The farmer and mechanic., 1906-06-26
Copyright. 1906. by Joseph b. BoWles
Copyright in Great Britain
All Rights ReserVed)

Suez, April 8, 190G.-There is SO
much of interest in India that / find
it difficult to cOndcnSe all that | desire
TO say into the space which it seems
proper to devote to this country. In
speaking of the various cities, | have
been compelled to omit reference to
the numerous Industries for which In
dia is famed. Long before the Euro
pean set foot upon the soil the arti-
sans had won renOWn in weaving, III
carving. and in brass. 1t was in fact
the very wealth of Indus that attract
ed the attention of the western world
and turned the prOWS of merchant yes
sells toward the Orient While India
can complain that some of her arts
have been lost since she has been un-
der the tutelage of foreigners, enough
remains to make every tourist a col
lector. to a greater or less extent of
attractive souvenirs.
Benares is the center of the plain
brass manufacture, and her bazars
are full of vases trays candleStickS,
bowls, etc. I.ucknOW is noted for her
silVersmiths. but her products do not
command so high a price as those of
southern India. Delhi leads in ivory
and wood carving and one can find
here the best specimens of this kind
of work. Several of the addresses pre-
Sented to the prince of Wales upon
his. recent visit We're encased in ivory
caSkets richly carved and studded with
gems. Painting on ivory is also car
ried to a high state of perfection here,
ANA sandalWOod boxes can be found
in all the stores
At Agra one finds rugs woven in
original designs. Agra is also re-
Turkish and Persian. as we'll as in
noWned for its inlaid work. many of
t. designs of the Tai being copied.
The TAI itself is reproduced in minia-
lures at prices ranging from one dol
lar up into the hundreds.
In al! the cities of upper India
Kashmir shaWls may be secured
kashmir itself being far north of the
line of travel. These shaWls are Of
goats hair and some of them are so
delicate that though two yards square.
they can be drawn through a finger
ring.
At Jaipore the chief industries which
attract the attention of foreigners are
enamelhig on gold and brass. the lat
ter being the best known. Few who
visit the baZarS can deSiSt the tempta-
ton To carry aW@V some samples of
this ware. SO graceful are the vessels
and SO SlIilfu1 is the workmanship.
Iaipore, the first of the western
cities and the only one of the native
states that We visited. is deserving of
some notice. partly because it gives
evidence Of considerable advancement
ana p9ruy because the government is
administered entirely by native Off
ciaIs. The maharaja is one of the
most distinguished of the native prin-
"es and Il descendcnt Of the famous
RaJput line of kings. He lives in ori-
ental STYLE has a number of wives
ana elephants. camels. and horses ga
lore. He is an orthodox Hindu of the
strictest type and drinks no water but
the water of the Gan@es. When H.
went to England TO attend the coro-
nation, he chartered a ship. took hi.
fetlhuc with hlm and carried Gange>
water enough 10 last until his return
He is very loyal to the British govern.
nent and in return he is permitted tt
exercise over his subjects a power 4.
absolute as the Car ever clnined
There is an English resident at hi
capital, but his council is composed o
Indians. his Judges are Indians. hi
collectors Indians. and he has an In
dian army. / had the pleasure o
meeting one of the council and tn
head Of the school system of the State
and found them men of fine appear
3nCe and high culture. The illiterac
IN his state compares faVorablV Wit
that in the States under British ad
miniStratiOn. and the graduates fror
the mahaI1ja'S s college compete sue
cessfuliy in the examinations with tn
graduates from other colleges. The
have at Jaipore an art school in whic
all kinds of manual training az
taught and the sale-room of thi
school gives accurate information a
10 the capacity of the natives for in
duStrial development, We fot<,d heI
the only native pottery of merit thl
We noticed in the country.
The city of Jaipore was laid out i
lI2S and is one of the most attractiN
cities of India. The main streets al
hundred and ten feet wide, til
buildings are oriental in style mo-
of them two stories in height-son
three-and are all painted the sam
shade Of pink. with white trimming
and green shutters. The entire city
supplied with water and the stree
are lighted by gas. All in all, Jaipo