The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-21

Imagine n valley in the form Of a
huge crater the sides OF which are COW
cred with thick Jungle. In the center Of
which rises a green mound. forming n
pedestal for a fairylike and dazzling
marble palace, beside which the won
ders OF Seville and OF Granada In Spain
pale into insignihoance, and around
this palace. which looks upon a great.
gloomy lake. large town. great
metropolis. the smallest houses OF
which are stately palaces. Not a soul
Is 70 be seen In the broad streets. not
trace OF smoke rising into the air.
not sound r. 10 be heard. Such Ia
Ambir, which. in architectural beauty.
In stateliness. and In the loneliness
with which nature has supplemented
art and art nature. surpasses every
other city ia the old world A mix
ture Of the romantic and the myster-
lous takes possession OF the tourist
who cares for the FIRST time upon this
deserted city. He feels tempted 10 ask
himself whether after all. II il not a
mere phantom OF the Arabian Nights.
and whether, like a second calender. he
has come 10 disturb the silence OF this
sleeping metropolis and 10 bring 10
light some frightful mystery. The PAL
ace In particular has a supernatural APP
pearanoe. with its marble turrets that
have the yelIowish tint Of ivory. and
It's lofty walls that are ornamented
with gilded balconies.
In spite Of the impression which pre-.
walls widely that there Is some mys-
terry connected with the desertion OF
Amblr. once the capital Of Rajpoutana.
yet lie abandonment was solely and
entirely due 10 a piece OF caprlcious
iespotism on the part Of King icy Sing
II, who reigned at Ambir some 200
years ago. and who Il famous In Or
lental history a. the greatest astrono-
mer that India has ever known. He
took Il into his head that Ambir. In
closed In the valley OF the Kalikho
Mountains. was incapable OF develop
ment or extension. that Il was too In
accessible. and that Il was unworthy
Of the grandeur OF his kingdom. Ae-
cordingly. he planned and built a new
capital some eight or ten miles lower
down. and gave Il the name Of Ieypore.
AZ soon a. he had completed his task.
he commanded the entire population OF
Ambir to abandon their homes. and to
take up their residence In Jeypore. No
one was permitted 10 remain behind.
and thus Il happens that to-day the
great city OF Amblr. which. founded In
the frst century OF the Christian era,
was 10 magnihoently built that none OF
lie palaces or public buildings have
yet fallen into ruin or decay. Il to-day
tenanted only by myriads Of monkeys.
while here or there a naked faklr. who
has come 10 pray at one OF the shrines
which abound on the shores OF the lake
may be seen bathing In its sombre
waters.
The royal palace IL one hundred feet
above the level Of the lake. But the
stone buttresses which support the
sides Of the green hill upon which Il
stands descend perpendlcularly into
the water and look like a continuation
Of the castle walls. which are built ex.
lctly over them. thus making the front
age appear more than two hundred feet
high. The principal gateway OF the
palace. known az the "soeve" gate. and
which L. shown here. II acknowledged
10 be one Of the most beautiful works
Of art In India. Il Ia difhcult 10 con.
vcy. by means OF an engraving. any