Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-12-30
Lord CURzON ENTERS
CAPITAL OF MOGULS
Official Opening of Great Dur
bar In India.
eRANDEsT ORIENTAL PAGEANT
Probably Unparalleled In Its Magnifi
oence-Lord and Lady Curzon Rode
on Largest Elephant In lndia-Gor
geous Trappings Of Gold and Silver.

on Largest Elephant In lndia-Gor
geous Trappings of Gold and Silver.
Delhi, India, Dec. 29.-The viceroy,
Lord Curzon, of Keddleston, made his
state entry today into the capitol OF
the Moguls This is constituted the
official opening of the durbar held to
celebrate the accession of King Ed,
ward as emperor of India.
1t was a splendid pageant, proba
bly, unparalleled in It's magnificence,
At the head of the elephant process
sion rode Lord and Lady Curzon on
the state grand tusker" II feet high,
the largest elephant in India. Their
howdah was decked with gold and sill
yer and the elephant itself was almost
hidden beneath q gold worked saddle.
cloth Surrounding them were foot
men in scarlet and gold liveries and
bearing massive silver slaves. The
Duke of Connaught followed Another
elephant was equally gorgeously ca.
parisoned. Then in order of prece.
dence came the mizam of Hydrobad
the mahajarah Of Travancore and
other ruling chiefs, 70 in all. their huge
elephants forming a line quarter Of
mile in length.
The glittering procession started
from the railroad station, preceded by
Dragon guards and the vicerop's es.
cort, by heralds and trumpeters. The
road was entirely lined by British
and native troops From the salut.
ing battery, posted at the fort com.
manding the Lahore gate, guns thun,
dered out a royal salute as the vice.
roy passed with the heralds and trum-
peters sounding at intervals spirited
fan-fares. The cortege passed in
front Of line of 10 elephants carry.
ing the brilliantly dressed retainers
of the ruling chiefs. The colossal
beasts saluted by throwing their trunks
in the air, presenting a truly imposing
sight and afterward fell in line behind
the 0 cial procession Huge crowds
Of onlookers witnessed the spectacle
which, it is asserted, has never beer
surpassed in magnifcence even in
this country Of oriental splendors. The
heralds, pursuavants and trumpeters
who followed the escort and immedi
ately preceded the vice regal process
sion were conspicuous by the splendol
of their attire. They were followed by
the newly constituted imperial cadet
corps comprising 80 maharajahs The
excitement was at fever heat when
the first elephants with gold and sill
yer howdahs of the staff officers came
in view and commenced to circle
around the mosque. The finest ele
plants in Asia passed IN front of the
great Jumma Musjid, the steps Of
which were thronged with distinguish
ed personages including viceroys
American and British guests and the
delegates from the colonies and from
other parts of the empire. The enor
nous beasts shuffIed slowly by The
bodies of the great animals were al
most hidden by their trapping of Grim
son, purple and gold Bands of gold
encircled their trunks, golden brace
lets were on their ankles, gold and
silver bells were hanging from their
neck chains and their heads were
painted and decorated in every con
ceivable color. The Mahouts were clad
in the brightest attire, as were the at
tendant spearmen who marched by the
elephants ides. In the rear Of the
procession rode General Lord Kitchen
err the commander-in-chief in India
surrounded by a brilliant staff and fol
lowed by the heads Of provinces with
escorts Of Indian cavalry and tribal
leaders from beyond the border line
Down the main streets moved the
cortege through the lines of salutine
soldiers, salaaming throngs of natives
through the ancient city with the bal
comics and housetops teeming with
life and through the Mc0rgate into the
open park beyond. There, after a 4
mile march, the elephants Of the vice
roy and the Duke of Connaugh halted
side by side, and the pageant was con.
cluded with the great princes filing
by with their elephants trumpeting a
salute.
The viceroy was In state uniform.
Lady Curzon was dressed in gray, the
Duke Of Connaught had on a field mar.
shals uniform and the Duchess OF
Connaught was attired in blue. They
received fattering welcome at all
points. The viceroy and the Duke OF
Connaught subsequently drove to the
main camp. The roads after the pass.
age Of the procession were a scene OF
chaos, as camels, mule carts and Ian.
daus. bicycles and bullock carts pass.
Ell onward In strange confusion.
There we're many break downs and
many hours elapsed before the PEG.
pie were able to return 20 their camps.