66 



despicably poor, and thinly inhabited. Two or three of a larger 

 size seemed more populous, were of considerable breadth, and 

 occupied by the aqueduct already mentioned in the centre, now in 

 a slate of dilapidation. 



The fort of Delhi has more the appearance of an ornamented 

 wall, constructed round a royal residence, than a fortification 

 against an enemy. To such an extreme has this expensive taste 

 been carried, that all the towers, erected at stated distances along 

 the walls of the fortress, are covered with domes of white marble, 

 richly ornamented with gold. 



The following morning we rode through the suburbs, to view 

 the celebrated mausoleums. That of Humaioon is truly magni- 

 ficent, and occupies a large space; the centre dome is uncom- 

 monly bold, and admirably formed, the lower part divided into 

 numerous sepulchral chambers, each containing the tomb of some 

 relation of the royal line, whose body is deposited beneath the 

 platform. These chambers, connected with each other, penetrate 

 the whole extent, and were individually appropriated to a de- 

 scendant of the house of Timur. These are too numerous to 

 particularise; but among them is the chamber of Allum Geer Sau- 

 nee, father of Shah Aalum the present emperor; another contain- 

 ing the remains of his eldest son ; a third of his sister. The 

 tombs placed over the bodies are all of plain white marble chu- 

 nam, the exterior sepulchres of while marble. 



The mausoleum of Khan Khannah, or Lord of Lords, the 

 vizier of Humaioon, stands near the sepulchre of his royal master. 

 This edifice is said to be characteristic of its founder, constructed 

 at a great expense without taste or elegance, and such was the 



