THE KING IN INDIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 13

THE KIN G IN INDIA.

Although onr illustration is from a photograph taken nearly six years ago, on the occasion of King George's visit to India as Prince of.Wales, it shows something of the magnificence of display in which the Oriental mind delights. The photograph was taken during the official passage of the Prince and Princess from the railway station on their visit to the Maharajah of Gwalior, who is to be seen mounted, with his guest, on the further elephant The entertainments that the Maharajah Scindia arranged were by far the most sumptuous of the royal progress. Splendid specimens of the tiger were conserved in areas convenient for shooting, contests of strength and skiN between animals and men were arranged, and the fireworks, in which the Indian heart rejoices, were on the most extravagant scale. It was a time ol drought, especially affecting the Maharajah's territory, but immense stores of water were retained for watering the roads over which the Royal couple travelled. When remonstrated with about the waste, the Maharajah said: "We have famine and drought with us perpetually, but a Prince of tne- Reigning House probably once in a life time." The death of a feW thousand of his people from pestilence or famine would be regarded as. small hardship—by the Maharajah. As showing that all the native rulers are not alike In their attitude to the common people, the Rajah of Jsypore on this occasion gave eight lakhs of rupees (about £50,000) to the Indian Famine Fund to commemorate the visit, and entertained the Royal tourists: well, but comparatively inexpensively. A quaint conceit of tjte State banquet given at GwaKorwas that the ruler had imported a new set of gold plate in honour of the occasion. He already had one service, so a second seemed a trifle superfluous. On the present occasion the regal splendour of the functions will exceed, if that were possible, the lavishness of the 1905-6 tour.