ttering the name of Allah very solemnly all the time, he unscrewed the
top of the receptacle, and took from it a single hair, about six inches
long, red and stiff, and fixed in a silver tube.

"The beard of the holy Prophet!" he announced, with a reverent inclination
of his head; and the two Mussulmans of the party followed his example.

"According to the tradition, this hair really came from the beard of
Mohammed," said Sir Modava. "I believe it, because I have inquired into its
history. It is the glory of this mosque and of Delhi, for only three others
exist in the world. You need not believe it is genuine if you prefer not to
do so."

They were also permitted to gaze at one of Mohammed's old shoes, a belt,
and some of the clothing of the Prophet. A number of dusty ancient
manuscripts were exhibited, copies of the Koran, one in fine characters,
said to have been dictated by Mohammed himself. The party returned to the
carriages, filled with admiration of the magnificent structure they had
visited, and were driven to the palace of the emperors, now turned into the
fort.

They left the landaus at a point selected by Abbas-Meerza, from which an
excellent view of the ancient structures could be obtained. It was a
magnificent building, whose dimensions the Americans could hardly take in.
The most prominent features from the point of observation were a couple of
octagonal towers, very richly ornamented, with several small domes at the
summit, supported on handsome columns.

The party entered at the principal gate, and came to the guard-house, which
was filled with British soldiers wearing straw helmets and short white
coats. A soldier offered his services as a guide, and they were accepted.
He gave the Hindu names of the apartments. The Dewani-Am was the hall of
audiences, from which they passed to the Dewani-Khas, the throne-room, both
of which recalled the Alhambra, which they had visited a few months before.
The pillars, arches, and ornaments were similar, though not the same.

The tourists wandered through the pavilion, the emperor's rooms in the
palace, the bath, and numerous apartments. But in transforming this
magnificent palace of the emperors into barracks, much of the original
beauty had been spoiled; the lapse of years had made great rents in the
walls, and the visitor was compelled to exercise his imagination to some
extent in filling up what it had been centuries before.

Abbas-Meerza was a very companiona