200 Notes on the Tojjography &c. of Delhi. [No. 4, 



to describe them in detail : first premising that there are certain portions 

 which have been disarranged, or have otherwise suffered, during the 

 restorations effected at Various times ; and the evidence of which must 

 therefore be received with caution. These are : first, the colonnade 

 and back wall between a and b (see Plate XXII.) which, with a strange 

 want of discrimination, were reconstructed* by Major R. Smith from 

 materials which had orginally formed portion of the colonnade at H ; — 

 secondly, the windows in Kutb-ud-din's work, few of which escaped 

 re-arrangement at the same time, — and, thirdly, the central grand Arch 

 where Captain Wickham has inserted an impost for which the adjoin- 

 ing one afforded no warrant. 



Let us commence with the pillars in the colonnades. In Kutb-ud- 

 din's workf these are of red and yelloio sandstone, as are also the 

 lintels and domed roofs over them : they differ in height, in thickness, 

 in the number of parts of which they are composed, and in the or- 

 namentation with which they are covered, whilst the spaces between 

 each pillar differ throughout varying between b\ feet, 8|- feet, and 

 every imaginable intermediate number ; thus proving that they are 

 the remains of older buildings worked up into a new design. 



In the colonnades at E, F, and H, (Altamsh's work,) the pillars| are 

 of granite neatly carved : — they also are of different lengths, and the 

 spaces between vary like the last, ranging between 5f and 8 feet. 

 They are much weathered and discoloured, which marks their anti- 

 quity, the whole proving that they too are old materials worked up 

 again, but that they are not from the same source as those in Kutb-ud- 

 din's work. In the colonnade at F, Gr, the pillars§ are also of granite, 

 but clean and sharp as though fresh from the mason's chisel : they 

 are plainly carved, are uniform in size, and are spaced at an equal 

 distance apart of 8^ feet.|| This shews that they were made expressly 

 for the work in which they now stand. 



* Major Smith in his report admits that he re-arranged this colonnade, and 

 the most superficial examination will serve to shew that the pillars belonged 

 to Altamsh's work. 



This is confirmed by the statement of one Siwa Earn (now deceased) who, 

 as head mason of Government works at Delhi for nearly forty years, had much 

 to do with these restorations ; and who assured me that this was the case. 

 ' f See figs. 1 to 4, plate XXIII. 



J See fig. 8, plate XXIII. 



§ See fig. 9, plate XXIII. 



|| Some are 8j feet only. 



