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THE   ROYAL   VISIT   TO   INDIA 
191 1-1912 


MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,   Limited 

LONDON  •  BOMBAY  •  CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  •  BOSTON  •  CHICAGO 
DALLAS    •    SAN  FRANCISCO 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.   OF  CANADA,   Ltd. 

TORONTO 


THE    KING-EMPEROR   AND   THE    OUEEN-EMPRESS. 


Frontispiece. 


NARRATIVE 


OF    THE 


VISIT  TO  INDIA 

OF 

THEIR  MAJESTIES 
KING   GEORGE  V.  and  QUEEN   MARY 

AND    OF 

THE  CORONATION  DURBAR  HELD  AT  DELHI 
12th  DECEMBER  lyil 


BY 

The  Hon.  JOHN    FORTESCUE 


MACMILLAN    AND    CO.,   LIMITED 

ST.   MARTIN'S   STREET,   LONDON 

1912 


COPYRIGHT 


DEDICATED 

(by  gracious  permission) 
TO 

HIS  ROYAL  HIGHNESS 
THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES 


ye  f-'^-^i  '^  i^A 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACE    I'AOE 


I.  The  King-Emperor  and  the  Queen-Empress   Frontispiece 


2.  The  Oueen  and  her  Ladies  .... 

3.  Watching  a  Spar-and-Pillow  Fight 

4.  A  Spar-and-Pillow  Fight      .... 

5.  Watching  the  Sports  on  H.M.S.  Medina 

6.  The  Reception  at  Bombay  .... 

7.  The  King-Emperor's  Camp,  Delhi 

8.  The  Arrival  at  Selimgarh  Bastion 

9.  The  Durbar — The  Arena  and  Spectators'  Mound 

from  the  Top  of  the  Stand    . 

10.  The  Durbar — Distant  View  of  the  Royal  Pavilion 

and  the  Spectators'  Mound    . 

11.  The    Maharaja    of   Bikaner    and    Their    Imperial 

Majesties'  Pages ..... 

12.  The  Shamiana — Delhi  Durbar      ... 

13.  The  King-Emperor's  Chobdars    ... 

14.  H.H.  The  Begum   of   Bhopal  leaving  the  Roya 

Reception  Tent  ..... 

15.  The  Durbar — The  Royal  Pavilion 


85 
104 
105 
106 
108 
116 
117 

H3 

147 
151 

152 

155 
158 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACE    PAGE 

1 6. 

Their  Majesties  at  the  National  Festival 

•               174 

17- 

Their  Majesties  at  the  National  Festival 

^75 

i8. 

The  Review  at  Delhi  .... 

I'jb 

19. 

An  Indian  Camel  Corps 

177 

20. 

The  Maharaja  of  Bikaner,  and  Sir  Pratap 

Singh 

185 

21. 

The  Royal  Party  in  Nipal    . 

189 

22. 

A  close  Shot  by  the  King     . 

193 

23- 

The  King,  and  the  Spoil  of  his  Rifle     . 

197 

24. 

A  good  Bag  in  Nipal  .... 

198 

25. 

In  the  Palace  of  Bundi 

220 

26. 

In  the  Palace  of  Bundi 

222 

27. 

The    Procession    into    Calcutta  —  The 

Queen  - 

Empress  in  her  Carriage 

231 

28. 

An  Indian  Greeting  to  Their  Majesties 

240 

29. 

Arabs  alongside  at  Port  Sudan 

246 

30- 

Arab  Tribes  at  Sinkat .... 

248 

31- 

The  Return  to  London 

PLAN 

261 

Du 

rbar,  Delhi,  12th  December  191 1  . 

At  end  oj 

"  Volume 

vni 


/I 


I 

India.  What  does  this  name  signify  to  ninety- 
nine  out  of  a  hundred  of  us  beyond  a  triangle, 
coloured  red,  upon  the  map  of  Asia  ?  We  are 
told  that  the  said  triangle  measures  nineteen 
hundred  miles  in  length  from  north  to  south,  and 
about  the  same  in  breadth,  at  its  widest  point, 
from  east  to  west  ;  and  that  it  contains  an  area 
rather  larger  than  that  of  Europe  west  of  the 
Vistula.  The  statement  conveys  little  to  us. 
We  accept  it  as  undoubtedly  true,  and,  if  we 
look  at  a  map  of  India  superimposed  upon  one 
of  Europe  on  the  same  scale,  we  are  perhaps  a 
little  staggered.  But  we  in  our  little  island  are 
accustomed  to  reckon  by  acres,  not  by  thousands 
of  square  miles  ;  and,  strive  as  we  may  against 
the  tendency,  we  find  ourselves  always  attempt- 
ing to  apply  our  own  puny  standards  to  things 
Asiatic.  We  hear  of  great  rivers,  and  instinctively 
recall  the  Thames  at  London  Bridge,  forgetting 
that  a  great  Indian  river  in  flood  would  fill  the 
space  from  Westminster  Abbey  to  the  Crystal 
Palace.  We  are  told  of  mighty  mountains,  and 
commit  to  memory  the  bald  fact  that  some  of 

I  B 


THE  VASTNESS   OF  INDIA 

them  soar  to  twice  the  height  of  Mont  Blanc  ; 
we  are  aware,  perhaps,  that  they  form  a  barrier 
practically  impassable  by  man  along  the  immense 
northern  frontier  of  India ;  possibly  we  may 
even  realise  with  awe  that  they  make  the  vast 
reservoir  of  water,  in  the  form  of  snow,  which 
feeds  the  gigantic  rivers  already  mentioned.  So 
much  we  may  gather,  with  moderate  intelligence, 
from  our  maps.  But  there  is  one  thing  more, 
the  most  important  thing  of  all,  and  of  all  the 
most  impossible  to  grasp.  This  red-coloured 
triangle  contains  three  hundred  and  twenty 
million  people,  six  times  the  population  ot 
France,  thrice  the  population  of  the  United 
States,  one-fifth,  as  it  is  reckoned,  of  the  men, 
women  and  children  living  upon  this  planet. 

No  one  man  has  ever  seen,  nor  will  ever  see, 
the  hundredth  part  of  them.  No  one  man  has 
ever  seen,  nor  will  ever  see,  in  spite  of  motor 
cars  and  aeroplanes  and  railways,  one  hundredth 
of  the  eighteen  hundred  thousand  square  miles 
over  which  they  are  spread.  No  one  man  has 
ever  visited,  nor  will  ever  visit,  all  the  cities, 
living  and  dead,  which  they  have  builded.  No 
one  man  has  ever  mastered,  nor  will  ever  master, 
all  the  languages  which  they  speak.  More  than 
this,  though  for  centuries  men  of  mighty  and 
commanding  genius  strove  from  time  to  time  to 
bring  the  whole  of  India  under  their  sole  sway 
and  sovereignty,  not  one  of  them  succeeded  ; 
and  it  was  only  in  the  nineteenth  century  that 
the  task  was  at  last  accomplished  by  the  agents 


