The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-09
A WONDERFUL SHOW.
BY THOMAS I. BLAKE.


house, the Governor. General of Brit
ish India, visited the court of Run.
ject Singh at Lahore; and, in honor
of his arrival. a series of magnificent
entertainments was given by the
Maharajah and his nobility. One of
the most remarkable. to Europeans
at least, was that which took place
on October II, and al which the
writer was present. Immediately
after the daylight gun had been fired.
the Bhalea, or regular, troops Of
Runfeet assembled on wide plain
(naidaun). just outside the city gates,
under the commands Of Ventura,
Allard and the other French and
Italian officers who had disciplined
them, extending in long lines of in
fantry and artillery (g0lundauzel.
and flanked or supported by clouds
of irregular cavalry, Afgnans. Pa
thanus and BeIoochees mingled
with bodies of Sikh hOrsemen, clad
in chain armor and bearing, in addi-
ton to lances AMI sahers, QuOits OF
sharpened steel ornamented with
gold. Amidst the thunder of can.
non and the blare of trumpets, "the
old lion of the Pupjaub." mounted
on an enormous elephant and accom-.
panied ny Lord Dalhousie, with q
numerous staff of Europeans, review
ed the vast multitude which marched
and counter marched before him
After the military maneuvers had
concluded and the troops had been
dismissed to their quarters, the Ma.
harajah and Governor General pro.
ceeded to the "Shalemar Gardens y
where grand banquet l(curra khon.
MAJ had been prepared for their re-
ception. The "Shalemar Gardens
are situated at some distance from
the city of Lahore. and were adorn.
ed with every device that the most
skilled architects could imagine tC
enhance their natural beauty; they
were the favorite resort of the Mogu
Emperors, and over their entrance is
engraved the verse which Moore, in
his Lalls Rookh, quotes
"And, oh. If there be an Elysium on earth,
1t is this it is this"
The banquet was given in spa
cious court, surrounded on three side;
bv lofty buildings, from the lattices
of which the ladies of the Zenans
could view, unseen. the festivities
and long tables were supplied with
every delicacy. prepared in European
fashion for Lord Dalhousie and his
suite, whilst Runjeet and his cour'
tiers feasted in Oriental style. II
the Sikhs wine is not forbidden. Sc
the celebrated vintage of Schiraz cir
culated freely, as well as cIaret. cham.
payne, and the BritOn's favOrite hev.
erage, pale ale and B. & S.; while the
smoke of hOOkah, and MANILA che.
roots arose in thick clouds when the
dishes had been removed and rose
water and betel nuts (pan soOparee)
handed round to the guests. Then q
troop of Nautch girls appeared. and
their graceful figures floated in and
out of the May evoutiOns of the
shawl dance, while some of their
companions chanted in shrill tones
1.-THE loves of Lula and MajnOon" to
the accompaniment of tom.totns and
vinas drums and guitarsj. When
the dancers had withdrawn a cOur!
official stepped forward and announc-
ed that "now we should see some
wonderful things (tumansha). II
must remembered that there was nc
stage, with its possibilities of trap
doors and mechanical cOntrivances-
nothing but the marble pavement Of
the courtyard, whilst countless lamps
and torches shed their brilliant light
on every corner. Then into the
open space in front of US came three
natives. wearing only the GUNNER.
bund, or waist-cloth, and went
through some extraordinary feats Of
balancing and sleight.of-hand, toe
numerous to particularize; then the
"mango trick" was performed in q
most accomplished way, and the tree
sprang up, blossOmed and bore fruit.
Next the oldest of the performers
stood forth and produced a coil of
thick cord having piece of lead at.
tached to the end; this he whirled
around his head, and then. losing
his grasp. the weight shot rapidly
upward. bearing with it the line,
which ran out until only the extreme
end remained. There before our eyes
hung the cord, apparently suspended
from some invisible support, and the
performer, calling to one of his as
sistants ordered him to go up and see
what held it. The other man at first
demurred, alleging that the cord
could not support his weight, but
I