MALLET, VINDHYAN SERIES, 119 



respect. Thus, in Akbar's palace at Futtipur-Sikri many Mocks have 

 been defaced or crumbled away, whilst others of better selection, after 

 three hundred years' exposure to the weather, retain the sharpness of 

 their elaborately carved surfaces almost as clearly as when fresh from the 

 mason's hands. Beerbul's palace may be selected as an example of 

 what this stone is capable of in the way of elaborate ornamentation 

 when well chosen. This red sandstone frequently possesses a perfectly 

 parallel lamination, by the aid of which, and the introduction of a series 

 of wedges, it can be split up into flags of various thicknesses, which are 

 well adapted, and are largely used, for flooring and roofing. The laminated 

 structure at the same time diminishes the value of the stone as a building 

 material. Some experiments were made on these rocks in 1830 by 

 Lieutenant J. T. Boileau of the Engineers with rather curious results. 

 It was found that wliile the strength of the dry red sandstone was to 

 the strength of the dry white only as 11 to 17, the strength, when 

 saturated with water, was as 11 to 9; that while the white sandstone 

 lost about half its strength by saturation, the red in this respect remained 

 the same, and hence is peculiarly suitable for roofing purposes. The 

 mean breaking weights of slabs 4| feet X 12 inches x I2 inches, the sup- 

 ports being 4 feet apart, and the deflection at the moment of firacture 



were found to be for'^ 



Breaking weight. Deflection. 



lbs. inches. 



r Red sandstone 392 • 537 



^^"'\ White ditto 575 -580 



C Eed sandstone 386 • 708 



■Wet, * 



{ 



White ditto 300 • 791 



The yellowish-white sandstone is a splendid material. The thickness 



of many beds admits of blocks of any required size being extracted, while 



the fineness and perfect homogeneity of texture allow the execution of 



* Gleanings of Science, Vol. II, p, 158. 



( 119 ) 



