198 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
in time ; but what a splendid ray of glory would this 
have added to their earthly immortality ! 
A great many depredations have been committed 
on the Taje Mahal at different times by the preda- 
tory Mahrattas and the Jauts, who had possession of 
Agra for a considerable period. They removed the 
brazen gates of the city, as well as the golden spire 
and other costly portions of the mausoleum. These 
have been in some measure, though very imperfectly, 
restored by the munificence of the East India Com- 
pany, who, up to the year 1814, had expended above 
a lac of rupees, or twelve thousand pounds sterling, 
in effecting this object ; but, as Mr. Hamilton truly 
says, “ in India, owing to the nature of the climate, 
the luxuriant vegetation, and other causes, under- 
takings of this sort may be described as never end- 
ing, still beginning.” 
