The morning times., 1895-12-25
FINE GEMS IN TOMBS.
Notable Diamonds Found in the Sepul
cher~ Of Ancient Aoiarehs.
Hnru.r'> MnyaZine.

The nugul cmperors were wise enough
To realize that il they did not build thelr
own nau>Dicums they steed but little
chance of being buried with fitting mag
nificrnce. and took -serieus pleasure ia
rearing these stately scpuIchres.
That at Secuudra is like a city in itself,
placed at me end of n vast. parklise gar
den. aud there is Boihng Tunereal in lis
character or surroundings. for these mon
archs had the pleasant ca stern fashion Of
looking chcerfully forward Ia the inevita-
bic. and made use of their mausoleums
while they lived as pleasure houses. and
the surrounding gardens as appropriate
places for al fresco entertainments
Ii was Il poetic inspiration on the part
of Akarb to have placed his tomb out in
the sunshine aud in The middle of the wide
marble court. With only the blue vault OF
heaven over it. and the Koh-i-nor flash
ing like star from the top OF the little
marble column at the head.
FERGUSON does not mention the Kohl
moor. nor the little column four feet high,
said to have been covered with gold. but
il still stands there with the empty socket
ON top, and il WIS, at all events, Il unique
and pleasing idea.
Few deserted cities are more impressive
than Futtpoor Sikri, and the splendid
gateway of the mosque, which towers to
the height of 40 feet above the ground
dwarfing every structure within tie walls,
IS landmark for all tie ncighboring coun-
try.
Every building which Las in any measur
escaped the ravGges OF time is of the same
red sandstone, and the CnIy exception is
the white marble tomb OF Sehm Chisfi,
which stands in the courtyard of the mosque.
Such miracles of delicate tracery and such
Enthusiastically twisted braC kets were surely
never before wrought in UHyielfins marble,
and as the sculptured cells in the temples
OF Mount Abut represented the highest at
tainment of HiEdCo art in this direction,
SO the tomb of Sclim Chisti may stand as an
example of what ingenious Nussulman
architects may accomplish within the range
of purely gcometric design. circumscribed
as they are by limitations of heir creed
The most unique of the little structures
standing in the neigiborhood. or on the
near margin of the bank in the vast court
Inciosed by the palace walls, is the one
commonly called the sultana's kiosk and
lovingly designed as the boudoir OF an inn
perial. We know little today OF the jewel
which is sheltered, but one may at least
nope that II was worthy of such a caSket.
The red stone is peculiarly deep and rich
IN quality of color, and. as every inch of it
is carved and fretted. il resembles closely
Japanese bibelot of yermillion lacquer
The House of Beerbuls Daughter and
all the Others. of which there are no two
alike. show similar exubera nee OF fancy,
so that no one of these fortunate s,iita anas
had reason to be jealous OF "A rivals install
lation. since all were equally well lodged.
Nothing at Futtipoor Sikri il more i'm
pressive than the view of the walls and the
strange outlines of the structures tower
ing above them. when one leaves, at sun
set the gateway on the north, where stand
two great elephants of stone with inter
locked trunks. and. descending the steep
pathway incumbcred with falling fra glnents.
reaches the isolated tower bristling with
elephants tusks.
Here he may look back TO the deserted
capital. or forward 10 the western glow. he
yong the crumbling ruins of the last and ut
termost wall, where the great vulturcs and
storks balance themselves on the
broken battlements.