G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 183 



of cloiflers, with pointed arches; beyond thefe cloifters ap- 

 pears the Maufoleum ; in the center is a magnificent dome, anti 

 at a fmall diftance, on two fides, are two lofty minarets ; the 

 whole is compofed of marble of fnowy whitenefs, brought from 

 Candahar^ fix hundred miles diftant. Tavernier, part ii. p. 50, 

 affirms, that he faw the beginning and completing of this work, 

 with the aflTi (lance of twenty thoufand men always at work^ 

 The allies of the fair Tajamahel are depofited in a white farco- 

 phagus, in a hall beneath the great dome. 



In Berniey\ time, portions of the Alcoran were continually 

 read with profound refpecSl to the honor of the deceafed. Both- 

 the gardens in which thefe maufolees are built, are inclofed in a 

 lofty wall, with a gallery running round the fummit of each. 

 Bernier and his friend who was with him, agreed in their ad- 

 miration of thefe celeftial gardens, efpecially of the laft, which 

 on one fide was bordered by the magnificent Jumna , and every 

 part embelliflied with fountains, and laid out in a tafte the candid. 

 Frenchman never expedted to find on the plains of Hindoojian, 

 He gives up every comparifon of French elegance, and at length 

 eonfefles " that he does not yet well know whether he is not in- 

 feded ftill with Indiamfm ; but I muft needs fay, but that I be- 

 lieve the I'ajemahel ought to be reckoned amongft the wonders 

 of the world, rather than thofe unfliapen maflTes of the Mgyp" 

 tian pyramids, which I was weary to fee after I had feen them 

 twice, and in which I find I fee nothing without but pieces of 

 great fliones ranged in the form of fteps one upon another, and 

 within, nothing but very little art and invention." 



To continue the funebrial fubjetft, we may fay, that the two 



immediate 



