| Show GORGEOUS ceremonies MARK MAKK THE GRAND DURBAR AT DELHI INDIA 4 1114 dinv inv 14 0 orl U ic I 1 4 q W t Y rl I 1 4 f C 1 JW a CO caw 7 two hundred and twenty of the hugest elephants in asia trumpeted a salute to the viceroy of the kalsar 1 I 1 hind as he and his american wife made their state entry into the ancient capital of the moguls dec 29 since the days of the great aurang zebe the descendants of tamerlane india has seen o 0 no sach splendor as the fagant around the when nhen the ruling princes filed fired past the viceroy and the emperors brother each monster elephant almost hid deft in the gorgeous embroideries of cashmere Cash inere iridescent with gold silver pearls and precious stones raised his trunk and trumpeted a homage as his royal master raised his jeweled saimi tar to his turban in salute to the ab sent emperor at the head of the elephant groces sion rode lord and lady curzon on the state grand tusker twelve feet high the largest elephant in india their howdah was decked with gold and silver and the elephant itself was almost hidden beneath a gold worked saddle saddlecloth cloth surrounding them were footmen in scarlet and gold li liveries verles and bearing massive silver staves the duke of connaught who depre dented king edward and the duchess of connaught followed their elephant was equally gorgeously caparisoned then in order of precedence came the nizam of of core and other ruling chiefs seventy in all their huge elephants forming a line a quarter of a mile in length the route was entirely lined by brit ish and native from the bat tery posted at the tort fort commanding the lahore gate guns thundered out a royal salute as the viceroy pas passed S ed with the heralds and trumpeters sounding at intervals spirited fanfares in the rear of the procession rode general lord kitchener the corn com mander in chief in india surrounded b a brilliant staff and followed by the heads of the provinces with escorts of indian cavalry and tribal leaders hom beyond the border line down the main street moved tb cortege through lines of saluting sol diers and excited surging throngs of natives through the ancient city with the balconies and housetops teem ing with life and through the moree gate into the open park beyond there after a four mile march the elephants of the viceroy and the duke of connaught halted side by side and the pageant was concluded with the great princes filing by their elephants trumpeting a salute the viceroy was in state uniform lady curzon was dressed in gray the duke of connaught wore a field mar s uniform and the duchess of connaught was in blue they received a flattering welcome at all points A touching feature of the spectacle Is said to have been the presence of a descendant by the female line of the last king of delhi whose sons were executed by the british for their part in the indian mutiny of 1857 the K ng himself being sent into life exile and dying a few years later |
