New-York tribune., 1903-01-04

oiher potentates camp together; the procession
Of elephants, the arena, where the royal procla-
nation is made, trace their origin back TO the
most remote antiquity.
A comparison Of the present durbar with the
one held by Auringzebe, the AIogul ruler whose
reign was contemporaneous with Charles II OF
England, shows that, although few features
have become obsolete. there are many more
that are common 10 both. Auringzebe for ex-
annie had q durbar every birthday, and was
WEIGHED in public before the congregation Of his
chiefs which is a custom not regarded practical
al the present time. In Ormes Historical
Fragments of the MoguI Empire Tavernier, the
Oriental traveller tells OF his visit TO the court
of AurinEzebe. as follows:
IN riches and resources the Great Nogul is in
Asia what the King OF France is in Europe
When took leave OF his majesty on November
: lUG5 ne was pleased to desire that should
s.sv 10 see the festivals in honor OF his birth
Gay. on this occasion the Emperor Is weighed
m state and # he Is found TO weigh more than
or The preceding year then there IS great pupilc
rejoicing
The eraadees of the empire. the Ticeroys Of
III. provinces. and the women Of the court came
~ make their offerings. which, in precious
stones. gold and silver. rich carpets and pro
s-s eIerhants. canels and horses amounted
when I was present to upward of }oo59epo
r-z--~ tSGUFttsfD. The tents are Of rel FeiNeI
-r.rat5er=I Ufth gold. so heavy that the Poits
which support them are as Inlch as me iIIasts aS
Of slf1s and some OF them 800 10 400 feet hlsh-
TIE Great M0gul has seven splendid thrones;
--. covered with diamonds. and others with Tu-
f==s ereral6S and pearls " lille the emperor
Is on MS throne fifteen horses stand ready ana
ca-a-is6ned his right. and as many on MS
7z-- -r@ bride Of each horse enriched with pre-
gIr-s stones. Elephants are trained 10 hiieeL
80 - co. III -h~one The Emperor himself
ha~ a favorlI- elephant which cost vtJ rupees
- ard s fed sugar and brandy
Delhi. where The durbar is held. IS peculiarly
ft for this ancient ceremonial If India be the
1-s7- of Asia still more properly may it be said
NAT Delhi IS its Rome is the language with
which II c Keere the historian. characterlzes
mis- ancient metropolis Delhi was not only
The capital OF TIE Mogul Empire. hut It was
I7rz-n as a royaI abode fifteen centuries before
christ For forty miles about the present CITY
lie ruined palaces and temples TO attest NE eA-
ts-ence of numerous cities which have had 1helr
r-se and fail On this site Specimens OF archl-
lecture are found TO bear witness Of almost all
the different types OF civilization which
have swept over this peninsula since the white,
rhin nosed- Aryan first overcame the black.
fat nosed" aborigine.
IN the same latitude as Tampa Fla. Delhi
Is situated il the heart Of Northern India 1t
IS al the tip Of an equiIateral triangle the base
e which Is formed by Calcutta on the eastern
shore Of TIE peninsula and Bombay On the
western coast.
The present CITY Of Delhi (Which is pro-
L-Cel D6llE. DOI DS4nleI1 Ne-S yum ~ A7-NA--
-shaa one OF the later Mogul rulers. whose
.r-e5ecessors centuries before had migrated from
Arabia. and at various times had used Delhi
Agra Lahore and other cities their capitals.
shah Jehan began 10 erect the massive red
walls which still encircle the city on the three
sides left unprotected by the river Jumma
few years after the Pilgrim Fathers began
building Plymouth The great wealth which
had been acquired by his more warIike grand
father Akbar he lavished il the construction
C mosques and uausoeums and with the pur-
pose Of outdoing in magnifcence any other
roval abode in Asia he built the palace Of Del
HI which VIII be used for the state ball and
other ceremonies Of the present durbaT- Thls
palace has been used by the British as fort,
and has been considerably damaged by the bat
ties which ragged about il at tie time Of the
Indian Nutiny. On the opposite side Of the
river the fort which was built by Shah Jehan
has been partially torn down TO make way for
lhe entrance Of the East India Railroad
Of the same red sandstone with which he
built the walls Shah Jehan erected JaInrna
Nasjid The Mosque Of the Assembly, with slen-
der rninarets On two corners which lock 10 a
practical Caucasian when approaching from
distance like factory towers Within the walls
also are many ancient edifices, which were more
OF less restored and beautified by Shah Jehan
There is, for example the tomb Of Nizan I'd |
Din which is entirely Of marble. and although
first built il the reign Of TughIak Shah, 132l'