DELHI DURBAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 572, 17 November 1902, Page 4

DELHI DURBAR.

London, Sept. 13. Tho gorgeous ceremonies at Delhi, when King Edward will be crowned by proxy, so to speak, as Emperor of India, will take place in midwinter on the Great Hawaii plain, on the samo site as the imperial assemblage which signalised the assuming of the title of Kaisar-i-lliad by the first Queen-Empress of India (Victoria) Jan. 1, 1077. In tho middle of the plain and some four miles from the Kashmir Gato of Delhi will bo tho imperial amphitheatre and dais where the durbar will be held.

; Usually the plain is deserted, except for the presence of a few shy deer and ungainly wading birds, but on this occasion, as on that of tho Imperial Assemblage, it will bo the scene of a gorgeous ceremony in which no dement of Oriental pomp will bo lacking. The Viceroy himself, tho great chiefs in peace and war subordinate to him alone, the noble Indian feudatories of tho crown, troops and guns, horses and elophants, splendid regiments and brightly clad, joyous crowds all will bo thero, and will makoja picture of display and splendor such as has never been seen oven in India; for it will surpass that of the Imperial Assemblage, ut which alono of all groat gatherings held in India representatives of every corner of the continent from Capo Comorin to Peshawar, and from Burma to Peshin, were present, and tho extension of the borders of tho empire since 1577 will allow various tribesmen, still half independent, from Waziristan, tho Tochi, and Kumuu on the ono land border of India, and from Bbamo and tho Shan and Karen States on the other, to gotlier with the rest to do hontago to their Emperor. About two miles from the Bawari plain is the parado ground of tho old cantonment, at ordinary times an empty, bare stretch covered with short turf aud forming a pleasant ground for a morning’s canter, but next Christmastide it will be covered with tho snowy camps of the Viceroy of India and his principal lieutenants and adjmors and will be resplendent with the bright Eastern sur roundings by which such camps are always framed. The Viceregal camp will bo in the centre of all, llanked on the south by tho J camps of the Governor of Bombay and of I the Commander-in-Chief of India and the I generals of the four commands, and on I the north by those of the Governor of Madras and the Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners and Agents to the Governor-General throughout India. At the back of the Central camp is being constructed a permanent residence for the Viceroy? occupation. This will here- i after fill a much needed want at Delhi — ; viz., a guest house for distinguished I Officials tufd visitors, j The press camp Will be on the left of j the state camps aud oue visitors' camp on the right, while another will he outside I the Kashmir Gate of the city. All the camps and the durbar plain will be connected by the light railway which is being constructed for the convenience of visitors, and all will he illuminated by the electric light. Xot far from the centre of the parade ground to the south of the grand trunk road, and close to the site of the Viceregal camp, is the dark cluster of trees which marks the last resting place of Sir Henry Barnard and the many men who fell before Delhi, upholding the cause of their Queen. The erecting of a cross to their memory has lately been sanctioned by the British Government.