The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-29
A Procession of EleDbants.

OF all the State ceremonies by which the sue
cess of the Nagpore Exhibition was signalized
and celebrated, the most imposing and effective,
to our mind, was the procession Of elephants.
1t was vivid Illustration OF that fine passage in
De QuinCey's 'Revolt of the Tartars," where the
author describes the long line of camels 1ringing
the distant horizon with dusky band Strange
to say, though numerous detailed accounts and
descriptive sketches Of the exhibition adorned
the columns of most OF our contemporaries IN
the three presidencies, yet this spectacle, which
singly combined all the historical elements of
oriental pomp and splendor, has been honored
with only the iaintest OF illusions, as If unWor-
thy CT heightened notice.
The long line OF huge quadrupeds slowly,
and as it were with measured tread
vending their way over the bridge,
and thrown in strong TeJieOO against the morn
ing sun, was striking, and transported the
imagination back to the Great Mogul, when all
the resources OF the East were brought into re-
QUESTION in order TO minister to the Imperial
vanity. After the chief commissioners, the
brigadier and the Nagpore raiahs, came the
principal nobility of the central provinces. They
mad all arrayed themselves in gorgeous apparel,
and seemed to vie with one another in the cost
illness and richness Of the appointments OF their
elephants. There were also many of the visitors
to Nagpore, riding on Government elephants,
and good sprlnkling of military officers. The
rear was brought up by the deputy commits
sioner, and the line, which seemed lengthening
away interminably into the distance, at last
ended.
The procession, after crossing the high level
bridge to the north of the exhibition enclosure,
came with all pomp, pride, and circumstance
upon the Goorgun road. Turning off from the
Goorgum road, the chief commissioner led the
way by q temporary road across the plain to
the Bukhurgunge road, and it was perhaps,
passing over the open country that the pano-
ramic grandeur OF the State procession was felt
in full force. There were seventy-nine elephants
counted, mostly in gaudy and glitering trap
pings, and carrying gally attired natives. From
the BukhuTgunge road the procession wound up
the Paldee road, passed under the lofty arch of
the palace gate, and crossed the spacious square
in front Of the ruined palace. This was densely
thronged with welldressed natives. Such a
crowd was never before within living memory
seen in the city of Nagpore.
With stately solemnlty the line wound up the
long street from the palace through the Jooma
Gate, and those who formed the rear of the pro.
cession could descry Mr. Temples tall elephant
emerging upon the elevated embankment OF
the great tank before their own elephants had
passed the palace. The stream of elephants as
n debouehed from the city, seemed as though ii
would never end AT the residency the chief
commissioner drew up his elephant Immediately
within the gate, and took leave of his cortege,
as ii defled before him, From this point the
processionists dispersed, and the ceremony was
concluded.-CeltrdL India Times, January 20.