Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-09
HINDO0 KING ON BOARD
THE VESSEL STOPPED THREE HOURS
THAT HE MIGHT PRAY.

pghNkc from AhulA-SOmebnluB ABOUT
savage's Jewels and Ills Large Es-
sOrt-His Treatment of Americans.
There was great stir and excitement
among the passengers Of the steamship
Bewa when we heard at Madras that his
highness, the maharajah (great king OF
Vfzianagram was coming on board our
steamer with sixty attendants, bound for
Calcutta.
We were also told that his highness had
paid several thousand rupees to the steam
ship company to have the steamer stopped
Tor three hours the first night, on which
there was to be an eclipse of the moon,
this being an event Of very great import
ance to Hindoos, who celebrate 1t with
many ancient and curious ceremonies.
Now the Maharajah of Vizlanagram is
one OF the richest and most important of
the native princes of India, so we were all
delighted at the prospect of seeing him,
and crowded round the gangway all the
morning, neRleceing for once the luxurious
Anglo-Indian deck sofas, and even lunch
con Itself, 30 anxious were we to catch the
first glimpse of the famous maharajah.
But like all eastern magnates, he evi-
IDENTIFY liked style, for it was long after the
fired from the fort announcing his depart
ure from Madras, and the royal boats were
seen coming from the shore.
ROYALTY ON ITS TRAVELS.
We were not disappointed, for when the
maharajah himself stepped on deck we all
thought we had never seen such hand
some man.
He is tall and very finely built, and has
most princely bearing His skin, much
lighter than that of the ordinary native, is
soft and fine, and his features are hand.
some and regular. His magnificent black
eyes and thick mustache complete the
beauty Of his person. His highness wore
loose drawers OF fine Indian muslin, and
vest, tunic and scarf of the same soft and
pretty material. On his head he wore
silver cap, and had beads around the neck
The attendants were dressed in all sorts
OF gay colored costumes, and many of
them wore very handsome jewels, and
seemed TO be very important personages.
Our captain was of course at the gang
way TO receive the maharajah, and to in
troduce the first class passengers to him.
His hiRhness shook hands with us all, and
was most gracious and pleasant The cap
tain then showed him into the cabins pre-
pared for his USE and we saw him no more
that day.
well, I've been to sea near forty years,
but I've never seen such goings on as this"
said an old quartermaster with whom we
often had yarn, this ere ships got to
stop three mortal hours tonight just to let
a Niger king say what he calls his prayers.
He's a-going to draw up water with a
bucket with his own hands, and pour over
hisself, and he's to chuck three bags of
gold and three of silver into the sea to
please the gods or some SIGH nonsense.
only wish | was a shark to gobble it un,
that dol"
Sure enough, at midnight we were
awakened by the engines suddenly stop
ping, but as no one but the maharajah
and his attendants were allowed on deck
we never got to know exactly what the
ceremonies were.
TALKING WITH A KING.
We heard next morning that a steamer
OF another line passed us In the night, and
thinking we were in disabled condition.
signaled to us to ask whether she should
take us in tow.
The following evening we had concert
on deck, and the maharajah was among
the audience. After 1t was over he came
up to me and paid me several kind compli.
ments on my singing, and then we had
talk about music, and he told me that his
native singing was quite on IA different
principle from ours. He said the sound
was produced entirely by the throat and
nose, and upon my expressing a wish to
hear 1t, he Immediately sent for his first
singer, who, although In bed and asleep
when the message came, appeared on deck
In few minutes.
The poor man squatted down before u.s.
and began singing away to order. The
performance consisted of trills and shakes
wonderfully we'll executed, but as there
was no tune 1t soon became very monoto
nous. Knowing that eastern concerts go on
for hours and even days together after ex
pressing my admiration, ! suggested to
the maharajah that the singer looked very
tired, and asked If he might not be allowed
TO go to bed again, and his higness cour
teously assented.
A day or two after this, one of the lady
passengers persuaded the Indianapolis
jewel keeper to show us his highness'
jewelry, and we all crowded into the deck
saloon to see the display, We were shown
several diamonds in rings and bracelets
which were larger than quarter, and one
or two emeralds Especially one in a gor
Reous bracelet which had belonged to the
Emperor Aurungzebe) were | am sure,
nearly as big as n half dollar There were
ever so many necklaces made of sapphires
and emeralds and rubies strung together,
and many more of enormous pearls; and
these, think, were the most beautiful of
all
The jewel keeper told us that these were
only a few of the Indianapolis ornaments,
which he took with him when travelling,
and we heard afterward that at II ball
givan ut Government House his dress,
which was ablaze with diamonds, was the
topic of conversation in society at Calcutta
for weeks.
Toward the end of the nine days voyage
he began to look very weak and i'll, and we
were told that he was forbidden by his re
ligion to eat any cooked food while at sea,
80 he ate nothing but dried figs and herbs
the whole voyage.
Before we parted the maharajah begged
us to let him know when we should return
to Calcutta, for we were en- route just then
for Burmah And when we did come back
he entertained us most Hospitality, and
begged us when we returned to India to
visit his palace Mt Vizianagram.-Mrs
David Ker In New York Epoch.
A Sensible Rule of Behavior.