. The Indian empire: history, topography, geology, climate, population, chief cities and provinces; tributary and protected states; military power and resources; religion, education, crime; land tenures; staple products; government, finance, and commerce . ^ that occurs so profusely in all Mogul buildings, are still entire ason the day they received the last touch of the sculptors chisel. The wall was disfiguredby Aurungzebe, the third son of Shah Jehan; avIio, in order to divert the minds of thepeople from dwelling upon his usurpation of his fathers throne, aud his relentless perse-cution of
. The Indian empire: history, topography, geology, climate, population, chief cities and provinces; tributary and protected states; military power and resources; religion, education, crime; land tenures; staple products; government, finance, and commerce . ^ that occurs so profusely in all Mogul buildings, are still entire ason the day they received the last touch of the sculptors chisel. The wall was disfiguredby Aurungzebe, the third son of Shah Jehan; avIio, in order to divert the minds of thepeople from dwelling upon his usurpation of his fathers throne, aud his relentless perse-cution of his brothers, affected much religious zeal, and displayed it chiefly by strictobservance of the outward forms and precepts of the Koran. The interior of the pavilionwas beautifully carved with trees, clusters of grapes, and vine-leaves; among which weiebirds and animals executed with wonderful skill: but as the strict regulations of Islamisra^0 not permit of such representations, the emperor ordered them to be demolished, or. 4 4 THE INDIAN EMPIRE ILLUSTRATED. 57 defaced. Another chamber in this extensive area was paved with lozenges of black andwhite marble, forming an enormous chess-board, on which the emperor and his noblesplayed, human beings personating the various pieces employed in the game so deeplystudied by Asiatics of all ages. The audience chamber of Akber, though more curious than beautiful, forms an objectof great attraction to the visitors of Futtehpoor. It is a pavilion of stone, about twentyfeet square, surrounded by a gallery of the same material: the musnud, or throne, iaform somewhat resembling a pulpit, rises in the centre; and from each of the four sidesof the gallery, a narrow bridge, without rails, leads to the place, where the emperor,seated in solitary state, received his courtiers, who were not permitted to advance beyondthe galleries. The town of Futtehpoor Sikri, though now but thinly inhabited, is surrounded by amouldering turreted wall, five miles
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidindianempire, bookyear1858
