THE KING=EMPEROR IN INDIA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 3

THE KING=EMPEROR IN INDIA.

MAGNIFICENT WELCOME AT BOM' BAY. A GOKGEOUS SPECTACLE. His Mnjesty King George V and Qmen Mary arrived at Bombay, on Saturday, December 2. When the firing of guns made it known that .the Medina had b?on sighted from the outer lighthouse, every point of vantage was crowded by spectators 'straining their eyes seaward to catch the first glimpse of the lioyal vosi sel. ■ It was a glorious sight as the I stately yacht-like white vessel rounded Colaba I'oint, and with her escort of cruisers, steamed majestically, amid the saluto of 101 Rims', down the harbour—that magnificent stretch of sparkling water separating the island, from the mainland, studded with palm-clad hilly islands, with this.-Western Ghats • rising in the background. Till' water was alive with craft of every imaginable description, from tho sjnail latec-sailed native boats to giaut liners, and the vessels of the East Indies Scjuadron, all bell agged, bedecked ii. gala fashion. Storms of cheering rang out as the Medina passed, and as she approached her ahchorage the Imperial salute crashed out. : The scene on Apollo Bunder was one of great brilliance. In the huge amphitheatre opposite the landing place piisons to the number of over 3000 were gathered -—all prominent officers and civilian officials not taking active part in the oetual reception of their Majesties. Behind them was massed a representative gather- . ing of the population of the city. The Levee dress otthe officers and the toilettes of their ladies mingled their colours with the gorgeous hues of the ceremonial attire of Indian chieftains and of the Sirdiirs of Dcccan and Gujerat.. Further in the background, patiently waiting, under the sweltering Indian sun, was a multicoloured throng—Hindus, Mohammedans, Parsees, Arabs; in the various costumes prescribed by. their castes and customs. On Indian Soil. The Viceroy and Sir George Clarke came on shore after \ko morning visit to tho Medina. , At ten minutes to- four the Imperial salute crashed out as the lloyal barge -.left the great vessel's side and glided slowly towards the shore. The scene from the amphitheatre was one of exciuisito beauty. In the foreground jutting.'seawards was the Bunder with the, beautiful dais, inos<iueliko and niinarel;ted.;-tUe reception pavilion, with its dome of marblefikc- whiteness, and tho brilliantly uniformed troops, and the'i the flashing blue-waters,.Che harbour with its array of bfflaeged ships and it* rocky 'islauds'-the whole sit ell bv the background formed by the swtep oi' the Western Ghats, whose sunbaked peaks,were softened by a pimple ld \t" five minutes" past the hour, another Imperial salute thundered out, and the hoisting of the" lioyal Standard announced that the ■Kuig-Lniperor-and ;the Queen-Empress had. landed on Indian soil. As tlie King-Emperor set- loot on the shore, the Guard of Honour stood at attention find, the band .played' tho National Anthem , . Tho King-Lmperor was in the uniform "of an Admiral'ot the Fleet witli r tlie ribbon of the Order of tho Star of Indiay and the Queen-Empress looked charming.. She wore the ribbon of tho' Garter-' Both were apparently' in the best of health. After the presentations, tho .King-Emperor...inspected- the guard of honour,, and His; Majesty and tho Queen-Empress advanced along the carpeted .colonnade'of Saracenic pillars towards the dais, which architecturally was treated in. the'same mariner as the landing pavilion. Above it How the (lags. of England, Ireland, Scotland, 'Wales, India 'the lotus' and the star of India), I Canada,-No* Zealand, Australia, Africa, und the St. George's Cross aiid the Union Jack. . ! ■ ■ ' Over the dais was n canopy of Royal bine silk, surmounted by a crown, while the ceiling, which was white silk, bore the cross of St George. Placed in front of ■' the dais were two golden thrones of pure Indian design and carving, with vertical backs about nine feet high. The throne's were supported on. miniature 'carved- elephants and decorated with cloth of .gold, into which was worked tlie Royal • monogram. Above the upholstering on the backs the-Royal coat of arms was carved in bold relief. Tho dais upon which thefo seats were placed was' covered with. Koyal scarlet velvet, richly decorated with gold silk embroidery. Their Majesties passed up to Hip dais, and took their scats on thrones facing tho amphitheatre, amid a storm of cheering from the assemblage, wli</ had risen to their feet.' The King-Emperor and Queen-Empress appeared to bo very pleased- with the cordiality of their reception, and smiled and bowed. Their Mujceties being seated, the