The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-08-30

From st. james Gazette.


India is the land of picturesque cities,
but 1t is universally conceded that Jaipur
the Jeypore of old fashioned geographical
books-is the most beautiful Of them all
1t is the metropolis of the State of the
sarge name, this being one Of the tributary
native provinces in the important territory
Of Rajputana. The name Of Rajputana is
famous throughout India It represents a
magnificent cluster of States lying in the
northwest, between Punjab and the cen
trail States Each of these twenty Rajput
States enjoys its own autonomy, with a
separate chief, together with British res
ident.
The State of Jaipur covers an area of
nearly 15, 900 square miles. Though its
name conveys little meaning to the aver
age Englishman, it is quite as important
district as Wales, Holland, Belgium or
Roumania. The population now reaches
about 2, 50G, 900. Oftheses some are pure
Rajputs of the old dominant caste; Others
are Of various inferior castles; some are
Mohammedans, and some belong to the
curious Jain sect, whose shrines are usual
ly placed on the crests of the highest hills,
and who form very wealthy and infuen-
tial part of the community.
Native civilization in India is at its very
best in Jaipur. That city is the CONNER
cial capital and banking centre for all the
Rajput States Most of the exchange for
the whole Of the great Rajputana Province
is transacted here. The lovely city is one
Of midas most exquisite show places,
which astonishes every visitor by its super
lative beauty, but it is a veritable hive of
industry. The people clad in all the col
ors Of the rainbow, all the day ply their
work in the shops and sheds. On the
sidewalk men are being shaved, and dyers
come and wave faring strips Of green, red
or blue cloth in the sunshine. Women
with their spinning wheels, potters turning
che clay, brass workers, cotton ginners,
wheat winnowers, gold wire drawers, sill
versmiths, shoemakers and multitudes OF
handicraftsmen ceaselessly pursue their
avocations in full view of all who may
choose to look on; while monkeys sport or
the roofs and the teeming bird life for
which India is so famous adds to the ami
nation of the scene. Flocks of parrots,
pigeons and crows fit about every gable.
1t is, however, the perennial sunrise and
sunset colors in which it is stepped which
impart its peculiar fascination to Jaipur.
1t is the coral city of India, flushed all
over with soft, yet brilliant, rose tints.
This extraordinary city presents an incom-
parable aspect 1t won an extravagant
eulogium from Sir Edwin Arnold. He
was especially delighted with that Hawai-
Mahal-''Hall of the Winds --or nine
storied Zenana, which forms the frontis-
piece of the Maharajah's palace 1t is,
indeed, vision of daring and dainty love-
illness, with rosy masonry and delicate over
hanging balconies and latticed windows,
soaring tier above tier in fanciful architec
ture of pyramidal form. Other grand
buildings, besides the splendid white mar
bic palace, are the Maharajah's College
for thousand boys, and the museum, one
of the noblest institutions Of the kind in
India In the menagerie, maintained at
the Maharajah's own cost, are dozen
terrible man eating tigers, trapped in the
jungles after devouring many an unfortu
nate stray villager.