THE  GREATNESS   OF   INDIA 

of  an  alien  Queen,  the  first  ruler  in  Indian 
history  who  looked  upon  all  races  in  India  as 
her  children,  the  great  and  good  Queen  Victoria. 
We  English  take  this  thoughtlessly  as  a 
matter  of  course  ;  yet  surely  it  is  one  of  the 
strangest  circumstances  recorded  in  history. 
Here  is  a  country  which,  while  we  were  sunk 
in  barbarism,  had  worked  out  a  great  civilisation 
and  a  very  remarkable  scheme  of  social  organisa- 
tion for  itself;  had  produced  great  engineers, 
great  astronomers,  great  thinkers,  great  artists, 
great  poets,  great  soldiers  and  great  adminis- 
trators ;  and  has  always  abounded,  as  it  still 
abounds,  in  men  of  signal  ability  and  exceptional 
valour.  Could  we  teach  her  anything  in  the 
matter  of  commerce  ?  On  the  contrary,  bills  ot 
exchange  have  been  in  use  in  India  for  countless 
centuries  ;  and  her  credit,  based  on  the  thrift  of 
the  peasantry,  is  stabler  than  that  of  any  Western 
race,  even  than  that  of  the  French.  Could  we, 
except  by  keeping  the  peace — a  very  important 
exception — better  the  social  relations  of  man 
with  man  ?  We  may  think  so  ;  and  yet  let  us 
take  the  most  insoluble  of  the  problems  that  for 
centuries  has  confronted  ourselves,  the  question 
of  the  relief  of  the  poor.  India  has  solved  it. 
There  is  not,  nor  has  ever  been,  a  poor  law 
in  India,  for  there  is  no  need  of  one.  The 
difficulties  which  demand  a  complicated,  yet 
always  imperfect  and  unsatisfactory  mechanism 
of  State  in  the  West,  are  not  so  much  vanquished 
as  quietly  and  imperceptibly  suppressed  by  the 

3 


THE  PEOPLE   OF   INDIA 

organisation  of  the  village  and  the  caste  in  the 
East.  Could  we  offer  higher  ideals  of  citizenship, 
or  stronger  bonds  of  civil  obligation  ?  The 
native  of  India  fulfils  far  more  readily  than 
ourselves  the  duty  v^hich  w^e  have  laid  down  as 
owing  to  a  neighbour.  He  is  imperfect,  as  are 
all  other  men,  yet  he  loves,  honours  and  succours 
his  father  and  mother  ;  he  honours  and  obeys  the 
King  and  those  that  are  set  in  authority  under 
him  ;  he  orders  himself  lowly  and  reverently  to 
all  his  betters  ;  he  learns  and  labours  truly  to 
get  his  own  living  ;  and  he  has  mastered,  better 
than  the  Western  races,  the  crowning  lesson — 
whatsoever  his  station  is,  therewith  to  be  content. 
It  is  useless  to  broach  to  him  in  his  natural  state 
the  theory,  with  the  conclusions  which  follow 
upon  it,  that  all  men  are  equal.  He  knows  that 
they  are  not,  and  is  content  to  accept  the  con- 
sequences. In  time  of  famine  he  will  lie  dying 
slowly,  hard  by  the  bountiful  table  spread  for 
the  British  Commissioner,  without  envy  and 
without  complaint.  It  is  not  that  he  knows  or 
cares  that  the  said  Commissioner,  for  all  that  he 
eats  so  well,  is  killing  himself  in  the  effort  to 
save  starving  men  from  death.  To  the  Indian  it 
is  the  order  of  a  higher  power  that  a  few  shall 
be  full  while  many  shall  fast,  and  he  bows  him- 
self before  it  without  a  murmur.  We  call  such 
resignation  fatalism.  It  makes  us  impatient 
that  men  should  submit  tamely  to  eternal  in- 
justice. As  a  younger  nation,  we — or  at  any 
rate  some  of  us — are  still  confident  that  we  can 


THE   ROMANCE   OF   INDIA 

set  the  whole  world  right  ;  and  we  have  accepted 
the  phrase  divine  discontent  to  dignify  our  aspira- 
tions. But  the  native  of  India,  untainted  by 
European  thought,  sees  nothing  divine  in  dashing 
himself  against  the  decree  of  the  Most  High. 
He  has  the  courage  to  face  inexorable  fact,  and 
sets  little  store  by  this  transitory  life.  Not  the 
more,  however,  on  that  account,  does  he  hold 
himself  released  from  his  duty  towards  his  neigh- 
bour. Every  Hindu  from  the  moment  of  his 
birth  is  bound  over  to  good  behaviour  by  his 
caste,  under  the  terrible  penalty  of  being  cut  off 
from  communion  with  it,  and  thrown  upon  the 
world  alone,  without  a  friend,  without  a  hearth, 
without  a  hope,  until  he  joins  the  great  company 
of  the  dead. 

Lastly,  could  we  offer  India  any  romance  of 
leadership  or  sovereignty  which  she  enjoyed  not 
before  ?  On  the  contrary,  she  has  for  centuries 
possessed,  natural  leaders  and  a  nobility  whose 
social  pre-eminence  is  recognised  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  a  nobility  prouder 
and  with  longer  and  sublimer  traditions  of 
chivalry  and  heroism  than  any  that  is  to  be 
found  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Ural 
Mountains.  The  pedigree  of  the  Guelphs  is 
one  of  the  grandest  among  all  European  families, 
yet  it  pales  before  that  of  the  oldest  of  the 
Rajputs.  None  the  less,  India  has  passed  under 
the  sway  of  a  nation  which  is,  comparatively 
speaking,  of  yesterday,  which  hails  from  an 
insignificant  island  six  thousand   miles  away  in 

5 


HINDOSTAN   AND  THE   DEKHAN 

the  most  distant  corner  of  Europe,  and  which  is 
as  remote  from  the  Asiatic  in  character,  training 
and  environment  as  can  be  one  race  of  men  from 
another.  The  great  position  which  was  denied 
to  the  Mogul  Emperors  has  been  attained  by 
English  kings  ;  and,  so  far  as  they  are  conscious 
of  a  ruler  at  all,  the  three  hundred  millions  of 
India  acknowledge  one  ruler  only.  King  George, 
the  grandson  of  Queen  Victoria. 

How  did  this  come  about  ?  It  is  worth 
while  to  look  back  very  briefly  over  the  history 
of  the  past,  for  only  thus  can  we  realise  the  true 
significance  of  His  Majesty's  visit  to  India.  It 
will  give  us  at  least  an  opportunity  to  unite  with 
our  Indian  fellow-subjects  in  praising  famous 
men  and  the  fathers  that  begat  us. 


II 

India,  as  every  one  knows,  is  divided  into 
a  northern  portion  named  Hindostan,  which 
extends  from  the  Himalayas  south-west  to  the 
Vindhya  Mountains  and  the  Narbada  River, 
and  a  southern  portion,  named  the  Dekhan,  which 
includes  the  remainder  of  the  Peninsula  south- 
ward from  those  boundaries  to  Cape  Comorin. 
This  division  at  first  sight  seems  arbitrary,  until 
we  realise  that  India  is,  in  fact,  nearly  cut  in  two 
by  a  belt  of  rugged,  broken  and  mountainous 
country,  through  which  for  all  practical  purposes 
there  was,  before  the  days  of  railways,  but  one 

6 


THE  BEGINNINGS   OF  INDIA 

principal  passage,  famous  in  military  history  as 
the  Ajanta  Pass.  Within  this  belt  have  taken 
refuge  the  remnants  of  the  aboriginal  tribes, 
which  in  remote  times  were  driven  from  the 
more  favoured  districts  by  an  invading  host  of 
Dravidians.  Whence  these  Dravidians  were 
derived  and  what  they  were  is  unknown. 
Possibly  they  came  from  over  the  sea,  as  did  the 
Maoris  in  New  Zealand,  for  they  were  a  sea- 
faring folk  ;  but  they  were  at  any  rate  a  fighting 
race  which  founded  kingdoms.  In  later  times 
— apparently  about  the  seventh  century  before 
Christ — they  in  turn  were  subdued  by  a  fresh 
horde  of  invaders,  the  Aryans,  who  entered 
India  from  the  north-west  ;  but,  though  they 
took  from  their  conquerors  some  veneer  of  the 
Hindu  religion,  the  Dravidians  remained  distinct 
and  apart  from  them,  preserving  their  own 
languages,  of  which  the  most  important  are 
Telugu,  Kanarese,  Malayalam  and  Tamil,  the 
last  named  a  speech  of  many  dialects.  Besides 
these  there  is  one  Aryan  language,  Marathi, 
spoken  by  the  Aryan  invaders  who  now  occupy 
the  north-west  of  the  Dekhan,  and  several  more 
tongues  confined  to  small  tracts.  Hindostani 
is  alien  to  Southern  India,  and  is  used  only 
as  a  kind  of  lingua  franca  for  purposes  of 
convenience. 

