The Washington times., 1902-12-22
COSTLY CASHMERE SHAWLS
Trappings for Elephants and Camels
Set With Gold and Jewels-Lcrd
CurzOn's Tent.

abNAlNAAA AAAN AbN 81 u AANAlNA NAH Va NNAlAr
for the accommodation Of the princes
and their followers.
Everybody is armed and artillery is
planted about conspicuously. a con
stant stream Of native cavalrymen is
passing TO and fro between the encamp-
ments and the town.
The tents occupy a stretch OF ground
eight miles long. Some Of the biggest
princes have at least 500 military and
civil attendants. Some Of the native
rulers have quarters in the town. bus
most Of them sleep and eat under their
own canvas.
Tented Villages.
Each ruler has his tented village.
apart from every other There are sew
enty OF them and they are arranged like
the letter T, the cross bar being re-
served for the prince and his household.
and the perpendicular acting as a main,
street with tents pitched on both sides.
The picture presented by the canvas
dotted plain recalls the fabulous stories
Of the richness OF the East. Every In
dian ruler has either levied secret taxes
or gone to the treasure house OF his an
cestors TO provide for his accommoda-
tion. Each is actuated by a desire TO
outshine everyone else. and the result is
mass Of sumptuous upholstering.
The tents are hung with rich silks en-
broidered with gold and with costly
tapestry paintings. The canvas dwelling
Of the Maharaia Of Cashmere is almost
completely composed OF priceless cash
mere shawls which could not be bought
with all the money Of J. p Morgan.
Requirements Of Religion.
Some Of the little kingdoms are rep
resented by princesses and queens. who
are compelled by their religion to remain
entirely concealed. They go about in
palanquins. borne by giant natives, and
are entirely surrounded by strong body
guards Of troopers
A number OF the representatives Of
hill districts are very poor. Their mod
est outfits contrast strangely with tho
Iencampments Of the wealthy rulers.
There Is a touch Of barbaric pomp
and splendor In the herds Of elephants
and camels that serve in the retinue of
/ the princes. All the animals are rich
ly caparisoned. Their trappings are set
with gold and studded with torquoises.
and in some cases with emeralds and
diamonds. There are over thousand
attendants to wait on the animals.
which are not allowed to mingIe to-
gether. but are kept each in the canvas
village to which he belongs.
The British Tents.
| Out beyond the native encampments
are the tents Of the British civil and
military officials. who are 10 take part
/ in the Durbar. The same rivalry exists
/ among them AS among the rajahs, and
some Of the officers have spent small for
tunes in decorating their canvas homes.
4 The tent 10 be occupied by 3ord and
Lady Curson is on a stretch OF ground
/ by itself. and was furnished by the Brit
ish government with the idea Of i'm
| pressing the native rulers As it stands
II is probably worth $4,000
/ Back in the other direction toward
the rear OF the town are hotel tents.
erected for the accommodation OF Wis
/ itors from England
No previous Durbar has been attended
/ By SO many society people. There are.
/ according TO a local estimate. 1900 per-
Sons who have come to Delhi from Eng
/ land for the single purpose OF seeing
/ the show. They are roughing IL. for the
tents are mostly poor affairs. and many
of them we're put up in a rush to ac-
| oonmodate visitors who had not pro-
vided for themselves beforehand.
Accommodation for Visitors.
Three miles beyond the encampment
workmen have begun the erection OF an
! amphltheater, where the proclamation
declaring King Edward Emperor Of India
/ IS to be reared There will be sitting
room fer 5000 visitors. and standing
room for 1000 more.
/ II is not anticipated that the holding
OF this Durbar will consume more than
an hour and a half AS soon as the vice
/ roy appears the proclamation will be
! ready. and will be translated into Urdu.
An artillery salute will be fred. the
massed bands will play the national an
them aud Lord Curzon will make an ad-
dress. Then there will be more salutes,
and more music and the viceroy will
declare the Durbar at an end.
! in the course OF the week there Will
I be banquets and entertainments. with
| fireworks displays in Delhi, and the
exodus will not begin for several days
after the actual Durbar IS over.