The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-02-12
A Visit to the Mah.rsja Of Jaipur.

arrived at Jaipur early in the morn.
ing, and as l entered the city fearful
din assailed my ears. 1t was the reveille,
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 q
Political Agent. He is servant of the
Indian Government, and is generally an
officer of standing and reputation. He
is the de fact0 ruler Of these so-called
1 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
harajais ever willing to open his palace
to visitors, but the understrappers, anx-
ious to show their Importance, some
times make matters unpleasant il 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 sol
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 hukah. For the
sake of formality he challenges, but if
smoking he does not trouble himself to
present arms. As she first gateway is
passed q huge square courtyard is
reached, with building in the center.
This serves as 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 ekkas, naked beggars. fat
Brahmin priests. gaudily- dressed dam
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. These are
the Notwithstanding. And 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 off the flies from the bodies
OF distinguished personages. These are
great men, as they WELD influence with
the crowd, and many is the rupee slipped
into their hands before an audience can
be gained. The first room ofnote is the
Descan khGnd, 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
magnificent throne, whilst ranged
round about are handsome European
chairs with git 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 fluted pillars, and the room is
Illuminated by ten chandeliers, giving q
grand blaze of light. Leading from
this. strange tosay, 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 I'M
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 no
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 discussed by the King in
his private pleasure are faithfully en-
tered and severely commented upon.
1t is a scene of continual wrangllng,
and. according to European ideas, dis
graceful in the extreme. Hard by are
numbers OF bicycles of all shapes and
'izes. Curious to know If the Maha-
raja took an interest in them asked
ny guide, and he gave me the follow
ng laconic story: "Yes, the Maharaja
lid like bicycles. An Englishman is
to the State. He came
lere very drunk and tried to ride and
lis frequent falls convulsed with laugh
er the King and court, and so. for hav-
ng caused them food for laughter, he
$ given 800 a month, horses, food and
louse free" From this court passed
nto the gardens. Like all Oriental
'leasure-gardens, fountains, statues,
marble walks and ponds were found
where one least expected. At the bot
ON of this garden is splendid pavil-
on. overlooking an artificial lake. It
> here that the Maharaja enter
aims his European guests. as if an Eu-
Opean dinner wOuld pollufe fhe ualaco |