President, of. the Municipal Corporation. Sir Phirozeshah M. Mehta, read an address, which was presented.to-their Majesties in a rich awl beautiful casket. . The King's Speech. In reply, the. King-Emperor, whose voice was audible everywhere, and whose words were followed -with tho keenest iiiiercit, and were punctuated with- applause, said:— ■ ' . • ■ "You have rightly said that I am no stranger among you, and I can heartily respond that I feel niysolf- no stranger in.your beautiful citj\ Six years ago I arrived indeetl as a newcomer, but the recollection ' of your cordial and svmpathctic greeting is still fresh in "mv nioniory. "The wondrous aspect disclosed by the approach to your shores, the first glimpso oi the palms rising as it wire from the lissom of the sen, have not been forgotten, and have lost noiie of their fascination for me- . "Ffoni Bombay I set forth in. 1805, enralirased by jour. affectionate welcome, to travorso at any rat?, a part of this- vast country, and to'striye to gain foine knowledge,, nnd what I acquired could not but elooppii my sympathy with all nations and erceos; and -when. through the lamented 1-Kith .oi my l-oloved father 1 was called to the riiroiw of my ancestors, ono of mv first and most earnest desires was to il visit my goad subjects in India. kJ n'% ,V ffclihgs of. np:copini6n emotion that. I .find myself here a.-.ain, especially with thc : pii«Hi-En,Br«w at n,y fh\k and that desire fulfilled; and I come with a heart full ot gratitude that the anxietv ' due to tlireatentd Scarcity in certain awns of tl.c PrtsidPhcj- has,' thanks to lavMirablc-nnd 'opportune rains, been -happily . clispelM. and that there is evenprospect of your Jnnd bdiig;blessed thero"Your eloquent address has recalled to ms that Bombay was, one* the dowrv-of a British Queen. As such, 'Humphrey Cook took it. over, 250 y-s-ars ar.o, a mei-'o fishniif village. You, Hontlcmfn, eml.voiir forprunnor?, have made it a jewel of the British Crown. ... "Tfrs again- with joy.Hip rich setting ot its iMUuhful and stately bmldin™; T note, also, ihe low conspicuous but also mop nrontiblo improvements latelv eftcctotl; but, above all, I recognise' with pride your offorb to heighten what must always be the supreme lustre of. such a jewel as this—Hie pcr.ee, happiness, and prosperity of nil clasws cf the citizens. I'rom my heart, I thank you for tho rancrous reception accorded to the Quccn-KmpTfss.nnrl myself to-day. We earnestly pray thnt God's blessing may rest upon our Indian Emnire, and that ppiicp nnil prosperitv may bo ever vouchsafed to its people." On the conclusion of his sneech, ' his Majesty boved.'liis qeknin-ledgm«nts oi" the loud acclamations of the assemblage, A magnificent bouquet of pink and wlii'to orchids was nresp.nted to the QueenEmnrpss by Ltidy AWita. Her Majesty smilingly accepted the gift. Drive Through the City. State carriages now drove up, and as their Majesties . left tho dais cheering broke nffain out antl bands played the National Antliom. .Their Mnicstics took then- seats in-the first, carriole. In Hie second were f.h.e Viceroy and lord Crowe, and in the. third Sir George and Ladv Clarke. Ri\ landaus carried'the members of tlicir Majesties' suit?: TV procession drove off in the direction of Anollo Bmi- | der 1t0.T.1. and a tliun'W.ius roll of choerin? from the qsyemblod multitude in Hip streets heralded their Majesties' entrance. Tim procession pawed at a steady trot along* Hornby Ttend, the chief business thoroughfare of the .European quarter, into, the native district of ICabadevi. • All along the route, bannerettes.bearing Indian cmlilcms— such as the five-hraded cobra and the pral Ilnnumnn—fluttered alwvo miniaturo Hindu temple domes. The procession, which was a mile

long, was jmrelv military, and most imposing. Tho following regiments were on duly:—V. Battery of the Uoynl Horse Artillery, 7th (Princes* Royal's) Dragoon (iuards, 26th King's Own Native Light Cavalry, the Governor of Uomljny's Bodygnunl, and Hornbay Volunteer Light Horse. Tho 7th Dragoon Guards made a brave show as they swept by', followed hy I ho Light Horse and Governor's Bodyguard in scarlet. Their Majesties' carriage was surrounded by Horse Artillery and native cavalry in gorgeous uniforms. The Women and Children, Tho routo was lined with troops, (he Apollo liunder Road being kept by bluejackets of the. East Indian Squadron. Special provision was made along the route for the accommodation of school children, the wives and children of soldiers, and for military pensioners. There were soine 27,000 school -children in stands along Cruickshank, Sandhurst, and Esplanade Roads, while flic military pensioners saluted (he Imperial .pwes-i sion in tho Apollo