106 



dar on their backs, are on a large scale, and add much to the 

 general grandeur. From the Jellougah we ascended a noble flight 

 of steps into another spacious court, on the western side of which 

 was the duan aum, or public hall of audience, and opposite to it 

 the nobut khani, or music-gallery. On approaching the hall of 

 audience, a timid hare started from the spot where stood the mus- 

 nud of Aurungzebe ; that throne where the proudest monarch in 

 the world was seated in all his glory! The throne was elevated in 

 the most conspicuous part of this superb hall ; the hall itself was 

 filled with ameers of the first distinction, and the spacious court 

 crowded with haughty warriors and other nobles, while the air 

 echoed with the swelling notes from the nobat khani, and the voices 

 of the chopdars and heralds loudly proclaiming, " May the king of 

 the world live for ever!" From that throne, which the proudest 

 nobles then approached with awe and palpitation, now sprang 

 forth a terrified little hare!" 



This is followed by an excellent description of the Taje Mahal, 

 the celebrated mausoleum at Agra, already mentioned, which city 

 then belonging to (he Mahrattas, this spot was appropriated for 

 the accommodation of the English embassy. 



" On approaching the famous city of Agra, or Akber-abad, the 

 most melancholy remains of former grandeur presented themselves 

 on all sides ; mosques, palaces, gardens, caravansaries, and mauso- 

 leums, mingled in one general ruin! On entering the gate of the 

 city, at which there was no guard, I proceeded through the quar- 

 ter called Momtazabad, over a chaos of desolation for about two 

 miles, to Taje Mahl, the gem or diadem of the seraglio, which was 

 the place allotted by Mhadajee Sindia, the Mahratta chieftain, for 



