The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-02-10
A Visit to the Maharaja Of Jaipur.


and the household troops were turning
out OF the barracks. managed to gain
admission to the hotel, as, though the
train had arrived, the hotel people, be-
ing servants of the Government, did not
think it necessary to attend to the wants
OF travellers. Each native State has a
Political Agent. He is servant of the
Indian Government, and is generally an
officer of standing and reputation. He
is the de tucto ruler of these so-called
independent States. He advises the
Maharaja on all important questions,
and his word is law. Each State has to
support its Political Agent. The Ma
haraj is ever willing to open his palace
to visitors, but the understrappers, anx-
ious to show their Importance, some
times make matters unpleasant if one
be unprovided, with the Agents pass
port. The entrance to the palace is
circuitous. A grand archway has to be
first passed, on each side of which. are
rooms, forming the quarters of the pal
ace guard. An addressed, untidy soli
der marches up and down the entrance,
his .musket being carried in any way,
sometimes across his shoulders, but Oft
ener is thrown on the ground till the
sentry has pull at the hatEah. For the
sake of founality he challenges, but If
smoking he does not trouble himself to
present arms. As ;he first gateway Is
passed a huge square court yard is
reached, with building in the center.
This serves as a kind of domicile for
the hangers-on of the court. in, this
courtyard are gathered people and We
hicles of all descriptions Europeans
with their barouches and buggies,
native courtiers with their Gu
rious etkas, naked beggars. fat
Brahmin priests, gaudily-dressed dan
cing-girls, soldiers and -. huckster-
ers, all help to make the most varied
scene imaginable. Ever and anon, out
dash from low. dark portals richly
dressed servants, carrying in their hands
long sticks of pure silver. NJ These are
the silver-sticks- waiting. Aud their
business is to announce visitors This
they do in the most obsequious manner.
Following these are men with big
punkas made from peacocks' tails, who
fan and keep oifthe flies from the bodies
of distinguished personages. These are
great men, as they WELD influences
the crowd, and many isthe,rupee slipped
into their hands before an audience can
be gained. The' first room Of noteEis the
DetoIIn hha,ag!, or hall OF audience. this
Is only used on state occasions. The
ordinary dubars are held in the private
quarters of the Maharaja's palace. A
rich lowered carpet covers the floor; to
the extreme right Of the room is placed
a magnificent throne, whilst ranged
round about are handsome European
chairs with gilt legs and.deep red velvet
cushions. A life-size portrait of the
Queen of England adorns one of the
embrasures. This hall is perfectly open
on the sides, being closed only by heavy
curtains. The roof is supported by
thirteen fiuted pillars, and the room is
Illuminated by ten chandeliers, giving a
grand blaze of light. Leading from
this, strange to say, is the palace treasury.
Another sleepy, ill-kempt guard watches
the brass door where are stored the
court valuables, the jewelry and, if re-
port speaks the truth, immense sums of
money with bars of solid silver and
gold. A belief is current that under
meath the palace is another treasury,
the right passage to which is even un-
known to the Maharaja. This Secret is
in safe keeping OF the priests. People
say that only on condition of the Maha-
raja going blindfolded would his
spiritual advisers take him to the
vaults. Another grand entrance is
then passed, which leads to the sirdars,.
or .noblemen's audience chamber.
This is smaller and not so well fitted up
as the princely audience hall. Passing
through this court | noticed the royal
hunting birds; there were about fifty of
them, hawks, kites, etc. In the same
courtyard is the Hatchery, or law
Courts, and various other Offices con-
nected with the palace. Here all the
expenses of the royal household are en-
tered and paid. The royal stables, the
kitchens. the gardens and even the va
rious sums disbursed by the King in
his private pleasure are faithfully en-
tered and severely commented upon. !
1t is scene of continual wranglIng,
and, according to European ideas, dis
graceful in the extreme Hard by are !,
numbers of bicycles of all shapes and
sizes. Curious to know If the Maha-
raja took an interest in them asked /,
my guide. and he gave me the follow
ing 1aconic story: "Yes, the Maharaja
did like. bicycles. An Englishman, is i,
master to the State. He came
here very drunk ana tried'to ride and
his frequent falls convulseds with, laugh
ter the Ring and court, and SO, for hav-
ing caused them food for laughter, he
is given 800 month, horses, food and !
house free.n From this court passed
into the gardens. Like all Oriental
pleasure gardens, fountains, statues,
marble walks and ponds were found
where one least expected. At the bot
tom of this garden is a splendid pavil-
ion. overlooking an artificial lake. 1t,
is here that the Maharaja enter
tains his European guests, as if an Eu-
ropean dinner would pollute the palace. ;,
Looking through the richly painted
windows the word :" Welcomes = painted
on a big rock. greets the eye..lo The
delighted in billiards and any
one who could play fairly good game
was sure to- attract his attention and
eventually rise high in his esteem.-
Cor. San Francisco 'chronicte.,' iirht'G .