CHAPTER IV 



THE AGRA GRAPE GARDEN 



But still a Ruby kindles in the Vine, 

 And many a Garden by the Water blows. 



OMAR KHAYYAM. 



THE royal palace within the fort at Agra, like 

 every other Indian house or palace, once con- 

 tained several open squares laid out in gardens. 

 " All these palaces (Delhi, Agra, Lahore) are full 

 of gardens with running water, which flows in 

 channels into reservoirs of stone, jasper, and 

 marble. In all the rooms and halls of these 

 palaces there are ordinarily fountains or reservoirs 

 of the same stone and of proportionate size. 

 In the gardens of these palaces there are always 

 flowers according to the season. There are no 

 large fruit trees of any sort, in order not to hinder 

 the delight of an open view. In these palaces 

 are seats and private rooms, some of which are 

 in the midst of running water. In the water 



82 



