Arizona republican., 1895-03-03
ONE QUEEN IN INDIA.
The Maharanee of Kunigal and
 Her Mode of Living.

Surrounded by Luxury and Beauty the
 Royal Prisoner Dreams Away
 Her Days in Oriental
 Splendor.
 The maharanee of Kunigal is very beautiful woman. Her tall figure is draped with airy and artistic effect. The robe consists of much soft India silk, elaborately embroidered, arranged about her in mysterious grace, a very enigma of garment without the ex- planation of a single stitch. It is close ly 'plaited at the waist in front, falling in a fan-like train over the feet, and fastened with a 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. It was found among some other buried treasures more than a 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 Brahmin, she is obliged to adhere strictly to the flaw of inclosure." 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 severe shock to the sensibibility of even an eastern queen. Never again does she receive or converse with one of the op- posite sex, save only her husband, the maharajah. Neither is 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 law so sacred among the sex as that of ''inclosure" 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 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 tapestried win 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 thronrh 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 nificence. 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, a pie ture only eastern.
 When the maharanee wishes to leave her apartments the command is given, and in moment the turbaned at tendants 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 palace. Presently there breaks upon the stiffness the faint tinkling of bell that announces the royal presence, and the maharanee comes forward, stately, gracious, kind ly, "every inch queen"
 When she drives into the country in her state carriage-a relaxation winch she thoroughly enjoys, being a true lover of nature she must go closely yelled. Rarely week passes without trip through the picturesque miedown lying 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 1y 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,