THE STAR OF INDIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 82, 23 March 1876, Page 4

THE STAR OF INDIA.

-^rpPJTSjj^fee J PW?y columns of interest,ing'matfer addressed to the Melbourne Argus by itß Indian correspondent, relative to the visit of the Prince of Walej, we extract the followingj having reference* to one of the. grandest cere, monies in which the. Prince has taken par&:— O .-■•'.. " But all these things fade into insignificance by the side of the grand cere/nonyof the investiture of the Star of ; India. Tbis was held on the Ist, and was. a Bbperb-spectacle. A large space in the Park was enclosed. Upon either' 1 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 spacVfor a 'guard ; of honor — sailors on one side, soldiers on the other. Beyond tbis were two long, tents with rows of seats faoing eaoh other, and across the end pf them an immensely, long tent: placed across the other. In the centre of ( thfs, /.facing, the entrance, at the further, end, was a dais, with two silver thrones for the Prince and- Viceroy. On either, hand? werer rows of seats for the Knights Commanders of the Order 1 aud~ their aUendants, and for ( the Knights and. Companions of the Order, and behind them tiers of seats for the spectators. The great tent was lined with fawn-colored stuff, with a slight rosy* tinge 1 , 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, bearing in ribbon the Stafc'bf India. Over the dais was* a canopy supported on four silver poles, ahd^ formed of blue silk, with deep silver fringe; From the throne to the great entrance . at r the far end of the ground' stretched a broad red cloth carpet,,with rich carpets extending to each t,enjt. Before each-tent floated the flag of the knight its occupier. Palmtrees and r shrubs flanked each entrance, end between. them stood a line of troops; Ft'Omithe'red cloth walk, between the guards of honor, rose the royal flagstaff. Even without the mass of spectators,- .^without the actors in the ceremony,' the sight was a very fine one ; but as the benches rapidly filled, until the space beneath the- tents, with tbe exception of tho reserved places for the members of the Order nnd their attendants, presented one mass of. color.; . ladies' dresses and bonnets, officers in on i form, 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 the order of their seniority, .with their attendants, squires, and pages.' 'Each was received by an officer of Order, and conducted solemnly to his tent, there to robe and await the, summons: At the appointed hour of niuej-the Prince and Viceroy arrived, aod >j the ; knights at once began to mAva ; in. ; their order from their - te^ls.^First came the youngest knight, a woman, the Begum of Bhopa). Before, her came her squires, in dresses, of Eastern.magnificence, behind her, pages infold, 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 i for like most Indian women she is very short, whije her head and face were also enveloped in a blue covering. The, mother of this lady, the illustrious , Se_!und,er, Bejgum, one of. the wisest of the .native; rulers in India, remained, faithful to the British, rule under circumstances of great difficulty and danger to herself. Behind the pages came her esquire, bearing her banner, gold stars and castle on a blue ground. Theis "' followed ' four attendants. She was conducted to her seat by a herald of the ; Order, and in another minute came along Sir Salar .lung, the saga-cfo-.^Minißter'"of the Nizam. Of,' a', fine figure,, and calm powerful face, shaven; save bis moustache, Sir Salar wore under ; his robe a dark blue uniform, covered with gold, and trowsers wit- goi- stripe. His turban was rffiiSe/'with'- great diamond etar. His pages were in claret and gold, with . green and gold scarfs. His banner was hlne'i' 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 tutban was ablaze with diamonds. His banner wasv?white", with a crescent and other' devices ; bis pages were in crimson . and gold br^pcade. with yellow turbans. Next came Lord Napier, of Magdala. British officers marched before and behind "^ him, : and midshipmen carried his train. His banner w_s a gold cross on crimson grounct. Travancore followed, in a low, white turban, and' diamond aigrette — a smooth shaven man, with a heavy, but thoughtful laoe. j He was iv green and gold brocade, as ; were his pages.- His flag was 'striped with several colors. Sir Hartle Frere succeeded him, escorted aa Lord Napier had been ; bis flag fswatb crimson' and gold, but I could not «SB_e *he device. Rewah came next, a lo** 1 "- 1 < fi S ure ' for he haß Borne . fik v m iilisWe, *°<* t0 conceal it, colors „fais.faciß„,bri£M; r-A Otherwise, he has . a i r&flk ■ and s'oldJL«v.- k - a exprawion. „A lf woVe --high bea-i-dr.e.il o7 diamonds -with ,a diamond net falling £/s£" B,s ■ears and back of the head. His ,- attend-ffibiWdre quaint' and .singular i , ftttire, jwo'tff theiu being ia suite of i

armour. He wore a dark uniform, with a gold brocade skirt. Jeypdre, ; 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 nest, 1 : a j fine, soldierlike figure, with a plain red turban. His banner was. red with crossed silver swords, and bis pages had gold turbans and brocade. Cashmere had a grave face, with a short beard and an American cast of features. His turban was white and gold, his pages were in gold brocade with pink muslin turban, I his flag was dark claret, with silver! zigzags. Last came Scindia, in features, appearance, and manner very lite one's ideas of, Harry VIII. before be got fat and heavy. His turban .was white, with a sharp edgeiturned up at one side; and not unlike the Tudor hats. , 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 enquires stood behind him, holding his banner; the rest of the attendants eat 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 midshipmen in disguise. The Prince took bis place on his throne. Lastly oame 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 tentin which the Rajah of Jodhpur was awaiting the call. He was brought forward with bis attendants ond pages. His dress was a most curious one, a tight-fitting pink body and sleeves, aod a pink petticoat with an immense number of plaitp, 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 bim as a KnightCommander of the Order. A Balute of thirteen guns was fired in honor of the new Commander; and the Rajah pf 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 gold 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. Tbis 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.