The Washington times., 1902-08-24
MAHARAJAH Of JAIPUR
AND HIS GOD DEPART
Ruler Personally Supervises
Embarkation.
AN AMUSING MISTAKE
AN
Invitations Accidentally Addressed by
London Society to the Tutelary Deity
of the Indian Prince, and Thus Were
Never Answered.

LONDON. Aug. 23.-One of the most
the coronation was witnessed yesterday
at Dover when the Maharajah of Jaipur
the mos; important coronation guest
from India, embarked on his return
journey.
The Maharajah is most scrupulous
observer of his faith. He never under
takes journey until the state astrolo-
ger has ascertained If the planets are
propitious.
Thursday was the day originally set
tied on for his departure. and the. plan
cts ruled that Thursday was the right
day for the Maharajah to start, but at
the last moment his London engage
ments interfered SO that the departure
had to be made by a deputy. Dhauhat raj
Bahadur, the Maharaiah's director of
transports going to Dover.
Journey by Proxy.
There the state astrologer decided
that the journey from London to Dover
had sufficiently propitiated the planets
and Bahadur awaited his lords arrival
there The Maharajah arrived promptly
at 1870 with thirty tons OF personal
luggage and $50 members of his suite,
and Immediately proceeded to the cap
tains bridge.
The Maharajah personally superin-
tended the embarkation of his baggage.
which was divided into two classes. sec
ular and religious The porters and a
beats ere wwere allowed to help handle
the former but none except the members
OF his own suite were permitted 10 touch
the latter.
The most important items in the re-
ligious collection were Maharajah's
family god. who was packed in large
wooden box marked with strange signs
in Hindustani. and with care" In Eng
lish. and half dozen vessels resem-
bling huge canteens. placed in two zine
tanks, and requiring four men each to
carry them. These contained the sacred
water OF the Ganges.
The removal OF the family god was
the occg sion Of a religious ceremony.
The hien priest. in full vestments and
jewelry. walked in front. muttering
prayers, while four Hindoos carried the
case. which was placed below and sur
rounded by personal escort.
The secular baggage included
strange medley OF articles purchased
in London. such as several OF the most
modern rifles. silver-plated harness.
tricycle.. a number OF children's mechan-
ical toys, like a horse bicycle a clock
work engine and jumping jacks. While
the entire suite of -l50 swarmed on the
deck in handling the baggage they
chanted a song describing their cordial
reception and how they improved their
physical health during the.visit.
An Amusing Mistake.
The Mahara iah's devotionIo his fam
lily god VS. r. nonsible for a peculiar
error on. 'hr pa of several noble. la
dies in Ionic who wished to eitertain
him. The Maharajah's cards were en-
graved 'in Hindustani characters. and
many invitations which were sent TO
to his residence. received no
although his name was
copied with careful accuracy.
Subsequently it was ascertained that
the Maharajah's piety was such that the
family god occupied the place of honor
on his visiting cards and his own was
placed below il. Consequently the in
vitations were extended to the god, who
apparently did not deign to answer such
trivial things.