ich it opened some twenty feet from the surface, and into
which the decapitated bodies of the criminals were cast and left to
float away with the ebb and flow of the Jumna's tide. The bed of the
river showed that at certain seasons it must be at least half a mile in
width, but it was a meagre stream when we crossed it that bright and
sunny February day.

The royal apartments within the palace are being restored at present,
and many skilled workmen were busy upon the frescoes, inlaid stone work,
and delicate marble ornamentations, while we were there. The Grotto of
Glass, as the principal bath-room designed for the use of the harem is
called, was a curious and luxurious marble room, with inviting pure
white marble tanks large enough to swim in, and surrounded by tiny glass
mirrors let into the walls at such angles as to reflect a figure myriads
of times, quite distracting to look upon. All departments of this
remarkable royal residence are exquisitely finished, showing no less of
refined, artistic taste, than of lavish expenditure. The courts,
chambers, boudoirs, fountains, pavilions, reception halls, throne room,
all are of marble and mosaic, with beautiful inlaid work everywhere.
Many of the floors represented delicate vines and blooming flowers in
precious stones, like the modern Florentine mosaic work one sees in such
perfection wrought upon tallies at the shops that line the Arno in
Florence. The Jewel Chamber, and the suite of apartments formerly
devoted to the use of the harem, were curiously screened by a lattice
work of white marble, lace-like in effect, and a curiosity in itself.
Delicate carving could hardly be carried to more minute finish in
alabaster. The marble inches and pockets, for holding the jewelry of the
fair occupants, were so arranged that none but a delicate arm could
reach the treasures; a man's hand and wrist would be too large; while
the stone pockets, being curved at the bottom, required the long
sensitive fingers of the owner's hand to extract what they contained.

These apartments all overlooked, by means of exquisite little marble
balconies, the grand valley of the Jumna, through which the river may be
traced for miles; while on the opposite shore there lies the glorious
Taj, with its snow-white domes and minarets looming above the lovely
setting of cypresses, and the luxurious vegetation of its surrounding
gardens. Within the fort is also the Pearl Mosque, the rival of the
little royal t