The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-11-07
VISIT TO An INDIAN PRINCE.
.om the Chicago Inter Ocean.

of one of the most powerful princes in
India, the Guicowar. While travelling
IN India in 1868 I had been informed
that this prince received European tray
olers ~courteously, and was assured that,
once established as his guest, | should
o,eist at festivals and ceremonies which
Il would be difficult to witness at any
other court in India. Thanks to numer-
ous letters of introduction which | had
procured from persons of influence at
Bombay, I was certain to be well re-
ceiyed by the prince, and to be able
TO crafty my strong desire to
see a purely Mahrattah court. The Off
Ger with whom / was staying offered to
introduce me to some influential peo-
nile about the court. We accordingly
proceeded to the city, which is connect
ed with the English encampment by a
a good road, nearly two mile long, pass
ing through charming scenery.
At length we came to a large monu-
mental gateway, ianked by high,
round towers, the facade Of which is
painted with figures of monsters and
divinities, and the Guicowar's soldiers
presenting arms to us, we entered the
city. After q short drive we alighted
from our carriage before the palace of
Tatia Sahib Kilidar, to whom / ex-
pressed a wish to be presented. This
palace, a large brick building differs
from the neighboring houses only in
the richness Of the carved woodwork
and the p~rofusion of color on its facade.
The ground floor is laid out in shops,
and a single door, very narrow, gives
access to the interior. Ny companion,
without hesitation, proceeded to ascend
a dark staircase, nearly perpendicular.
and so narrow that / could easily touch
both walls with my elbows. 1t was
closed in at the summit by a heavy trap
door, which a servant opened and
closed after us. How" / asked. "can
people who, / am told, live surrounded
by almost supernatural luxury, cyn-
denim themselves to go up and down
such a break-neck affair ?" The cap
tain explained the reason Of this singu-
larity.
The Mahrattan mobiles came into this
country as usurpers ;mere peasants sons,
they had expelled the ancient nobility.
Being exposed to the vengeance of the
dispossessed Landowners, each of them
made his palace a fortress difficult of
approach. Afterward their constant
~quarrels with the sovereign induced
them to return, as q measure of pre-
caution, to a system established as a
precaution against the dagger of the as
sassin. The staircase always opens in
to q guard-reoni, and surprise is impos-
sible, for one man could easily defend
the passage against a hundred.
We traversed sundry large rooms.
several courts and a labyrinth of COR
ridors. The house seemed full of
soldiers and attendants of the Kllidar
it was more like a barrack than a pa
lace. Some were playing with dice,
others singing to the accompaniment OF
the lutte, and many were stretched, fast
asleep, en- the floor. On story after
story we we're received by All usher,
bearing a silver wand, who showed us
the way. When we reached the fifth floor
we came OF q spacious terrace, cover
ing the whole palace, surrounded by ele-
CANT apartments with galleries in front
supported On columns. Contrary to the
European custom, which gives the up
per story to servants, here the master of
the house always occupies it himself;
indeed, it is by far che coolest and pleas
ATTEST part Of the house. Out Of reach
OF the carnations from the baZaars,
the apartments admit the air freely,
and the terraces, succeed, and shelter
ed from the sun by thick awnings,
are transformed into spacious rooms.
We We're shown into tie presence of
iatla Sahib, who advanced and shook
hands with us. Taken unawares by u
visit, he was still in undress, which was
excused by the heat of The day and
very graciously apologized for not hav-
ing received me in a manner worthy of
the honor I conferred upon him. We
sat down ON sofas, which were placed
In q yeranda supported by Moorish ar
cades, the walls of which were covered
with glasses, pictures, and native Curl
csities. The Kilidaf was O man of be-
tween twenty-five and thirty years of
age, and the most perfect type of o Nah
rattah. His bust, bare and bronzed Y
admirably formed; his features deli
cate and exceedingly handsome. His
expression was somewhat fierce, al
though his large black eyes always in
motion, his rich earrings, and pearl
necklaces that hung down upon his
breast, gave him ON effeminatc AIR. l
mad a long conversation with him about
Europe. He assured me that the King
would be happy to see me, and would
10 his bestto make nay sojourn agreea-
pie. On taking leave, he made me q