108 



it: the inner court, which is entered through large gates of brass 

 under a stupendous dome, forms a beautiful garden, with a profu- 

 sion of fountains, surrounded by magnificent buildings for recrea- 

 tion and devotion. At the north end, close to the bank of the 

 Jumna is the grand dome, under which the royal remains are depo- 

 sited. It is built entirely of pure white marble, on an immense 

 square platform of the same material, having a lofty minaret of 

 equal beaut} - at every corner. On each side, and behind the im- 

 perial mausoleum, is a suit of elegant apartments also of white 

 marble, highly decorated with coloured stones. The tombs and 

 other principal parts of this vast fabric are inlaid with wreaths of 

 flowers and foliage in their natural colours, entirely composed of 

 cornelians, onyxes, verd-anlique, lapis-lazuli, and every variety of 

 agates, so admirably finished as to have rather the appearance of 

 an ivory model set with jewels, just delivered from the artist's 

 hand, than an edifice which has withstood the inclemency of the 

 elements an hundred and forty-seven years." 



Sir Charles adds the following short account, extracted from 

 an authentic mahomedan chronologist, viz. " This year being the 

 sixteenth of his majesty's reign, he attended in person the ceremo- 

 nies of the anniversary of the death of the nabob Meh'ddlea, 

 ' Montaz Meld /and distributed large sums in alms. The meeting: 

 was held in the magnificent mausoleum which was finished this 

 year, having been twelve years in building, at the expense of fifty- 

 lacks of rupees; its chokies, serais, and various offices, formed a 

 grand city which went by the name of Montazabad. Thirty vil- 

 lages from the dependencies of Akberabad and Neiggarchwid, whose 

 produce was rated at four lacks of damms, and whose income 



