340 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



consequence of its more illustrious origin, for, while the 

 Tonse rises only among the lower mountains, the 

 Jumna issues from one of the loftiest peaks of this 

 western portion of the true Himalaya, the ranges of 

 perpetual snow. 



The old palace could never have been large, at least 

 for an Indian palace, but the outer walls must have 

 enclosed a considerable area. The principal structures 

 that now remain are the hall and chamber I have 

 described, a gateway much ruined, and a courtyard. 

 This courtyard must formerly have been the garden, 

 and have been adorned with canals of water, basins, 

 and fountains. I was told that when first discovered 

 a large basin or reservoir of white marble stood on the 

 terrace before the hall. I could not ascertain what had 

 become of it. 



Judging from the buildings that remain, the palace 

 could not, even when entire, have possessed any special 

 architectural beauty. It displays, however, all that 

 massive solidity of construction combined with that ex- 

 quisite finish and delicacy of detail which characterises 

 the Mahomedan buildings of the Mogul period. Of this 

 delicacy and finish the raised walks of the courtyard 

 are a beautiful illustration. They are formed of brick, 

 as, indeed, is nearly the whole of the palace ; but the 

 bricks which compose the surface of the walks are those 

 extremely small ones that in hardness and smoothness 

 of texture are almost equal to terra cotta. They are 

 arranged so as to form simple but very pretty designs, 

 and so small are the bricks, and so exquisite is the 

 manner in which they are joined, that the designs to 



