THE DURBAR

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11246, 13 January 1912, Page 7

THE DURBAR

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS.

Letters from au officer in the Indian Army, who was present at the Delhi Durbar, to a member of the Daily Times staff, give some interesting information about tlio ceremony, and tho preparation incidental thereto :— DELHI, December 3rd. I have had a busy and well-filled week. Most days we have had long and very tedioiis ceremonial parades in preparation for tho big evouts. Our Brigadier has had us out, theu our Divisional General, and yostorday tho whole army was out for seven hours, so I hope we shall perform efficiently' before His Majesty, and you will see eulogistic references iv tho papers to the splendid efficiency of the Indian Army. It is efficient, but even newspaper correspondents cannot judge of real efficiency by seeing a ceremonial review. l r or spare time wo have friends to look out and distances are long and every afternoon there are poloj hockey and football matches, at which the massed bands play—anything up to 1000 performers. Thore is an enormous amount of traffic on tho railways just now, special carriages for Rajahs, etc., but oiu- party, witli the ladies of tho Regiment, got here in comfort, only being two hours or so behind time. In tho evening, I took D out for a drive down the Coronation-road, one of tho main roads lined on either hand with the camps of tho native chiefs. It was dark when we came back, and as they are illuminated with electric lamps the effect was splendid. We can only drive but slowly, the traffic is so enormous. There are 2000 motors in tho camp and more arc coming, while horse conveyances of all kinds are legion. The Kashmir camp is tho most artistic of them all. The front, of about 100 yards, has in the centre an enormous arch of carved wood—ohinar leaf and lilies in dark stained wood. On either side, facing the whole frontage, is carved panelling of tho same, forming a semi-transparent wall six feet high. Tho posts and top of the arch are of copper, and the whole effect is splendid. Many of tho camps are equally gorgeous, some oven artistic, but none equal to Kashmir.

Wo shall have a busy week again now, for there are still more rehearsals for the various events. The Durbar ceremony will be a very lino one. Only detachments 01 regiments will be there, 8:i men from us. Tho rest of us will be on duty lining the King's route, iiring salutes, etc. At most of the functions the spectators will have the best of it, as we shall be standing about for hours, a most tedious proceeding. A lady continues the letter as follows :— His Majesty altered a lot of tlu> ceremony 'at :he last moment, and so gave the staff a lot of extra work. The Durbar is by no means "all beer and skittles" for the military.

On the day of the State entry the regiments wore lining the road on the Chandi Uhonk, which meant a very early start about 5.40 a.m., and they didii't get" home till 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The procession of native chiefs following rlie King took over two hours to pass. I and three other ladies of the Regiment had seats in the Ridge Pavilion, where His Majesty stopped to receive an address of welcome, and wo saw everything most comfortably. One of tho pleusautost features of the whole Durbar is tho number of old friends 0110 moots. Both y and I arc always mooting people we know years ago aud haven't soon forages. *S 's friends range from ruling Princes to drivers of mule carts, ami I never know, when ho is hailed enthusiastically by a nathe, whether his friend is a Comuiander-iu-Chiof or au ox-Sepoy!

We are going to send you tho Durbar edition of the Times of India, so I will not attempt to describe the different camns, as you will see pictures of them. Some* are very fine, and some are tawdry. One of the most effective isßhownagar, which has two great arches covered witii brass tilings, spoons, dekshas (cooking pots), trays, etc., arranged in patterns on a red cloth ground. At night they are lit with little electric lights, and tho polished brass shines and looks very fine. Tho Lieutenant-Governor's and Governor of India's camps are very fine, though quite simple, relying for effect entirely on their spaciousness and the lovely gardens and lawns round them. *Our little camp looks very small when one comes home to it after calling on friends in more exalted circles, but, all the same, we are most- comfortable. S has made our tent very nice. We have it divided down the middle with a curtain, so that he can have his servant in to soo to his uniform, etc., while I am dressing. We have an oil stove, which is a great comfort, for at night when dressing for dinner, and getting up early in the irorning. wo. are glad to the tent warmed.

This morning 1 have been to the parade service of 15,000 troops. I got a seat, and saw it all very well. The Bishop of Lahore and ten other padres were there, though only four or five of them took any active part in the service. There were massed bands and a big choir of men, and of course we had a lot of music; but none of the 15,000 Tommies sang, to my surprise, so that the voiume of sound was very small and rather lost in the open air and the enormous space covered by us all. The King and Queen had a raised shamiana in the middle, and the King evidently found his helmet troublesome for lie was shifting it on his head and fidgeting all the time. Of course, as we were all out under the blazing sun, none of the men, not even tho padres, took their helmets off.

Last night, wo wont to the torchlight tattoo on the polo ground. If was a splendid show, and well worth the long drive in the cold to soo. The massed bands are wonderful. There are 1500 performers, and they plajbeautifully. Last night there were also massed pipers and massed "drums and fifes," the latter especially good. The King and Queen were there, aud had a tremendous ovation. One hears "God Save tho King' all the time bore. In fact, from 7 a.m. till 10.-U) p.m. there are few times of tho day one doesn't hear a band playing somewhere, and our house in the quiet back street in Jullinder will seem oppressively quiet after it all.