The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-01-27
9esrriptiue Srtitles,
From he NcD York Observer.
DELHI.
DELHI.
BY NON. N. y. GRAVES.

~ a Wv VI 4 hiatN NHo bl
the Emperor Shah Jehan over two hun
dred years ago. 1t extends along the
banks Of the Juma river over mile, and
is surrounded on the three sides by wall
Of red sandstone, forty feet high. 1t has
two magnificent entrances-tho Lahore
aud Delhi gates. We entered at the La
hore gate, which is large Gothic arch
surmounted by tower ornamented with
payilions, and is succeeded by a long,
vaulted aisle, formerly ornamented with
inscriptions from the Koran, with beauti-
full flowers in mosaic work The passage
leads into court where once was the music
gallery beautiful place now occupied
by the military.
The hall Of public audience is large
room open on three sides, supported by
rows of red sandstone pillars. These pill
lars were elegantly carved and guided,
but have been badly used and are deEaced,
and but little of their former beauty re-
mains There is a marble stairway in this
room leading up to the throne, which is
elevated about ten feet from the floor,
covered by a magnificent canopy supported
by four pillars of white marble, which are
inIaid with mosaic in very elaborate as
well as very curious manner. The private
apartments of the Emperor were 10 rear
of this throne, aud he entered at his pri.
yate door.
The wall in rear of the throne is one
of the most gorgeous aud magnificent of
any in the world. 1t is covered with
mosaic paintings, in precious stones, of
beautiful flowers and fruits, beasts and
birds. The precious stones have been
stolen from these mosaics, and their beauty
nearly destroyed.
The Dewan Khass, or hall Of private
audience, is in smaller court adjoining.
This hall was set apart for the reception
of the nobility. 1t is small but exquisite,
with highly-polished marble walls, which
are decorated with flowers in mosaic.
The top ofthis building had cupola ofgold,
and the ceiling was once composed of gold
and silver fligree work, for which the gold
smiths Of Delhi are celebrated. In the
cornice of this wonderful hall was sculp-
tured in letters Of gold: "If there is q
paradise on earth, it is this it is this.
The wonderful Peacock Throne was in
this hall. The throne had the figures of
two peacocks standing behind it, with ex-
panded tails, and so inlaid with sapphires,
rubies, emeralds, pearls and other precious
stones, as to represent life. 1t was six
feet long by four feet broad, standing on
six massive feet, which with the body,
were of solid gold, inlaid with rubies, en-
eralds aud diamonds. 1t was surmounted
by canopy of gold, supported by twelve
pillars iulaid with precious gems. The
canopy was richly ornamented with a
fringe Of pearls. A figure of parrot be-
tween the peacoeks, is said to have been
carved from single emerald The um-
brella was an emblem of oriental royalty,
and this throne had these emblems on
either side; the hands Of which were eight
feet high and of solid gold, inlaid with
diamonds. 1t is variously estimated that
this badge of royalty cost from thirty
five to thirty millions of dollars. The
Persian conqueror, Nadir Shah, not only
slew one hundred thousand of the inhabi-
tants of Delhi, but carried away all the
treasures, amounting to $50 millions of
dollars, and among other things that ia
nous throne.
The Pearl Mosque and Kings Baths
that were used by the Royal family, are
adjoining the Dewan Khass. The mosnue
is small, but was beautifully finished of
pure white marble. 1t has not escaped
the hands Of the vandals, who have very
seriously defaced the interior. The pro.
portions and style of this mosque are con.
sidered perfect. 1t has red walls, with
white marble domes of exquisite beauty.
The courtyard is one hundred and fifty
feet square, paved with white marble.
There is tank where the faithful make
their ablutions, and a suu.dial by which
the priests call the people at the hour of
prayer.
The architectural style Of this mosque
is Saracenic. The domes arc sustained
by six columns, each cut from single
block Of marble. The mosque is open in
part and over the arches is a long poeti.
cal inscription in Persian verse, extolling
"the merciful and kind Shah Jehan."
The Kings baths and the baths of the
ladies Of the Zenana are very beautiful
and consist Of three apartments, surmount-
cd with white marble dome. The inte.
rior Of these magnificent apartments are
lined with white marble, with inlaid Dor.
ders consisting Of mosaics of birds and
fruit, with many curious mosaics of Or.
pheus charming the beasts with his music.
These were all inlaid with precious stones,
which were stolen during the mutiny, but
have been patched up with limitations.
There were fountains in each of these
marble rooms. 1t appears as if the skill
of the architect and artisan must have
been exhausted in making these apart
ments such models of beauty. 1t is also
a wonderful commentary upon the ex
haustless wealth of these monarchs.
This building is of the purest white
marble, but its costly throne and its wealth
of precious jewels have long since disap
peared Once this palace was occupied
by the great NJ, gul with brave men and
beautiful women, with all the pomp and
glittering splendor that cloth of gold,
precious jewels and flashing diamonds
could bestow but now there is no gayety
and no spleudor, except from these white
marble walls.
The halls of the great Mogul are vacant;
the court that inspired such terror is
harmless; and even the garden has lost
its beauty and is deserted. The view from
this place is one of great maguiicence,
with the broad, rapid river washing its
walls. AT one side of this "earthly para.
disc" door opens apparently into the
wall but there is narrow, winding stair
way down through these massive walls
into a lower region, far below the arches
upon which this solid palace rcsts-a re-
gion where there are no thrones of Jewels,
and where the light of day never penetra.
ted. Along these deep aud gloomy pas.
sages there are dungeons that are so dark
and so damp that the blood chills in the
veins at the thought Of being confined
NI -. N