THE PRINCE OF WALES IN INDIA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 541, 13 March 1876, Page 3

THE PRINCE OF WALES IN INDIA.

The special correspondent of the Argus , writing from Calcutta on January 3rd, gives a full account of the Prince’s visit to that city, from which we make the following extracts: —

The capital of British India had done but little in the way of decorations to welcome the Prince, The appearance of the landing stage was, in comparison with those at Bombay, Colombo, and Tuticorin, poor indeed. There were flags, and an erection for keeping off the sun, and raised tiers of seats, and a vast number of spectators, but there was neither the taste, the profusion of colour and decoration, nor anything approaching to the grandeur of preparation which might have been expected at Calcutta after the fine displays made at other places. Along the line of route through the park, or Maidan, as it is called here, from the landing place to the Viceroy’s palace, there was not so much as a flag erected, and it would really seem as if Calcutta was so much absorbed in the preparations for illuminations upon the following eveniiJgthat she had altogether forgotten to put on jfgala dress to greet the Prince. The croWfl, however, was in itself a sight. The road through the park is of great w'dtb, and upon either hand is a balustrade! wall /

some three feet in height. Along the front of this wall the people stood six or eight deep ; the wall itself had its closely-packed line of spectators ; while behind were carriages of all kinds four deep, and upon their roofs were clustered a background of welldressed spectators. This arrangement in tiers gave an air of solidity and multitude to the crowd which was very effective, and had there but been a couple of lines of bright flags, as at Madras, to give colour and light to the mass, it would have been even more striking than it was. For the Calcutta crowd lacks the colour which was so striking an element in the crowds of Bombay and Madras, in the former case given by the gaiety and variety of the turban, in the latter by the large number of women in gay dresses in the crowd. Both these elements were wanting In Calcutta, The crowd were for the most part bareheaded, the natives of Calcutta wearing their hair cut short, not cropped, but at a uniform length of one or two inches. Some part it in the middle, but the greater number let it go its own way. As to women, in the whole of that vast crowd I did not see a single woman on foot.

The Prince as he drove, escorted by a squadron of Punjaub cavalry, a battery of artillery, and the Viceroy’s body guard, to the Viceroy’s palace, was greeted with salaams, clapping and waving of hands, and a low murmur of greeting by the crowd, and by cheers from the knots of Europeans gathered here and there. If Calcutta was very much behindhand in the matter of decoration, she made up for it by the splendor of her illumination, which was more general and brilliant than anything I have ever before seen. There were little bits in Bombay more brilliant and more characteristic than anything in Calcutta, but Calcutta as a whole was by far the most brilliant illumination I can describe it but by saying that it was a general architectural illumination of every public building, and of all the large private dwellings, and then, in addition to this architectural illumination, there were stars, crowns, devices, illuminated arches, and transparencies ad infinitum, The|vinw from the centre of the Maidau, with the forts and barracks on the left, the Government house and the main city in front, and many public offices, with the palatial bungalows c.f Choivringec on the right, was particularly striking and beautiful. Every house and building was outlined from basement to sky line ; every column, balcony, and window slood outlined in soft lights. Upon these the devices shone out brightly. Arches and pavilions of bamboos were aglow with coloured lamps, and from the top of one of the Government offices a silver star of India 12ft in diameter stood up in white light from the concentrated reflection of five most powerful electric lights. In the principal street and square the illuminations were equally superb, while along the route taken by the Royal procession through the native quarter, double festoons of coloured lamps lined the road on both sides—the work of the municipality—while the natives vied with each other in the illumination of their dwellings. In one street a wealthy native had undertaken the illumination in the native style, in lieu of the festoons, and had raised along each side of the road a series of canvas arches facing the street. Above each arch was a native candelabra with eight candles in bell-glasses, while the arches were painted with a variety of grotesque figures fish and animals, soldiers and sailors, native chiefs, nautchgirls, and figures of women undistinguished by anything except nudity. The whole thing had a most curious and grotesque effect. The extent of the illumination was five miles, and along the whole route it would have been difficult to find one point less brilliant or striking than the rest. The native entertainment here, as at Madras, was a grand affair. It took place in a very large villa, with grounds of over a hundred acres in extent. The pavilion in which it was held was less brilliant than that of Madras, but even yet very splendid, while in addition to the-singing and dancing, there was a garden fete , with a very fine and peculiar display of native fireworks. But all these things fade into insignificance by the side of the grand ceremony of the investiture of the Star of India. This was held on the Ist, and was a superb spectacle. A large space in the park was enclosed. Upon either side were twelve large tents, each about 25ft square, placed 20ft apart, and united by canvas screens. At one end was a canvas hall, with a grand entrance. At the other end was, first, a space for a guard of honor —sailors on one side, soldiers on the other, Beyond this were two long tents with rows of seats facing each other, and across the end of them an immensely long tent placed across the other. In the centre of this, facing the entrance, at the further end was a dais, with two silver thrones for the Prince and Viceroy. Ou either hand were rows of seats for the Knights Commanders of the Order and their attendants, aud for the Knights and Companions of the Order, and behind them tiers of seats for spectators. The great tent was lined with fawn-coloured stuff, with a slight rosy tinge, its only ornamentation being a valance with a black moresque pattern. The poles supporting the roof were silvered, and here and there on the right and left of the avenue hung three blue flags, bear ng in ribbon the Star of India. Over the dais was a canopy supported on four silver poles, and formed of blue silk, with deep silver fringe. From the throne to the great entrance at the far end of the ground stretched a broad red cloth carpet, with rich carpets extending to each tent. Before each tent floated the flag of the knight its occupier. Palm-trees aud shrubs flunked each entrance, aud between them stood a line of troops. From the red cloth walk, between the guards of honour, rose the royal flagstaff, Even without the mass of spectators, without the actors in the ceremonial, the sight was a very fine one ; but as the benches rapidly filled, until the space beneath the tents, with the exception of the reserved places for the members of the Order and their attendants, it presented one mass of colour ; ladies' dresses and bonnets, officers in uniform, and the glittering head gear of native chiefs. By eight o’clock a.m. every spectator was in the place assigned to him, and from eight to ten minutes to nine, the Knights Commanders of the order continued to arrive at regular intervals of five minutes, in order of their seniority, with their attendants, squires, and pages. Bach was received by an officer of the Order, and conducted solemnly to his tent, there to robe and await the summons. At the appointed hour of nine, the Prince and Viceroy arrived, and the knights at once began to move in their order from their tents. First came the youngest knight, a woman, the Begum of Bhopal, Before her

