The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-10
VISIT TO An INDIAN PRINCE,
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.

Daroua Is the capital OF the territor,
Of one of the most powerful princes il
India, the Guicowar. While ~travelin,
in India in 1858 I had been informe,
that this prince received European tray
elers ~courteously, and was assured that
once established as his guest, I should
assist at festivals and ceremonies which
it would be difficult to witness at an,
other court in India. Thanks t, numer
Gus letters of introduction which / hat
procured from persons of influence a
Bombay, I was certain to be we'll re.
ceived by the prince, and to be able
to crafty my strong desire te
see a purely Mahrattah court. The off.
Ger with whom I was staying offered te
introduce me to some influential PEG.
pie about the court. We accordingly
proceeded to the city, which is connect
ed with the English encampment by 8
a good road, nearly two mile long, pass
ing through charming scenery.
At length we came to a large monu
mental gateway, tlanked 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 I ex-
pressed a wish to be presented. This
palace, q large brick building differs
from the neighboring houses only in
the richness of the carved woodwork
and the %profusion of color on it's facade.
The ground floor is laid out in shops.
and a single door, very narrow, gives
access to the interior. My companion,
without hesitation, proceeded to ascend
q dark staircase, nearly perpendicular.
and so narrow that l 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" I asked, "can
people who, | am told, live surrounded
by almost supernatural luxury, con-
denim themselves to go up and down
such o break-neck AFFAIR."" The cap
tain explained the reason Of this singu-
larity.
The Manhattan 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, Is a measure of pre-
caution, to a system established as a
precaution against the dagger of the as
sassln. The staircase always opens in
to a guard-room, and surprise is impos-
sible, for n 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, on the floor. On story after
story we We're received by ali usher,
bearing a silver wand, who showed us
the way. When we reachedthe fifth floor
we came on a spacious terrace, cover
ingthe 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 the coolest and pleas.
ATTEST part of the house. Out of reach
of the emanations from the bazaars,
the apartments admit the air freely,
and the terraces, succeed, and shelter
ed from the sur by thick awnings,
are transformed into spacious rooms.
We were shown into the presence of
Tatia Sahib, who advanced and shook
hands with US. Taken by our
visit, he was still in undress, which was
excused by the heat of the day and
very g%raciously ap~ologized for not hav-
ing received me in a manmer worthy of
the honor / conferred upon him. We
sat down OF sofas, which were placed
in a veranda supported by Moorish ar
cades, the walls of which were covered
with glasses, pictures, and native Curl
osities. The Kilidar was man of be-
tween twenty-five and thirty years of
age, and the most perfect type of a Nah
rattah. His bust, bare and bronzed was
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 an effeminate air. 1
had q long conversation with HIM about
Europe. He assured me that the King
would be happy to see me, and would
do his best to make my s%ojourn agreea-
BILE. On taking leave, he made me a
thousand pro~testations of friendship,
begged me to consider his palace my
own. Thence we called on several other
mobiles, and everywhere I met with the
arr reception. The Captain
proposed that we should call on a great
Hindoo lady, the widow of Harribakti,
the late Keeper of the Royal Treasury,
who, free from control, and of advanced
IDEAS, liked to frequent good European
society.
Rare, indeed, in that country, is the
opportunity of entering the house of
great fortune and high caste. The
rules of the Zenana are so strict, the
so deeply rooted, that even
widows scarcely dare break through the
''purdah SCREEN" the word commonly
used in India to designate harem life.
The Widow Haribakti received us in
a room hung with damask and nagnif-
Gently decorated. Draped in a thin
veil of rose colored silk and half reclin-
ing on velvet cushions she shone forth
in the midst of all her splendid sur
roundings. Her figure was of striking
beauty, her dress glittered with Jewels
and gold. When we entered she grace