History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c26.s3.9

v2.c26.s3.9

of the mosque itself. No tower at the north-west corner probably ever existed, whilst that at the south-west has been the shrine of a small Hindû temple of which the *sikhara* was demolished; but the small bastions on the east corners of the court are Muhammadan and of the same plan as the turrets over the central piers of the screen. The corridor on the east has been rebuilt but of much less width than is shown on the restored plan; of the north corridor there is no trace, and only the wall of the south one is left. What remains, however, is sufficient to show that, if completed, it must originally have been a singularly elegant specimen of an early Indian mosque. The roof extends only over six of the front piers, or about 141 ft., beyond which about 54 ft. at each end is quite open and even unpaved. Behind the screen piers the area of the mosque is 40 ft. 8 in. deep. The roof is supported by four rows of lofty shafts and another of pilasters (or pillars built into the back wall)—70 in all—each formed of three superimposed Hindû pillars. These are arranged as in Jaina and Hindû temples so as to support on eight pillars each the roof and its five domes, or rather, conical roofs, which are all that exist.¹