The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-11
is YET A CAPTIVE
The Maharanee OF Kunigal and
Her Mode Of Living.
yurrounded by Luxury and Beauty the
Royal Prisoner Dreams Away
Her Days In Oriental
Spiendor.


Spiendor.
The maharanee of Kunigal is a very
beautiful woman. Her tall figure is
draped with airy and artistic effect
The robe consists of much soft India
silk, deliberately embroidered. arranged
about her in mysterious grace, a very
enigma Of garment without the ex-
PLANTATION of single stitch 1t is close
| " plated at the waist in front, falling
in fan-like train over the feet. and
fastened with band of gold that is
studded with crescents of pearls This
garment is short in the back and is
brought over the shoulders, hanging
In soft, loose folds Her left arm dis
| plays bracelet of costly gems of rare
beauty and of profound historic in
terest which carries one back to the
time of Cleopatra. 1t was found among
some other buried treasures more than
q century ago, when the remote ances-
tors of the late king acquired it. This
| bracelet is supposed to have the power
to resist the venom of all species Of rep
tiles. A tiny linked chain connects it
to one of no less value at the wrist
Jeweled sandals grace her otherwise
unclad neither limbs, surmounted by
anklets of gold.
She will often express to her friends
the great pleasure it would afford her
to be able to go freely among her peo-
pie. This is, however, forbidden her
by the exacting and severe law of her
caste, for, being a Brahmin. she is
obliged to adhere strictly to the law
of Enclosure" This compels her at the
age of twelve to be yelled and live in
seclusion for the remainder of her life.
This rigid deprivation of all enjoyment
of the world is necessarily a severe
shock to the sensibibility of even an
eastern queen. Never again does she
receive or converse with one of the OPP
posite sex, save only her husband, the
maharajah. Neither is a domestic of
her household permitted to look upon
/ her, otherwise her caste would be
broken and her birthright cancelled.
! This law among high caste seems cruel
and inconsistent, but the penalty Of
| disobedience is supreme. The violator
of a law so sacred among the sex as
| that Of enclosure" has a horrible des-
tiny awaiting her. She is expelled
| from among her tribe In shame to be-
come an outcast, exiled from within
| the walls of the city for her crime.
But the present maharanee, says
| foreign exchange, now in her twenty
! fourth year, has six little brown faces
/ to cheer her solitude. Her apartments,
large and luxurious, occupy one side
of the palace, opening one into an
other. Through long tapestried VIM
dows she steps into her private gar
| dens, where the air is perfumed with
| the delicious fragrance OF flowers The
| little rustic bridges that greet the eye
| occasionally through these grounds
connect the many beautiful terraces
| beneath which flows refreshing and
| babbling brook, which, however, must
| babble no secrets Rivulets and brooks
are treasures in India. They are few
| and far between in this region of mag
nifcence. Here the royal prisoner. for
SO she is, takes her daily exercise,
| Joined occasionally by her children,
| who come with the delightful antici-
patton of hearing some new fairy tales
from the lips of the beautiful MEM
| sahib-who happens to be rare story
| teller-as she is seated in one of her
| favorite arbors where the citron vines
envelop the happy little group, pic
| ture only eastern.
When the maharanee wishes to leave
her apartments the command is given,
| -tNs.xa .aA r
PENDANTS that crowd the halls dis
appear as if by magic The silence
that follows endues the surroundings
with the air OF a sanctuary rather than
that of a palace. Presently there
breaks upon the stiffness the faint
tinkling of a bell that announces the
royal presence, and the maharenee
comes forward stately, gracious, kind
", every inch a queen"
When she drives into the country in
her state carriage-a relaxation which
she thoroughly enjoys, being a true
lover of nature she must go closely
yelled. Rarely a week passes without
trip through the picturesque midtown
living between Kunigal and Bangalore.
Here the range of mountains to the
west with their majestic skylines show
TO the greatest advantage the play of
light and shade at sunset.
In travelling, the maharanee occupies
private compartments, which are high
~ decorated and delicately furnished
in oriental style. arranged so that she
may with ease enjoy the view of the
hills and plains and yet not be seen,
accompanied by her ladies' IN waiting,
who share the same privilege. When
the destination is reached an awning
is Immediately erected which forms a
complete passage TO the state carriage
that awaits her, SO that there Is no pos
sible chance of satisfying the curious
gaze of all castles who patiently look
for her arrival She Is always glad TO
see European ladies, as she II pleased
TO call all foreigners, no matter Of
what nationality. She converses free
IL in several of the native languages,
especially Hindostani and Canarease,
and speaks English fuently. She loves
20 hear OF other countries. and the
habits and customs Of other people
She is particularly interested il al
that pertains TO America