Bunder Road. J he soldiers' wives were given places on special stands in the Hornby Koad. • Winding into the magnificent Queens Road, with the band playiug the National Anthem, tho procession proceeded at a steady trot past many stands crowded with 'brilliantly-costumed Indian women. The remainder" of thh drivo was uneventful until the entry into Churchgate Street, from which to practically the end of tho route there was a vast congregation of 28,000 school children of all castes and creeds, who wero excitedly enthusiastic, and as their Majesties approached, the children rose to theit feet, each waving a souvenir flag, and cheering themselves hoarse. This was undoubtedly one of the most.pleasing, charming features of the whole progress. Tho procession returned to the , Apollo Bunder, and their Majesties, embarking on the Royal barge, returned to the Medina amid salutes. The crowds wero most orderly, and tho arrangements were perfect. The troops participating in the procession earned ball cartridges, and thoiigh tho possibility of disorder was most remote, no precaution was left untaken. At night Bombay was illuminated. On Sunday, December 3, their Majesties landed at tho Apollo Bunder, and motored, escorted by police in cars, through cheering crowds • to tho Government House, where they, lunched, covers being hud for'seventy. In the evening the King-Emperor and the Oucen-Emprcss attended a service at the Cathedral, to which they drove with an escort of British and native cavalry. The Queen looked charming in a gown of pink silk, veiled #rith grey, and a creairt hat with feathers of the same shade as the dress. A Children's Fete. On' Monday, December i, their Majesties attended a children's fete in the grounds of the Old Bombay Exhibition. In tho amphitheatre 25,000 school children of ;ill castes and creeds were seated on the ground, formiii™ a semi-circle. They were all in their festival costumes, and made a. blaze of red, gold, and blue. Each child was provided 'with a small flag, which nt a signal was waved with wild enthusiasm on Uh'c arrival of their Majesties. After the flag welcome had concluded, the National Anthem '.vas sung with great enthusiasm in English, Gujerati, .Marathi, and Urdu. For the first three languages, the English setting was used, while the Urdu words were sung, to Indian ,music in a niinor key, the effect being most impressive. One hundred and fifty Parsi'girls then danced a .Gurb'i—a ry Mimical dance with song, in.which they' moved in concentric circles chanting in a minor key to the accompaniment of tinkling bracelets and clashing anklets, making a charming picture,. , At the. conclusion of this performance their Majesties descended'from': tho dais and drove slowly down a lane,'formed by children, to the Exhibition. The passage pi. the King-Emperor and the Queen-Empress through tlio excited crowds of children aroused indescribable enthusiasm. '- .' ■ A Mysterious Firn. A full rehearsal of the State entry was held on Tuesday, December 5, in whirn the Viceroy represented 'the King-Em-peror. While the processions wero passing the Ridge, smoke, was seen ascending from tho Fort. . This proved to be a fire, which absolutely destroyed the tent, with its huge massive silver poles, in which the King was to receive the Indian Princes. The tent belonged to the Bahaw.alpUr State, and cannot be replaced,- owing to its size mid its decorated ceiling. The fiio has caused a sensation, and is likely to upset thn elaborate programme arranged for (ho arrival of their Majesties. The cause of tho outbreak is quite unknown. The structure is not the great Shamiaua, which is the striking feature of the King-Emperor's camp, and which will.be the scene ol the great tcc?ption and investiture of the Dnrbar itself. A fire occurred in the (.'amp on Sunday, resulting in the total-loss of the five main reception, drawing, and dining-room tents belonging to Sir Louis Dane, Lieu-tenant-Go'rernor of the Punjab. The outbreak was caused by he fusing of an electric wire. At Delhi. At Delhi.