The Seven Cities of Delhi
A text, no doubt, for the eyes of the emperor as he rose in the morning. Over this room there is now a marble dome, which has replaced one of copper-gilt; this was sold by auction after 1857.
The part of the Khās Mahal through which flowed the water-channel was called the "Large Sitting-place; " on the inside of the arch, which spans the channel, above the beautiful marble screen, there are four verses, of which the lower to the right reads —
"The Lord of the world, founder of this heavenly building, Shāhab-ud-din Mahomed, the second to be born in a most prosperous hour, Shāh Jahān Bādshāh Ghāzi, opened the door of bounty to the peoples of the world."
Rang Mahal. — This apartment lies to the south of the Khās Mahal, and has been considerably defaced, by having been turned to use as an officers' mess-room. It was formerly surrounded by a garden-court, called the Imtiāz Mahal, or Palace of Pre-eminence. All around this court were arcades of red sandstone, surmounted by some two thousand gilded turrets.
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