But  though,  as  shall  be  seen,  the  English, 
owing  to  peculiar  circumstances,  were  concerned 
at  the  outset  mainly  with  the  Dekhan,  the  India 
alike  of  history  and  romance  is  the  vast  tract, 

7 


THE   FOUR   FIRST  CASTES 

for  the  most  part  alluvial  plain,  which  bears  the 
name  of  Hindostan.  For  not  only  is  it  the 
richest,  and  therefore  the  most  attractive  to 
invaders,  but  it  was,  until  men  dared  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  high  seas  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
the  only  portion  of  the  huge  peninsula  which 
was  accessible  from  without,  through  the  well- 
known  passes  of  the  north-west.  By  those  passes 
the  Aryan  conquerors  swarmed  into  the  plain, 
where  in  due  time  they  developed  the  institution 
of  the  four  original  castes,  now  swelled  to  over 
two  thousand.  These  four  were  the  priests 
or  Brahmans,  the  warriors  or  Rajputs,  the  agri- 
cultural class,  and  the  Sadras,  which  last  are 
presumed  to  have  been  the  original  conquered 
races.  Of  the  early  history  of  the  Aryans  little 
authentic  is  known  ;  but  it  must  be  noted  that 
in  the  sixth  century  before  Christ  the  sage, 
Gautama  Buddha,  was  born  in  a  kingdom  on  the 
Ganges,  and  became  the  founder  of  a  religion 
which,  though  practically  extinct  in  India,  still 
reigns  in  Ceylon,  Burma,  Tibet,  China  and  Siam. 
It  may  help  us  in  our  chronology  to  bear  in 
mind  that  the  death  of  Buddha  occurred  prob- 
ably in  487  B.C.,  three  years  after  the  battle  of 
Marathon. 

A  century  and  a  half  later,  in  327  B.C.,  came 
the  first  European  invasion  of  India  by  Alexander 
the  Great.  He  penetrated  no  farther  than  to 
the  Satlaj,  the  most  easterly  of  the  five  rivers  of 
the  Panjab  ;  and  after  his  death  in  324  his  work 
was  utterly  undone  by  a  powerful  native  Govern- 

8 


THE   TWO    CHANDRAGUPTAS 

ment  under  one  of  the  first  of  the  great  native 
rulers,  Chandragupta.  A  century  passed  away, 
and  there  came  a  second  Greek  invasion 
from  Bactria  ;  but  after  two  generations  these 
strangers  gave  place  to  Indo- Parthian  kings, 
who,  about  a  hundred  years  later,  were  in 
turn  swept  away  by  nomad  hordes  from  Central 
Asia.  Then  for  three  hundred  years  all  is 
obscure,  until  there  arose  a  second  Chandragupta 
and  a  new  native  dynasty  at  the  beginning  of 
the  fourth  century  of  our  era.  The  second  of 
this  line,  Samudragupta,  an  enlightened  monarch 
and  a  great  administrator,  formed  the  design  of 
conquering  all  India,  and  did  indeed  penetrate 
almost  to  Cape  Comorin,  but  was  unable  to  hold 
the  Dekhan,  though  he  subdued  Hindostan. 
Then  about  450  a.d.  arrived  a  fresh  invasion 
from  Central  Asia  ;  the  native  dynasty  fell,  and 
there  followed  a  century  of  confusion,  from 
which  emerged  in  606  another  great  native 
sovereign,  Harsha,  who  after  much  hard  fighting 
subdued  Northern  India,  and  essayed,  but  in 
vain,  the  conquest  of  the  South.  He  died  in 
648,  and  India  relapsed  for  three  centuries  into 
intestine  confusion  and  anarchy. 

Meanwhile  a  new  power  had  arisen  in 
Arabia.  Mohammed  had  died  in  632,  be- 
queathing to  the  world  a  religion  which,  by  its 
blending  of  devotional  and  military  enthusiasm, 
was  fated  to  affect  the  destinies  of  many  lands, 
and  above  all  of  India.  The  aggressive  Arabs, 
after   a  futile   attempt   to    reach    India  by    sea, 

9 


MOHAMMEDAN    INVASIONS 

finally  invaded  it  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighth 
century  from  Persia,  and  established  themselves 
in  Scinde.  Two  hundred  years  later  a  Turkish 
slave  founded  a  separate  kingdom  in  Afghanistan  ; 
and  one  of  his  descendants,  the  great  Mahmoud, 
began  in  999  a  series  of  incursions,  which  took 
him  farther  and  farther  into  Hindostan.  His 
successors  were  supplanted  by  the  rulers  of  a 
petty  kingdom  between  Ghazni  and  Herat, 
one  ot  whom,  Mohammed  Ghori,  in  1176 
entered  upon  a  new  course  of  raids,  which 
ended  finally  in  the  establishment  of  a  per- 
manent Mohammedan  kingdom,  extending  from 
Peshawar  eastward  to  the  sea. 

The  conquest,  however,  occupied  nearly 
thirty  years,  and  was  not  accomplished  without 
hard  fighting,  not  indeed  at  first  without  serious 
reverses.  For  out  of  the  chaos  which  followed 
upon  the  death  of  Harsha  had  arisen  the  great 
Hindu  power  of  the  Rajput  clans,  whose 
territory  stretched  from  the  Rann  of  Cutch  to 
Rohilkand,  including,  above  all,  the  kingdoms  of 
Kanauj  and  Gujarat.  The  days  of  their  fame,  dis- 
tinguished by  high  pre-eminence  in  art,  learning, 
and  science,  lasted  for  two  centuries  ;  but  above 
all  things  the  Rajputs  were  soldiers.  These 
were  the  proud  warriors,  divided  by  countless 
jealousies,  yet  united  always  by  religion  and 
their  code  of  honour,  insubordinate  in  temper, 
yet  obedient  ever  to  the  chief  of  the  clan, 
who  were  the  champions  of  Hinduism  against 
Mohammedanism. 


FALL    OF   THE    RAJPUTS 

The  greatest  of  these  champions,  Prithwi 
Raj,  the  hero  of  countless  legends,  had  already 
made  himself  famous  by  the  capture  of  Delhi  in 
1 1 53,  and  by  other  exploits  in  love  and  war, 
when  he  was  called  upon  to  repel  the  Mussul- 
man invaders.  Brilliantly  successful  against 
them  at  first,  he  was  presently  deserted  by 
fortune,  and  slain,  together  with  his  son,  in  a 
great  battle  in  1192.  Delhi  was  captured  in 
the  following  year  ;  and  before  the  close  of  the 
first  decade  of  the  thirteenth  century  the  ascend- 
ancy of  the  Rajputs  in  India  was  overthrown, 
and  that  of  the  Mohammedans  erected  in  its 
place.  But  the  Hindu  warrior  clans  maintained 
and  still  maintain  their  position  about  Ajmer  ; 
and  the  memory  of  that  great  struggle  has  never 
perished  from  among  them. 

