The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-25
GREAT GEMS IN ToMss.
Notable Diamonds Fonnd In tho sePulcher
of Ancient Monarchs.

of Ancient Monarchs.
The mogul emperors were wise
enough to realize that if they did not
build their own mausoleums they stood
hut little chance of Icing buried with
fitting magnificence, and took serious
pleasure in rearing these stately sep
ulchers That at Secundra is like
city in itself, placed at the end of a
vast, parklike garden, and there is
nothing funereal in it's character or
surroundings, for these monarchs had
the pleasant eastern fashion of looking
cheerfully forward to the inevitable,
and made use of their mausoleums
while they lived as pleasure-houses,
and the surrounding gardens as appro-
pirate places for al fresco entertain
ments. 1t was poetic inspiration on
the part of Akbar to have placed his
tomb out in the sunshine and in the
middle of the wide marble court. with
only the blue vault of heaven over it,
and the Koh-i-noor flashing like star
from the top of the little marble col
umn at the head.
Ferguson does not mention the
Koh-i-noor, nor the little column four
feet high, said to have been covered
with gold, but it still stands there
with the empty socket on top. and it
was, at all events, unique and pleas
ing idea. Few deserted cities are more
impressive than Futtipoor SilSri, and
the splendid gateway of the mosque.
which towers to the height of $50 feet
above the ground, dwar6ng every
structure within the walls, is land
mark for all the neighboripg country.
Every building which has in any meas
ure escaped the ravages of time is OF
the same red sandstone, and the only
exception is the white marble tomb of
Selim Chisti, which stands in the court
yard of the mosque. Such miracles OF
delicate tracery an d such Enthusiastically
twisted brackets were surely never fe-
fore wrought in unyielding marble,
and as the sclflptured cells in the tenn
plies of Mount Abut represented the
| highest attainment of Hindoo art in
| this direction, SO the tomb of SeliDl
Chisti may stand as an example OF
what ingenious Mussulman architects
| may accomplish within the range OF
purely gecmetric design. circumscribcd
as they are by limitations of their
creed.
The most unique of the little struc-
lures standing in the neighborhood, OF
| on the near margin of the bank in the
| vast court iDclosed by the palace walls
is the one commonly called the sui
tana's kiosk, and lovingly designed as
the boudoir of an imperial. We know
little to-day of the jewel which it shell
tered, but one may at least hope that
| it was worthy of such casket. Tht
red stone is peculiarly deep and rich ii
| quality of color, and as every inch o.
| it is carved and frettcd it resembles
! closely Japanese bibelot of vermilioT
lacquer.
The blouse of Bserburs Daughter
and all the others, of which there are
no two alike, show similar exuber
| ance of fancy, SO that no one of thes'
| fortunate sultanas had reason to b'
Jealous of rivals installation, since
all were equally well lodged. NothiD.
at Futtipoor Sikri is more impressive
| than the view of the walls, and thu
strange outlines of the structures tow
ering above them, when one leaves. a
sunset, the gateway on the north
where stand two great elephants o
stone with interlocked trunks, and
descending the steep pathway incum
bered with falling fragments, reache
the isolated tower bristling with ele
plants tusks. Here he may look bacl
to the deserted capital. or forward t
the western glow, beyond the crum
bling ruins of the last and uttermos
wall, where the great vultures and ad
jutant storks balance themselves O
the broken battlements. Harper