The neck is not quite so long as that of the Taj,
and is better covered by the marble cupolas that stand above each
face of the building. The four noble minarets are, however, wanting.
The apartments are all in number and form exactly like those of the
Taj, but they are somewhat less in size. In the centre of the first
floor lies the beautiful marble slab that bears the date of this
small pillar of a _tottering state_, A.H. 1167;[5] and in a vault
underneath repose his remains by the side of those of one of his
grand-daughters. The graves that cover these remains are of plain
earth strewed with fresh flowers, and covered with plain cloth. About
two miles from this tomb to the east stands that of the father of
Akbar, Humayun, a large and magnificent building. As I rode towards
this building to see the slab that covers the head of poor Dara
Shikoh, I frequently cast a lingering look behind to view, as often
as I could, this very pretty imitation of the most beautiful of all
the tombs of the earth.[6]
On my way I turned in to see the tomb of the celebrated saint, Nizam-
ud-din Aulia, the defeater of the Transoxianian army under Tarmah
Shirin in 1303, to which pilgrimages are still made from all parts of
India.
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