Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/225

 curred was aflerwards pointed out by our guide. Phe King and his two younger gong were transported fo Rangoon, where he died sbout two years ago.

In the neighborhood are several smaller tombs and morques, eneof which is built srourd a large tank, forty feet deen. While we were standing at the watei’s edge, a man suddenly appeared on topof the mosque, yan oimbly down the courss of the dome, and sprang, feet foremost into the tank ke- low. Several others followed io rapid sue- cession, and swimming quickly to the bank, teld out their hands for bucksh<es; then elambered up again to repeat the perform- apes. Jt appeared to usm very dangerous feat, for the height could nob have been less than one hundred feet, and the water, eur- rounded by tall baildings, was very cold; but they seemed to enjoy the plunge bath and kept it ap asiong as we threw them coppers,

Here is also the tomb of the post Chusero, the reputed author of the “Arabian Nights,” who died in the fourteenth century. Look~ ing through the open-work marble screen, I saw upon the tomb a handful of rose leaves some of which I secured as a memento.

About two miles from the Delhi gate we came to the massive ruins of a pslaca built by tha Himperor Ferose, four hundred years ago, which was then the center of his espi- tal city, Near it isa pillsr three and a hsif feet in diameter, and forty feet high, of red sandutous, without s joint, called the Laé, or stafof Ferose-Shah, Jt was brought here by that Hmperor, andis eovared by an in- seription 80 socient that if puzzled fora joug time the most skilled Rurepesn cayans, It hag, however, been deciphered recently, and proves to be c2rtain edicts in farther- are? of religion and virtue, enacted by a king who reigned B. C. 820. This king ob- tained hia throne by the murder of ninety of hig relations, who had prior claima, and must have chsnged hig character in his old age. The column is at least 2,200 years old, and is supposed to be the most ancient writ- ing in India.

The records of these old Musselman Kings are rarely free from the murders of relations, especially brothers. They were, however, but half brothers, and the jealousy and ambition of the mother often instigated the killing or putting out of the eyes of the sons of her rivals who were constantly plotting against the successful aspirant to the throne.