1866] Notes on the Topography &c. of Delhi. 205 



south one, and about 8 feet inside the east one. Had Altanish designed 

 it, he would surely have placed it more symmetrically. As it now 

 stands, it is evident that the position of his colonnades was regulated 

 by some considerations* which we cannot now determine, and that the 

 Minar, which was already in existence, had to fit in with them as 

 best it might. 



As regards the age of the various portions as they now stand, the 

 most superficial examination will shew that the three lower stories, 

 whilst they are identical in style and construction with the work of 

 Altamsh, differ completely in both particulars from the two uppermost 

 ones. In the former, except the outer casing which is of sandstone 

 (no marble being used anywhere) , the walls are of cut granite ; so 

 too are the central pillar and the steps, which latter are not plain 

 lintel blocks, but are carried upon corbels projecting from the walls. 

 All the doorways and openings have Hindu horizontal arches ; the 

 sandstone is old and discoloured, and the ornamentation dates from 

 Altamsh and Kutb-ud-din's time. In the two upper stories all is 

 changed ; the walls, steps and central pillar are of bright red sand- 

 stone, white marble being introduced into the outer face, the steps 

 have no corbels, the arches have truevoussoirs, and the ornamentation is 

 identical with what we find prevalent in the latter half of the 14th 

 century. We are thus warranted in assuming that these two stories 

 were newly designed and built by Firuz Shah in A. D. 1368. 



General Cunningham agrees as far as the fifth story is concerned, 

 but thinks the fourth is original, as the inscription over the doorway 

 dates from the reign of Altamsh. But this doorway is exactly similar 

 to the one above ; it is built of similar stone, is of a similar shape, 

 and, like it, has true voussoirs ; it is clear therefore that the old 

 tablet of Altamsh has been simply re-built into the new work of 

 Firuz Shah. 



As regards the work executed in A. D. 1503, by Sikandar Shah 

 Lodi, I can find no traces of it ; and presume therefore that it con- 

 sisted of bond fide repairs, such as those undertaken by the British 

 G-overnment forty years ago. 



* Probably owing to the nature of the site, which falls rapidly to the south- 

 east from, about the point marked E on the plan. 



