A GORGEOUS PAGEANT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 2 January 1903, Page 5

A GORGEOUS PAGEANT.

PROCLAIMING THE EMPEROR

There have been durbars, and durbars —at Rawalpindi, at Delhi, at Lahore —he"re, there and everywhere in India—but. this Coronation Durbar at Delhi is going to eclipse everything in the memory even of the pageant-wor-shipping Orient.

More than 100,000 ijeople have concentrated in historic Delhi for this ceremony; all the native princes, with their fabulously rich costumes and their loads of priceless jewels, journeyed to the ancient capital on Jumna's banks.to hear their Great White King proclaimed "Emperor of India"; there will be 45,000 troops under arms; in short, n<? eaid of gorgeous spectacle.

The "great event" began on Monday, when Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, made his State entry into the historic home of the Grand Moguls, on magnificently caparisoned elephants. The Coronation Durbar was to begin at noon on January Ist, and for ten days after the ceremonies in connection therewith continue. The Viceroy will then take his departure. The whole of the visitors and the troops were put up in cantonements outside the city.

THE VICEROY'S CAMP

Lord Curzon's camp should present one of the most delightful pictures in India. From the base of the flagstaff hill a fifty-foot wide and beautifully levelled road runs straight along in a direct line for three-quarters of a mile. The Anew at the furthest end of the camp is bounded by clumps of trees, vet between Iheir topmost branched glimpses of the well-wooded heights near Paembaree Bridge close to the horizon, and there is no portion of any other camp visible; it is stately, detached, and exclusive. Either side of. this road is bordered by well laid lawns, one. hundred feet wide, decked out with flower beds and rare palms and ferns in pots. Behind these lawns is the. great avenue of tents on either side, draped in white and gold, placed as close together as, may be possible in one unbroken row. The end of the direct camp line of tents also extends at right angles along a lower road. This camp in itself contains 1450 tents., At the upper end of the road there are four magnificert tents, a shamiana, 10S feet by 60 feet by 20 feet high, a drawingroom, 88' feet by 36 feet; a diningroom 130 feet by 40 feet, in which Lord and Lady Curzon and 125 guests will dine. In front of this is a large, level, well-turfed lawn, in the centre of which the flagstaff is placed, 46 feet high. This will, of course, fly the Imperial vStandard, the ropes of which are covered by a crimson shield. The electric light wires have been introduced.

MODERN DELHI.

But Delhi itself is not wanting in picturesqueness. It is surrounded on three sides by a lofty wall of re 4 granite, above which a number of cupolas, domes and minarets crowning the public buildings are sharply silhouetted against the sky. The circuit of this wall is over five miles, and is pierced at intervals by gates (the forcin°" of several of which is among the most memorable incidents in the history of the mutiny campaign). The historic "ridge," where the British troops lay during the long-sustained assault on the city in the dark days of 1857, is about a mile distant to the north.' It is here that* the durbar camp is formed. The modern city of Delhi is one of great commercial importance, and has a population approaching 200,000, It is noted as a railway centre, and is the terminus of two of the largest lines in India. The streets- as a rule are well laid out, and are flanked by many handsome public buildings. The Chandni chauk (or Silver street), for example, is three-quarters of a mile in length, and is about eighty feet in. breadth. It contains a museum and clock tower, while near at hand is the great mosque of Jamma Masjid. It may help to remove a little of the false glamour which is gathering over the ancient seat of Mahometan dynasties to be told that » steam laundry was a year or twio ago opened in Delhi, also a fioap factory and a steam bakery, and that the rvanner in which the proclamation of King Edward as Emperor of India is to be permanently commemorated is by the construction of a new thoroughfare through the city, down which will run an eXectric tramway. . , . .■ '■ ■,

THE OPEIMNG FUNCTION.

At the State entry the procession was to be formed at the railway ntation with the Viceroy and ruling chiefs on towdahs on the backs of carefully chosen elephants. The Viceroy will be wearing his uniform and his orders, the ruling chiefs their ( most gorgeous uniforms, fairly ablaze with jewels. Next following them came the leading officials on horseback or in the carriages. The procession passed through the streets for a distance of six miles to the camp. A full military escort accompanied the Viceroy's party, and troops lined the streets. * Great wooden stands were erected alolig the route taken by the , procession for the accommodation of spectators and guests. On the afternoon of the next day the Viceroy was to open the Indian Arts Exhibition, which he instituted in the Kudsia gardens, outsdde the Kushmuir gate.

