MOSAIC OF AGRA. 433 



6. The Plasma, which appears to me to be a mixture more or less inti- 

 mate of Quartz and Chlorite, is frequently found in the basalt and amyg- 

 daloid rocks of the Dekhin : its principal use in the Mosaic is to vary the 

 shades of the leaves of the flowers. 



9. The yellow marble is seen principally in the tombs of Etimad ad Dau- 

 lah, the Vizir of Jehangir. His sarcophagus and that of his wife are form- 

 ed of solid blocks of it. It is said to come from Guzerat. Not being able 

 to procure bits of this or of the striped marble, I was not able to ascertain 

 their nature. 



10. The Clay slate appears to resemble that which I have seen from 

 Monghir and from the ruins of Gour. It is used in the borders of the Mo- 

 saic as a contrast to the white marble, but takes a very inferior polish and 

 is much subject to decomposition. The large takht of Shahjehan near the 

 private hall of audience in the fort, is composed of an entire slate of this 

 stone. 



1 1. The Nephrite or Jade, I have only seen in the Zenana of Jehangir. 

 It is of the same kind as that sold in Calcutta in the shape of dagger's han- 

 dles, spoons, cups, &c. Some rough specimens of it, which I procured from 

 the bazar contained a considerable quantity of talc intermixed, which is not 

 an uncommon occurrence in this stone. 



12. The yellow shelly limestone is remarkable for the different species 

 of the genus Cardium, which it contains, the ribs and transverse striae of 

 that genus of shell being very distinct. The matrix is composed of clay, 

 silex and oxide of iron; it is softer than the crystalline yellow limestone 

 which fills up the outline of the shells, and consequently takes an inferior 

 polish: where it has been exposed to the tread of the naked feet of pilgrims, 

 this difference is particularly obvious, the shells being left in relief by the 



C'cc 