—From the small hours of the morning, long before sunrise, all the camps were well astir, and troops were inarching' to. various points on tho ,loug route to be folloived by their Majesties, to take up their positions. A few puffs of smoko on the other sido of the bridge rising over the trees announced the approach of the- pilot cnsginc, and a moment afterwards the Imperial train steumel across the bridge into tho station, and drew- up, with tho King's carriage almost level with the armoury erected on the platform. ' Lord and Lady Hardinge at oncp went forward to greet their Majesties as they alighted. Tho first ceremonial was the presentation to their Majesties of tho'high officials assembled on tho platform. • Meanwhile a prooe-ssion was being formed, and presently the cavalcade moved out of the station precincts over the bastion to the fort, Delhi Herald leading. Their Majesties walked in. the middle of the 'procession, followed by the Viceroy and Lady Hardinge, the Marquis of Crewe, and the members of the household. Through brave ranks, the Royal procession went across the meat into the. fort, where, tho ruling chiefs were awaiting their Majesties in a new reception, tent, erected in place of the one so unfortunately destroyed by fire. After inspecting the Guard of Honour, their . Majesties passed through the throng of Princes to tho platform, on which two splendid golden chairs wero set on a. golden carpet. The reception of the ruling chiefs was at once begun, and the scene was a particularly brilliant one. The State Entry. , Tho reception over, the Royal procession was formed, in which the KingEmperor and tho Queen-Empress Were to make their State entry into the city, and then make their way through its streets and out again beyond the walls of the great Durbar Camp. The whole route was entirely.lined by the troops of Ihe garrison. Countless thousands-nf people were waiting for their King-Emperor outside, tho Dc-lhi gate, the historic point of entry into the city. Highland regiments, tho Gordons anil (ho Black Watch, together with Ihe 13th Hussars, lined the route from the Delhi Rate to the .luninia Masiud, Ihe spaces around which wore crowded with people clad in many colours, and many batteries of artillery were posed close b.v. Presently came the sound of trumpets echoing under the portals of tho Delhi gat;?, and immediately afterwards a Herald come into view, leading the way with his trumpstcrs. At last tho KuirTlmneror himself came through the. gate., a solitary kingly figure. His eyes beheld on a mount in front, the Grand Mosque of .Tumma. Masjid, gleaming rod with its white domes and lofty gilded minarets flashing in the morning sun. To his Majesty's right immediately on coming through the gate, hs passed a company of gaily-clad Moslem girls, waving flags in welcome. On his Majesty's approach to the stand for distinguished visitors, the excitement rose to fevor pitch, and the Kinjr-Emperor passod through a crowd in which some were clKOrinjr with frantic enthusiasm.', while others were gazing in silent wonderment or muttering nrayers for grace .nt the sight of their Monarch. Tim King-Emperor rodo b.v himself, a solitary fifruro. nn a superb bay charter. His Tilniosty rode with a kingly b»nrinjr. and wns evidently impressed and delighted with tho splendid welcome accorded him by the populace. The Ruling Princes. The filial portion nf the procession consisted of ruling Princes clad in the richest silks and wearing'priceless jewels, with their gorgeous retinues. This procession ulone stretched for. miles, forming a display of Oriental wealth and pomp to de-

scribe which is almost beyond the power of the ordinary pen. Some of the horses wero simply covered with gold and silver strapping. Moving nt a walking pace, the stately procession passed up to tho .fiimma Mas]il, where tho broad slotjs of the famous mosque wore cramnisd with sightseers of all castes, creeds, and nations. After circling the mosque amidst fresh outbursts of cheering, their Majesties arrived in tho famous Ciinndni Chowk, which presented a bewildering profusion of life and colour. Their Majesties passed on, leaving the city through the Mori Gate., and the populace settled down to view tho remaining portion of the great procession. British mid Indian troops alternately lined Ilia entire route, and for a full, mile Imperial Service troops guarded the' Royal road. At length their Majesties reached the pavilion ..on the Ri'.'.g", where over two hundred representative. , ) of British India, consisting of the Governor-Generals and Provincial Councils and others deputed by their respective provinces, together with a large number of invited guests, were seated. On tho arrival of their Majesties at the entrance to the pavilion enclosure, all present rose to their feet, and the band played tho National Anthem. When the King-Emperor arrived in front of Ihe representatives of British India his Majesty drew, rein, and turned his horse towards them, while the Queen-Empress's carriage drew up immediately alongside his Majesty. Mr. Jenkins, of the Viceroy's Council, then delivered an address on behalf of Ihe Legislative Council ns the representative of British India. The King-Emperor having replied, his MaJEstv rode on, and after passing, down the slope in a few minutes arrived at his canvas tent, some distaaco below tho Badge.