on Tor Cooturn Minar. 485 
apears by the inscription was built in the reign of Nasin-un-pin, A. H. 
652, A. D. 1254.. Although we cannot now find any Hindu ruins in the 
vicinity of this town, yet the existence of a temple in former times is clear- 
ly proved by pillars ‘covered with Hinde carving, being used as beams, 
to support the stairs of the Minar similar to the Coolub, also the door is 
to the north; the steps reach the ground, and it is denominated, building 
(,lea:) in the inscription. 
Tne Findus are said to claim the Cootub as the work of: ove of their 
princes, new-faced and ornamented by the Musselmans. I think’ there 
are some circumstances which create strong doubt of the accuracy of the 
tradition, Ist. ‘The three lowersteries of the Minar are externally gener- 
ally built of the red stone, from the quarries of Futiehpur Sicri, and a con- 
siderable portion of the interior is constructed of the same material, which is 
not to be met with throughout the extensive Hindu ruins, which surround 
the tower on every side, and which are comparatively of gveat antiquity. 
2d. ‘The entrance passage and staircase of the Cootwb are both arched, 
thus exhibiting a knowledge of architecture in the builder, ‘which the 
Hindus of that age did not possess. ‘The small domes which remain entire 
among the Hindu ruins, are all built of stone, each a segment of a circle 
and each decreasing in area, and projecting over that beneath it, until the 
dome is compleat, also the roofs of the arcades, are invariably formed ef 
blocks of stone, extending frem one pillar to the next. 
Tue unfinished Minar bears north from the Ceotwb distant about 426 
feet: it is therefore considerably beyond the northern extreme of the line of 
VOL. XIV. , 6 H 
