144 
Sketch of the Geology 
[Mat 
generally formed, gives to many, even of the most stupendous monuments of the 
Mogul power, a fantastic and party-colored appearance, and it is impossible net 
to regret that the white variety had not come into use at an earlier period. To the 
general use of the red sandstones there is a still stronger objection. This rock 
appears to be little capable of resisting the decomposing effects of the atmosphere. 
Hence it is that so few of the. edifices for which Agra was once so famous, now 
remain entire : and of the few which have escaped, the majority are rapidly falling 
to decay. The splendid mausoleum of Akber, at Secandra, is’likely soon to meet 
the fate of its fellows, while at every step we take, we see the most stupendous ru- 
ins of palaces, and courts, and gateways, which less than two centuries ago were 
the favorite haunts of the sovereigns of Hindustan. In every climate this is a most 
serious objection, but in a climate like this it is rjuite unsurmountable ; and, in con- 
templating the ruins around us, though we may smile at the vanity of Jeh4ngir 
■when, in the pride of his heart, he pronounced his favorite capital to' be the “ first 
city of the world,” let us not ourselves neglect the lesson which the fate of the, 
comparatively speaking, modern city of Akberabad has so emphatically taught us. 1 
The above objection is more strongly applicable to the purely red than" to the 
speckled variety. The former, from its slaty texture, in a very short time exhibits 
signs of decay, and in the coui'se or years it is subjected to a gradual process of 
exfoliation. 
The salmon colored variety, on the other hand, seems less liable than either of 
the above to such objection. This last is a remarkably line freestone, and may be 
had in slabs of any magnitude. It is admirably adapted for paving and hearth 
stones, and is even capable of being used in the finer kinds of ornamental archi- 
tecture. I have had an opportunity of seeing a remarkably handsome chimney 
piece ol this rock, which, in the chasteness of its design, and minuteness of sculp- 
ture, could scarcely have been surpassed had the finest white marble been cm ploved 
in its fabrication. On this subject I shall say no more, as you have already been 
furnished, by a scientific officer of engineers, with a lull account of the physical 
properties of these sandstones, in reference to their employment in architecture; 
and I shall now proceed to offer a few remarks illustrative of their geological re- 
lations. D 
. T 1 hes ® sandstones, then, belong to that great formation which occurs so exten- 
snely distributed throughout Hindostan, and which is now very generally consi- 
ered to be identical with the New red sandstone formation of the English /-eolo- 
r he rocks of this series, which occupy so conspicuous a place in the ffeoloeyof 
nued on with but little interruption, into the Bhartpur district, where they oc- 
casionally appear near the surface, though, generally speaking thev are hid from 
view by the great alluvial and diluvial deposites of the Gangetic’ Provinces These 
£& CaSCS ’ SCem t0 0CC W internal vdleys°oSos EE 
ra * n tbe Bhartpur t] . istrict ' as in otller situations, the rocks of this series are cl 
formationTo^ilindoVt'fn ^ ^ bt 1 cxteaded to the great majority of the true rot 
great scarcity ofiH f thl - S circumstaDCe may probably be attributed t! 
fL /in, f ? ! marked organic remains in the newer marine denosits • as 
the ^ .*? concealed tm Sew 1 
comparatively speakiiv of tlm nmrl° Ck % *^ C i yet> discov 'ered but le; 
laceous, and ferruuinmui 1 v i ■ ■ , y ’ °f t* ie loose argillaceous, calcared, argi 
nugmpus beds, which usually accompany the more recent strata i 
the rT4»”ofjeh"tlfr W sLh , Sr i r Iy Cmp W jT tIle A ff ra architects, dim 
in the laudpdr dE ±“ ’ C . 'T a "’ 1 brought from Jlkroai 
however, it was hut too PP - . , >e a very durable stone. Unfortuimteh 
sandstone. Shall Jehan irwlf'pri° mi .* * d) e sa,1 ] e building with the more perishab 
^aj Mehal, where the assies of this ' ouu HT ft . 1 * u chaster style of architecture, andtl 
Begun , isstiHpr eserved l n ‘ '^ h n °'- ' llln » le with those of bis beanft 
to arbl ei i Jausol in.iL w II ta J l lts P rlstine splendour. This magnificei 
usoleumis, indeed, well suited to his gorgeous title of « king of the world. 
