1847-] Some account of the " Kaldn Musjeed." 683 



trative of the buildings of that, and earlier periods. The Kootub 

 Minar is a well known instance of this style, as adopted about 100 

 years before the time of Feeroz, and the conical towers on each side of 

 the entrance to the Kalan Musjeed are, in their general conformity, not 

 unlike the famous Kootub Tower. The sloping pillasters on each side 

 of the main entrance give somewhat of au Egyptian appearance to the 

 front of the building, which is not dissimilar from some of the more 

 ancient remains of Hindoo architecture, the style of which is generally 

 believed to have been derived from the Egyptians. 



It will be an interesting subject of future inquiry,-— being a question 

 which has not, that we are aware of, been yet decided, whether the 

 Mahomedan conquerors of India preserved the style of architecture of 

 the countries from which they emigrated, or whether they did not imitate 

 to a certain extent the Hindoo buildings which they found in India, 



2nd. The very simple kind of column and entablature used in this 

 building as supports to the arches, is a point also very worthy of notice- 

 It consists of one, or in most instances, two upright stones or pillars, 

 standing on a third, with a fourth placed on the top as an entablature. 

 This is one of the most primitive styles of architecture known. The 

 peculiar construction of the arches and domes, the stones of which are 

 held together by the wonderful adhesive qualities of the lime used in 

 those days, without any key stones, has been before remarked upon, 

 and is another characteristic of the Mahomedan Indian buildings of 

 the 14th century. 



3rd. It is reasonable to infer that this mosque was built in the 

 midst of a considerable population, and that the present site of Dehli, 

 was either a suburb of the then Feerozabad, or if not, a portion of that 

 town itself. 



It has been mentioned that the apartments on the basement story 

 are occupied. The tenants pay to the collector of Dehli the monthly 

 sum of lis. 6-3, of which 6 Rs. are handed over to the attendant Priest 

 appointed by the local authorities who, out of that sum, defrays the 

 expenses of sweeping, and water, and provides the budenees in use by 

 the few frequenters of the mosque, chiefly Affghans residing in the 

 neighbourhood, to perform their ablutions. The balance of 3 annas 

 per mensem is carried to the credit of the state, which is however, at 

 the expense of any repairs which may be required. 



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