The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-17


widely that there is some mystery connect
ca win the desertion of Ambir, once the
capital of Rajpoutana, yet its abandon
ment was solely and entirely due to
piece OF capricious despotism on the part
OF King icy Sing ii. who reigued at Am
Dir some 200 years ago, and who is famous
In Oriental history as the greatest astron-
oner mat India has ever known. He COOK
II into his head that Ambir. inclosed IN
the valley OF the Kalikho mountains, was
incapable of development or extension,
that ii was too inaccessible, and that II
was unworthy of the grandeur of his
Kingdom. Accordingly. he planned and
built new capital some eight or ten miles
lower down, and gave it the name of Jey-
pore. As soon as he had completed his task
he commanded the entire population OF
Ambir to abandon their homes, and to take
up their residence in JeypOre. No one was
permitted TO remain behind, and thus II
happens that to-day the great city or
Ambir. which. founded in the first century
OF the Christian era, was so magnlhcentiy
built that none of its palaces or pubic
buildings have yet fallen into ruin or de-
cay, is to-day tenanted only by myriads
of monkeys while here or there a naked
fakir, who has come to pray at one OF the
shrines which abound on the shores OF
the lake, may be seen bathing in its SOM
The royal palace is 100 feet above the
level of the lake But the stone put
tresses which support the sides OF the
green hill upon which 1t stands descend
perpendicularly into the water and look
like continuation of the castle walls,
making the frontage appear more than
2O0 feet high. The principal gateway OF
the palace known as the "soeve' gate,
and which is shown here, is acknowledge
to be one of the most beautiful works OF
art in India. 1t is difficult to convey,
b9- means of engraving, any idea of this
marvellous construction of precious mar
bles and of gildings, of mosaics and of
delicate painting. The marble frame
works of the windows which ornament
this gate are the finest in all India. They
are carved out of single slabs of marble,
and are so delicately finished that at
short distance they resemble transparent
muslin curtains. On passing through this
gateway one finds ones self in court
yard surrounded by palaces, each rich in
mosaicS and sculptures, in the center of
which is fairy-like garden. In some
of these palaces the walls are covered
from the ceiling to the floor with inlaid
work of polished stone, agates, turquoises
and pieces of looking-glass arranged In
groups of flowers and arabesques, and the
effect produced by ray of sunshine in
these apartments is simply indescribable.
In others. the floors are of sandal and
other precious wood. It is difficult to con-
ceive a more romantic retreat: and what
with the unbroken silence, the glorious
view and the fairy-like character of the
palaces and kiosks, one has trouble to
realize that one is not in dreamland.
The only sign of decay, If decay indeed
IT. can be called, is the presence of vegeta-
tion where it would not have been toler-
ated had the place been inhabited. Per
haps nowhere in the Deccau has nature
been SO quick in identifying the works of
man. She has covered the walls with creep
ers and flowers, planted the courts with
shady groves. and hung her peepul and
cacti among the marble trelliswork of the
terraces. Wandering through the silent
streets, the pavement of which is 'over-
grown with weeds and long grass, one eX-
periences a feeling of soothing melancholy
seldom excited by ruins, which are so Of
ten bare and desolate; and the suns rays,
partially intercepted by the foliage of the
trees, imDart a warm color to this mix
ture of sculptural stonework and YER
dure. Occasionally, at turn of the road,
one comes upon some religious edif1ce or
temple. one of the most exquisite of which
is that dedicated to Nlahades, its golden
kiosk being a masterpiece of Oriental
sculpture. in the center of the city there
is a 'Iingan" placed in a basin which Is
filled by a spring of water. An ancient
prophecy declares that when the Lin
gan is covered by the water Ambir will
There are only a few inches now visible
above the surface. and the Brahmln
priests at Jeypore, who periodically visit
alarmed concerning the condition of af-
fairs, since any disaster that overtakes
Amhir is likely at the same time TO over
whelm JeyDOre. which IS, so 10 speak, at
the entrance of the valley.
The waters of the lake are infested by
crocodiles, of which there is an enormous
quantity. rivalling, indeed, IN numbers
the monkeys. who constitute the only in
habitants of the city. The monkeys belong
to the class known as Langour, are
about four feet in hight, with long white
whiskers black intelligent faces, and a
sort of chinchila gray fur. They are re-
garded as sacred by the people OF India
owing to the tradition according to which
Hunouman king of the monkeys, assist
ed in the original conquest OF India, ana es-
pecially in that of the Island of Ceylon.
These monkeys OF Amblr I'VE IN reg ular
tribal fashion, and are governed by a
ficrce-looking old chief, patriarch who IS
traated with immense reverence by all his
subjects.