History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c30.27

v2.c30.27

The principal apartment in the tomb is a square of 39 ft. 10 in. each way, covered by a stone roof, perfectly flat in the centre, formed of stone slabs set edge to edge, and supported only by a cove projecting 7 ft. 7 in. from the walls on every side. How the roof is supported is a mystery which can only be understood by those who are familiar with the use the Indians make of masses of concrete, and with exceedingly good mortar, which seem capable of infinite applications. Above this apartment is another in the dome as ornamental as the one below it, though its only object is to obtain externally the height required for architectural effect, and access to its interior can only be obtained by a dark narrow stair in the thickness of the wall.