THE PRINCE IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1921, Page 3

THE PRINCE IN INDIA.

HOUND OF ENTERTAINMENT. VISIT TO BIKANER. > By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Delhi, Rec. 4. Following the State banquet at the palace at Bikaner the Prince of Wales enjoyed a striking programme of Indian entertainment in the form of a religious fire dance. A big bonfire was allowed to die down to glowing embers and a group of barelegged natives, after circling round, danced into the fire and continued to caper about on the red-hot ashes and also placed embers *in their mouths. The whole effect was demoniacal. At the dancers pirouetted before the Prince, clamoring for him to inspect their feet, which showed no signs of damage by fire, being moist and cool. The entertainment was continued by a large batch of nautch girls anil jugglers and concluded with the nautch girls singing “God Save the King,” specially rendered into Marwari. The Prince reached Bikaner after a journey across the central desert of Rajputana through such a smother of sand and dust that the train had to be hermetically sealed. The Prince was accorded a great reception by the Maharaja, attended by picturesque groups of nobles and State officials. The through the town was a reeeption of previous sumptuous brilliant displays and the loyal welcomes accorded in other native States. Various State functions including a review of the State troops followed after the palace was reached. Lavishly bedizened camels, for which the State is famous, were a prominent feature of the functions.