The  Mohammedans  now  established  their 
headquarters  at  Delhi  ;  but  their  kingdoms 
were  not  one  but  many,  and,  although  the  Kings 
of  Delhi  claimed  suzerainty  over  all  others  of 
their  faith,  they  were  not  always  able  to  enforce 
it.  Nevertheless,  by  the  mere  fact  that  they 
held  Delhi  itself,  they  were  potential  when  not 
actual  masters  of  India.  For  it  was  not  mere 
chance  which  made  that  famous  city  the  capital 
of  Hindostan.  Broad  though  the  entrance  to 
the  plains  of  India  may  appear  on  the  map 
when  once  the  passes  of  Afghanistan  are 
traversed,  it  is  none  the  less  narrowed  at  one 
point  to  a  breadth  of  little  more  than  one 
hundred  miles  between  the   mountains    on    the 


THE    KINGS    OF    DELHI 

north  and  the  desert  on  the  south.  Almost  in 
the  centre  of  that  hundred  miles  stands  Delhi  ; 
and  it  is  there  or  within  a  radius  of  some 
fifty  miles  to  north  and  south  of  it — between 
Panipat  and  Aligarh  —  that  countless  battles 
have  been  fought  for  the  supremacy  of  India. 
It  is  in  fact  the  key  of  the  country  ;  and  it  can 
hardly  be  taken  in  rear  but  by  a  nation  which 
has  command  of  the  sea. 

During  the  course  of  three  centuries — 1206 
to  1526 — from  the  reign  of  our  King  John  to 
midway  through  the  reign  of  King  Henry  the 
Eighth,  thirty-four  kings  of  five  different  houses 
held  sway  at  Delhi,  of  whom  no  fewer  than 
twelve  were  dethroned,  assassinated  or  killed  in 
action.  They  fought  among  themselves,  they 
fought  against  other  Mohammedan  kings,  they 
fought  against  revolting  Hindus,  and  they 
fought  against  invading  Tartars  under  Zinghis 
Khan.  At  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth 
century  the  Tartars  were  finally  driven  back  by 
King  Ala-ud-din,  who  then  conceived  the  pro- 
ject of  conquering  all  India,  and  actually  carried 
his  raids  almost  to  Cape  Comorin.  This  great  and 
famous  sovereign  died  in  1316,  when  our  King 
Edward  the  Second  was  on  the  throne  ;  and 
then,  as  has  too  often  happened  in  India,  he  was 
followed  by  a  feeble  successor,  who  brought  the 
realm  into  confusion,  and  his  own  life  to  an 
ignominious  end.  The  new  dynasty  lasted  for 
less  than  eighty  years,  producing  one  great  ruler, 
Firoz    Shah,    after    whose    death    in    1388    the 

12 


TIMUR    AND    BABAR 

kingdom  of  Delhi  fell  to  pieces.  Thereupon  a 
new  invader  appeared,  Timur  the  Turki,  who 
in  a  campaign  of  two  years  penetrated  to  Delhi 
and  beyond  it,  and  then  withdrew,  leaving  the 
unhappy  country  in  greater  confusion  than 
before.  It  would  be  wearisome  even  to  give 
the  number  of  the  Mohammedan  states,  and  the 
names  of  the  men  who  ruled,  or  aspired  to  rule 
them  ;  much  more  to  dwell  on  the  endless 
struggles  between  sovereigns,  usurpers,  rebels  and 
adventurers,  which  signified  desolation  to  the 
land  and  misery  to  the  inhabitants.  But  all 
things  come  to  an  end  ;  and  in  1526  the  Turkis, 
after  many  raids,  finally  invaded  India  in  force 
under  Timur's  descendant  Babar.  The  de- 
cisive battle  was  fought  at  Panipat  ;  and  with  it 
began  the  age  of  the  giants,  when  for  nearly  two 
hundred  years  strong  man  succeeded  strong 
man  upon  the  throne  of  Delhi,  and  made  and 
consolidated  the  Mogul  Empire. 

Even  so,  however,  that  dynasty  was  not 
without  its  vicissitudes.  Babar,  a  very  great 
man,  died  in  1 540.  His  successor,  Humayun, 
while  engaged  in  the  conquest  of  the  south, 
was  recalled  by  a  rebellion  in  the  north,  and 
being  defeated  in  battle  wandered  in  exile  for 
fifteen  years  before  he  could  recover  his  capital. 
But  upon  his  death  in  1556  he  left  a  son, 
Akbar,  who  was  one  of  the  great  rulers  not 
of  India  only,  but  of  the  world.  Akbar  was 
confronted  everywhere  with  rebellion,  both  of 
his  co-religionists  and  of  the  Hindus,  but  after 

13 


THE    REIGN    OF   AKBAR 

eleven  years  of  hard  fighting  he  crushed  all  his 
internal  adversaries.  Then  turning  from  the 
work  of  restoring  order  to  that  of  conquest 
he  dealt  out  blows  impartially  upon  Rajputs, 
revolting  generals  and  fanatic  Afghans,  until 
by  1594.  he  had  gathered  all  India  north  of 
the  Narbada,  from  Kandahar  to  the  Bay  of 
Bengal,  into  a  single  Empire.  He  was  pro- 
ceeding with  the  conquest  of  the  south,  and 
had  already  reached  Ahmednagar,  when  death 
overtook  him  in  1605,  after  a  strenuous  reign 
of  just  upon  forty  years.  Akbar  was  not  only 
a  great  conqueror  but  a  great  statesman.  Bred 
in  the  most  bigoted  of  all  faiths  he  saw  that 
India  could  be  permanently  unified  only  by  the 
reconciliation  of  Hindus  and  Mohammedans  ; 
and  to  this  end  he  spared  no  pains  to  favour 
the  first,  and  to  repress  the  stern  and  uncom- 
promising spirit  of  the  second.  Finally,  he 
essayed  the  bold  experiment  of  piecing  together 
the  best  elements  of  both  religions,  and  launch- 
ing the  compound  upon  India  as  a  new  faith 
which  should  command  the  allegiance  of  all. 
To  us  who  conceive  of  religious,  political  and 
social  life  as  three  things  distinct  and  apart, 
such  a  policy  may  appear  ridiculous  ;  but  in 
the  East,  where  the  three  are  one  and  in- 
separable, this  heroic  measure  presents  a 
different  aspect.  It  is,  however,  manifest  that, 
even  under  an  autocrat  of  broad  mind,  imperious 
will,  resolute  character  and  the  highest  adminis- 
trative genius,  such  a  new  creed  must  demand 

14 


JAHANGIR    AND    SHAH  JAHAN 

constant  and  careful  nurture  for  a  period 
exceeding  the  life  of  one  man.  The  intellectual 
satisfaction  of  feeling  that  oneself  is  right,  and 
that  one's  neighbour  is  wrong,  appeals  so 
strongly  to  poor  mankind  that  militant  intoler- 
ance, such  as  that  of  Islam,  must  always  find 
readier  welcome  with  the  majority  than  a 
gospel  of  forbearance.  Toleration  has  been 
the  distinguishing  mark  of  all  the  greatest 
rulers  of  India  ;  and  the  greatest  of  them, 
because  the  most  earnest  striver  to  heal  human 
differences,  was  Akbar. 

His  death  was  followed,  as  is  the  rule  in  the 
East,  by  a  dispute  over  the  succession,  which 
after  the  usual  war  was  decided  in  favour  of 
his  younger  son  Jahangir  (1605— 27),  who  was  fol- 
lowed in  turn  by  his  eldest  son  Shah  Jahan  (1627— 
1658).  Both  were  strong  and  capable  sovereigns, 
but  both  were  much  troubled  by  rebellious  sub- 
jects ;  and  Shah  Jahan,  after  a  desperate  struggle 
between  his  four  sons,  was  finally  deposed  by 
the  third  of  them,  Aurangzeb.  Neither  Jahan- 
gir nor  Shah  Jahan  made  great  progress  in  the 
Dekhan  ;  and  in  the  north-west,  after  bitter 
fighting,  the  Persians  finally  in  1653  established 
themselves  in  Kandahar,  and  severed  it  from 
the  Empire.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
end.  Shah  Jahan's  court  was  the  most  magnifi- 
cent ever  seen  in  India,  and  the  buildings  which 
he  erected  have  made  his  name  immortal  ;  yet 
he  died  a  prisoner  in  the  fort  of  Agra,  looking 
to   the  last  at  the  Taj   Mahal,  the  lovely  tomb 

