Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20

royal prince. He was one of the grea test
figures in that splendid oriental event. the
first in a long series which have followed
THE gaekwar came attended and attired
with a magnifcence becoming his impor-
lance as the principal lIindoo potentate Of
the Bombay presidency. Some OF the mag
nihcence' was, however, funny. In honor,
he supposed of the fact that Queen
Vivtorias second son called Duke Of
Edinburgh he had fitted out one of his
Baroda regiments in full Highland costume.
and-mirahile visu-the thighs covered with
white cotton to make them look like tho
real thing which would certainly have
been appreciated by the Scots at home.
At the Ball and Reception.
But 1t was at the great reception and
ball in honor of the prince royal that the
gaekwar shone in his utmost splendor. he
was jolly. short. queer little bow-legged
chap but he was. nevertheless. the one par
ticularly noticeable parsonage to the ladies',
next, of course. to the prince of the blood
royal. 1t is impossible to describe the great
collar and cape OF diamonds which he wore
1t reached to his waistline and was one
vast mass of dazzling brilliants of every
description, set together in a manner much
resembling chain mail. 1t was worth travel
ing great distance to see, and Just to help
out he wore a great diamond studded tur-
ban and many other brilliant ornaments
This wonderfully bejeweled cape and his
other diamonds of every description have,
OF course, descended to the present gaek-
war who is now in this country.
The ruler of Baroda who will soon visit
Washington, succeeded to that Indian
throne while i was a resident of Bombay
but was too young to essay to pIay the
great part the old gaekwar had taken when
the Prlnce of Wales. now King OF England
visited India in 1875.
How He Lost His Indian Throne.
My friend. the old Gaekwar lost his
Indian throne becaus of the indiscretion-
not a slight one-of trying TO have the
British resident, Col. Phayre poisoned with
broken glass. 1t has been claimed that he
was removed because he fired few blank
shotted cannon at the residency, but this
is not correct II does not appear that he
had any particular objection to the British
suzerainty over his principally but he did
not like the resident little bit of Bit
and thought It would. be a good thing to
get away with him In true oriental style
The result was disastrous to him He made
every effort to mis- ancient Mahratta
crown. He gave the famous Sergt Ballan-
tyne, then the leader of the London bar, a
retainer of lac OF rupees something like
$4,000 to come to India to defend him.
Heaven only knows, and every one else can
only guess, what the old Gaekwar paid
him for his services after he got TO India,
for the Gaekwar was immensely rich and
the sergeant was a great lawyer. The
ruler of Baroda was deposed and exiled to
the pestiential Andaman Islands in the
Indian ocean, where he lived miserable
existence until his death.
Elaborate Hunting Parties
IT knew him well. and always felt very
sorry for him. On more than one occasion
was among his guests at his magnificent
palace in Baroda. and upon the hunting
parties which he organized on a most elab-
crate scale to entertain his English friends
He was short chunky man, good natured
and clever, but essentially barbarian. His
greatest delight was in all sorts of fights
between the many animals in his extensive
menagerie. Several OF these 1 have witt
messed. and also taken part in deer hunting
in his territories. sport which he con-
Quoted by the use OF hooded cheetahs Ia
native panther. He was a capital host.
but sorry to say that he could not be
called civilized prince. His successor.
Americas present visitor was placed on the
jewel-incrusted Baroda throne by the Brit
fish government while l was in India. He
was boy of twelve and his administration
was in the hands of others, and he spent
much OF his time in England. where he
was mainly educated, / have always heard
that he has made an enlightened prince"
Mr.. Griffiths was resident OF Bombay
from 1850 to 1879. engaged extensively In
the cotton trade and is well-informed on all
sorts of matters connected with India. III
Is a great mistake" he said. ito call the
{1aekWar the greatest NATIVE piibtc IA
india. These are several that have him
distanced At the head of all stands the
Nizam of Hyderabad. followed by such
powerful princes as the MaharaJahs OF nay.
sore Indore and Gwalior the Holkas OF
scindia and many others. But he IL the
most important of the native princes OF the
Bombay presidency and one OF the richest
in ali india. He rules over territory
larger tfaa Maryland. and I should think
over 6,OO0oO0 people. But the 'beggar.
YOU ought 20 see his diamonds,
t<y4 lcs nff na <Irff
the English sense. and in this connection,
was delicious