84 THE AGRA GRAPE GARDEN 



at enormous cost in the corner near the Jasmine 

 Tower. 



Through all the troublous times, in which the 

 fort has been besieged, taken and retaken, looted 

 by the Jats, turned into a barracks by the English, 

 this zenana quarter of the palace seems to have 

 been more or less respected ; and an indefinable 

 charm still pervades these buildings and lingers 

 in the cool green shadows of their arches. Viewed 

 from the open garden square, these palace rooms 

 form a wonderful group ; all are still perfect, 

 save only for an ugly modern marble rail which 

 catches the eye, disfiguring and stunting the 

 proportions of the upper story of the Jasmine 

 Tower. 



Among the many improvements that were 

 made by Lord Curzon in the fort was the clear- 

 ance of the wire -netting fern houses and be- 

 draggled shrubs which at one time disfigured 

 the Anguri Bagh. 



Wherever one wanders throughout India, the 

 name of Lord Curzon rises up in connection 

 with some fine work of restoration — a sort of 

 beneficent djinn, whose good deeds lose nothing 

 in the telling. Everywhere from guardians of 

 the ancient gates the same tale meets the ear : 



