Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/206

 tho celebrated Motes Musjesd, or ‘Pearl Morque.” Passing through a noble ceurt- yard, five hundred fest by three hundred aud seventy, we entered s splendid hel), wow used aa an armory, which was once the dewan, or judgment hall of Emperor Akbsr. In a recess near the center is the throne of white marblo, inlatd with mossica, The lofty roofissupported by three rows of piliara conneeted by saracsnic arches of great beauty. At the upper end of tho hall are the celebrated gates of Somuath, cap- tured by Lord Elleaborough in the Aff. ghan campsign, They are twelve feet high, very massive, and compared entirely of Bandsi-wood, elaborately csrved and inisid.

Beyoud the Arsenal, overhanging the Jumnua is the Emperor's palace, still ja tol- erable preservation. In the galleries, the bslsonies and the corridors is a perfect forest of carving and ornanientation—all of the finest white marble, which in the hands af the artista of those days seemed ag trast: able sa wood. -Perhaps the sreatest curi- oslty of the palace is the Shish-Mehal, or Hall of Glass.” It was intended fora bath, and the walls aad ceilings are coyored with thousands of emall mirrors, arranged in ‘he most Intricate designs. In the center wana marble basin info which mimic cascades poured from the walis. When lighted with colored lamps behind there tiny waterfalls, the fairy-like chamber must have realized ail the fable splendors of Arabian story

Ina tesselated courtyard of white and black marble, the Hmperar’s favorite gema of Pachisi gsed to be played. Lisch equara ol this titanic board is Isrge enough for 2 person to stand upon, and sixteen littic girle, each four of whom wera dregsed in distinctive colors, ran trom equare te equate, in accordance with the throw of the cow- ries or dice,

Iwas showa the carious under ground passage, mear what was ones the Zenana or women’s apartments, whers the ladies of the harem played hide and seek before tha Emperor, clad ovly in tna garb of Wye, At the end of the passageis un old and very deep well, in which the unfaitaful ones were put when sentenced to death.

The remaining object of interzet in the Fort, is the Pearl Mosque, of small dimen- siona, but absolutely perfect in style and proportions. Ifia an exquiaitly besutifal building, surmounted by three domes of white marbie, which in distant views of the Fort are seen like silver bubbles, rest-