Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-13

ISM " ray OF sunshine rather imam 10
a wolf.
The Tartars have a tradition that his
mother conceived him. while virgin from
the rays OF the sun. However. the Arabic
WORD used in this case has two meanings
ana the translator may take his choice.
Ihere are other Inscriptions, elaborate
Araplc lettering in colors. quotations from
the Koran. praises to Allah and recitals
or the conquests OF Timour. his military
pro"ess and his divine wisdom.
Dampness Over Everything.
wide. well kept walk leads from the
archway to the entrance of vestibule
with damp. windowless walls and a vault
ed roof. The floor is neatly covered with
mating.
Three aged mullaas in white turbans
with their legs crossed. upon a rug in the
corner slipping tea. One of them arose,
and. lighting candle. led us into a vault
ed chamber of large proportions similar 10
those attached to the sepulchers of the
PharaonS. in which their mourners used
to meet and eXtol the virtues OF the dead.
mere is no light except what creeps in
through the narrow open door.
From this antechamber We stepped into
the mausoeum proper. rotunda covered
by narrow dome eightyfive feet high.
1t was damp and chilly, although the day
outside was very warm
The only Eight is filtered through square
holes pierced in the walls of the dome
and protected by stone grills. This shows
the limitations of the architect
There Is no evidence that glass was
used in any of the buildings in Tanner
lanes time. These openings admit the
rain and the snow and cause perpetual
da mpness, which accounts for the dis
celebration and decay of the decorations.
One can easily see where the tiles have
peeled off and fallen The wanscoting
of the rotunda. which is of alaba ster. now
looks like poor quality OF marble.
Five Great Cenotaphs.
Under the center of the dome. sur
rounded by low balustrade OF carved
marble. are five cenotaphs. That which
holds the place Of honor is a block Of
green stone, six feet long, twenty-five
inches wide and twenty eight inches high
For centuries it was supposed to be Of
jade from some mysterious source in
China. IT was broken in halves by Rus
sian soldiers under the delusion that il
was valuable.
Some rude surgeon has attempted to
conceal the fracture with plaster OF paris
painted green to match the stone. In
several places the paint has Clipped off
The sides of the cenotaphs are covered
with inscriptions testifying to the good
ness and the glory of Timour. They are
written in Arabic characters, the most
artistic of any alpha bet, and lend them
selves to decoration.
At the head of the cenotaph is a little
marble shrine or altar for burning in
cense, a miniature reproduction of the
tomb. so discolored by smoke as to testify
that the memory of Tamerlane has not
persisted. Pilgrims come here from every
part OF the Mohammedan world.
The most prominent of the other ceno-
taphS is that of Mis- Seid-Rerk mullah
brought from .Afghanistan by Tamerlane
as sort of chaplain, who accompanied
him on all his campaigns and exercised a
great Influence over him. The guide told
US that he was IAN intimate friend
Another is the tomb of Tameflanes
prime minister. who served him for eigh-
teen years. The remaining two are for
his sons who died before him and were
buried here as soon as the mausoleum
was finished.