G A NOETIC HINI>OOSTAN. iSi 



Akbar added greatly to the fplendor of^^ra, and built a fine cita- 

 del of red free-flone. The author of the ^yeen fays it had, in 

 his time, five hundred flone buildings in the moft elegant tafte, 

 in the Bengal) Guzcrat, and other ftyles,, and decorated with the 

 moft beautiful paintings. 



Aibufazel was born near this city, and boafts of the tombs 

 of his anceftors in the mofques of the place. The once 

 fplendid Agj-a is now ruinous. Mr. V/illiam Hodges, who 

 accompanied Captain Cook in his fecond voyage round th-e 

 world, and whole drawings are fuch ornaments to the narrativei- 

 vifited Bengal in 1780, and continued there till the year 1783^ 

 He publilhed, in aqtm tint ay views on the Ganges and Jumna ^ 

 Among them is one of the ruins of Jgra, waflied by the. 

 Jumna, and another of its fort. Mr. Hodges fettled during 

 fome years in London, and continued unrivalled the firft land- 

 fcape painter in our capital; his ideas highly-improved by the 

 variety of great fcenery he has had opportunity of contempLu- 

 ing ; all which appears evident in his performances, 



Agra, and the neighboring village Secundra, are juftly cele- Mausol-eum on 

 brated for their wonderful Maujoleums ; that of Akbar at Agra, 

 eredted by his fon Jebangir, of which Mr. Hodges gives two 

 views, in vol. ii. tab. XV and XVI-, with feveral of the attendant" 

 buildings of thefe imperial follies, with their mofques^ their? 

 Choultries, and paviilions, and refidences of the Mollahs and holy- 

 men, who at ftated times performed the lacred officesi The 

 Maufoleum itfelf is fquare, fiat roofed, and ornamented with- 

 feveral cupolas and minarets. In a large print publifhed fepa— 

 mtely by Mr. Hodges, is a view of the gateway, a vaft pile. On< 



fev-er.y. 



Akbar. 



