Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-11
AN INDIAN PARADISE.

The Singular Town OF Imphail I'm the Hill
States of Manipur.
Lying between Assam and Burmah is the
remote little hill state of Manipur, which has
obtained some attention since the annexation
of upper Burmah made the question of land
routes between Bengal and Burmah of i'm
portance.
1t has lately been visited by Indian officers,
one of whom, writing on the forests of the
state in Indian Forests, gives an extraordi-
nary account of Imphail, the capital. The
town is situated In what appears dense for
est Neither spires nor chimneys cut the
blue sky, nor is smoke observed to ascend
from the sylvan scene of the capital. Moth
ing, In fact, bespeaks the busy home of 80 900
to 10000 people, and yet hidden away among
these trees is the palace Of the rajah, and
hard by are the houses Of his favorites, each
family having large inclosure around the
homestead
"Imphail may thus be described as city
OF villages, or, rather, suburban residences,
around the palace. Straight, wide roads lined
with trees, frequently interesting each other
at right angles, afford the means of commu-
nication; but neither shop, artisan nor
wheeled conveyance exists in the city. In
dustry and skill occur only In the distant
rural homes" The people Of the capital are
the promoted favorites Of the ruler, who
have had assigned to them plots Of ground
near the palace and live by pressing upon the
prosecuted agriculturists OF the state
The capital of Manipur Ia a royal residence
dedicated to luxury and amusement. All are
happy. The streets are crowded with smil-
Ing, healthy faces, OF which few bear the
marks Of toll or labor There are no schools
In the state, and court favor and promotion
are secured by success In polo. Coinage is
unknown, and the men are not allowed to
trade. Imports and exports, except in GER
tain articles that yield royal revenue, are
practically prohibited. The women from the
distant villages repair on a certain day to the
capital or to other recognized centers.
Each carries on her head a neatly made,
square basket, In which has been placed the
surplus stock of the homestead, the labors Of
her industrial skill or of her husbands agri-
cultural knowledge. On reaching the mar
ket place the contents of these baskets are
exposed and bartered, when each returns
again to her farm, carrying Off the proceeds.
On market days the long, straight road from
Bishenpur to Imphail is crowded by groups
Of women hurrying to and fro. Each wears
an elegantly striped dress In bright colors,
made Of silk and cotton. The stripes run
along the length, and the top and bottom
are neatly embroidered.
A long piece of cloth is cleveriy carried
across the breasts and just under the arm
pits, instead of round the waist, and is firmly
tucked up, so that the top embroidered edge
falls forward, adding an additional fold to
the garment, while the bottom edge reaches
little below the knees The legs and arms
are left exposed; but frequently a short
green silk sleeveless jacket covers the upper
part OF the body, reaching down to the top
edge Of the neither garment. The women arc
the only traders in the whole state.