THE ASSEMBLAGE HALL.

For the grand coronation durbar on New Year's Day a magnificent assemblage hall was specially constructed under the supervision of the V;iceroyj. The rast /sweep of the auditorium circle affords a frontage of 720 feet, and seats 8926 people. The central portion of the sweep is occupied by the dais, decorated by the talented Indian artist who decorated the Indian drawingroom of Osborne House. It represents the highest of Indian artistic art, and is in white and blue and gold, the colours of the decorations of the other parts of the buildings. Bi Sad'ar Earn Sing, the artist in question, is the greatest Indian artist. The roof of the great amphitheatre is supported by steel rails, bolted together, cleverly concealed by bamboo jrillars around them. The latter are painted white and decorated in blue and gold. The roof is surmounted by myriads of domes, made of bamboo and covered with plaster of paris, painted white and decorated in blue and gold.

PROCLAMATION OP THE EMPEIIOR.

This amphitheatre stands on the same site as Lord Lytton's assemblage hall, erected for the proclamation of the Queen Empress on January 1, 1877. During" the ceremony the Viceroy was to occupy a dais in the inner recess of the arena, and the ruling , chiefs and leading guests would be ranged in the front row of the adjoining , tiers. After the ordinary dubari.s and European spectators hud been arranged in their correct places in the great, hall the native princes would drive up in procession in due order o-f precedence, according to rank* the highest coming last, and each receiving the proper salute of guns.

Thei] would follow the principal governors and lieutenant governors, with their escorts, Sir Charles Rivaz taking precedence of all others in virtue of the fact that the durbar is held in the Punjab territory. Then the eommandei'-in-chief, Lord Kitchener, and finally, in magnificent procession, the viceroy.

A herald with stentorian voice Avould then proclaim to the 12.000 assembled people, "King- Edward VII., Emperor of all India," whereupon the entire multitude, besides the 40.000 troops drawn up in line outside, facing the durbar hall, would make a thrilling response. About 20.000 rifles would fire a salute and a brigade of 101 guns, and the massed bands would play the National Anthem, the guns accompanying the music. After this the Viceroy would address the durbar, and also read to the assemblage a special message from the "King-Empe-ror" to the people of India. It was rumoured that some extraordinary political announcement, in the style, perhaps, of ihe historical proclamation of 1358, would be then made.

After the Viceroy's speech the ruling princes were to be presented. This would form quite the most dazzling spectacular event in the whole proceedings. By the Viceroy's special directions the native princes were to be arrayed in the true national robes of State, and the scene in consequence would be a unique display of Oriental splendour. Never before has even Imperial Delhi witnessed such a blaze of diamonds and precious stones and cloth of gold and embroidered silks, such as the Indians alone know how to produce.

THE SUOOBBDINfI FUNCTIONS

The Viceroy, as grandmaster of the Order of the Star of India and Order of ftie Indian Empire, will hold a chapter in the tbroneroom. of the Great Mogul in the fort on the evening of January 5. A large number of awards and promotions in both orders will be made. Most of the brilliant ceremonies of the durbar will be held there. The fort will be specially lighted with electricity for the occasion. The ruling- chiefs and princes of India will be in attendance in their picturesque costumes. The metropolitan of India will hold a special State service on Sunday, January 1. After a day of rest, there will be a review of the troops, retainers, elephants, and followers of the native chiefs on the parade ground. Oh January 6 the State ball will be held in the fort. A special ballroom will be constructed on the Mogul hall oi audience in reproduction of its main features and style. The supper rooms wil be marble terraces, but no changes or alterations will be made in these. The Viceroy will, on January 8 and 9, hold the igreat review of British and Indian trops, which have been concentrated from all the districts during- Christmas week. Every ibranch of the Indian service will be represented. The official proceedings will close on January 10, when the Viceroy and his staff will take their departure.