Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07

ernor general of Rajputana, is one of the
oldest and most beautiful cities of western
India, having been founded only hundred
years after the beginning of the Christian
era, and occupying a picturesque position
in an amphitheater made by the noun
tains, 5000 feet above the sea. 1t is sur
rounded by a stone wall, with five gate
ways; many of the residences and most
of the buildings are of stone, with orna-
mental facades. and some of them are of
great antiquity. In the olden days 1t was
the fashion to build houses to last for
ever. Ajmere has a population of about
10000.
cupied by an Industrious, wealthy and
prosperous people. The city is command
ed by fortress that crowns noble hill
called THE Home of the Stars, possesses
a mosque that is one of the most success
full combinations of Hindu and Saracenic
architecture of which / have spoken, the
conception of some unknown genius COM
bining the Mohammedan ideas of grandeur
with Hindu delicacy of taste and prodigal-
ity of detail. In it's decorations may be
found some of the most superb marble en-
broidery that the imagination can conceive
of. One of the highest authorities dates its
erection as far back as the second CEN
fury before Christ but it is certainly of
a much later date. Some architects con-
tend that ii belongs to the fourteenth CEN
fury. 1t is, however considered the finest
specimen of early Mohammedan architec-
ture in existence.
The mosque can be compared to a grand
salon. open to the air at one side, the cell
ing fifty feet high, supported by four rows
of columns, eighteen in each row. which
are unique in design. and no two of them
are alike The designs are complex and
entirely novel, and each is the work of
different artist who was allowed entire
liberty of design and execution, and en-
deavored to Surpass his rivals.
Hot Rice Pudding Distributed.
There are several other mosques and
temples of great beauty in Ajmere, and
some of them are sacred places that at
tract mutitudes of pilgrims, who are fed
daily by the benevolence of rich contribu-
tors. Enormous rice buildings are cooked
in eight enormous earthen caldrons, hold
ing several bushels each. which are ready
at noon every day. The composition con-
tains rice. butter. sugar. almonds, raisins
and spices. and to fill all of the eight pots
costs about SO The moment the pudding
is cooked a bell is rung and the pilgrims
are allowed to help themselves in a grab
game which was never surpassed. Greedy
creatures scald themselves in the pudding
so badly that they sometimes carry the
marks for life. 1t is counted miracle
caused by the intercession of the saints
that no lives have ever been lost in these
scrambles. although nearly every day some
pilgrim is so badly burned that he has to
be taken to a hospital. The custom is an
cient, although l was not able to ascertain
it's origin or the reason why the priests do
not allow the pudding to cool below the
danger point before serving it.
Ajmere is the headquarters of one of the
greatest railways in India, with extensive
shops. employing several thousand natives
and Europeans. The chief machinists,
master mechanics and engineers are al
most exclusively Scotchmen.
Here, in this province may be found an
excellent illustration of the effect of the
policy of the British government toward
the native princes. 1t had good material
to work with, because the twenty Rajput
rajas are a fine set of men, all Of whom
trace their descent to the sun or the moon
or one of the planets, and whose ances-
tors have ruled for ages. Each family has
its genealogical tree, with roots firmly i'm
planted in mythology. and from the day
when the ears of their infants begin to
distinguish the difference in sounds, and
their tongues begin to frame thoughts in
words, every Rajput prince is taught the
tables Of his descent, which read like those
In the Old Testament, and the names of his
illustrious ancestors. Attached to each
noble household Is a chronicler or bard.
whose business is to keep the family record
straight, and to chant the epics that re-
late the achievements Of the clan. AS /
have said all the Rajput families are re-
lated and belong to the same caste, which
has prevented them from diluting their
blood by marriage with inferior families
1t is his blood and not the amount of his
wealth OF the extent of his lands, that en-
mobiles Rajput. Many of the noblest fam
lilies very poor. but the poorest retains
the knowledge and the pride of his ances-
tors, which are often his only inheritance.
Advance in Civilization.
These characteristics and other social and
religious customs make Rajputana one of
the most romantic and fascinating spots in
India, and perhaps there is no more inter-
esting place to study the social, political
and economical development of a people
who once held that only two professions
could be followed by a gentleman-war and
government. But their ancient traditions
have been thoroughly revised and modified
to meet modern ideas. They have advanced
in prosperity and civilization more rapidly
than any other of the native states. Infan-
ticide of girl babies was formerly consid-
cred lawful and generally practiced among
them, and widows were always burned
alive upon the funeral pyres of their hus-
bands, but now the Rajput princes are
building hospitals and asylums for women
instead bringing women doctors from Eu-
rope to look after the wives and daughters
in their harems, and are founding schools
for the education of girls.
About three miles from the center of the
city is Mayo College, for the exclusive edu-
cation of Rajput princes, erected by the ma
tive chiefs, to which l. alluded IN my letter
Saturday. The center building is of white
marble, and is surrounded by villas and cot
tages erected for the accommodation of the
members of the princely families who are
sent here. The villas are all of pure Hindu
architecture, and there has been consider
able rivalry among the different families to
see which should have its cadets in the most
elegant and convenient style. Hence nowhere
else in india can be found so many fine
examples of modern native residence archi-
lecture. The young princes live in great
style, each having a little court around him
and number of servants to crafty his
wants. 1t is quite the usual arrangement for
a college student to live in a palatial villa,
with secretaries, aid de-camp, equerries and
bodyguards for Indian princes are very
particular in such matters, and from the
hour of birth their sons are surrounded with
as much ceremony as the King of Spain.
They would not be permitted to attend the
college If they were not allowed to live In
regal state. Some of them, only ten or
twelve years old, have establishments as
large and grand as those of half the kings
of Europe, and the princes imperial of Rus
sia or of Germany live the life of a peasant
in comparison.
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