Agra, built on the soath-west of the Jumna, lati-
tude 27^ 11' north, longitude 77^ 53^ east, is a large
and strongly constructed fort, of a red kind of very
hard sandstone, quarried at Futtehpoor (nineteen miles
distant) : the fosse is of great depth with douUe
ramparts, the inner one being sixty feet above the
level of the river: well constructed bastions are
placed at regular intervals, and the fortress is one of
the keys of Western India, particularly from its com-
manding the navigation of the Jumna, which in the
month of June is half a nule broad, and never ford*
able at any time at this spot. The moslem buildings
in the fort are numerous and splendid, in particnlar
the Tauje Mehal, built of marble resembling Caraia,
the Mootee Musjeed, or pearl mosque, built of small
white marble, of singular purity of design : the great
Chowk contiguous to the principal gate of the fort,
the tomb of jStimaund ud Dowkh, &c«^ all attest the
splendour with which the Mahomedans soaght to
captivate the weak minds of their Hindoo serfs, well
knowing that, owing to the infirmity of our nature,
regal pomp and magnificence often reconciles a
feeble race to the despotism of foreign conquerors.