15 


REIGN    OF    AURANGZEB 

which  he  had  raised  over  the  body  of  the  wife 
whom  he  had  adored.  This  was  in  the  year  of 
the  great  fire  of  London,  1666.  His  successor, 
after  three  years'  fighting,  disposed  of  his  three 
brothers  ;  and  then,  reviving  Mohammedan 
bigotry  in  its  extremest  form,  he  set  himself 
to  crush  down  alike  the  infidel  Hindus  and 
the  two  heretical  Mohammedan  kingdoms, 
Golconda  and  Bijapur,  in  the  Dekhan.  Oppres- 
sive persecution  of  the  Hindus  soon  raised  them 
up  in  fury.  The  Rajputs  fought  against  him 
with  desperate  valour,  and  only  after  a  most 
heroic  resistance  were  at  last  brought  down  to 
sullen  impotence.  But  both  in  the  north  and 
in  the  south  Aurangzcb's  mad  intolerance  called 
into  being  new  champions  of  the  old  faith,  who, 
from  the  lasting  eminence  which  they  attained 
in  India,  must  receive  more  than  passing 
attention. 

The  first  of  these  were  the  Sikhs,  a  religious 
sect  which  traced  its  origin  to  Nanak,  a  pious 
Hindu  born  in  the  fifteenth  century,  who  may 
be  called  the  Calvin  of  Hinduism,  inasmuch 
as  he  held  that  religion  was  a  matter  of  the 
intellect  rather  than  of  the  feelings.  He 
preached  the  abolition  of  caste,  the  unity  of 
the  Godhead,  and  the  need  for  holier  and  purer 
life  ;  and  he  was  followed  by  ten  Gurus  or 
apostles,  whose  succession  ended  in  1708 
with  Govind  Singh.  To  the  persecution  of 
Aurangzeb  the  Sikhs  could  oppose  only  un- 
fearing   martyrdom  ;   for  the   great   leader  who 

16 


SIKHS   AND   MARATHAS 

was  to  turn  them  into  a  powerful  military  state 
had  not  yet  been  born  ;  but  the  heart  of  such 
movements  is  of  greater  significance  than  the 
head  ;  and  the  heart  of  the  Sikhs  was  already 
beating  true  and  strong  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  against  the  time  when  the  advent  of 
a  head  should  convert  them  into  one  of  the 
great  powers  of  India. 

Meanwhile  the  task  of  resisting  Aurangzeb 
called  less  for  a  saint  than  for  a  man  of  action  ; 
and  such  a  man  appeared  in  the  person  of  Sivaji 
Bonsla,  the  son  of  a  chief  of  no  great  property 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Western  Ghauts 
to  the  east  of  Bombay.  Born  in  1627 — the 
year  when  George  Villiers,  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham, led  his  abortive  expedition  to  Rochelle 
—  he  was  brought  up  at  Puna,  and  early 
conceived  the  ambition  of  dispossessing  the 
Mohammedans  of  the  south,  and  setting  up  a 
Hindu  kingdom  in  their  stead.  His  men  were 
hardy  peasants  from  the  mountains  ;  his  horses, 
not  less  important  than  his  men,  were  drawn 
from  the  valleys  ;  and  with  these  he  sallied 
forth  to  capture  hill-fortresses,  and  to  use  them 
as  bases  for  raids  upon  the  surrounding  country. 
Being  a  great  military  genius  he  rapidly 
achieved  success  ;  and  by  1664  had  carried  his 
incursions  so  far  as  to  seize  and  sack  the 
imperial  city  of  Gujarat.  This  was  a  direct 
defiance  to  Aurangzeb,  who  sent  an  army  to 
crush  him,  and  succeeded  in  forcing  him  to 
surrender  upon  terms  ;  but  the  wily  chief  soon 

17  c 


RISE   OF  THE  MARATHAS 

contrived  to  escape,  and  returning  to  the 
Dekhan  quickly  re  -  established  and  widened 
his  ascendancy.  He  died  in  1680,  but  he  had 
already  done  his  work  in  founding  the  power 
of  the  Marathas. 

What  the  Marathas  exactly  were  or  are  no 
one  seems  able  accurately  to  define.  They  were 
not  a  caste,  they  were  not  a  sect,  they  were  not 
a  nation  ;  and,  though  some  of  them  claim  to 
be  of  Rajput  origin,  this  pretension  seems  to 
be  disposed  of  by  anthropometric  tests.  Their 
name  is  taken  from  the  territory  of  Maharashtra, 
and  their  language  is  called  Marathi  ;  but  they 
are  not  the  only  inhabitants  of  that  territory 
nor  the  only  speakers  of  that  tongue.  In  1901 
they  numbered  only  five  millions  ;  and  yet  in  the 
seventeenth  century  they  ruined  the  armies  of 
Aurangzeb,  shattered  the  might  of  the  Moguls 
and  bade  fair  to  become  the  masters  of  India. 
It  is  difficult  therefore  to  predicate  anything 
certain  of  them  except  that  they  were  and  are 
emphatically  a  power,  and  that  they  rose  to  that 
eminence  wholly  by  the  sword.  Yet,  though 
they  were  valiant  warriors,  their  military  organ- 
isation was  loose  enough  ;  while  their  military 
tactics,  if  one  may  coin  an  expression,  were  of 
the  ofi^ensive-elusive  order.  They  swarmed  out 
as  great  disorderly  bodies  of  horse,  devouring 
the  country  like  locusts,  carefully  avoiding  any- 
thing like  a  pitched  battle,  but  hovering  always 
about  their  enemy's  flanks  and  communications, 
swift  to  see  and  to  make  profit  of  the  slightest 

18 


THEIR   POWER  AND   WEAKNESS 

advantage,  equally  swift  to  perceive  and  to  avoid 
any  danger.  Thus  they  w^ore  out  the  Mogul 
armies,  and  broke  the  hearts  of  their  generals 
by  remaining  alw^ays  near  enough  to  inflict 
much  mischief,  but  alw^ays  remote  enough  to 
suffer  no  harm.  If  they  were  suddenly  com- 
pelled to  assume  the  defensive,  they  had  a 
perfect  genius  for  choosing  and  occupying  a 
position  where  they  could  resist  attack  ;  and 
woe  to  the  army  that  retreated  before  them. 
Their  leaders  have  always  included  some  of  the 
deepest  and  subtlest  intellects  in  India  ;  and  yet 
their  genius,  so  long  as  their  ascendancy  lasted, 
revealed  itself  as  mainly  destructive,  and  their 
instincts  as  wholly  predatory.  They  levied 
tribute  remorselessly,  under  pain  of  pillage, 
upon  vast  districts,  and  on  condition  of  payment 
suffered  them  to  escape  famine  and  desolation. 
They  showed,  indeed,  remarkable  administrative 
talent  in  the  collection  of  that  tribute  ;  but 
there  their  constructive  work  came  to  an  end. 
It  is  therefore  hard  to  see  how  India  could  have 
improved — how  indeed  it  could  have  failed  to 
deteriorate — under  their  mastery.  The  history 
of  the  country,  so  far  as  we  have  traced  it,  has 
been  a  continuous  record  of  wars,  revolts  and 
intestine  divisions  ;  in  the  midst  of  which,  at 
rare  intervals  of  precarious  repose,  there  had 
sprung  up  noble  monuments  of  art  and  litera- 
ture. There  was  nothing  creative  about  the 
Marathas.  Their  reign,  it  is  true,  was  short  ; 
but,  even  had  it  been  prolonged,  we  can  hardly 

19 


COMING   OF  THE   PORTUGUESE 

conceive  of  the  association  of  poetry  or  archi- 
tecture with  their  name.  For  all  their  valiance 
and  subtlety  their  rule  was  a  blight  rather 
than  an  influence.  Once  indeed,  and  in  one 
particular,  they  imitated  a  foreign  model  in 
their  own  domain  of  war  ;  and  we  must  now 
examine  where  they  found  this  model,  and  how 
it  was  turned  to  their  own  ruin. 


