Eureka High School - Sequoia Yearbook (Eureka, CA)

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shrubbery. A nearer view showed it to be faultless in proportion as well as design-perhaps the nearest approach to perfection that man has ever accomplished. Naturally, the Taj was the first thing we saw in Agra, and also the last, for it changes like a chameleon, each phase of sun or moon giving its pure white marble walls a different hue. The Mohammedans have left an i1npres- sion upon India. that coming ages will not erase. Their luxurious taste and their religious devotion have been stamped indelibly upon the entire continent of Asia. At Agra their art, genius, and devotion have been crystallized in palace and mosque. Historically, Agra came into existence at the time of the Mohammedan invasion. Great Oriental emperors made this the center of their movement. To this spot Akbar moved his capital from Fatepur Sikri and built among other things, its wall and the red palace in the fort. The story is told that the architect of the Taj was an Italian and upon its completion he was put to death, so that a more beautiful one could not be designed. This triumph of architecture was built in token of love for the Empress Muntaz-i-Mahal, the 'Chosen of the Palace. The entrance of the Taj was once guarded by two solid silver doors, which were melted by the jats. Through the huge gate of red sandstone one enters a garden, and at the far end of a double line of walks, with a marble water course between and with green lawns and green trees on either side, the Taj bursts upon him. The Taj is a square, but with each of the corners cut away, and is built entirely of white marble. It rests on an immense marble paved platform which is three hundred feet square. At each corner of the platform stands a lofty round minaret of white marble marked out in narrow strips of black marble. Great mosques stand on the east and west sides. The Taj in the great white court formed by the plat- form, with massive minarets standing like sentinels at the corners, with mosques at either side, the river at the north and the beautiful garden and tall trees and the red gate and wall in front, has an appearance of majesty that overwhelms and renders him dumb who beholds this scene. One night I lingered until long after midnight in the garden of the Taj. It was a night I will never forget. The glorious moonlight lit up the shim- mering walls xvith a delicate touch of gold, making resplendant this monu- ment of a bygone age. There in the stillness of the night lay the Emperor and his beloved Queen. His work had long since been accomplished. No more would he speak fond words of affection, but he had made immortal l37l

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feet high. lnside of it are a large number of mosques. The lfort is under- mined with numerous underground passages, in which people used to take refuge from the summer heat, but which we declined to explore when told they were the homes of countless snakes. XYithin the walls of the lfort is the tomb of Hamaud-ud-Daulah, the grandfather of the Lady of the Taj. The tomb stands on a platform that is about one hundred and fifty feet square. The delicate marble lace work and carving and the inlaid work are beautiful. The inlaid work is far more elaborate than in the Taj and there is more of it and a greater variety. As l have said, the little village of .Xgra is interesting. lt looks more like a collection of .Xrizona lndian villages fallen into ruin than the city that attracts tourists from all over the world. llesolate and dejected and dusty, it lies baking beneath the sun and the splendor of buildings only emphasizing its sordidness and meanness. Camels stalked silently through the streets. deiected donkeys were driven along' by half-naked men, queer e i li ,....m. Nw za: si if l29l