tection from the weather and at the same time admit free ventilation, have been satisfied by the elaboration of this unrivalled window tracery. The specimens of carving in soapstone belong to a modern development of the same hereditary art. The material, which also comes from Rajputana, is a stratite of particularly tough texture and a warm grey tint,—'it stands like leather, though it cuts like cheese.' The floral or arabesque patterns are beautifully sharp and clear, and the boxes, trays, and other articles are admirably suited for drawing-room use. Mr. Keene hopes for a time when this cheap and pretty work may be extended to architectural decoration, at least in the interior of halls and reception rooms, where its introduction, either as cornices or mantel mouldings, would be most effective. He suggests that in India the decoration of a whole drawing-room with soap-stone carving would be hardly more expensive than that of the same walls with English paper-hanging."
Soap-stone is too soft and brittle for use in decorative architecture. A perforated window made of it was however sent to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition from Rewa Kantha in the Bombay Presidency.
It has already been stated that under the guidance of Colonel Jacob the best designs are being collected at Jaipur. Perforated stone screens, called Jáli, are largely made at Jaipur. The masons of this place have become so proficient in the work, that they can design and carry out, almost with their eyes shut, an endless variety of tracery either in stone or plaster.
In the Bhartpur State large quantities of perforated lattice-work (Jáli), in red sandstone are made. The Bhartpur screen at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition consisted of a carved red sandstone architrave and false arch supported on carved pillars, and surmounted by a perforated sandstone screen. The stone used, though called red, is a light brown or salmon-coloured sandstone from the Rupkat quarries. It is much used in Bhartpur and the neighbouring States, is easily manipulated, and admits of very fine