came her squire?, in dresses of Eastern magnificence, behind her pages in gold and crimson brocade and' gold turbans bore up the train of the robe of the Order. This was of blue silk, with very long train, and had the star of India embroidered in gold on the shoulder. It entirely enveloped her form for like most Indian women she is very short, while her head and face was also enveloped in a blue covering. The mother of this lady, the illustrious Sekuuder Begum, one of the wisest of the native rulers in India, remained faithful to the British rule under circumstances of groat difficulty and danger to herself. Behind the pages came her esquire, bearing her banner, gold stars and castle on a blue ground. Then followed four attendants. She was conducted to her scat by the herald of the order, and in another minute came along Sir Salar Jung, the sagacious Minister of the N'zam. Of a fine figure, and calm powerful face, shaven save his moustache, Sir Salar wore under his robe a dark blue uniform, covered with gold, and trousers with gold stripe. His turban was white, with a great diamond star. His pages were in claret and gold, with green and gold scarfs. His banner was blue, with silver stars. Puttiala came next, a fine powerfully-built man, with a pleasant but somewhat fierce face. He wore a scarlet and gold uniform beneath his robe. His turban was ablaze with diamonds. His banner was white, with a crescent and other devices; his pages were in crimson and gold brocade, wifh yellow turbans Next came Lord Napier of Magdala. British officers marched before and behind him, and the midshipmen carried his train. His banner was a gold cross on crimson ground, Travancore followed, in a low white turban and diamond aigrette—a smooth shaven man, with aheavy but thoughtful face. He was in green and gold brocade, as were his pages. His flag was striped with several colours. Sir Bartle Frere succeeded him, escorted as Lord Napier had been ; his flag also was crimson and gold, but I could not S'e the device. Rewah came next, a singular looking figure, for he has some skin disease, and to conceal it colours his face a bright red, otherwise he has a frank and soldierlike expression. He wore a high headdress of diamonds, with a diamond net falling round his cars and back of the head. His attendants wore quaint and singular attire, two of them being in suits of armour. He wore a dark uniform, with a gold brocade skirt. Jeypore, who followed him, is short, and wore spectacles. He is intelligent and well educated. He wore a gold turban, and his pages wore blue with round caps and feathers. Holkar came next, a fine soldier-like figure, with a plain red turban. His banner was red with crossed silver swords, and his pages had gold turban and brocade. Cashmere had a grave face, with short beard and an American cast of features. His turban was white and gold, bis pages were in gold brocade with pink muslin turban, his flag was dark claret, with silver zigzags. Last came Scindia, in features, appearance, and manner very like one’s ideas of Harry VIII. before he got fat and heavy. His turban was white, with a sharp edge turned up at one side, and not unlike tbe Tudor bats. His banner was yellow and blue. Each Knight-Commander took his seat on one side or other of the front row of chairs as he arrived. His esquires stood behind him, holding his banner ; the rest of the attendants sat behind the esquires. Behind Scindia came the Prince of Wales. He had twelve officers in attendance, instead of the eight allowed to the others. His train was borne by two pages, in the style of Charles 1., silver and blue, with wide hats and plumes, and long curled hair—of course artificial. These were mid shipmen in disguise. The Prince took his place on hia throne. Lastly came Lord Northbrook, Grand Master of the Order, in state similar to that of the Prince, and with pages dressed in the same color and style, but a differently cut costume. After the reading of the decree announcing the Chapter, and declaring the Chapter open, and the names of the Knights-Commander and of the Knights and Companions of the Order present, the pursuivants went to the tent in which the Rajah of Jodhpur was awaiting the call. He was brought forward with his attendants and pages. His dress was a most curious one, a tight-fitting pink body and sleeves, and a pink petticoat with an immense number of plaits, like a Scotch kilt, and sticking out at the bottom in a most awkward manner. He wore a very high orange turban. His pages were also in pink. His face was very dark, with Egyptian features. After being presented to the Grand Master he was clothed in the robe of the Order by the pursuivants, and again brought before the Prince, who put on his head the collar of the Order, and in the name of the Queen received him as a Knight-Com raunder of the Order. A salute of thirteen guns was fied rin honor of the new Commander ; and the Rajah of Zheend was then brought up and similarly inducted He was a fine figure with a long white beard. Otherwise he did not look past middle life. His dress was a tunic of green and igold brocade, beneath which was a short white petticoat. His pages were dressed in maroon with gold spangles. Other rajahs and Europeans were then created Knights of the Order, and a few were made Companions. This done, the Prince declared the Chapter dissolved, and the whole filed off to their tents in the same order in which they had arrived, the most picturesque and glittering procession conceivable. The Prince leaves this evening for the north-west.