ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. ' 7 
dynasty, exhibiting most graceful forms, executed in beautiful 
materials, and enriched with an exuberance and delicacy of orna- 
mentation which words fail to depict. To specify only one 
example of ornamental work—the perforated marble screens round 
certain tombs, and separating apartments or filling window spaces, 
are unique in their character, and so exquisite in design as to 
resemble the finest lacework. The lower part of such a screen, 
where not perforated, is often covered with a mosaic of flowers, 
birds, &c., in coloured stones. 
The tomb buildings are not only superb examples of decorated 
architecture, but usually they are surrounded by gardens full of 
bright flowers and fountains and noble trees. The gem of these 
Mogul tombs is admitted to be the Taj Mahal at Agra, of which 
the well-known writer on architecture, Fergusson, says: ‘There 
is not perhaps in the whole world a scene where nature and art 
so successfully combine to produce a perfect work of art as within 
the precincts of this far-famed mausoleum.” But I must return 
to more prosaic matters. 
We passed through the Suez Canal in the middle of February, 
and at that time the traffic was enormous. No fewer than twenty- 
two steamers going southward met us on the day before we 
reached Suez. At that port we were detained a day waiting for 
a chance of entering the canal, and while lying at anchor I counted 
forty steamers, mostly of large size, in the bay around us. It 
took us three days to get through to Port Said, and over three 
dozen steamers passed us in that time. At Port Said I counted 
twenty-six steamers, most of them waiting for permission to enter 
the canal. It was no wonder that an outcry arose for increase 
of canal accommodation, but the diplomatic difficulties seem 
greater than the physical, and nothing appears yet to be definitely 
settled. It is proposed by Baron Lesseps to cut a second canal ; 
but to an unprofessional mind it would seem more advantageous 
to double the width of the existing one, for then vessels could 
maintain a higher speed in the transit, and could pass each other 
at any point while underway ; whereas at present they can pass 
