The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-08

urging them on. This had little eaet
and we might have had a night bivou'
on the highway If, after long delay, Il
camels had not changed their minds an
breaking into speedy pace, carried l
into the ruined city. The night had falle
and the General, when we arrived, W:
stroliing alone about the court yard smol
ing his cigar.
OUR HOME AMONG THE RUINS
All that remains Of Futtehpoor Sikra al
the ruins. The various sections of tn
palace are given over TO picnic parties an
visitors. The British Collectors at Ayr
has it under his charge, and those WIN
come are instructed to bring their foe
and bedding. Mr.. Lawrence, the Collec
tor, was there to meet US, and our hote
keeper at Agra had sent all that necessary
The General, Mrs. Grant and Mr.. Bori
| quartered in the ruin known as the BirbuP
house. The remainder went with MI
Lawrence to another ruin about hundre,
PAGES of, which has no name. The Borbu
house is supposed to have been the HON,
OF Akbar's daughter or, as some think ,
house enclosed and made sacred for tn,
women Of his harem. 1t is a two storie6
building, massive and large, and finished
with minuteness and delicscy that you
never see even in patient Iudia. As s
| house alone, the mere piling of blocks Of
| sandstone one upon the other the Birbul
| house would be curious and meritorious
work But when you examine il you see
| that there is scarcely traced by some
| master workman. 1t is all stone, no wood
or iron of metal of any kind has been used
10 fashion it. The workman depended
| upon the stone, and 30 sure was their that
| although centuries have passed since it
was built and generation have ripened
since it was abandoned the work ia as fresh
and clean as though the artisan had only
laid down his tools. So we'll did men work
in those days of patience and discipline
and so gentle is the touch of time in Hin.
dostan.
oUs NIGHT IN THE RUINS.
Candles were found and tables were
builded, and there under the massive walls
of Akbar's hearth, looking out upon a star.
gemmed beaming Indian sky we dined
And it seemed almost sacrilege to bring
our world-our material world from far
America, our world of gossip and smoking
tobacco and New York newspapers, OF
claret and champague-into the very holy
of halies Of great emperor's to be soothed
by gentle voices and caressed by loving
hands. We were weary with cur hard
days work and after dinner found what
rest we could. Mr.. Borie was disposed to
question the absence OF windows. and had
reasoned out the practicability of mid
night visit from leopard or panther or
a wandering beast of prey. He contrasted
in few vivid and striking sentences the
advantages which Torresdale and Phil
adelphis possessed over even the palace Of
an emperor, to the detriment of Futtehpoor
Sikra, and which a reasonable sum was
suggested as a possible purchasing price
declined with scorn any prospect OF becom-
ing land owner in Hindostan. Our
accommodations, although We were the
recipients of Mogul hospitality, were
primitive and as you lay in the watches of
the night aad listened to the voices OF
nature, the contrast with what she says in
India and at home was marked. The
noisy beast in India is the jackal. He is
the scavenger, and in day hides in ravine
or Jungle tastness, to come out and prowl
about settlements and live on offal. The
jackal and hyena in literature are FORM
idable, but in Indian life are feared no
more than powling, bowling village cur.
/ do not think that any of US were sorry
when the early morning rays began 10
brighten up our ruined chambers, and the
velvet footed servant, in flowing muslin
crowns, came in bearing tea and toast and
telling us that tor baths were ready and
that another leaf had been turned in the
book Of time.
MOSQUES AND TONES.
The General does not regard early rising
as distinguishing trait and some OF the
others were under the influence of his
example but Mr.. Borie was up and cheer
full, and rejoicing in white pony, which
some magician had brought to his feet
saddled and bridled, to view the ruins,
The sun had scarcely risen and wise travel
ers, like Mr.. BOrie, always take the cool
hours for their sight seeing. But Mr..
Borie is a very wise traveller allows nothing
to pass him and so our party divided. Mr..
Lawrence said he would wait for the
General and the early risers, under the
escort two young ladies who had been
passengers on the Neneita, with Mr.. Borie
leading the van on his white pony, set out
to view the ruins To have seen all the
ruins, OF this stupendous place would
have included a ride around the circum-
ference of seven miles. There were some
ruins well worth study. We went first
TO the quadrangle, courtyard 1888 feet by
800 feet. On one side of this is the mosque
which is a noble building, suffering, how
ever from the overshadowing grandeur OF
the principal gateway, the finest, it is said
in India, looming up out the ruins with
stately and graceful splendor but dwsrfing
the other monuments and ruins. This was
meant az an arch of triumph to the glory
Of the Emperor, "King of Kings" Heaven
Of the Court" and SHADOW of God"
There are many of these inscriptions in
Arabic translation of which find in Mr..
Keere's handbook. The most suggestive
is this KNOW that the world is a glass
where the favor has come and gone. Take
as thine own nothing more than what thou
lookest upon" We were shown one cham:
Der where the body OF a saint reposes, and
also tomb with marble screen work Of
the most exquisite character. The prevail
ing aspect of the architecture was Moslem
with traces Of Hidoo taste and decoration.
The mosque, the tomhs and the gateway
and all well preserved. At one OF the
mosques were a number OF natives in pray
er, who interrupted their devotions long
enough to show us the delicate tracing on
the walls and beg a rupee. II was men
toned az an inducement to engage one OF
the guides that he had done the same office
for the Prince OF Wales. But one Of the
pleasures OF wandering among these stu
pendous ruins il to wander alone and take
in the full meaning OF the work and the
genius OF the men who did it. The guides
have nothing to tell you. The ruins to
them are partly dwelling places, pretexts'
on our track insisted upon showing US a
well or tank into which men jumped
from wall eighty feet high. Mr.. Borie's
resolution TO see everything led us to
accept the offer. On our way We met the
General, who as also seeing the ruins. 1t
was proposed that we should all go to the
well and see the men jump. But We could
not tempt the General. He did not want
to see men jump, finding no pleasure in
these dangerous experiments. As We came
to the well, which was square pond, with
walls Of masonry, the wall above was
manned with eager natives, screaming and
gesticulating. Mr.. Borie singled out two,
who threw of their few garments and made
the jump. The motion is peculiar one.
Leaping into the air they move their legs
and arms so a. to keep their feet down and
come into the water feet foremost. The |
leap was certainly daring one, but it was
done safely, and the divers came hurrying
up the sides o. the pond shivering and
;hattering their teeth to claim their rupees |
snG offer to Jump all day for the same