Ill 

From  the  conquest  of  Persia  and  Egypt  by 
the  followers  of  Mohammed  until  the  sixteenth 
century,  the  sole  line  of  communication  between 
India  and  Europe  had  been  by  land  through  the 
passes  of  Afghanistan  and  Central  Asia  to  the 
Black  Sea  and  to  Constantinople  ;  but  in  1492 
Christopher  Columbus,  seeking  the  Indies  by 
way  of  the  Atlantic  westward,  discovered 
America;  and  in  1497  ^^sco  da  Gama  doubled 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  cast  anchor  oiF 
Calicut  in  May  1498.  Then  came  the  Papal 
Bull  of  1502  which  divided  the  New  World 
between  Spain  and  Portugal,  assigning  the  west 
to  the  former,  and  the  east  to  the  latter.  Two 
great  men,  Almeida  by  valour  against  the  fleets 
of  the  Sultan  of  Egypt,  and  Albuquerque 
by  wise  policy  towards  the  Hindu  natives, 
strengthened  the  hold  of  Portugal  upon  her 
new  empire  ;  and  for  a  century,  until  annexation 
to  Spain  in  1580  gradually  killed  all  enterprise 


THE  EAST   INDIA   COMPANY 

in  them,  the  Portuguese  enjoyed  a  monopoly 
of  Oriental  commerce.  But  meantime  the  two 
great  maritime  powers  of  the  future,  the  English 
and  the  Dutch,  had  arisen  to  contest  with  Spain 
her  empire  at  every  point  ;  and  their  pioneers, 
busy  since  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth 
century  in  attempting  to  find  north-west  and 
north-east  passages  to  Asia,  at  last  made  their 
way  round  the  Cape,  the  Englishman  John 
Lancaster  in  1591,  and  the  Hollander  Cornelius 
Houtman  four  years  later.  Companies  to  trade 
with  the  East  Indies  were  speedily  formed,  that 
in  England  receiving  its  charter  in  1600,  and 
that  in  the  Low  Countries  in  1602. 

There  was,  however,  a  wide  difference 
between  the  two  companies.  In  Holland 
politics  were  commerce,  and  commerce  was 
politics  ;  and  the  States-General,  though  nomin- 
ally distinguishing  the  Company  from  the  State, 
virtually  backed  the  adventure  with  all  the 
weight  and  resources  of  the  Republic.  In 
England  the  Company  was  left  severely  to  look 
after  itself,  the  State  being  quite  ready  to  take 
a  share  in  the  profits,  but  by  no  means  disposed 
to  partake  in  the  risks.  In  truth  it  is  hardly 
recognised  that  our  East  India  Company  was 
but  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  adventures  of  the 
same  kind.  The  first  half  of  the  seventeenth 
century  was  more  prolific  in  chartered  companies 
than  any  period  of  our  history.  There  was  a 
regular  mania  for  speculation  in  the  New 
World  ;  and  King  James  the  First  granted  away 


DUTCH   AND   ENGLISH 

many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  square  miles,  not 
only  above  the  sea  but  under  it,  to  a  com- 
paratively small  number  of  "  Undertakers,'*  as 
they  were  called.  Naturally  there  were  many 
failures  and  even  more  quarrels  among  these 
companies  ;  but  their  solid  and  visible  results 
are  the  United  States  of  America  and  the  British 
Empire  in  India. 

It  need  hardly  be  said  that  the  Portuguese 
bitterly  resented  the  intrusion  of  the  Dutch  and 
English  upon  their  chosen  field  ;  and  hard  blows 
were  exchanged  between  the  rival  parties,  invari- 
ably to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Portuguese.  But 
though  the  two  northern  powers  were  always 
ready  to  combine  against  their  common  enemy, 
they  were  none  the  less  furiously  jealous  of  each 
other,  and  they  pursued  their  commercial  com- 
petition with  the  weapons  not  of  trade  but  of 
war.  Few  ships  went  to  sea  unarmed  in  those 
days,  so  that  a  trading  company  was  almost  of 
necessity  a  militant  association  ;  and  from  fight- 
ing at  sea  to  the  attack  of  a  factory  by  the  sea- 
shore the  step  was  very  short.  The  Dutch, 
most  practical  and  cold-blooded  of  nations, 
proved  this  in  1623  by  seizing  ten  Englishmen 
and  their  native  assistants  at  Amboyna  in  the 
Moluccas,  and  murdering  every  one  of  them 
after  a  mockery  of  a  trial.  This  massacre,  as 
it  was  called,  caused  furious  indignation  in 
England  ;  but  it  was  not  until  thirty  years  later 
that  Cromwell  took  vengeance  for  it  in  the 
seven   furious  naval   actions  which   marked   the 


COMING   OF  THE   FRENCH 

beginning  of  Dutch  decay  and  of  English  pre- 
dominance upon  the  seas.  Meanwhile  the  East 
India  Company  had  established  factories  at  Surat 
in  1612,  at  Masulipatam  in  16 16,  at  Madras  in 
1640,  and  at  Hoogly  in  1651.  Finally,  in  1661 
Bombay  passed  to  the  British  Crown  as  part  of 
the  dowry  of  Charles  the  Second's  queen, 
Catharine  of  Bragan9a,  and  was  leased  to  the 
Company  by  the  King  for  ten  pounds. 

Just  three  years  later  a  new  European  com- 
petitor came  upon  the  scene  in  the  shape  of 
the  French  Compagnie  des  Indes,  founded  by 
Colbert  in  1664;^  and  in  1674  Fran9ois  Martin 
founded  Pondicherry  on  the  eastern  coast  and 
established  the  first  French  factory  in  Bengal  at 
Chandernagore.  It  was  just  at  this  time  that 
our  countrymen  were  first  brought  into  conflict 
with  native  enemies.  In  1664  and  1670  the 
British  only  with  difficulty  held  their  own  at 
Surat  against  the  incursions  of  Sivaji  ;  while  in 
Bengal  they  suffered  from  the  reaction  of  the 
wars  of  Aurangzeb  and  from  the  active  oppres- 
sion of  his  viceroy.  In  1686  the  Company 
initiated  a  new  policy  of  reprisals  against  both 
Moguls  and  Marathas,  and  declared  its  intention 
to  found  "  a  large,  well-grounded,  sure  English 

*  There  are  in  the  gardens  of  Government  House,  Calcutta,  some  brass 
cannon  which  bear  the  mark  of  the  French  East  India  Company  in  its 
early  days.  From  constant  cleaning  with  sand,  however,  the  marks  are 
in  some  cases  almost  obliterated,  and  in  every  case  are  in  process  of  obli- 
teration. Similar  treatment  has  irretrievably  damaged  other  beautifully 
ornamented  guns,  taken  from  Tipu  Sahib  and  others,  which  are  preserved 
in  the  same  spot.  Not  a  single  Viceroy,  apparently,  has  intervened  to 
arrest  the  process  of  destruction,  which  for  more  than  half  a  century  has 
been  going  forward,  and  is  still  going  forward,  under  their  eyes. 

23 


THE  MOGUL   EMPIRE'S   DECAY 

dominion  for  all  time  to  come."  Their  first 
operations  ended  in  ignominious  failure  ;  and 
they  were  forced  to  fly  from  Bengal  and  to 
purchase  their  rights  to  return  thither  by  an 
abject  surrender  and  payment  of  a  heavy  fine  to 
Aurangzeb.  Nevertheless,  in  that  same  year, 
1690,  was  witnessed  the  founding  of  Calcutta; 
while  the  nucleus  of  an  European  army  had 
already  been  formed  in  Madras  in  1644,  and  in 
Bombay  in  1668.  The  first  native  troops  of 
the  Company's  army  had  been  enlisted,  likewise 
in  Bombay,  in  1683-84. 

