The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-11

until / reached the inner portal Of red
sandstone inlAid with marble, which opens
out into wide and deserted court sur.
rounded by red and crumbliDg ruins.
Now, there Il nothing but silence and
dssolatlon where once coDgregated the
barbaric hosts, and all the pomp and
aplendor Of the Eastern Kings. 1 on.
tered the Divan, or public audience hall,
where the judgment seat Of Akbar Ia still
standing In ito centre. The columns and
arches are now covered with painted
Itdcco, which were once beautifully in.
laid with jasper, cornelian and other pre-.
ctouS stones. Proceeding still onward, |
came At length 10 small doorway, and
ascending q tlight Of narrow stairs enter
through q lofty gateway into the court,
wherein stands the famous Motee MuSjid,
or Pearl Mosque. This elevated court
or platform Is paved with white marble
and surrounded BY collOuades with sar.
ecenfo arches, and capped with miniature
domeI. A lofty arohed gateway springs
from the centre Of three sides OF the
square, On the fourth side stands tho
mosque. It has seven rows OF Moorish
arches in front and extends three arches
in depth, and is supported by square
pAnelSd pillars. Ills capped with three
low domes with smaller ones rising from
the corners. The building il entirely
without ornament and is most remarkG.
bic for It's stainless purity and the severe
simplicity Of itI style. Everything is Of
the pureSt white marble.
The Emperor's palace 10 situated in
the part Of the fort that overlookS the
Jumua. As seen from beyond the walls,
ia gilded domeS and marble collonadOs
and overhanging balconies are in strik.
Ing contrast with the red walls around.
Entering its outer court, wandered on
AimleSSly from scene 10 scene OF the most
enchanting beauty. 1 seemed lost in q
dream Of the Arabian NiRhtS-a vision
ot the gorgeous East The palace OF
Aladdin seems no longer a fiction.
Graceful, moorish arches, resting on
fantastic capitals and supported by sIen.
der clustered columns-Mosaic paved
galleries and screens Of exquisiteIy
wrought marble lacework, miniature
mosques, marble courts and long drawn
corridors, freScoed chambers and Eculp.
turet fountains, and gilded pGvilious-
everything Of the pureSt white marble,
inlaid with delicate flower patterns, Of
precious stones. All silent and perfect
as the palace Of some prince, enchanted,
awaiting but a word TO dissolve the spell,
and for the fountains again to gush forth,
tho ZenRna once more to DO peopled
with its largs.eyed languid beauties. The
Sultan again to cit throned on his royal
divan.
Growing the whole is the Duvan I
kas, its columns and arches enwreathed
with vinGS and flowers composed Of pre-.
ciouS stones. 1t overlooks the courts and
pavilionS and silded domes Of the ZSnaua,
while far below flows the Jumna, be.
tween palm-friuged shores, tracing
whose course | see swelling up in the
distance, the snow.white domes Of the
Tai.
1.-THE earth hath bubbles Is tho water hath,
And these'teem Of them"
! hired Gharre and drove out 10 Sc.
cundra, about i've miles distant, to visit
the tomb Of Akbar. All the way out, on
either side, our road was lined by exten.
awe ruins. The tomb stands in the centre
OF i large garden, enclosed by high ON.
bAttled walls, with four minarets at the
four corners. There is lofty arched
gateway in the centre OF each side. Il
constructed Of red sandstone, and is sev.
eral stories in height, each story receding
like terrace or pyramid. II ID crowned
with pavilion OF white marble, covered
with gilded dome and surrounded by
screens Of delicate marble lacsWork, In
the centre stands white marble sarco-
phagus, deliberately wrought with scuIp-
tured flowers and containing the ninety
and nine names OF God in raised Arabic
characters, But all objects, however In.
teresting, lose their attraction, when com.
pared with the Tai, and hasten back to
enjoy its beauty while | may.
This is the legend Of the origin Of the
Tai: Oneday Mumlaza asked Shah Je.
han what he would do for her memory
itshc should be the frat to die. Over.
come with emotion at the bare thought
OF such bereavement, he vowed that he
would build above her body atomb that
should Gil the world with wonder and
admiration, and keep her. memory and
his love alive forever. On her death.
bed she reminded the Emperor Of his
promise, which he has more than fulfilled.
Upon this tomb he lAviShed all his won.
drous wealth,-sought realms for jewels
and continents for artlsts-poured out
the rich libation Of his love and crowned
the altar with his empty cup.
This is indeed the one perfect jewel Of
the world. II ia finished with all tn g
elaborate perfection Of one of natures
works, perfect flower amongitS kindred
has compared it-then hymn to the di.
vine love in his own celestial language
beauty. L.G.T.