Evening star., 1936-11-15
DURbAR PLANNED
FOR KING IN INDIA
Magnificent Royal Pageant
Scheduled When Monarch
Visits Subjects.
Rv the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, November liking
Edwards announcement that he in
tends to 90 TO India to make known
to the princes and peoples his success
sion to the imperial crown presages
one of the most magnificent royal
pageants ever staged-a grand dur
bar-if precedent Is followed.
Nowhere is sovereignty accorded so
much pomp and splendor as in this
great Indian empire, which Is bigger
than all the continent Of Europe,
excepting Russia, and has within its
borders $50 100000 people, or nearly
one-sixth Of the worlds population.
Over q large section Of this vast
domain reign some $50 princes and
chiefs. Many of these bejeweled. ele-
phant-riding nabobs are so fabulously
rich that the stories Of their wealth
sound like fairy tales, and they are
supreme showmen when it comes to
maintaining the prestige of their own
solid-gold thrones and that of their
imperial master.
Believed Richest Man.
The Nizam of Hyderabad, for ex-
ample, ruler over 14,500,00 subjects,
is said to be possibly the richest man
in the world, though not even he has
much idea of what his resources really
are. His revenue is put at more than
$50 100000 yearly-and something ap-
preaching this has been pouring into
the treasure house for generations.
His highneSs probably needs a fair
income, because the writer was in
formed when in India that the prince
had $50 wives.
Even the Viceroy of India is, on state
occasions, surrounded by more glamour
than is the King-Emperor himself in
Buckingham Palace. A formal recep-
ton attended by reigning maharajahs
at Viceregal Lodge in Delhi presents
a spectacle that Aladdin would have
marvded to see. The blaze from the
Jewels rivals Hollywood's blinding
Klieg lights and the robes of the
princes would have ransomed dozen
kings.
Millions in Jewels.
was a guest at one Of these affairs,
which was attended by some 40 OF the
most powerful of the princes. 1t is no
exaggeration to say that there were
millions of dollars worth of jewels
worn by the two-score rulers.
The place famed with huge dla-
rnonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls.
Some of the princes wore looped ABOUT
their necks ropes, several yards long,
of beautifully matched pearls and dla-
monds. Stones as big as pigeon eggs
cleaned from the fronts of turbans,
and fingers bore fortunes in gems.
The state robes of the maharaj jahs
had to be seen to be believed. Some
OF them were woven from threads OF
pure gold; others were of silk or satin,
brocaded with gold by masters OF the
art. The diversity in colors, espe-
cially in the turbans, was striking.
Yet there was nothing garish about
this ensemble. On the contrary, 1t
was magnificent and stately, for these
proud princes have dignity of bear
Ing that matches their priceless
trappings.
Palaces Magnificent.
The palaces of the princes are on
che same scale Of magnificence as
their dress and jewels. as the writer
can testify, having been guest over
considerable periods in more than one.
The treasure house of one of these
rulers Is worth seeing-heaps OF pre-
tcious stones, ranging from piles OF
uncut diamonds to the latest thing
from the worlds finest jewelry estab-
Nshments.
A maharajah celebrates any special
event, such as an anniversary in his
reign, by staging a durbar. And so
when a new King-Emperor goes to
India to proclaim his accession, as
Edward proposes to do, there is dur
bar on grand scale.
When Edward arrives in Delhi, the
ancient mogul capital. he will ind
on the outskirts far-fung camp OF
multi-colored silken tents, headquar-
ters of the princes and their retainers.
The maharaJahs will be dressed in
their puppies and COLDS and richly
ornamented brocades. There will be
turbans of scarlet, emerald, turquoise,
saffron, rose, blue, yellow and white.
VIII Bring State Elephants.
The princes will bring their state
elephants, huge fellows which have
been trained since calfhood to play
their part in ceremonial affairs. They
have been taught to salute, making
their "salaam" by raising their trunks
straight up and curving the tips down,
like letter IS"
The elephants will wear heavy gold
rings on their tusks. The tusks and
toe nails will be gilded. On their