138 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



cup leaves of the lotus hither and thither, till the drop 

 of water held by most since the yesterday's rain ran 

 about like a drop of mercury, and the boat shook, its 

 keel-less condition making it more than a little unsteady. 

 At first it seemed hardly safe to run across the open 

 to the landing-place below the Nishat Bagh, which was 

 our destination, but the " blast " soon hurried down the 

 lake, leaving behind it a troubled track, and ten minutes 

 hard paddling brought the little craft to the haven under 

 the hill. 



Stately above us rose the palace of the emperor, who 

 delighted in retiring to this " garden of gladness " when 

 the hot weather had sent people away from their homes 

 down country, nor did the beautiful Queen Nur 

 Mahal (Light of the palace) plan in vain these 

 pleasances and prepare here great festivities. Though 

 she and the generation she charmed have passed 

 away, and they are known no longer, her work 

 remains, and is still a " place of rest " to weary 

 workers from the plains. The plantations, too, that she 

 commanded give pleasant shade, her fountains still play 

 in their vast stone basins, and purling streams of pure 

 icy water flow between the terraces, and perfect 

 pleasantness and peace reign in the paths trodden by 

 this wise queen of old. 



The whole garden is terraced, some of the spaces 

 being given up to tangles of roses, lilacs, and syringas, 

 some occupied by the stone basins where the fountains 

 play. Beside the stone steps, that have to be climbed 

 to reach the top, are quantities of fruit trees, especially 

 cherries, large numbers of which were being sold in 

 baskets, and proved a pleasing refresher, neither cafes 

 nor cyclists' rests having yet become common in these 



