THE CORONATION DURBAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1311, 14 December 1911, Page 5

THE CORONATION DURBAR.

DELHI'S GREAT DAY, UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE KING. A NEW CAPITAL FOR INDIA,

By Telegraph-Pross Association-Oopyrieht (Ecc. December 13, 10.20 p.m.) Delhi, December 13. The Durbar Amphitheatre was five times the size of the. Coliseum in Borne. It formed tiro semi-circles, tho larger boing uncovered, and surrounded by a semi-circular mound crowded with 50,000 of the populace, including thousands of schoolchildren, each section being distinguished by coloured headgear. The smaller semi-circle was roofed, and faced Durbar Sltainiana on two fronts. In the centre, surrounded by 12,000 spectators, chiefly officials in uniforms, were the English visitors, the men wearing court dress, and the ladies brilliant toilettes. Closely-latticed enclosures were erected behind for tho wives of Iho princes. Just before the commencement of the Durbar, the veterans, including a hundred who had participated in the Mutiny, marched into the arena, tho bands playing "See the Conquering Hero Comes," and the troops roaring a welcome.

THEIR MAJESTIES ARRIVE. At eleven o'clock the skirling of pipes announced tho coming of the Black Watch to guard tho Shamiana, the Fifty-third Sikh? occupying a position on the other side. Then came the Viceroy, Lord Hardiuge, and lady Hardinge. On their entry tho 12,000 spectators rose, and remained standing until at half-past eleven a salute of 101 guns announced tho arrival of their Majesties. A battery of artillery swept round the ring, tho Tenth Hussars and tho Viceroy's scarlet-clad bodyguard of gigantic Sikh Lancers followed. The Royal procession circled the Amphitheatre, and their Majesties alighted at the Shamiana. Tho King wore his Coronation robe, and a surcoat similar to that used at the Coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. The Queen wore a white dress, with a purple velvet robe. Their Majesties _ were attended by a troop of pages of princely blood in dresses of white and blue. The salute of guns ended as the King and Queen seated themselves on the thrones in tho Shamiana. Tho Durbar was opened by a flourish of trumpets and a low mutter of drums which swelled to a thunderous roar. The King, in a clear voice, which carried well,' expressed his pleasure to be in India, and his heartfelt satisfaction at tho people's love, and tho Imperial devotion to India's welfare. THE HOMAGE OF THE PRINCES. The ceremony of offering homage followed, Lord Hardiuge alone kissing his Majesty's hands. '- General Sir O'Moore Creagh, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, led the members of tho Viceroy's Council. The Nizam of Haidarabad and the Gaekwar of Baroda led the procession of princes, and the Mysore, Kashmir, Kaipur, and' Eajput princes followed, most of them wearing robes of honour of cloth of gold. Many of the robes, which were priceless, were adorned with pearls hanging in festoons, and necklets of diamonds, while emeralds sparkled in the headdresses, and rubies on the 6word hilts. The massed bands moanwhilo played soft music. The Begum of Bhopal, in dazzling robes of richly-embroidered gold, and heavilyveiled, had a gTeat reception. The homage lasted forty minutes, and ended with salaams from the rugged North Frontier and Arabian desert chieftains. BENEATH THE GOLDEN DOME.

Their Majesties then rose, amid the strains of the Coronation March, and walked hand in hand up a broad raised way 150 yards long to a lofty dais placed on marble steps twenty feet above the ground, the princely train-bearers following, together with attendants bearing symbols of the Imperial estate,; scarlet umbrellas, fans, and the Mace. Upon reaching their golden thrones beneath the golden dome their- Majesties stood a minute to be crowned and robed, facing the twenty thousand troops at the foot of the dais with their glinting scabbards and fluttering pennons, and the fifty thousand of the populace gathered beyond and extending in a sweep of half a mile upon tho semi-circular mound. Lord Hardinge, Lord Crowe, Secretary of State for India, and their Majesties' suites stood on a lower platform of the dais. THE PROCLAMATION. Twelve British and twelve Indian trumpeters on white horses rode into the central avenue, and blew stirring fanfare upon silver trumpets at the foot of the flagstaff whence the Eoyal Standard Muttered. Brigadier-General Peyton, the Delhi Herald, standing in his stirrups, then read the Proclamation announcing the London Coronation, and the Assistant Herald repeated in Hindu. The silver trumpets again sounded, and the massed bands, numbering 1600 men, played the National Anthem, while 101 guns were fired in salvoes, the troops outside firing feus de joie. Lord Hardinge then read tho Proclamation, except tho part with reference to Bengal and Delhi. This part of the ceremony ended by the Herald calling for three cheers for the King-Emperor, tlio concourse of a hundred thousand responding. DELHI'S NEW DIGNITY. Their Majesties then returned to the Stamiana, and the King, rising unexpect-' edly, announced the creation of Delhi as tho capital. The suddenness and unexpectedness of the disclosure held all spellbound, and there was a momentary silence. Then the audience became afire with enthusiasm and Indian cheers. Tho ceremony closed with the singing of the National Anthem, and final salutes. Tho bearing of the King throughout w.is calm and dignified, and marked by iron resolution fitting to an Oriental ceremony. A State banquet was given in tho evening, attended by Lord Hardinge, tho Gov-1 ernors, and the Princes, and afterwards i a reception, at which four thousand guests wore proseat, was held in the iavostituro teat. (