Prince’s Five Elephants

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1922, Page 4

Prince’s Five Elephants

LAVISH GIFTS OF JEWELS

GWALIOR, Feb. 10,

Splendour in colour could hardly go further than it did in the reception of the Prince of Wales at Gwalior to-day. The Maharaja Seindia had gone to meet him at a station down the line, and arrived in the train with him. At the station a glittering group awaited their coming, in the forefront of which was

George, title little six-years-old heir apparent to the throne of Gwaloir, clad from head to foot in cloth of gold. After a short ceremony the wonderful gorgeous procession to the palace started. The royal elephant, with its cloth of gold trappings, on which in a golden howdah under a royal umbuella sat the Prince by the Mahajara’s side, was a magnificent beast (said to be 100 years old). Hardly less sumptuous were the 17 other monsters, all brilliantly painted and richly caparisoned. Before them went two squadrons ot Cavalry and a battery of Horde Artillery, with numbers of wonderfully cos- > turned state functionaries and retainers. As the line of enormous animals, all Hashing with colour, went lounging and swaying along the street to the crash of the wild music of pipes and drums, between hanked masses of people dressed in bright colours, the whole flanked by white buildings gleaming in the sun, it was an unforgettable scene. Along the whole route the Prince was welcomed with every demonstration of enthusiasm —Non Co-operation and other forms of disloyalty are not permitted in the State of Gwalior. 400 SIRDARS IN RED. Two hours later, at the Durbar in the Palace, in a great hall decorated with yellow and gold, about 400 Sirdars (rulers of small Starts) were assembled, all clad in shades of red, the Court colour, with golden jewels. File after fill' of richly dressed servants came up and, bowing low, placed offerings oil the ground before the chairs of state in which sat the Prince and the Maharaja, fill the roil carpet was for many yards covered with them. Five elephants and six horses which were also among the gifts to the Prince-remained in the palace yard to he inspected later. The gifts of lesser bulk included all manner of rich fabrics, diamond-studded plumes, armlets, necklaces, and other ornaments and weapons, such as bows, spears, and shields, scimitars and old mmvde-loading guns.