The Diwan-i-Khas.

The Diwan-i-khas was built in 1637.  Though much smaller than the Diwan-i-khas at Delhi, it is certainly not inferior in the beauty of its proportions and decoration.  Most of the decorative work of these marble pavilions is directly derived from Persian art, and inspired by the Persian love of flowers which almost amounted to flower-worship.  All the details are charming, but the dados, especially, edged with inlaid work and carved with floral types in the most delicate relief, show to perfection that wonderful decorative instinct which seems to be born in the Oriental handicraftsman.  The designer has naively translated into marble the conventional Indian flower-beds, just as they were in every palace garden, but there is perfect art in the seeming absence of all artifice.  The dados outside the Taj are similar in design to these, though larger and correspondingly bolder in style.  The roof of the Diwan-i-khas, with its fine covered ceiling, is interesting for its construction.

JAHANGIR’S THRONE.—­On the terrace in front of the Diwan-i-khas are placed two thrones, one of white marble on the side facing the Machhi-Bhawan, and the other of black slate on the river side.  From the Persian inscription which runs round the four sides of the black throne we learn that it was made in 1603 for Jahangir.  This was two years before the death of his father, Akbar, and he was then only Prince Salim.  The throne was, therefore, probably made to commemorate the recognition by Akbar of his son’s title to the succession.

On this terrace Jahangir sat to enjoy the sight of his brigantines on the river, or to watch the elephant fights on the level place beneath the walls.  From side to side of his throne there is a long fissure, which opened, so says tradition, when the Jat Rajah, Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur, in 1765, set his usurping feet on the throne of the Great Mogul.  The tradition holds that blood spurted out of the throne in two places, and red marks in the stone are pointed out as evidence of the truth of the story.  The impious chief was shortly afterwards assassinated in the palace.

THE BATHS.—­On the side of the terrace directly opposite to the Diwan-i-khas are the baths, or the Hammam.  The water was brought up from a well, outside the walls, 70 feet below.  These baths, in their present state, are by no means so fine as those at Fatehpur Sikri, to be described hereafter.

The Marquis of Hastings, when Governor-General of India, broke up one of the most beautiful of the baths of the palace, and sent it home as a present to the Prince Regent, afterwards George the Fourth.

The Samman Burj.