The sun., 1902-12-30
CORONATION DURBAR OPENS.
GORGEOUS DISPLAY AT THE
STATE ENTRY INTO DELHI

Lord and Lady Curzon. Duke and Duchess
Of Connausht and Native Chiefs Ride
In Gold and silver Hswdahs on Eie.
phants-3SO. 900 Persons Now Under
Canvas In the Camp Outside the City.
Special Cable Despatch 10 TEE SUN.
DELHI, Dec 29-The opening ceremonies
Of the great coronation durbar. At which
Edward VII Of England is to be formally
proclaimed Emperor Of India, began here
to-day The Viceroy. Lord Curzon Of
Kedleston. made his state entry here this
morning. He was accompanied BY the
Duke OF Connaught, who was sent by King
Edward to represent him. and by the Duch-
ess Lord Curzon reached the railway
station at II 80 o'clock and was received by
the ruling chiefs, the Governors OF presi.
denotes, the Lieut. enant G Jvernop Of prov
inces and the Lieutenant Generals COM
manding the troops.
Just as the party arrived. salute Of
thirty-one guns was fred from the fort.
The Duke and Duchess received every
honor from the viceroy and chiefs. The
chiefs were presented in turn to the mem.
bers OF the royal and viceregal parties.
Afterward all mounted elephants and set
out for the great camp.
As Lord and Lady Curzon and the Duke
and Duchess OF Connaught mounted ele-
phants and passed through the line OF
ruling chiefs, the elephants OF the chiefs
saluted bytrumpeting. Then they fell In line
behind the viceregal and royal parties. the
whole making a procession OF seventy
colossal elephants. The parade started
with the dragons and horse artillery In
gorgeous attire Leading The heralds and
trumpeters. six English soldiers and six
natives, clad In crimson coats. heavily
braided with gold. followed
The Viceroy's bodyguard consisted OF
fine looking men superbly mounted on
bay Australian horses They were thirty
strong. and were attired In brilliant uni
forms Of scarlet and gold. with the young
Maharajahs Of Jodhpur, kishengarh. Jaora,
Rutlam and Dholphur in their ranks, max
ing q magnificent show In their white frock
coats faced with the Star Of India in blue
and gold Hjndustani embroidery.
Their waists were encircled with blue
cashmere oummerbunds with crimson tas-
sells and gold sword belts. Turbans Of blue,
with the corps cipher For the King formed
their headdress. The whole was sur
mounted by gold aigrettes. They rode
magnificent black chargers with leopard
skins over the saddles.
Lord and Lady Curzon were seated In a
gold and silver howdah from the viceregal
hall at Simla. on an enormous trisker ele-
phant lent for the occasion by the Maha-
rajah of Benares. There was a magnif-
cent saddle cloth Of crimson velvet, deco
rated with large gold and silver stars.
This was the handiwork Of tn, famous
shawl merchant Kishenchaud OF Delhi.
who recently made the coronation robes
for Queen Alexandra.
The Viceroy wore his State uniform, with
the Star of India in blue Lady Curzon
was dressed in gray The Duke and Duchess
of Connaught followed Immediately after
the viceroy, seated In an equally gorgeous
howdah on a magnificent elephant. His
Royal Highness wore the uniform Of Field
Marshal, with, a sash and the Star OF India
The Duchess was attired In a costume Of
bright blue.
As a display Of barbaric splendor and
magnifcence nothing could exceed the long
line Of richly adorned elephants which fol-
lowed with the ruling chiefs Of India seated
In howdahs that were masterpieces Of the
goldsmiths and the silversmiths' art. clad
in gorgeous robes and covered with priceless
jewels.
The Grand Duke Of Hesse and the Gov
ernors followed In carriages. Then came
a number Of brilliant groups OF horsemen,
the most prominent being Lord Kitchener.
the Commander-in-Che Of the forces in
India, and the most picturesque the Balu-
chistan and Pathan chiefs.
After leaving the Esplanade road, the
H.
wealthiest street in the East. 1t was blaz-
ing with color. Every shop had been newly
painted and there was an extraordinary
display Of signboards Flags and festoons,
rich carpets and costly shawb Of every de-
sign and hue hung from the balconies.
Placards bearing the words God Save
the King and 'Blessings on Our First En-
peror' were prominently displayed on the
streets along the route Of the parade.
When the procession emerged from the city
by the Mori gate it reached the plain once
more and then halted. The Viceroy and
tho Duke Of Connaught then exchanged
parting salutes with the ruling chiefs and
MOBILES, and, entering carriages, proceeded
to their camps. The procession then
gradually dispersed.
The camp covers an area Of fifty square
miles and there are $500 dwellers under
canvas. It is garrisoned by 5000 troops.
The electric installation Is the largest ever
known for temporary affair. The over
head wires weigh some sixty tons and there
are fifty miles Of underground cable.
Tho great event Of the durbar will occur
at noon on New Years Day, when Edward
VII. will be proclaimed Emperor. For this
ceremony great amphitheatre has been
been constructed twill accommodate 49,
600 persons. The ceremony will consist
Of the reading Of the proclamation, the
firing Of the royal salute and the playing
OF ,massed bands. the viceroy's address
and presentation Of the ruling chiefs. Fol-
lowing this 10000 troops will be paraded on
the plain.
To-day Viceroy Curzon will open the
Indian Arts Exhibition. Reviews, recep-
tions. a grand ball and a series Of polo con-
tests between the best teams Of India will
fill out the two weeks programme of the
durbar.
MOULIN ROUGE CLOSED.