India THE COLOURFUL LAND OF THE RAJAH

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

India THE COLOURFUL LAND OF THE RAJAH

SPLENDOUR OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

MOST people enter India by the gateway of Bombay, that great industrial city at the foot of the Western Ghats. There they will be disappointed if they expect to see processions of elephants, bearing mighty princes ablaze with diamonds. In the native States, however —States governed by Indian rulers—there still remains miuih of the gorgeous display that dazzled the eyes of the first European visitors. Guns and carriages of gold and silver, ropes of marvellous pearls, masses of diamonds and other precious stones— attendants in gorgeous uniforms—all these things are to be found in the sumptuous palaces of the princes. To really see these great Indian princes in their elaborate palaces, attended by fan-bearers and jewelled courtiers, makes us think that we really are in that story-book land of the Arabian Nights. It is night, and we on our magic carpet have been whisked to the beautiful City of Mysore, t Before us is the enormous palace of the Maharajah. The whole building is one bewildering mass of electric fairy lights. Every window and doorway is outlined, every tower and dome and turret pricked out with little white lights —there seem to be myriads of them. All around the great square before the palace are the buildings of the Maharajah's Government —and they also are ablaze with lights. It is an amazing sight. The big palace square is crowded with many thousands of people, waiting for the grand torchlight procession'; and, being Indians, they all sit down on the ground with their legs grossed. At last we catch the sound of distant music, and soon the gorgeous procession enters the square. First <tome the Indian soldiers in their picturesque uniforms, and these men take up their positions before the palace. Then come the Maharajah's own cavalry in white and gold uniforms and huge white turbans; they ride on beautiful horses, with leopard skins thrown over their saddle : bows. Next come the camels, striding along with noiseless tread, their heads high in the air, as though enjoying the pageant., After these are the elephants, one behind another in solemn procession, their beautiful howdahs and stream-

ing howdah cloths flashing with bright colours in the flare of lights. Last of all comes the Maharajah himself, riding in a golden howdah on the finest elephant. He is dressed from head to foot in garments of cloth-of-gold—such as costs about £150 per yard in the bazaars of Delhi—his necklaces are worth a king's ransom and his splendid silk turban is ablaze with the finest diamonds. Above him, con-

pealed in the canopy of the howdah, are electric lights that throw tlieii rays upon him, making his jewels flash and gleam. How proud his elephant looks as, with stately tread, he bears his master slowly to the door of the palace. Here it pauses, a ladder is placed by one of the attendants, and 'mid the cheers of his subjects the great Maharajah of Mysore alights. As he comes down the ladder and enters his palace he seems like a prince who has stepped from the realm of story-book land But this is no very extraordinary sight in the native States. Powerful indeed are some of these princes. They are practically kings in their own dominions, making their own

laws, raising their own taxes, having their own Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, but all of them recognising the King Emperor as their overlord. The Maharajah of Mysore rules over a State the size of Scotland. There are about 150 similar princes, some great and some unimportant, and they rule over about one-third of the Indian Empire, with a total of 72,000,000 people. Many of the ruling princes live in magnificent palaces, some of them so vast and lovely that they make Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace seem quite small. We shall now take a peep inside one of these beautiful palaces. What a wonderful sight it is. There are exquisite Persian carpets and silken hangings; costly cushions lying about and everything "that money could buy lavished everywhere. In the Maharajah's study we find telephones, electric light, filing cabinets and similar modern equipment. Upon a writing desk stands a large autographed photograph of King George V. This particular native prince is an educated and enlightened man, and a very successful ruler. In his garages we see many motor cars, but for all State ■ oeeasions he uses his magnificent elephants. The Indian princes love display, and often they are surrounded by attendants in most picturesque attire. Just as on State occasions our own King is surrounded by the old Yeomen of the Guard in their quaint Tudor costumes, these Indian rulers have companies of men in medieval dress. Some wear ancient armour and carry extraordinary swords or shields. One of the most wonderful scenes India has witnessed in modern times took place in the ancient city of Delhi in December, 1902. It was the great Durbar at which the Viceroy proclaimed Edward VII. Emperor of All India. All the ruling princes were present —a hundred and fifty of them with hundreds of nobles and retainers. Every one of the princes was eager to outshine his rivals, and all the beauty and glory of India were brought together to make that spectacle the most dazzling that the world hap ever beheld. Pen cannot describe. Tior camera portray the scene that hot December morning when the Viceroy entered Delhi, attended by the glittering throng of princes. Slowly and proudly the dazzling procession of elephants passed along the streets, and spectators gasped as they beheld that gleaming, bejewelled throng. This is truly the land of the Maharajah—the India we read of in the far-off times of the Arabian Nights.