Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-06
SEES FOREIGN LANDS.
A. J. RHODES TELLS OF "TRIP
AROUND THE WORLD.
Gives Graphic Description of Places
Visited and Scenes witnessed in
Old World Countries.
Continued from Fridays observer.)

tOmD IN tne Worlu. 1t was erected fr
1880 to 1860 by Shah Jehan to Aria
mand Banu Begun, his favorite wife
who died soon after his ascension tc
the throne in 1926
The Tai is composed of solid marble
and is said to have taken 8,000 men
twenty years to build. The building is
octagonal with sides 1870 feet and a
height of seventy feet, and is sur
mounted by dome which rises to the
height of 100 feet above the roof and
is fianked by four minarets 1913 feet
high.
In the central chamber, above the
vaults which contain the bodies of the
emperor and his wife, are two Gin
taphs, enclosed by a fine marble
screen. The Tai garden is perhaps a
half mile square, and is surrounded by
wall OF masonry. The great gate
way to the Tai built of red sandstones
adorned by Moorish arches and pavil-
ions is in itself one of India's most
perfect buildings, Second only to the
Tai is the great fortress built by Akbar
| grandfather of Shah Jehan) in 1866
to 1874. It's shape is almost semi-circu-
lar and its base along the river is
about half a mile in length. 1t is sur
rounded by double wall of red sand
stone which is about seventy feet
high and a mile and a half In circuit
Within these walls are the palace and
audience hall of Shah Jehan and the
Pearl Mosque, so called from its sur
passing architectural beauty After a
hurried visit through the fort we took
our carriage for run through the
city of Agra, across the river to the
tomb of Itmad-Ud-D -Daulah, the lord
high treasurer in Akbar's court
Tomb OF Itmad.
This mausoleum stands within an
enclosure about 1870 yards square, with
entrance on the east, a sandstone
building on the south, and beautiful
mosque on the west.
The tomb itself stands on a raised
platform Of sandstone about $50 feet
square. 1t is built with the finest mar
bic, rectangular in shape. 1t measures
about 70 feet each way. AT the corners
Of the building stand four octagonal
towers. The whole building is inlaid
with various geometrical and floral de-
signs in marble, mosaic and precious
stones. The rich decorations and paint
ings on the walls look like those seen
in the Tai. Retracing our steps across
the river, we went directly to our
train, where we had dinner, and then
again took carriages for view of the
Tai by moonlight. After a hurried trip
and feeling well repaid for the one
day in Agra, we boarded our train at
10 p. m. and were of for Bombay and
home on the Cleveland, which we
boarded on Wednesday noon, April 81.
We were again on our way to Cairo,
an. eight days run through the Ara
bian and Red seas.
Contrary to all expectations, our sail
through the Red sea was cool and
pleasant.
May we dropped anchor at the
eastern entrance to Suez canal and
were held up by the medical inspec-
tors and the native takers of cheap
bazaar goods that thronged our decks
From our anchorage we had a fine
view of the shores of Arabia and
Africa.
The town of Suez, on the African
shore. stands out square and clear, cut
with two and three-story buildings,
backed by a desolate and barren
stretch of sand. Notwithstanding the
liveless and unattractive surroundings.
Suez contains over 1900 souls, who
are fairly prosperous and no doubt
happy At this place we transferred
to special trains for Cairo, reaching
there at p. m, just in time for din
ner at the Shepherds hotel.
Many Camels and Cattle.
This is the country where eamels
are as common as cattle of which |
we see droves roaming over the sandy /
waste out from Suez. As we reach the /
more fertile lands we see them by the /
hundreds used as beasts OF burden |
The country from Suez TO Cairo, ex-
cept a few miles surrounding Suez. is
fertile and is all irrigated. raising three /
crops a year. This land is worth $500 /
to 500 an acre. Our visit in Cairo COW
cred the usual itinerary traversed by
the tourist We made the sIx-mile
drive to the Pyramids. going through
the usual experiences with the donkey
and camel boys-coming out second
best and glad to get away with a whole
suit OF clothes.
The road to the Pyramids is one OF
the fashionable drives OF Cairo, being
lined the entire distance with acacia
trees. Our visit 70 the Egyptian mu-
scum was hurried on account OF time.
70 we could not make a study as we
would have liked.
We next proceeded TO the Citadel.
1ne Of the most interesting OF the his
.orical buildings OF Cairo and one Of
ts most striking landmarks. II Is a
own within Itself. Il now contains be-
ddes several mosques. a palace Cnow
ised as officers quarters). hospital. .
Prison. barracks and arsenal. The ,
Usual entrance is through the Babel ,
Azal Ga gateway along a steep and ,
iarroW road between high walls. IL I
vas here where the massacre Of the 4
took place in 1911.
Beautiful Alabaster Mosque. /,
The beautiful Mohamet All mosque.
lften called the Alabaster mosque. is
Ocated within the citadel. This IL one G
Z the show mosques OF Cairo. Near z
, Joeeph's well. a large shaft cut Q
through the solid rock 70 q depth o. :
early 1eo feet This well has no con
ection with the Hebrew patriarch. a. 9
lost guides vfn tell you II has not 2
cen used since 1855. a. the citadel is
Bpplied with water By the Cairo Wa
r company. q
The sight from ths citadel n beau 4
fuI giving a blrdseye view q the
ntirs city. win he hundreds % mos-
ues The Nile. winding through re /,
.rtns plaInA with ths pyramids IN ne