RELICS OF THE PROPHET. 205 



flights of steps. On this stands the mosque, — a gigantic 

 statue on a colossal pedestal. Within, sacred relics of the 

 Prophet are enshrined, amongst them a hair of his beard. 

 This is shown with much ceremony, and is set in a 

 jewelled handle. It strongly resembles a bristle out of a 

 clothes-brush. 



In the afternoon we went to the Kootab, a drive of 

 about ten miles from Delhi. Nearly all the way the road 

 is dotted with mosques and ancient ruins. I will not 

 attempt to describe the many interesting and beautiful 

 buildings with which Delhi abounds, and shall say no- 

 thing of this old tower two hundred and forty feet high — 

 except that I did not take the advice of the guide-books 

 and ascend it. Close by stands a celebrated iron pillar, 

 fifteen hundred years old, and which, because it is loose 

 (dihla) in the ground, is said to have given Delhi its 

 name. 



In the evening we went to the shop of Tellery, an 

 Austrian, who does a large trade in Indian art 

 manufactures and curios. Unfortunately his best things 

 w r ere said to have been sent to the Chicago Exhibition, 

 and the remainder seemed principally of that conventional 

 class of goods manufactured for sale to the traveller, 

 which you see in every Oriental bazar. 



Monday. — We have sent our tents and heavy 

 luogao-e to Alighar, whence w r e intend to march to Ulwar 