Such  was  the  position  when  in  1707 
Aurangzeb  died,  a  beaten  and  heart  -  broken 
man,  at  the  age  of  ninety -one,  leaving  the 
Mogul  Empire  in  ruins.  Between  that  date  and 
1759  five  Emperors  ascended  the  throne  of  the 
Moguls  with  the  empty  title  only  of  their  great 
ancestors,  while  the  Empire  itself  crumbled 
rapidly  away.  The  viceroy  of  the  Dekhan,  the 
Nizam  -  ul  -  Mulk,  established  the  independent 
dynasty  which  still  reigns  at  Hyderabad  ;  but 
even  within  his  realm,  the  Carnatic,  which 
bordered  on  the  English  and  French  settle- 
ments on  the  east  coast,  had  become  a  semi- 
independent  principality.  Farther  south  a 
Hindu  dynasty  had  established  itself  in  Tan- 
jore  ;  and  soldiers  of  fortune  of  various  de- 
scriptions were  setting  themselves  up  as  petty 
chieftains  in  hill-fortresses.  In  the  north  affairs 
were  no  better.  Bengal  had  passed  to  one 
adventurer,    Rohilkand    to    another,   and    Oudh 

24 


FRENCH   AND   ENGLISH 

was  usurped  by  an  official.  Rajputs  rebelled  in 
one  quarter,  Sikhs  in  another.  Every  succession 
was  disputed  with  arms  ;  and  amid  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  various  combatants  the 
devastating  flood  of  the  Marathas  rose  higher 
and  higher,  till  it  threatened  to  overwhelm  the 
whole  of  India.  Moreover,  as  if  these  mis- 
fortunes were  not  sufficient,  the  fall  of 
Aurangzeb's  garrisons  in  Afghanistan  allowed 
a  Persian  invader  to  penetrate  the  passes  and  to 
sack  Delhi  in  1737.  Two  years  later  an  officer 
of  his  army,  Ahmad  Shah  of  the  Abdali  tribe 
of  Afghans,  seized  Afghanistan,  and  from  thence 
invaded  and  conquered  the  whole  of  the 
Western  Panjab  between  1748  and  1751. 
Never  had  India  been  in  a  more  appalling 
welter  of  confusion,  nor  in  more  crying  need 
of  a  master. 

The  struggle  between  the  two  aspirants  to 
mastery  had  already  begun.  Its  issue  depended 
upon  the  command  of  the  sea,  for  victory  was 
bound  to  favour  the  side  that  could  pour  reinforce- 
ments into  India  regularly  from  Europe  ;  but  the 
fact  seems  to  have  been  but  dimly  apprehended 
at  the  outset.  On  the  scene  of  action  everything 
appeared  favourable  to  the  French.  A  very 
able  naval  officer  of  that  nation,  Bertrand  de  la 
Bourdonnais,  had  in  1735  founded  a  naval  base 
and  arsenal  at  Mauritius  ;  while  in  India  itself 
two  Governors  of  Pondicherry,  Dumas  and 
Dupleix,  had  instituted  a  policy  of  active  inter- 
ference  with  the  internal  affairs  of  the  neigh- 

25 


THE  FRENCH   CAPTURE   MADRAS 

bouring  native  states  ;  and  Dumas  had  made  such 
diplomatic  intervention  the  more  efficacious  by 
creating  an  army  of  some  seven  thousand  trained 
sepoys.  These  Frenchmen  intended  to  play  the 
part  of  statesmen  in  controlling  the  future  of 
India,  and  they  had  an  autocratic  government  at 
their  back.  The  British,  on  the  other  hand, 
were  still  a  trading  company,  independent  of  the 
Government  ;  and  their  Governor  at  Madras  was 
a  man  of  mere  ledgers  and  invoices,  with, 
however,  a  quiet  young  clerk  in  his  office 
named  Robert  Clive.  France  and  England  had 
come  to  blows  over  the  Spanish  Succession,  and 
had  opened  the  war  which  is  remembered  by 
the  names  of  Dettingen,  Fontenoy,  Culloden, 
Roucoux  and  Lauffeldt.  The  news  of  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities  reached  India  in  1744,  at 
a  time  when  no  French  fleet  was  on  the  coast  ; 
but  the  Nawab  of  the  Carnatic  informed  the 
British  at  Madras  that  he  intended  to  enforce 
neutrality  within  his  province,  and  the  English 
Governor  meekly  gave  way.  In  July  1746  the 
fleets  of  the  two  nations  met  ;  and  after  an 
indecisive  action  the  British  Commodore  sailed 
away  with  discreditable  readiness,  leaving  the 
French  free  to  land  as  many  soldiers  as  they 
would.  They  accordingly  laid  siege  to  Madras, 
and  in  September  forced  it  to  capitulate.  The 
Nawab  attempted  to  intervene  to  enforce 
neutrality ;  but  the  French  troops,  readily 
facing  odds  of  ten  to  one,  swept  his  raw  levies 
from   the   field  without   an   eflfort.     More   than 

26 


LAWRENCE  AND   CLIVE 

one  writer  of  the  seventeenth  century  had 
predicted  that  a  small  body  of  disciplined 
European  troops  would  suffice  to  rout  the  most 
formidable  of  native  armies  ;  and  now  that 
prediction  was  verified.  This  incident  assured 
supremacy  in  India  to  an  European  power. 

The  British  settlements  seemed  now  to  be  at 
the  mercy  of  Dupleix,  who  had  three  thousand 
European  troops  at  his  disposal ;  but  the  tide 
was  turned  by  the  arrival  of  a  British  squadron 
with  reinforcements  ;  and  instead  of  a  British 
fort  it  was  Pondicherry  itself  that  was  besieged, 
though  most  clumsily  and  unsuccessfully,  by 
Admiral  Boscawen.  The  operations,  however, 
revealed  the  rise  of  a  great  British  leader, 
Major  Stringer  Lawrence,  who  was  not  only  a 
master  of  military  manoeuvre  but  a  trainer  of 
commanders.  Simple  and  uneducated,  for  he 
could  hardly  write  more  than  his  name,  he  had 
none  the  less  great  insight  into  the  characters  ot 
men,  and  finding  a  promising  pupil  in  the 
gloomy  and  discontented  clerk,  Robert  Clive,  he 
took  the  latter's  military  education  in  hand  and 
practically  adopted  him  as  a  son. 

The  peace  of  Aix-la- Chapelle  in  1748 
brought  the  war  of  the  Austrian  Succession  to 
an  end,  seemingly  with  no  great  advantage 
anywhere  to  either  party,  but  really  with  the 
very  solid  result  that  France  was  left  almost 
powerless  at  sea.  Madras  was  restored  to 
England  in  exchange  for  the  French  fort  of 
Louisburg,  to  the  huge  indignation  of  the  British 

27 


LAWRENCE  AGAINST   DUPLEIX 

colonists  in  North  America,  who  had  captured 
Louisburg  with  no  assistance  from  British 
troops.  Nevertheless,  the  British  Government 
was  right  to  make  the  exchange,  for,  as  Admiral 
Saunders  pointed  out  at  the  time,  Louisburg  was 
a  source  of  weakness  rather  than  strength  to 
the  French,  being  always  at  the  mercy  of  the 
power  that  was  superior  at  sea. 

