Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-21
DELHI TREASURES.

| went 20 Delhi IN the month of No
yember 1857, on q visit 20 a military
friend who was then qaar,ered there.
IL will be remembered that We had re-
captured the rebellious CITY, after a siege
OF several months, in the month OF Sep
tember. As we had attacked the city
from one side only, most OF tie iRhahit
ants had fed from II before We took II.
They had got ont as We came in. Fol-
a great fear Was upon them. We had
then expelled almost all that remained
behind on military grounds. We had
10 occupy the whole city, and garrison
il with very small force. The city had
been declared cOufiscated also.
Everything stood here a i: had Leen
left. Here stool the houses, with their
furniture, poor, but all the people tel ;
here were TIE shops With their little
stock Of goods still on the counter. But
there Was no human being in the houses,
or in the shops or IN the street
Strangest OF al was IL to pass through
the Chandpee Chouk. the moonlight"
or Silver Square" the central market.
place, and find il, too, void and slrE;
For ii had been 50 full Of life and sound
and movement hut q short time before
as il Is again to-day.
Here the triumphs Of the faith hal cul-
minated. Here stood the prUUdest
monuments OF their art. Here they Ind
erected gr,a. Standardization; built
lovely chambers and halls; raised the
Hottest and most beautiful sLIines.
But few months before the Calud
nee Chouk az mid day had been one OF
the most bright, CAV. glitteriDg. busting.
picturesque places that YOU could see
The whole place hone and sparKied.
In the dresses OF the people were 70 be
seen all the colors OF the rainbow, as
bright as Won see them in the sky.
Twenty different kinds Of robe ans head
dress went by YOU in few minutes.
For here came together people from all
parts, not only Of India, but Of AsiL
The shops on either side were tilled With
glistoning goods. The two driving
roads on either side o. the broad street
were thronged with vehicles.
Most strange was IL, then. TO ride
through this street and find II quite
silent. empty. ard deserted with no
sound in il bu, the echoes. far reaching
through the void. Of the horses Eoois
For the first three or four la after
the capture o. the cjty, oTr troops lad
been allowed the privilege Of ml.v.jua,
plumber in the city, but no. il tie
palace. They could hardly have been
restrained from this, in fact Being al
lowed this, they submitted withouG muir
muir 10 the sub eQueut stoppage; which,
IN fact. was for their own advantage
For all the contents OF the town had
been declared coniscated, and the prize
OF the victorious army. Then came the
more systematic gathering together 0
the spoil. \ committee OF military
officers was appointed 10 do this, 70 &C;
rs prize agents. So all search, especially
for hidden and buried things, had been
given up. The prize agents gave per
mission 10 Others besides their own staff
Of men to search, on condition of the
articles found being delivered mp to
them, they paving n certain percentage
on the estimated value. OF course, ii q
man found a very large pearl or emerald
or diamond, whether lie put 1t into his
waiScOa. pocket, or took !: 10 the prize
agents, had 10 be left b. his honor and
conscience. But the prize agents gave
the permission only 20 men thew thought
would bring them. They had taken
possession OF all the places where there
was likely to be GGy great store OF silver
and gold and jewels and valuable pro
party; sucl as the palace Of the king,
the houses of the princes and chief
noblemen q ID bankers. And they had
RAPED tn more open fields so closely
that they thought they had not left very
much for the cleaners.
The frienl with whom l was staying
had peculiar facilities for the search for /
hidden treasure. From the nature OF !
his duties aud his official position. be I
could 60 where he liked, enter any
house, ing IN any spot, without let OF I
hindance. accompanied him one day |
on one Of his rounds. he meant TO |
penetrate into one Of the remoter quar-
ters of the town.
We turned INTO the quarter into whose
depths We meant TO penetrate. This
single excursion gave me better idea
Of the plan Of native town than
should otherwise ever have obtained. |
On either side of the narrow street lay
he Mohulla, with its narrow lanes and
internal squares. The only way to enter
he quarter was from either end OF the
central street, and the ingress was
guarded at those points by lofty gate
Says and massive gates. In times of
langer those would be the first points