The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-04-18
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| LuOuSn not so SLG1IJldllY or SclenGln-
caIly constructed, as Fort Hamilton.
FortificatjoRs in India seem to have
been built as retreats or places of safe
1 ty for the sovereign or his family. The
mother of the present prince resides in
the citadel of PutteeaIa. Arriving at
its gate, we came to a halt, and we saw
through cloud of dust the maharajah
coming toward US in a magnificent state
coach drawn by six white horses; the
highway, on either side, was lined with
out-riders and squadron of cavalry.
The prince, driving by the side of our
carriage, saluted Mr. Seward with state
ly cordiality. When the compliments
were ended, the maharajah asked Mr..
Seward in which manner he would pre-
| fer TO make his entrance into the capi-
tai whether he would go with him in
his coach, or whether he would be pleas
! ed to make his entrance on the back of
an elephant. Mr. Seward, difident
! perhaps of his skill In the latter mode
of travel, or acting under a conviction
/ that modesty best becomes a visitor,
accepted the offer of a seat in the
coach. The maharajah, taking his seat
| at MIR. Stewards left, made rapid ad-
vance toward the city. The ladies, like
Mr.. Seward, being acOmplimented with
| the same choice of manner of entering
the city, decided like Mr.. Seward, in
favor of comfortable coach-and-six.
Hereupon a halt and parley ensued be-
| tween Captain Horsford and the princes
master of ceremonies. In the course
of this debate, 1T appeared that, while
the prince excused Mr.. Stewards decli-
nation of the honor of the elephant on
the ground of his years, the ladies who
could offer no such plea would give Of
| fence by claiming the same indulgence.
Sixty elephants stood by the roadside,
richly caparisoned in cloth of gold and
scarlet, all ornamented with gilt ear
rings. and necklaces. There was no
more to be said on that question. The
elephants kneeled, silver ladders were
placed against their sides, and in less
time than it takes to describe the ac-
tion, the two ladies, not venturing to
ride alone, were seated, together with
Captain Horsford, in the spacious gild-
ed and velvet howdah. The elephant
| arose with a motion like tnat of the
surge on the coast of Madras, and the
! ladies found themselves in the upper
air The Hindoo driver sits on the eIe-
/ plants head and directs his motions by
g L,
thrusts against the skin on either side
of the forehead. A procession was then
formed. First, Che maharajah with Mr..
Seward then the ladies; next, our
three servants, Jeanie, Price and Free
man; next, the musteed next, the
same manner, and behind them the long
train of elephants without any riders,
and the five hundred richly-caparisoned
horses. led by as many grooms no less
gay1y dressed. AS signal for the pro-
gress to begin, the air was rent by a
salYo of nineteen guns; the salute was
repeated by a fusillade from what seem |
ed endless ranks of infantry, bugIes
sounded a march, and the cavalry NOV
ed to the front. -Four bands of music
wheeled into column, playing more or
less together, 'God save the QueenP'
Behind them a company of fifty bag
pipers, playing not all together, as they
fell into line, "Bonny Dundee At
the moment of the cannonade the led
horses kicked, pranced, and reared; the
elephants uttered piteous, deep, indie
scribable cries, and tried to prick up
their enormous jewelIed ears, remaining
otherwise quiet crowds on the way
side shouted applause, and children
screamed with delight As for Mr.
Seward, he, fortunate gentleman, snug
! ly seated by the maharaiah on velvet
cushions, in the coach drawn by six
wel-trained animals, was unconscious
of the disturbance which had arisen be-
hind him. His inexperienced and more
venturesome companions clung to each
other in fright, but order was restored, !
and all were reassured. On the way to |
his capital, the maharajah addressed to
M. Seward a studied speech of vel
come Taking care to express his re-
gret that his guest had not accepted the
elephant, the prince said, that the troops
we had passed in review were ten thou
sand in number. He also explained to
Mr.. Seward, that when he came to the
throne, he found no streets in Putteeala
wide enough for such pageant as he
had occasion to make, and that he had, !
therefore, enlarged the streets, but not
without making due compensation to
the owners of adjacent property. Night !
came on us as we reached the gates. |
We looked from our howdahs upon the |
fiat roofs of the dwellings, and shops |
below us. Their inmates were gathered |
at the doors in gay dresses, and seemed I
as the burghers of LiIliput Thus we
passed through the entire city, and
reached, beyond the farther gate, an
esplanade used as a Campus AaTttus
Winding around tall flag staff, under
the folds of what is called the sacred
banner, we stopped before a lofty Sa-
cracenic gate. Here, the maharaiah,
with Mr.. Seward, aIighted, and the ele-
phant-riders dismounted. The prince
led the way on a graveIled walk, by the
side of successive fountains, IN an orange
and lemon garden, as it seemed, of 4
bound1ess extent. Each fountain pour
ed over a cascade into the next. These
cascades were iIIumined by torch-lights
from behind, which impaired to the Jets
all the hues Of the rainbow We stop