[Illustration:  Tomb of sheik-Salim—­Fattehpur]

Through this majestic portal you enter a quadrangle about six hundred feet square, inclosed by a lofty cloister which Bishop Heber pronounced the finest that was ever erected.  He declared that there was no other quadrangle to be compared to it in size or proportions or beauty.  In the center of this wonderful inclosure is a building that resembles a miniature temple.  It is not large, and its low roof and far projecting eaves give it the appearance of a tropical bungalow.  It is built of the purest marble.  No other material was used in its construction.  There is not a nail or a screw or an ounce of metal of any kind in its walls, and very little cement or mortar was used.  Each piece of stone fits the others so perfectly that there was no need of bolts or anything to hold it in place.  It stands upon a pedestal four feet high and is crowned with a low white dome of polished metal.  The walls of this wonderful building are pillars of marble inclosing panels of the same material sawed in very thin slabs and perforated in exquisite geometrical patterns.  No two panels are alike; there is no duplication of design on the pillars; every column is different; every capital and every base is unique.  We are told that it was customary in the days of the Moguls to assign a section of a building to an artist and allow him to exercise his skill and genius without restriction, of course within certain limits.  Notwithstanding this diversity of design, the tomb of Shekh Selim, of which I have attempted to give you an idea, is an ideal of perfect harmony, and every stroke of the chisel was as precise as if the artist had been engraving a cameo.  It was erected by Akbar and his Queen, Luquina, as a token of gratitude to the old monk who brought them an heir to their throne, but, unfortunately this heir was an ungrateful chap and treated his father and mother very badly.

Another tomb of equal beauty but smaller dimensions, is also a tribute of respect and affection.  Under this marble roof lies all that remains of that extraordinary baby who gave his life to gratify the king.

Surrounding the quadrangle are the apartments of the emperor, the residences of his wives and the offices in which he conducted official business.  They are all built of marble of design and beauty similar to those within the walls of the fort at Agra.  One of them, known as the Hall of Records, is now used for the accommodation of visitors because there is no hotel and very little demand for one.  The only people who ever go to Fattehpur Sikri are tourists, and they take their own bedding and spread it on the marble floor.  It is a long journey, twenty-six miles by carriage, and it is not possible to make it and return on the same day.