DEHRA 221 



travellers usually put up. One day near noon I hap- 

 pened to be crossing this tract ; it was at the end of 

 the cold season, and the rays of the sun at midday were 

 becoming powerful. Though protected by a thickly 

 wadded umbrella, I found them unpleasantly warm ; 

 also there happened to be a rather large concourse of 

 travellers. The open space was crowded with men, carts, 

 and animals, and there was much dust and noise. 



As I passed the doorway, I noticed the trees that 

 rose above the wall. In contrast to the dusty camping- 

 ground, they looked invitingly green and shady. I 

 had often intended to visit the tomb ; I now resolved 

 to do so. One of the attendants of the garden was 

 standing by ; he opened the door, and I entered. As 

 I did so, I seemed to have passed into another region : 

 the glare, the heat, the dust, were left behind, and the 

 noises without only fell on the ear as a gentle murmur. 

 The branches of the trees met overhead ; their foliage 

 formed a green canopy : the sunbeams passing through 

 it diffused only a soft, misty light. Here and there, 

 through some opening, there shone a stronger ray 

 which illumined the thousand motes that floated in 

 the air. 



Accompanied by the attendant, I passed along a 

 straight raised path ; it presently brought us to an 

 open space. In the centre of the space, raised on a 

 broad, high terrace, stood the tomb ; it was a pretty 

 building, coated with beautiful white chunam, that quite 

 glistened in the sunshine, and much of the surface was 

 gaily decorated with paintings representing conventional 

 foliage and geometrical designs. 



