emple of similar character which we had seen at Delhi. The
front of this Moli Musjed is supported by marble pillars, and is
surmounted by three beautiful marble domes, of such perfection and
loveliness of outline as to be the puzzle of modern architects, just as
our best sculptors are nonplused before the Venus of Milo, and some
other examples of Greek art; they may imitate, but they cannot hope to
equal them. "Indeed," said a well-known artist to us in the gallery of
the Louvre, in presence of this marvelous creation, "the sculptor
himself, were he living, could not repeat his work. It was a ray of
inspiration caught from Heaven." So we thought of the Moli Musjed.

The Tomb of Akbar at Secundra was visited, a few miles from Agra. It is
situated, like most other Mogul buildings of the same period, in a large
inclosure laid out as a beautiful garden, with fountains, lakes,
statuary, tamarind-trees, oranges, lemons, among the most fragrant
flowers. It was a glorious day on which we drove out to Secundra, the
air was musical with the merry notes of the minos, in their dusky red
plumage, the little chirping bee-eaters, hoopoes, and blue-jays. Some
little girls freely plucked the abundant rose-buds, pinks, lemon
verbenas, and geraniums, bringing them to us for pennies, instigated by
the gardeners, who looked on approvingly. This magnificent tomb would be
a seven days' wonder in itself, were it not so near that greater charm
and marvel of loveliness, the Taj. It was from this grand architectural
structure that the Koh-i-noor was taken. The spacious grounds form one
of the finest parks in India, art having seconded the kindly purpose of
nature in a favored spot where vegetation is as various as it is
luxuriant and beautiful.

Our hotel at Agra was one of the most comfortable and American-like
which can be found in India. The scene on the broad piazza, all day
long, was curious and interesting, forming a sort of open bazar, where
every establishment in the place had a representative and samples of its
goods. All tourists are presumed to have come to purchase, and
importunity is a part of the natives' business. Photographs, models of
the Taj, precious stones, sandal-wood boxes, mosaics, and swords, the
variety is infinite, the patience of the dealers equally inexhaustible.
Nothing but absolute force could drive them away, and no one uses that.
If you utterly decline to purchase anything, they fold their hands and
wait. The most