158 
LUCKNO W. 
respecting Mecca ; and, consequently, instead of an ornament it is an 
unsightly object. He left one hundred rupees per day to forty fakirs 
to read the Koran, and pray for him ; but this, the present Nawaub 
thought extravagant ; and, observing that their father had but five, 
has reduced the number from forty to ten. The approach to the 
building is through a very large quadrangle to a garden, elevated a 
small height ; on one side of which is a very beautiful mosque, and 
on the other the Bolee palace. The Imaumbarah itself is built on 
an elevated terrace, which on this occasion gave still more splendor 
to the innumerable lights placed upon it ; yet even these could 
not diminish the effect of the thousands of girandoles, filled with 
wax-candles, which were suspended from the roof at different 
heights, and were reflected by the different coloured cut glass, 
which composed them. The floor was covered with candles, like- 
wise in glass branches, leaving only sufficient space for the crowd 
to pass. The third apartment was filled from one end to the other 
with a range of silver temples or cenotaphs, raised on platforms 
about three feet from the ground, in wHich were placed the sup- 
posed tombs of the two brothers. These were brilliantly illuminated , 
both from the ceiling, and by candles placed around in branches- 
I think they were at least twenty in number, and were worth from 
50,000 to a lac of rupees each. In different parts of the building 
prayers were said ; and every evening all unbelievers, and followers 
of Omar, Othman, and Abubeker were anathematised, to the edifica- 
tion of the Hindoos, who, on this occasion, crowded there in great 
numbers. Disturbances have frequently taken place ; but as far as I 
can learn, this Moharam passed quietly, and without the loss of a life.* 
* For an account of the origin and purpose of the structures called Imaumbarah, see 
Appendix. 
