The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-21
THE DURBAR AT DELHI
GORGEOUS PAGEANT WILL
LONG BE

| WAen the Viceroy Nlade His state
| Entry Escorted By the India"
i Princes.
From the arched terrace of the
grandest mosque in India" writes the
correspondent of the London Telegraph
at the Delhi durbar, Il have witnessed
to-day December 29) a scene incredible
to the waking senses, the realization Of
the most fantastic splent!or of Eastern
fable. 1t WAS more Xix, the vision Of
Ri Oriental dream than an experienced
and historic reality, combining the
richest flame ustre. DeWilGering maze,
and dazzling intensity IF indian color
with the marshaled state order Of the
West.
The climax was reached Of all con-
ceivable spectacle. Never when the
Mogul Court was at merriam magnifi-
cence did it's sovereigns more through
! the streets of their Imperial city with
any escort approaching the long poinp,
glory and dominion attending the Vice
roy's entry to-day. To this was added.
as regiment after regiment Of British
and native cavalry rode by, the utln~t
contrast of modern discipline. with its
impression of &terner and more COM
pact power, Both elements together
mingled with an effect beyond sugges-
! ton i'll pageant which will long re-
main the wonder of Asia.
j Delhi was alive with the flush OF
dawn Upon the springtng ninarets,
the marble domes and the palace ram
parts the sunrise over the historic
Ridge stirred the camp. and from the
moment the light began to chase the
shadows all the roads leading toward
! the gates, with the whole line Of route
within the walls, were crowded by ma
/ tive citizens, among whom were mixed
strangers representing all races and re-
gions of the East. They sWarmed
around the pyramids and Hindoo
shrines and upon the terraces OF the
/ Mosques, packed both sides Of the
streets, filled windows above windows,
| looked down tier upon tier from airy
verandas and painted balconies, and
were silhoutted all along the skyline 'of
F.! roofs in gay groups against the morn
ing blue in the brilliancy of their East
ern robes. These dense multitudes beg
CARED the rainbow. Down Chandni
Chowk, with its far-stretchng vista Of
, picturesque facades. even the flags and
pennons dancing above We're less bright
than the crowds below, Everywhere
pavilions had been erected upon the
roofs for ladies, whose yelled forms
glimmered through transparent
screens.
I Even this paled beside the marvel
Gus sight around the Jumma Musjid,
the center of the ceremony. The great
Mosque towers from the heart of the
city, with a massive flight of steps ris-
ing toward its four giant gat"ways, and
Overl0oks the immense open space that
once formed the parade ground of the
Moguis. Far upon the other side the
lofty battlemented ramp2rts of Shah
Jehan's vast red palace citadel stretch
ed for three quarters of mile over
an avenue of foliage, with the misty
sweep of the Jumna river melting into
the blue haze of the plains beyond. This
famous scene presented to-day an un
paralleled spectacle. Throughout the
morning hours, pending the Viceroy's
arrival, the Mosque rose like mighty
/ island from a. living ocean OF color,
surging with innuernarble hues. Every
single human wave in this dazzling sea
seemed to glow with a separate tint.
Red, yellow. white and green were, the
great ground tones of these glorious
| Indian crowds, but with these mingled
! the palest turquoise, the darkest sap
phire, violet and heliotrope, until the
ROBBED and turbaned masses shone with
every shade and hue that jewels flow
ers or fruits have ever suggested to
the painters palette. The parade
ground itself was belted far and wide
with these prismatic spectators, rang
ed behind the martial cordons of Brit
ish and native infantry keeping the line
of procession from the Jumma Musiid.
| The city was sea Of white roofs, COW
cred near the route with watching
groups.
"At 1880 O'Clock the dull boom of
saluting guns away to the north told
of the VicerOy's arrival at the railway
station, where he was received by
gittering array Of all the ruling princes
and chiefs assembled for the Durbar.
Soon after the muffled thunder of an
other distant salute meant the arrival
of the Duke of Connaught. A tense in
terval of waiting followed while the
sound of excited Inurmur of the native
multitudes sWelled f1oarse. Another re-
port sounded startlingly near. The
smoke of the monday gun curled blue
against the red ramparts Of the pal
ace. The procession was approaching.
A mile away the head of the escort
flashes through the distant trees. Soon
some huge gold pageant is seen ad-
vancing through the foliage of the long
avenue under the palace wall. At last
it passes into the open.
First comes the nspector-general of
the Punjab police. Then the scarlet
clad squadrons of the Fourth Dragon
Guards appear riding CALAMITY down
the long open road toward the Mosque,
After them contrast the yellow facings
of H. Battery, Royal Horse Artillery,
with their guns, the sterneSt symbol of
imperial strength throughout the day.
, Then a. throb of smoke and Il salute
from the ramparts across the parade
ground announce Lord CurzOn's pass
ing. The Union Jack flies up nobly
above the great Lahore Gate More
s1uadrons of the Fourth Dragon
Guards follow, and then, to the triun-
phant rhythm of drums and music,
the central portion OF the procession
glittevs into sight.