humayoon’s tomb. 
93 
brated edifice exhibits. It is composed entirely of 
marble., in some of its parts exhibiting beautiful 
specimens of the most costly mosaic, like the Taje 
Mah’l at Agra, built by Shah Jehan, after the same 
design, but still more costly, much more richly orna- 
mented, and of considerably larger dimensions. The 
mausoleum of Humayoon is even now the admira- 
tion of travellers, and is altogether, according to the 
opinion of many, in better taste than that more 
celebrated and elaborate edifice, the Taje. In the 
neighbourhood of this noble monument of filial 
munificence, are the tombs of several omrahs, who 
had attached themselves to the Emperor in his re- 
verses, when his country was under the dominion of 
an Afghan usurper. In the engraving there appear 
near the main structure a few date-trees, which, 
being taken as a scale, will furnish a tolerably just 
idea of the size of the mausoleum ; and a few loaded 
camels winding their way among the solitary mansions 
of the dead, only disturb the sacred repose of the spot 
to add to its solemnity.* 
* As the engravings contained in the present volume were 
originally selected to illustrate the lives of the Moghul Emperors, 
Humayoon and Akbar, I could not avoid adverting to the 
reigns of those distinguished men. I have not, however, 
attempted to write their biographies ; but being compelled 
to give them a place in this volume, I have touched slightly 
upon some of the most remarkable or interesting circumstances 
of their respective reigns, which are both distinguished by very 
striking historical events. My aim has been to select those por- 
tions in the history of each reign best calculated to fix the 
reader’s interest and to impart amusement at the same time 
that they convey instruction. 
