Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1895-03-01
ONE QUEEN IN INDIA.
The Mahar-nee Of Kuni0al and
Her Mode OF Living.
Surrounded by Luxury and Beauty the
Royal Prisoner Dreams Away
Her Days In Oriental
Splendor.


Splendor.
The maharanee of Kunigel 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
ly plated at the waist in front, falling
in a fan-like train over the feet, and
fastened with band of gold that is
studded with crcsccnts 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
tcrcSt which carries one back to the
time of Cleopatra. 1t was found among
some other buried treasures more than
"a century ago, when the remote anccs-
;ors 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.
Jcwclcd sandals grace her otherwise
unclad neither limbs, surmounted by
anlllets of gold.
She will often express to her friends
the great pleasure it would afford her
TO be able to go freely among her pco-
pie. This is, however, forbidden her
by the cXactinT and severe law OF her
caste, for, being Il Irahnin, she il,
obliged to adhere strictly to the law
of inclosurc." his comDclS her at the
age of twelve to bc yelled and live in
sccluSion for the remainder of her life.
This rigid dcprivatiIu Of all enjoyment
of the world is necessarily Il severe
shock to the scnsi!iLility of even an
eastern queen. Never again does she
receive OF converse with one of the OBJ
poSitc sex, save only her husband. the
maharajah. Neither is a domestic Of
her household permitted to look upon
her, otherwise her caste would bC
broken and her birthright cancelled.
This law among high caste seems cruel
and inconsistent, but the penalty of
disobedicncc is supreme. The violat,:r
of law so sacred among the Sex AZ
that of Enclosure" has horrible dos
tiny awaiting her. She is expelled
from among her tribe in shame to be-
come an Outcast, cXilcd from within
the walls of the city for her crime.
But the present maIarancc, says a
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 tapestricd win
dows She steps into her private gar
dcns, where the air is pcrfumcd with
the delicious fragrance of flowers. IlIc
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, mIis.
babble no secrets RivuletS and bruDis:,
arc treasures in India. They arc few
and far between in this region of mar
nificcncc. Here tho royal prisoner. fsr
so she is, takes her daily exercise.
joined occasionally by her children.
who come with The delightful nn,iri.
patton of hearing some now fairy tale;
! from the lips Of the beautiful II2Gi-
Sahib-who happens to be q rare Ht,,r..
tcllcr-as she is seated in one OF h>r
favorite arbors where the citron vine,
cnvclOp the happy little group, pic
turc only eastern.
When tlic inaharanee wishes to leave
rHHIrtm.'nt4 the command is given
! N Il uiomcnt the turbancd NJ
;iauis chat crowd the halls dis
! 'Gcrr Us if by magic. The silence
tat follows cnducs the surroundings
! with the air of Il sanctuary rather than
! 'hat CT Il palace. Presently tbCr,'
! ;rCahs upon the stiffness the faint
milking of u bell that announces the
! .'1yal presence, and the maharancc
! oncs forward, stately, gracious, kind
! ~. every inch Il queen"
! When she drives into the country in
her state carriagc--a relaxation winch
she thoroughly enjoys, being true
lover of nature she must go closely
yelled. Rarely week passes without
a trip through the picturesque midtown
lying between Kunigal and I!nngalorc