Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/199

 is that of a series of quadrangles, approached through massive gateways of marble, adorned with royal emblems. The courts and gardens, fountains and pavillions must have presented in the days of its founder, a truly brilliant spectacle, surrounded by all gaudy and striking appurtenances of an eastern court, which knew no bounds to its extravagance. Two other splendid palaces stand upon the banks of the river, one of which is called the “Chutter Munzil,” from the gilt umbrellas with which the domes are crowned. This sheltered the ladies of the harem, and is now used as a club-house and a public library. In the other is a very interesting museum of natural history with one of the most complete collections of Indian animals, birds and reptiles in the world. On one side of the room I noticed a series of the skeletons of monkeys, evidently arranged by a believer in the Darwinian theory. Commencing at the lowest grade, there was a gradual rise through the different species (the tails becoming less prominent) up to the ourang-outang and gorilla, and the series was crowned by the skeleton of a man. Lucknow has the credit of being the original source from whence the rebellion of 1837 sprang, and has become memorable as the scene of one of the most remarkable sieges on record. Here in a building called the Residency, for five long months, during the heat of summer, a little band of noble hearts held out with unexampled courage and endurance against a horde of well-armed and ferocious enemies. Within the enclosure were several large buildings used as public offices, and surrounded by a low wall. Close outside the Residency were other buildings occupied by the rebels, and it was wholly unfit for defense against an enemy provided with an abundance of cannon and skilled in the use of arms. The ruins have been allowed to remain as far ae possible in the same state in which they were left after "the relief." The buildings were terribly shattered with shot and shell, and every spot has a sad story connected with the siege. In this room a plate on the wall shows where the gallant Sir Henry Lawrence was mortally wounded by the bursting of a shell. We descend here into the cellars, where the women and children and the sick were driven for refuge from the hail of shot, and where so many died. The roofless buildings stand in solemn ruin, a monument alike of the bravery and devo-