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The river Jumna is flowing eastward (right) over beyond this noble gate and grounds to which it gives entrance. The famous old City of Agra, where Shah Jehan lived in gorgeous state, is a mile away up the river.

This grassy garden with the shade-trees belongs to the Taj Mahal. The deep shadows of the foliage are oftentimes like the oases in the fierce blaze of Indian sunshine. The thermometer here at Agra often goes up to 100 degrees in midsummer, when no European ventures out at midday save in case of absolute necessity. The camel-drivers, born in such conditions and protected from sunstroke by the cotton turbans, endure the temperature much better. The men you see here now have come from Agra and are waiting for their patrons.

The structure before you is taller than you probably realize. Look at those men nearest the gate and compare their size with that of the imposing facade of red sandstone and white marble. It is one hundred and forty feet high and almost as wide; those white domes are of beautifully finished marble and the graceful scroll-ornament filling the triangular spaces above the edge arch is mosaic work beautiful enough for some magnificent temple. Yet, with all its dignified splendor, this is only the gateway to an inner garden, surrounding the celebrated tomb of Mogul empress. It was nearly three centuries ago that she died. Twenty years her fierce monarch-sweetheart made an army of workmen toil to build a wonderful, great tomb of jewelled and sculptured marble to hold her coffin of solid gold, and it stands today over beyond this gate.

(See G.W. Steevens' "In India," E. Arnold's "India Revisited," Karageoreovitch's "Enchanted India," etc.)

From Notes of Travel, No. 9, copyright, 1904, by Underwood & Underwood

Camel-drivers waiting at gate of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

Conducteurs de chameaux attendant à la porte de Taj Mahal, Agra, Inde.

An der Pforte des Taj Mahal, wartende Kameltreiber, Agra, Indien.

Arrieris de camellos esperando en la portada del Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

Kamelkörner utanför porten till Taj Mahal, Agra, Indien.

Погопщики верблюдовъ, ожидающіе у заставы Тая Магалъ, Агра, Индія.