CHAP. III. PATHAN STYLE 197 only sustained and consolidated, but increased by successive conquests from the natives, that newly-acquired accession to the dominions of the faithful, and during that time Delhi continued practically the capital of this great empire. In the ^tter half, however, of the I4th century, symptoms of dis- integration manifested themselves. One after another the governors of distant provinces reared the standard of revolt, and successfully established independent kingdoms, rivalling the parent state in power and in the splendour of their capitals. Still Delhi remained the nominal head at least of this confedera- tion of states if it may be so called till the time when Babar (A.D. 1526), the sixth in descent from Timurlang, invaded Hindustan. He put an end to the Pathan sway, after it had lasted for three centuries and a half, and finally succeeded in establishing the celebrated dynasty of the Mughals, which during six successive reigns, extending over the extraordinary period of nearly two centuries (A.D. 1526-1707), reconsolidated the Moslim empire into one great whole, which reached a degree of splendour and of power almost unknown in the East. Nothing could be more brilliant, and at the same time more characteristic, than the commencement of the architectural career of these Pathans in India. So soon as they felt them- selves at all sure of their conquests, they set to work to erect two great mosques in their two principal capitals of Ajmir and Delhi, of such magnificence as should redound to the glory of their religion, and mark their triumph over the idolaters. A nation of soldiers equipped for conquest, and that only, they had of course brought with them neither artists nor architects, but, like other nations of Turanian origin, they had strong archi- tectural instincts, and having a style of their own, they could hardly go wrong in any architectural project they might attempt. At the same time, they found among their new subjects an infinite number of artists quite capable of carry- ing out any design that might be propounded to them. In the first place, they found in the colonnaded courts of the Jaina temples nearly all that was wanted for a ready-made mosque. All that was required was the removal of the temple in its centre, and the erection of a new wall on the west side, adorned with niches mihrdbs to point out to the faithful the direction in which Mecca lay, towards which they were commanded in the Qoran to turn when they prayed. It is certain, however, that in India they never were content with this only. In the two instances at least to which we are now referring, they determined in addition to erect a screen of arches in front of the Jaina pillars, and to adorn it with all the richness and elaboration of carving which their Indian
