([Views of the East; comprising] India, Canton, [and the shores of the Red Sea

by Robert Elliot

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 ...capital. The city is about seven miles in circumference, and is surrounded by a good fortification wall and a wide ditch, rebuilt within these few years at a great expense by the British government. Hamilton's Indian Gazetteer contains the following account of the present city of Delhi. "The town has seven gates, namely, the Lahore, Ajmeer, Turkoman, Delhi, Mohur, Cashmere, and Agra gates; all built of free stone. Near the Ajmere-gate is a madrissa, or college, of great extent, built by Ghazi-ud-deen, the grandson of Mizam-ul-Mulk. The tomb of the founder, who with his family lies buried here, is much admired for the exquisite sculpture of its screen, of white marble; as are also the tombs of Kummer-ud-deen Khan, Ali Merdan Khan, Ghazi-ud-deen Khan, and Sefdar Jung. There is also the garden and palace of Coodseah Begum, the mother of the Emperor Mahomed Shah, the palace of Saadit Khan, and that of Sultan Dara Shekoh, the unfortunate brother of Aurungzebe. The first is now a dilapidated ruin; and the last has been converted into an English dwelling. They are all surrounded by high walls; and take up a considerable space of ground, as they comprehend both stables for all sorts of animals, and music galleries, besides an extensive seraglio." In Delhi there are some fine Mosques still in good repair, the chief of which is the Jumma Musjid, or cathedral, elevated above the rest of the city, and seen with its lofty minarets from all directions, whether within or without the walls of the town. Bishop Heber, in his Journal, cells this the largest and handsomest place of Mussulman worship in India, and describes it in the following words. "In the front it has a large square court surrounded by a cloister open on both sides, and commanding a view of th...

44 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2012