Agra, City

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Agra, The Capital City of a Province of the same Name, in the Empire of the Great Mogul in the Indies, on this side the Ganges; it was the place where the Emperor kept his Court, till Chagehan built the City of Gehan-Abad where he now resides, by reason the Climate is more temperate. Agra is the largest City of India, where the Houses of the Noblemen are spacious, and well built; but those of private Men very ordinary, separate one from another, and surrounded with high Walls, to keep their Women from being seen: All that is most remarkable in Agra is the Emperor's Palace, and some few Sepulchres in and about the City. The King's Palace is a spacious Inclosure with a double Wall, and is Terrassed in some places. The first Court is environ'd with Portico's; the second surrounded with Galleries; and the third Court is the Emperor's Quarter. Cha Gehan had a design to have cover'd the Roof of one of the Galleries in this Quarter with Silver; and one Francis Austin of Bourdeaux was to have been his Workman: But not having any other than him that was fit to be sent to Goa, to treat with the Portugueses, that design fell. This Gallery is Painted with Foliages of Gold and Azure, and the Floor all spread with Tapestry. On that side next the River is a Jett, where the Emperor sits to see his Elephants Fight. Before you enter that Jett, there is a Gallery which Cha-Gehan intended to have lin'd through with an Arbour of Emraulds and Rubies, which should have represented to the life Green and Ripe Grapes; but for want of Riches he could go no further than to make two or three Branches sprouting from the Body of a Vine of Gold, with their Leaves Enamel'd to the Life, laden with Grapes made of Emraulds, Rubies, and Grenates. Of all the Sepulchres in Agra, that of Cha-Gehan's Wife is the most superb, erected near the Grand Bazar or Market-place, that every one might see it. The Sepulchre it self is lin'd with Black and White Marble within and without; as also are all the Courts of which it consists, There are three Platforms raised one above another, with four Towers at the four Corners of each; the last of which Platforms is covered with a Duomo more Magnificent than that of Val de Grace at Paris, being white Marble within and without, and under that Duomo lies a most magnificent empty Tomb; for the Body of the Empress is buried under the Roof of the first Platform. In this Structure 20000 Artificers and Labourers were employ'd for 22 years together. An Eunuch with 10000 Men is appointed for the Guard of it and the Market-place. Near the City is the Tomb of the Emperors Father in a Garden; over the Portal of which is the Picture of his Tomb, with a Jesuit at each end, because they first taught him Mathematicks and Astrology. This City lies in 27. 31. Lat. in a Sandy Soil extreamly hot. It was built in 1584, or 85. Hackl. Tavernier.