98 GARDENS OF THE PLAINS DELHI 



It is spring-time in the garden, the month of 

 March, when all the flowers in their first freshness 

 are coming up through the soft green turf by the 

 waterside. The Emperor sits on a raised, carpet- 

 covered chabutra, under a big chenar tree, where 

 his presents are being spread out for his inspection : 

 bags of the good " white money " ; and those 

 charming dalis of fruit and flowers arranged in 

 bowls, or tastefully laid out on large brass trays, 

 such as still grace all festival occasions in India. 

 Across the narrow watercourse musicians play, 

 a Kashmiri dancer swings her castanets, while 

 beside her a sword juggler is busily engaged in 

 going through his performance. 



The whole setting is very like the garden we 

 are considering. The Indian artist painting 

 this picture in Akbar's reign may have actually 

 chosen some spot in Humayun's garden at Delhi 

 for his illustration. In any case, the tomb of the 

 former Emperor would most probably be familiar 

 to him ; and the narrow watercourses, and little 

 square tank with its inner circle, are similar to 

 those still existing in the garden ; where, in fact, 

 one misses only the flowers, and fruit blossoms, 

 and the pleasant gurgling splash of the small 

 copper fountains. 



