Snakes. Delhi 319 



whom they came thankfully to depend, and whose 

 aims and aspirations are growing their own. Consider, 

 compared with any city in Europe, the life which Delhi 

 has seen ; its ancient history is even more interesting 

 than its Mutiny history. 



Meanwhile we were nearing the Kutab Minar ; our 

 driver now and then pointed out the tomb of some 

 minister or other, a star in one of the ancient dynasties 

 who had built his memorial. Sometimes it was but 

 half finished ; always it was overgrown and uncared 

 for, but preserved more or Jess intact from past ages 

 in a climate which has little effect upon the solid 

 masonry of the ancients. At last we drew up close 

 to the Kutab : actually a ddk bungalow in sight. We 

 ordered tiffin under the trees. 



To begin with, we visited Kutab-ud-dln's ruined 

 mosque, and even now we could trace the old Hindu 

 remains below it, and forming part of it, showing the use 

 the Mohammedan conqueror had made of a Buddhist 

 temple. He must have built a magnificent mosque, 

 for it had covered evidently an enormous acreage. In 

 the courtyard outside is the curious carved metal pillar 

 with the Sanscrit inscription ; very little is known 

 about the pillar, which has been put down as wrought 

 iron, but is actually an alloy. Last, and best of all, 

 was the Kutab itself. 



The two others proceeded to ascend it by a spiral 

 staircase which runs from top to bottom ; now and then 

 they came out on to a balcony and rested. I forget its 

 actual height and number of steps. At last two little 



