arid tifing confiderably h igher/ are four odangular pavilions,
with domes. From the center of the whole, tifing as high
as the domes of the pavilions, is a cone, whence fprings the
great dome, fwelhng from its hafe outwards confiderably,
and with a beautiful curve imilhing in the upper point of the
cullus, on which reft two balls of copper gilt, one, above
the other: above the balls is a crefcent, from the center of
which a fpear head terminates the whole. Each face o f this
building is a counterpart to the other, and all are equally
finilhed. .
When this building is viewed from the oppofite fide.,of
the river, it poffeffes a degree of beauty, from the perfedion
of the materials arid from the excellence of the workmanftup,
which is only furpaffed by its grandeur, extent, and general
magnificence. The bafeft material that enters into this center
part of ft is white marble, and the ornaments are of various
coloured marbles, in which there is no glitter: the whole
together appears like a moft perfed pearl on an azure ground.
The effed is fuch as, I confefs.I never experienced from
any work of art. The fine materials, the beautiful forms,
and the fymmetry of the whole, with the judicious choice of
fituation, far furpaffes any thing I ever beheld.
I t was the intention of the royal founder to have ereded
on the oppofite fliore a fimilar building, for his own interment,
and to have joined them bjr a marble bridge. This
I N D I A. X35
magnificent idea.was fruftrated b y ficknefs'/and by the fubfe-
quent difputes■ concerning the, fucceffion -between, his fons,
and at laft by!his ovirn imprifonment by Aurungzebe. :
T he garden, in*which the Taje'Mahel is fituated, is entered
from the oppofite fide, through .a;'large and handfome
gate of red freerftone,. whence.prpceeds a large-flight of fteps
iwtn the garden, From the top.ofthe.fteps the center parp,,qf
the middle building, is yiewed through an .avenue of cyprefs
and other trees mixed: the avenue’)is paved with ftone, in
the middle there are copartments, or .beds'of flowers,'^vith
fountains at equal diftances ; four , of the, moft magnificent of
.which are fituated about half way up the ayenue, .and rile
from a fquare bafeof white marble. Thefe, as well the
others, are fupplied by a refervoir without the building, which
infilled from the river by pumps. The, fountains are yet in
tolerable repair; they were played whilft I was there; and
the garden is ftill kept in decent order, file lands allotted for
the.fupport of the building not being wholly, difmembered
from it. The center building is in a perfed ftate j but all
thofe which furround it bear-ftrong marks of, decay. , Seyeral
Mollahs attend the mofque here at the hours of prayer, and
appear the moft orderly and decent that I have feen among
the Mahomedans ; extremely attentive to ftrangers, and afli-
duous to fliew and explain every part of it. The infide of
the great building is of white marble, with many ornaments
of flowers beautifully carved. , The tomb is in a chamber be