1833.] Sun Dial at Agra. 251 
V1.—Description of a Sun Dial in the Court of the Moti Masjid, in the 
Fort of Agra. By Capt. J. T. Bowweau, Engineers. 
Among the curiosities of this once great emporium of learning and 
art, which have attracted the attention of strangers, is a dial-plate of 
white marble, with lines inlaid on its surface of a black slate; similar 
to the accompanying sketch. The style, which appears to have been an 
upright round pin, is gone, and the inlaying has been pulled out ; but 
the configuration of the lines is still perfect, being marked by the chan- 
nels wherein the inlaying fitted. The breadth of these channels is 
about 3th of an inch. 
The dial-plate is set up in the court of the Mote Masjid, a building 
which was constructed in the latter end of the reign of AuraNnaziB, 
about the year 1673, and it is probable that this dial was put up about 
the same time ; but whether in its present site and position, or elsewhere, 
I have not been able to ascertain. 
The absence of hour lines, excepting xm and vi a. M.and p.m. would 
lead to the supposition, that the object for which the dial was con- 
structed had reference only to the times of Mussulman prayer; but the 
object of the circular arc, which subtends an angle of about 95 degrees, 
has never been explained, although many celebrated Moulavés have 
visited the Masjid and examined the dial as it stands. 
The surface of the dial inclines south about ths of an inch, which leads 
me to believe, that it has been removed from the place where it was ori- 
ginally fixed ; for the inclination is too small to affect the projection of 
the shadow of the gnomon in any sensible degree, and I believe, there- 
fore, that it stood originally in a perfectly horizontal position. 
With regard to the true north point of the dial, it is difficult from 
the mere inspection of the lines upon it to come to any determination. 
The Moti Masjid stands in lat. 27° 9' nearly, and the sun’s greatest de- 
clination N. being 23° 274’, he of course can never approach nearer 
our zenith than 3° 41’ to the south. It is not possible, therefore, 
that the circular arc, which is inclined about 29° to the present meri- 
dian line, could under any circumstances mark the path of the shadow 
of a style placed as the style of this dial was, in a vertical position. 
Agra, March 2\st, 1833. 
