"THE VENUS DE MILO OF THE EAST" 61 



The magic lasted but a moment, but in that 

 moment I had seen the vision as its builders 

 saw and planned it long ago — ^the vision which 

 Mr. Havell with so much insight describes when 

 he says : " Those critics who have objected to 

 the effeminacy of the architecture unconsciously 

 pay the highest tribute to the genius of the 

 builders. The Taj was meant to be feminine. 

 The whole conception, and every line and detail 

 of it express the intention of the designers. It 

 is Mumtaz Mahal herself, radiant in her youthful 

 beauty, who still lingers on the banks of the 

 shining Jumna, at early morn, in the glowing 

 midday sun, or in the silver moonlight. Or 

 rather, we should say, it conveys a more abstract 

 thought ; it is India's noble tribute to the grace 

 of Indian womanhood — the Venus de Milo of 

 the East." 



As the sunlight flooded the gardens, the 

 avenue of cypresses stood out sharply, their 

 shadows barring the long walks. But the dark 

 masses of the mango trees behind looked confused 

 and heavy, blocking the full view of the magnifi- 

 cent platform with the white marble mausoleum 

 and its attendant mosques. The noise of a flock 

 of chattering, shrieking parrots rose behind me 



