The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-20

played"
just before you is tank filed with
water for the ordained ablutions, and in
one corner stands large sun-dial from
which the priests may learn the proper
hours of prayer. The architecture Is Of
the Saracenic order The roof Of the
mosque crowned by three graceful domes
is supported by eighteen pillars, each cut
from a single block, which are joined by
arches that Ruskin or Ferguson would
travel far and endure much to behold.
Over these arches there runs an inscription
in Persian verse, literal English transla-
tioa Of which would be as folows.- -
Z" This place OF prayer Is one Of splendor
Like the Bital Namour in the seventh heaven,
Whose whiteness is slave to the morning dawn,
From whose brightness the sun receives light.
lis strong flooring Is joined to ursh,
And It's dome Of magnincence is Joined together
Like the leaves in Paradise
islotly walls show It 10 belong 10 beautiful mosque;
Each picture the flowers on It's marble walls
Is like the stars Of heaven made into a bouquet.
The fountains Of the sun spring here,
Every golden pinnacle shines on It like the chande.
liers Of Heaven;
Its arches are filed with light
Like the moon on the iirst night OF Fed
On Its four sides IL the strong fort OF Agra.
Built Of red stone, whose walls reach 10 Heaven.
Ifyou were to see them you would say
They were halo tothe mosque
Like as Is round the moon
Made OF the clouds Of the mercy OF God
And the circumference Of the sun Of splendor
Was bright cloud which rained down bounty.
Truly this building IL one OF those from the highest
Heavens,
And made ofone beautiful shining pearl
Before this the dazzling purity Of marble was never
70 displayed
Since the creation OF the world there never was se
splendid
And worship inspiring temple.
BY the orders Of the most exalted king ike solomon
in wisdom.)
ddke Abraham, the friend OF God, in faith.)
The civiliser Of the world whose residence win be
in Heaven,
On whom is the shadow Of God, The foundation Of
the world
The support ofprinces Onaccount ofwhose foosstep.
The earth Is most proud, and fancIes itself Heaven
Distributor Of the presents Of Heaven on earth,
With whom fortune and wealth arc both In love
And beautiful angels of Heaven are his well wishers
Heaven is supplcant for some dust OF this palace
The fire Of hell Is anxious expecant from the fire
Of His sword
BY the great the magnificent the Just the eenerons
The merciful and kind Emperor Shah Jehan was thI,
Noble house Of prayer built in the year loi7 Hree
Though this poetry partakes strongly Of
hyperbole yet it shows us the Mohamedaus
themselves were not q little enamored Of
their Pearl Mosque, that they fully appre.
ciated its great beauty. The contour Of
the domes is very striking, that in the cen.
tire is perhaps a hundred feet in height
and all are surmounted by slender golden
pinnacles. Along the edge Of the roof i,
row of little marble kiosks, and at the
corners there are tall towers having eight
pillars each.
The Notice Musjid, (erccted by Shah
Jehan,) was seven years in building, aud
furnished employment for thpe thousand
workmen, among whom were many Per
slams, and also few Italians, Portuguese
and French. The marble was presented
to the Emperor by the Rajah of Jeypoor
and the simple cost Of erection is said "a
have been as much as thirty ialhs of ru.
pees, ls1 SOC, 0,OOO,) which, however, seems
an exaggerated tradition when we remem.
Der the cheapness Of labor aud the neces.
sities Of life at that period
The Emperor's palace aud the gardens
and zenana overhang the wall next the
river. The buildings are all of marble
carved aud exquisitely inlaid with gems
Some Of the little pavilions are reared di.
rectly upon the rough red walls of the fort
thus producing q contrast nearly analogous
to that of diamonds placed upon an un-
dressed board. In the gardens there are
fountains and tanks, and in some places
waterfalls which are illumined at night BY
means of lamps placed in the wall beneath
the fall. In front Of King Akbar's audi
ence chamber there is musaad or throne
composed Of a single slab Of black marble
and Persian inscription around its edge
tells you that
This was the throne Of such
A mighty king that his sword cut the heads Of hi,
enemies
In two whenever Il was drawn fson its jeweiles
scabbard,
II was the proof stone Of all kings upon the earth,
And as this stone proves sold and silver,
SO did the sun and moon prove It's temper
Opposite this throne is another upon
which sat the kings fool or court jester.
In the Shish Mahai, or Palace Of Glass
there is bath room for the ladies' Of the
harem, in which the vaulted ceiling is com
posed entirely Of little pieces Of glass, sci
in silvered frames. In the centre an
tanks, lined with polished black marble
Water. admitted near the ceiling, is con
ducted over slabs Of stone in beautiful
cascades and falls into the baths in broa,
white sheets. The room was originally
lighted by lamps, suspended from Ii,
ceiling, and then the effect must hav,
been like that Of the enchanted palaces .
with designs Of leaves, fruit and animals
while three gilded domes adorn the roof
Upon entering you can atiist see nothing
but chandeliers, colored glass and prismat
10 crystsls, and looking glasses ad ia,fai
tam, and the glare almost blinds one
The room is completely flled with elas
chandeliers some depending from III
ceiling and Others placed on pyrsmida
stands rising from the iloor. The glasa /
Of different colors and the stands are .
gold nnd silver tinsel work. Some of ID
pyramidal frames eohtain glass shades 10
one hundred and thirty-hve lights. d
all sides Of the room we're large pier-pla.
SEQ with massive gilt frames, and betwee
them we're other framoa containing !;