The Jami Masjid at Badaun and Other Buidings in the United Provinces

The admirable collection of drawings reproduced in this memoir were prepared nearly thirty years ago under the direction of the late Edmund Smith for the most part by draughtsmen whose names were not recorded on them. Mr. Smith had intended to publish them himself and to that end had prepared notes, which consisted chiefly of rather lengthy descriptions of the buildings illustrated. As these seemed superfluous with such excellent drawings to refer to, the notes have not been printed in extenso, though they have been largely utilized in the accompanying text.

The four monuments to which these drawings relate are all in the United Provinces, Badaun being in the District of that name, Lalitpur and Irich in the Jhansi District, and Kalpi in the Jalaun District. They are all somewhat off the beaten track and little known, but are none the less of interest to those concerned with the Mediaeval Art of India. All, without exception, are Protected Monuments under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, and the last named is preserved and looked after by the Archaeological Department. I am indebted to Maulvi Ashfaq Ali for his translation of the inscriptions at the Badaun Mosque and to Maulvi Muhammad Ashraf Husain, Munshi in my office, for the translation of the lrich inscription.

As it is many years since any books by Mr. Edmund Smith have appeared and this is likely to be the last publication connected with his name, it may not be inappropriate to mention some of his more important works on Indian Art and Architecture, viz.:-

The Moghul Architecture of Fatehpur-Sikri, 4 parts.

The Sharqi Architecture of Jaunpur (in conjunction with A. Fuhrer).

The Tomb of Akbar (Edited by W. H. Nicholls).

Moghul Colour Decoration of Agra, part I.

Portfolio of Indian Architectural Drawings, part I.