450 THE PRESENT STATE OF DELHI. 



ground. In the front is an Ivan, or open hall, with 

 adjoining apartments; the interior of which are deco- 

 rated with a beautiful border of white and gold paint- 

 ing, upon a ground of the finest chunam. At the 

 upper end of this Ivan was formerly a marble throne, 

 raised about three feet from the ground , all of which 

 is removed. On each side of this Ivan, inclosed by 

 hi^h walls, are the apartments of the Haram, some of 

 which are built of red stone, and some of the brick 

 faced with fine chunam, and decorated with paint- 

 ings of flowers of various patterns. All these apart- 

 ments have winding passages which communicate with 

 each other, and the gardens adjoining by private doors. 

 The extent of Shalimar does not appear to have been 

 large : I suppose the gardens altogether are not above 

 a mile in circumference. A high brick -wall runs 

 arGund the whole, which is destroyed in many parts of 

 it, and the extremities are flanked with octagon pavi- 

 lions of red stone. The gardens still abound with 

 trees of a very large size, and very old. The pros- 

 pect to the southward of Shalimar towards Delhi, as 

 far as the eye can reach, is covered with the remains 

 of extensive gardens, pavilions, mosques, and bury- 

 ing-places, all desolate and in ruins. The environs 

 of this once magnificent and celebrated city appear 

 now nothing more than a shapeless heap of ruins ; and 

 the country round about is equally forlorn. 



^XXIIL 



