Under cover of one of the large halls of the Monastery sur- 

 rounding the enclosure of Kuwat-ul-Islam, whose roof is sup- 

 ported by more than one hundred pillars of carved red sandstone, 

 each of which differs in design from all the rest, are four marble 

 tablets, three of them severally inscribed in the Sanscrit, Hinde and 

 Urdu language — the last named being the present language of 

 India. The fourth tablet has an English translation, and the 

 legend refers to the Monarch who erected the sky-piercing Kutab 

 Minar within the enclosure. The translation reads as follows : 



"He, on whose arm fame was inscribed by the sword, when, 

 in battle in the Vauga countries (Bengal) he kneaded (and turned) 

 back with (his) breast the enemies who, uniting together came 

 against (him) : — H. by whom having crossed in warfare the seven 

 mouths of the (river) Sindhee, the Vahlik as were conquered: — 

 He, by the breezes of whose powers the Southern Ocean is even 

 still perfumed : — He, the remnant of the great zeal of whose en- 

 ergy, which entirely destroyed (his) enemies like (the remnant 

 of the great glowing heat) of a burned out fire in a great forest, 

 even now leaves not the earth : though he, the king, as if wearied, 

 has quitted this earth and come to the other world moving m 

 (bodily) form to the land (of Paradise) won by (the merit of) 

 his actions, but remaining on this earth by (the memory of his) 

 fame: — By him, the King — who attained sole supreme sovereignty 

 in the world acquired by his own arm and (enjoyed) for a very 

 long time: (and) who, having the name of Chandra, carried a 

 beauty of countenance like (the beauty of) the full moon, having 

 in faith fixed his mind upon the God (Vishnu) this lofty standard 

 of the divine Vishnu was set up on the hill called A'ishnupada. 

 (4th century)" 



The Kutab Minar, two hundred and tliirty-eight feet high, is 

 the tallest Minaret in the world, and there is nothing in the world 

 that resembles it in its architectural design, its loveliness of stone 

 carving from its base to its apex, its dignity and magnitude. AA'ho 

 can describe the indescribable or explain the inexplicable? It is 

 one of the seven architectural wonders of India and the most 

 perfect tower in existence, being as complete and unmarred as it 

 was on the day of its completion. As nothing that has been said, 

 written, pictured or sung of the Taj Mahal can reveal to the eye 

 or mind its lovely perfection, so representation or imagination will 

 fail to disclose the exquisite beauty and noble grandeur of the 

 Kutab ]\Iinar. Not far from the Kutab Minar stands an historic 

 lofty iron pillar of ponderous dimensions, erected many centuries 

 ago, but its story cannot here be related. 



Of the city of Jaipur I must say but little. We are interested 

 more concerning its great Observatory. 



The Maharajah or Sahib Bahadoor of this Province is named 

 Mahadhosingje. His Prime Minister is a gentleman of culture 

 and advanced ideas, introducing modern economic methods and 

 encouraging the people to adopt modes conducive to their welfare. 



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