memories of
a wife and mother buried here by hus-
band who loved her for twenty years of
married life, and who lies beside her.
We walk up from the great portal along
the central marble canal, ascend the plat
form by twenty steps, and crossing the
marble pavements, enter the Tai with feel
inss of awe and reverence. Our admira-
ton is increased as we examine the details
of the wondrous interior. The light
admitted by the door does not dispcl but
only subdues the gloom within.
We stand before such 4 screen as we
have never seen equaled. Divided into
several compartments and panels, it sweeps
around marble cenotaphs that lie within it,
and represent the real tombs seen in the
vault beneath. It is Of purest marble, so
pierced and carved rs to look like high
fence of exquisite lace work, but it is
really far more refinend and beautiful: for
everywhere along those panels are reatlls
Of flowers composed of lamps, lazali, jas
per, heliotrope, chalcedony, carnelan, etc. :;
so that to make one of the hundreds of
these boquets a hundred stones are required
The Florence mosaic work does not surpass
it. And all this vision in stone was raised
by Mohammctlan Emperor over his dream
-
hundred years ago, when Christian Kings
and Emperors were sents into dark and
weeping vaults ''-'' the longest weepers
save spiders webs. When a musical note
is sounded beneath this dome, how strange
are the echoes from within it. They are
unearthly, like those of an -Eolian harp.
But who, it may be asked by that trying
order of readers, called the lovers of knowl-
edge-was this Emperor, and who was his
wife, SO honored? The father of the builder
Of the Tai, Jehanghir was the first ruler in
India who received an ambassador from
England, Sir Thomas Roe, in the reign of
James |. Jehanghir married II famous
beauty, Miner Ill Nissa, the widow of Sher
Afgan, who, four years previously had been
assassinated by this same Jehanghir. Her
name was changed first into Moor Mahal,
1.-the light of the harem,' and afterwards
to Moor Jehan, "the light of the world
Jehanghir, it may be noticed, us Il cllarac-
teristic of the times, had impdled eight
hundred of the race of Tamour, who were
sin his way to the throne.
Shah Jehan succeeded him, having muir
dered his own BROTHER in order to do So
He married Arzumund Banoo. the niece of
the eight of the harem,' the daughter of
her brother She was good wife. and
brought to her husband several children,
among whom was Aurungzebe, who was
the last ruler of the united empire of the
great Akbar, his grandfather. After bury
| ing his wife in the Tai, Shah Jehan became
a miserable debauchee. He has however,
been very quiet and sober the two hundred
years he has lain beside Arzumund Banoo,
! beneath the marble dome.
The cost of the Tai, l may add, was
upwards OF three millions of pounds ster,
ling. Thousands of workmen were engaged
upon it for long years. So much for the
price of a sentiment Was it too much d:
And how shall we balance the account
between sentiment and silver?
Days in North India.