Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/204

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NUMBER TWENTY-THREE.

Approach to Agra—Cotton Boats—The Sights of Agra—The Fort—Hall of Judgment—The Sandal Wood Gates—The Emperor's Palace—A Mammoth Pachisi-Board—The Pearl Mosque—Secundra Bagh—A Fancy Team—Akbar’s Mausoleum—The Taj—A Thing of Beauty, and a Wonderful Echo—The Taj Seen by Blue-Lights—A Persian Description—Delhi—A Great Scoundrel—Visit to the Citadel—The Hall of Audience—The Peacock Throne—Chandnee Chowk—The Great Mosque—A Field of Animated Poppies—Relics of Mahomet—“By the Prophets Beard”—The Cashmere Gate—A Gallant Deed.

Returning to Cawnpore on the main line, T tock aa early moraing train, aod in teven hours yeached Toondla Jnueetion, from whones a branch road rors twelve milas ta Azra, the once famed city of the Emperar Akbar. What wondrovd changes have cc- curred since the dsys wien the Mussulman dynasty held awsy over these rich and fer- tile countries, where now speeds the all- eivilizing locomotive, thon swept by the de- vasting hordes of Timeur the Tartar; anu the battelions of “Akbar toe magnifecnt? in ali the pomp end splendor of unbounded eastern wealth, delighted the eye, sa struck terrer te the heart of the worshipping Thousands wha flack to the city to greet tha mighty Emperor.

Agra, or Akbarsbad as it was forracriy called, standa on tha laft bauk of the Jum- na, and in the daye of its eplerder the whole space from the river’s bank to the Fort, is ssid to have beon caverad with pal- aces, of which nothing now remains but the Tuing, Engaging o gharry at the station after much cheffering with the native dri- yor, for Lhavefoundthat in India as well av olsewherela the world, to gave trouble one muat always make a bargain before-hand with a Jehu, and never agres to pay above half the price asked, and rerouing my traps from a dozen eoaltes, all of whom demanded buekesheesh, Licok refuge in the vebicte from aerowd of bsgzare, halt, biind and taaimed, and drove actress the rickety flat