Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-30
LADY oURzON'S ESCORT
INDIA's cHIvALRY AMONG THE
KNIGHTS OF THE BRACELET.
Asia's Most Charming Romance Re-
called in Honoring Fair
American.

Written for The Evening Star.
According to the statement of a London
| journal, it is owing to suggestion OF Lady
Curzon that the guard and escort of Lord
Curzon and herself at the forthcoming
| magnificent imperial coronation festivities
at Delhi will be formed of Rajput mobiles. If
| this Is so. 1t shows how keen an apprecia-
ton of chivalry the former American girl
cherishes and how quick is her tact in rec
ognizing and rewarding it.
OF all Asiatics, the Rajputs, or Hindus of
| the warrior caste. have been by far the
most chivalrous In their attitude toward
women. To the names of their wives and
daughters they add the title Of devi. or god
| dess. and have always been known to treat
! them with the greatest kindness and re-
| spect. Even If the personal liberty of their
women has. from our point of view, been
| curtailed. their lives have been by no
| means devoid of romance, and their infiu-
| ence upon affairs has been more than con-
| siderable.
| OF this no better illustration can be given
| than the romantic custom known the
| gift of the bracelet" This custom pre-
! vailed among the Rajput mobiles until the
| security of British dominion in India made
| it unnecessary. Whenever a Rajput prin-
| cess believed herself in danger, she chose
| some noble renowned for his valor and sent
| him one of her bracelets. BY this act she
| constituted him her adopted, or bracelet
| bound brother" her cavalier servant. 1t
| mattered not whether she happened to be
| maid wife or widow he was bound by
| that which he held most sacred to relin-
| quish all other pursuits and fly to her sue
cor should she be in distress
| The acknowledgment of the pledge on the
| mobiles part. was the return of silk waist
| richly embrpidered with pearls or jewels,
| as his means would permit. II king were
| in this way the recipient of Rajput lady's
| favor. he accompanied the waist by the
further gift of splendid gems. fortress. or
! even a promise. The significance of this
| return gift of waist lay in the chivalrous
| sentiment that as, in his eyes, the garment
| protected her heart. the most tender part
of her body. so his sword was ever ready
| to defend her life and honor. The senti-
| mental relationship established by this
| unique custom was made all the more beau
| tifui because no breath of scandal or no
| hope of reward the Rajput cavaliers
I part ever entered into the compact. 1t was
| only at the festival Of the bracelet held
| in the spring, which somewhat resembled
! the tournaments of our middle ages that
| he could hope to catch a glimpse of the
| fair lady to whom his service was dedicated.
| Otherwise he only knew her by name, per-
! haps by miniature, or the bracelet which
J encircled his sword arm in the press Of
| battle. But to cherish this devotion to the
! unseen mistress of his otherwise fierce
| nature, and to perish fighting in her cause
| beneath the walls of her beleaguered fort
| ress, were, in the Rajput warriors belief,
| the noblest aim and fate which could be-
| fall mortal
In such high esteem did this "gift of the
| bracelet" come to be held that even the
| Mohammedan emperor, Humayun. upon one
| occasion relinquished the spoils of victory
to hasten with all speed to the rescue of
| the beautiful Hindu Queen of Chitore, who
| had made him the proud wearer of her
bracelet
AS the Rajput mobiles have inherited with
| such chivalrous qualities a physique which
| would compare favorably with that of any
| race on earth, it is not surprising that when
| they enter the military service of the Brit
| ish crown they are not backward in win
| ming promotions to high commands.