NURSING IN RAIKABAGH PALACE, JODHPUR

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 21

NURSING IN RAIKABAGH PALACE, JODHPUR

Sister Say, an English nurse who spent some time in the Royal Palaco at Jodhpur, sends a most interesting account to her relatives in Dunedin. She says: “Another sister and myself were sent for to nurse a cousin of Her Highness after an operation lor appendicitis. When wo arrived at Jodhpur it was 10 p.m. and bitterly cold at that time of year. We bad no coats with us, consequently we could not talk, as our tooth did all the chattering, and our knees were singing ‘ The more we aro together the merrier we’ll be!’ An Indian secretary met us and wanted to know if wo wore the governesses! Mo said ‘ No, we arc the sisters.’ Then we got into a palace car and drove through tho town, where everything looked very quaint, especially the hooded Arabs leading camels along the streets. At the palace gates wo were handed over to a guard, and walked a good distance through beautiful gar«dens until we came to the zenana. Then we were handed over to another great,- big, hefty fellow, who we afterwards found out was a eunuch, the only men allowed in the women s quartets. We went down about fifty steps, through a puedah, and then we found ourselves in the women’s quarters. We felt hundreds of eyes on us from behind curtains, and yet could not see a soul—a most uncanny feeling. There aro 300 women in the zenana, and all dressed in most gorgeous colours with any amount of jewels and anklets and bangles. We had three women each to look after us. Our rooms faced tho palace. We were very comfortable, but had no privacy; it was nothing to sit in vour bath and see eyes watching von! They used to try our face creams iuul powder to see if they would get white! Tho first morning wo awakened we were surprised to see our six hand maidens sitting on the floor and salaaming us. How they got in is a mystery, because we closed the doors before wo retired. They probably climbed through the windows! I hey brought us our chata hazel, with every conceivable kind of Jruit—apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, and some others that I’ve never tasted or heard of. About 4 a.ra. we used to be awakened by the pea fowls with the peculiar noises they make. They and pigeons are very holy birds. If they are shot tbo rajah gives very severe punishment. His Highness has his own aerodrome and his own picture palace, where talkies are shown. His two very nice sons have an English governess and speak the most beautiful English. They have a beautiful English dining room, and ns you enter your feet slip, about a foot deep, into tho most beautiful Turkish rugs. Everything is served on gold, and they have the most beautifully cooked food. We used'to occasionally have a taste of their Indian food, 'called ‘sadesti knna.’ They would bring this up on a huge brass tray, and on this would be a dozen little dishes of different kinds of rice and curries, sweet rice, plain rice, rice with almonds and condiments, also various mutton curries and chicken curries—all very hot. You sit and cat this with your fingers. They used to crowd round us and go off into fits of laughter. We received the most wonderful presents. Their first act was to drive to Bombay for two fur coats for us; also gave us a tweed coat each. Wo had to have electric heaters in our bedrooms at night, it was so cold. They aro the most generous-hearted people I have ever come across; they gave us each a gold watch, a silver cigarette case, and a most gorgeous Indian costume, in pale pink satin and georgette' trimmed with gold working, with gold slippers. The whole thing is worth 150 rs. 1 wore it to a fancy dress dance in Bombay and carried off a prize. I am thinking about having my photo taken in it, and if I do I’ll send you a snap. Beautiful crepe de chine pyjamas were given us, shawls and lOOrs. in hand. I have never been so well treated. Extremely pice people they are, and have all been to England at some time. Her Highness smokes and paints. They are all very pretty women with olive brown skins and very clean; when wo returned to Bombay even after a bath wo smelt strongly of ‘ Atta of Roses.” They used to sprinkle our bod sheets with it and spray us twice a day. They supplied us with face creams, powders, scout, and cigarettes, two tins each every day. Wo were glad to get away, though, as it was very lonely to be always in the harem. It was nice to soo men again in tho outside world. Unfortunately for mo I went down with tho flu after three weeks there, but I got the most export nursing with a lady doctor attending me twice a day. Her Highness wanted me to stay as her guest in the palace till I was quite strong, hut I had to refuse as 1 rvas afraid that matron would never have got over tho shock! I am home now on a month’s leave, and Jodhpur and the Royal Palace seem very far away.”