THE DELHI DURBAR.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11505, 11 February 1903, Page 5

THE DELHI DURBAR.

STATE ENTRY OP THE VICEROY. "AN ORIENTAL DREAM." od9 of those scenes of pageantry trbico India alone can furnish was witnessed on Monday, December 29th, at Lord (Torzon'e State entry into Delhi. The sun ebone brilliantly on a crowd of native princee fla/ihing diamonds, rubies, and emeralds from resplendent robes and turbans. The elephant* were decked in the richest trappiuga, and from far and near had gathered a multitude of natives in every conceivable hue of colonr. -One correspondent calls it "an Oriental dream." The Duke and Duchess of Connaught he railway station a few minutes after Lord and Lady Curzon, and when the Indian Princes had been presented to- tie Duke they returned to the road, where, at a given signal, the mahoute caused the entire line of elepbanta to lie down while the princes entered their howdahs, the huge animals rendering implicit obedience to the word of command. As Lord and Lady Curzon and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, mounted on elephants, and preceded by their staffs, left the station precincts and paseed out tiirough the line, of ruling chiefs awaiting them, the elephante of the latter saluted by trumpeting and throwing their trunks into the air, presenting a most imposing eight, and then fell into line behind the procession, forming a column of 70 colossal animals. While the bands played the National Anthem the procession was formed. It ia said to have been'nearly five miles long, and took two houra to pass a given point. First came four squadrons of the 4th Dragoon Guards, with a battery of artillery and a Viceroy's escort with the gorgeouslyattired herald and trumpeters, of whom six were British and six native cavalry soldiers, clad in crimson coats, heavily braided with gold. Their instruments were of silver, and on the crimson banderoles were the Royal Arms worked in gold and silver. Next came the Viceroy's bodyguard and the Imperial Cadet Corps. Mounted on the foremost elephante were the Viceroy's aides-de-camps and the members of the Duke of Comnaught's staff. The Viceroy and Lady Curzon were borne on a magnificent elephant, Luchman Prasad, lent by the Maharajah of Benares, and notable as the same grand tusker that carried Lord Lytton at the Proclamation Durbar 6f 1877. The palanquin of solid silver was embossed with the Royal Arms, and the rich saddle cloth, with Jiot# rampant embroidered on either flank, swept the ground with a heavy fringe. On the forehead was heavy sjlverwork, and huge trailing bands, were ornamented with rich gems. The limbs of the noble beasts were encircled by bands eupporting silver belle, and at his side walked natives bearing spears and bedecked in the ecarlet livery of the Viceroy. Lord Curzon wag in a. State uniform of Star of India blue, while Lady Curzon wore an attractive shade of grey. Then on another npble animal came the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. The Duke appeared as a Field Marshal with the sash of the Star of India. The Duchess was robed in bright blue. The sides of their howdah were composed of panels representing golden tigers catching black buck on a silver background, and the interior was hung with purple velvet. Their Royal Highnesses' . attenj dants were dressed similarly to those of the Viceroy. After, them appeared 64 ruling" chiefs, liding elephante, two abreast. The howdahs on their - backs were so many golden thrones with silken canopies or domes of beaten gold or silver to protect the jewelled occupants from the Indian enn. At the Lahore gate guns thundered out a Royal salute, and bands played the National Anthem, while the Gordons and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders lined the roadside. With heralds and trumpeters af intervals sounding spirited fanfares, the cortege passed in front of a magnificent line of about 150 superb elephante, carrying the brilliantly-dressed retainers of the ruling chiefs. The animals all saluted in elephantine fashion, and eventually joined the rear of the official procession. The cavalcade turned up the open' road leading to the Jummti Musjid, which lay gleaming red in the sunlight, with its white domes and gilded minaretfl flashing. After the escort "of British Dragoons and Horse Artillery leading the procession hod passed came the Herald, Major Maxwell, with hie pursuivants and trumpeters, a group conspicuous by the splendour ot their attire, their fine chargers, end the, brilliance, of their accoutrements, and following them rode the newly-oonetituted Imperial Cadiet Corps, comprising some 30 youthful Mahacrajahs, who looked superb hi their white coats, blue turbans, and decorations. Sir Pertab Singh led the cadets, mounted on the famous coal-black charger which he rode in the King's Coronation procession in London. Directly after the elephants came the Grand Duke of Hesse, in a carriage* escorted by the 15th Hussars. Lord Northcote, the Governor of Bombay, and Lord Ampthdll, the Governor of Madras, made a brave show with their full bodyguards, Sir Charles > Rivaz, L ieu tenantGovernor of the Purijaub, following in a perfect turn-out. Lord Kitchener rode with a glittering and resplendent staff, followed by the heads of the great provinces; with escorts of Indian cavalry. The Balueh Khan of Kalat and the Jam of Las Bela came next, with the other frontier sirdars and tribal leaders from beyond the border line, all ridrng prancing Kabali steeds of uncouth appearance. Last came a dashing regiment of cavalry, the 11th (Prince of Wales's Own) Bengal Lancers. The procession passed through lines of soldiers, keeping back immense crowds of natives, through the ancient city, 'with its balconies and housetops teeming with life, past the splendid clock tower and town hall, -where special stands had been erected, which held scores of minor chiefs in* nclmttire and profusely jewelled—over the railway bridge, out through the Moree gate of the city, and into the open park once more. Here, after a four-mile march, the Viceroy's elephant hajted side by eide with that of the Duke of Connaught, with the staffs drawn, up behind them while the princes filed by, and the day's ceremony was over. The Viceroy anil the Duke of Connaught reached their camps after three hours' riding and driving. The roads after the procession were a perfect chaos, in which camel carriages, mule carts, brakes, landaus, bicyeke, and bullock carts were mixed up in inextricable confusion. Many breakdowns occurred, and the dust was terrible. Scores of distinguished people took hours to return to their camps.