The  rival  companies  in  India  meanwhile 
found  it  easy  to  continue  the  struggle,  nominally 
as  allies  of  native  states  but  in  reality  as 
principals.  Dupleix  was  anxious  to  make 
French  influence  supreme  at  the  court  not  only 
of  the  Nawab  of  the  Carnatic  at  Arcot,  but  also 
of  the  Viceroy  of  the  Dekhan  at  Hyderabad  ; 
and  the  death  of  both  potentates,  with  the 
inevitable  result  of  a  disputed  succession,  gave 
him  the  opportunity  that  he  desired.  The  British 
naturally  supported  the  candidates  who  were 
opposed  to  the  French  ;  but  their  best  com- 
mander. Stringer  Lawrence,  had  gone  to  England, 
and  in  his  absence  British  military  operations 
went  sadly  wrong.  The  contest  centred  around 
Trichinopoly  ;  and  in  1751  the  situation  was  so 
desperate  that  it  was  only  saved  by  a  diversion 
made  against  Arcot  by  the  young  volunteer, 
Robert  Clive.  But  at  the  end  of  that  year 
Stringer  Lawrence  returned,  and  in  action  after 
action  during  1752  and  1753  worsted  the  French 
before  Trichinopoly.  In  1754  Dupleix  was 
recalled  for  gross  misconduct  in  his  office  ;  and 
in  January  1755  the  contest  in  the  Carnatic  was 

28 


THE   BLACK  HOLE 

brought  to  a  close  by  a  suspension  of  arms. 
The  French  should  have  had  the  better  of  the 
British,  for,  France  and  England  being  at  peace, 
their  fleets  could  not  intervene  ;  and  in  India 
itself  Dupleix  had  enjoyed  superiority  of 
numbers,  though  his  commanders  were  inferior 
to  those  of  the  British.  Yet  a  step  had  been 
taken  which  ultimately  assured  the  victory  of 
the  red-coats,  for  the  British  Government  had 
initiated  a  new  policy  of  sending  the  King's 
troops  to  assist  those  of  the  Company  ;  and  in 
September  1754  the  first  battalion  arrived,  the 
Thirty-ninth  Foot,  now  the  Dorsetshire  Regi- 
ment— Primus  in  Indis — under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Eyre  Coote. 

But  suddenly  the  centre  of  British  interest 
was  shifted  to  Bengal.  That  province  in 
1756  passed  upon  the  death  of  Alivardi  Khan 
to  his  adopted  son  Suraj- ud-Daula  (Surajah 
Dowlah),  a  potentate  of  the  most  contemptible 
type.  The  Seven  Years'  War  was  on  the  point 
of  breaking  out  in  Europe  ;  and  the  Governor  at 
Calcutta,  being  warned  of  the  fact,  was  setting 
his  fort  in  order,  when  the  Nawab  chose  to  take 
offence  at  the  action  and  marched  upon  the  town. 
The  tragedy  of  the  Black  Hole  followed  ;  and 
troops  were  hastily  sent  up  from  Madras  under 
Clive,  escorted  by  three  ships  of  Admiral  Watson's 
squadron,  to  recover  Calcutta.  This  was  done 
with  little  difficulty  ;  but  a  French  fleet  and  army 
were  expected  at  Pondicherry  ;  and  it  was 
essential  to  place  Calcutta  speedily  beyond  reach 

29 


PLASSEY  AND   CONDORE 

of  danger  from  Suraj-ud-Daula,  so  that  the  ships 
and  forces  might  return  to  Madras.  Finding  a 
disaffected  party  in  the  Nawab's  own  camp,  CHve 
negotiated  with  the  chief  of  them,  Mir  Jaffir, 
and  with  his  help  routed  Suraj-ud-Daula's  army 
at  Plassey  (June  23,  1757).  He  then  set  Mir 
Jaffir  upon  the  Nawab's  throne,  appointing  as 
Resident  at  his  court  a  young  man  of  twenty-five, 
named  Warren  Hastings,  and  himself  became 
Resident  at  Calcutta,  while  the  troops  returned 
to  Madras. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  April  1758  that 
the  expected  French  armament  arrived  at  Pondi- 
cherry  under  command  of  Count  Lally  de 
Tollendal.  For  a  time  superiority  of  numbers 
gave  Lally  some  measure  of  success  ;  but  towards 
the  end  of  the  year  Clive  made  a  diversion  by 
sending  an  expedition  under  Colonel  Forde  of 
the  Thirty-ninth  against  the  French  settlements 
in  the  Northern  Sirkars.  Forde,  whose  name 
is  far  too  little  known,  fulfilled  his  mission 
brilliantly  by  defeating  the  Marquis  de  Conflans 
at  Chundoor  (Condore),  and  by  the  storm  of 
Masulipatam — the  latter  a  most  daring  feat  of 
arms.  Meanwhile  the  French  fleet  was  driven 
off  the  coast  by  the  British  ;  and  the  arrival  of 
reinforcements  from  England  reduced  the  in- 
equality of  numbers.  For  a  moment  there  arose 
unexpected  peril,  owing  to  a  wanton  and  un- 
provoked attempt  of  the  Dutch  from  Java  and 
Chinsura  upon  Calcutta ;  but  Clive  faced  the 
danger    boldly,   and   at    Badra    on    the    25th    of 

30 


BADRA  AND  WANDEWASH 

November  1759  Forde,  with  a  force  of  inferior 
numbers,  practically  annihilated  the  Dutch  troops 
in  half  an  hour,  and  decided  for  ever  the  down- 
fall of  that  nation  in  India.  A  few  weeks  later 
(Jan.  8,  1760)  Coote,  once  again  with  inferior 
numbers,  by  brilliant  manoeuvring  defeated  Lally 
decisively  at  Wandcwash  ;  and  a  year  later  he 
received  the  surrender  of  Pondicherry.  The 
first  stage  of  the  great  struggle  was  over.  It 
was  now  certain  that  if  India  was  to  pass  under 
the  rule  of  Europeans,  those  Europeans  would 
be  the  British. 

IV 

Meanwhile  internal  confusion  had  increased, 
and  the  Mogul  Empire  was  crumbling  away 
more  rapidly  than  ever.  The  Marathas  had  by 
this  time  organised  themselves  into  their  con- 
federacy of  five  coequal  parts  under  five  principal 
chiefs.  The  degenerate  descendants  of  Sivaji 
had  long  since  been  displaced,  except  in  form, 
by  an  hereditary  dynasty  of  mayors  of  the  palace, 
who  bore  the  title  of  Peshwa,  with  headquarters 
at  Puna.  The  four  remaining  members  were 
Sindia  of  Gwalior,  Holkar  of  Indore,  the  Gaekwar 
of  Baroda,  and  Bonsla  of  Nagpur  ;  and  although 
the  five  were  constantly  quarrelling  among  them- 
selves, the  confederacy  at  this  moment  was  under 
the  direction  of  Balaji  Baji  Rao,  the  ablest  of  all 
the  Peshwas.  After  the  capture  of  Delhi,  Ahmad 
Shah  Abdali  had  appointed  a  viceroy  to  administer 

31 


MARATHAS  AT  THEIR  ZENITH 

his  conquests,  and  had  himself  returned  to 
Afghanistan.  The  Marathas  in  1758  seized  the 
moment  to  lay  hold  on  Delhi,  expel  Ahmad 
Shah's  garrison  from  Lahore,  and  establish 
Maratha  domination  in  the  Panjab.  The  action 
shows  the  high  -  water  mark  of  the  flood  of 
Maratha  conquest  ;  but  the  intrepid  horsemen 
had  gone  too  far.  The  Mohammedans  were  not 
disposed  to  stand  quietly  by  while  a  Hindu  power 
of  yesterday  overthrew  their  rule  in  Northern 
India.  In  the  winter  of  1759-60  Ahmad 
Shah  descended  in  his  wrath  from  Afghanistan, 
recovered  Lahore  at  a  blow,  fell  upon  Holkar  and 
Sindia,  who  were  ravaging  the  southern  districts, 
and,  smiting  them  heavily,  one  after  the  other, 
drove  them  away  with  great  loss.  He  then 
occupied  Delhi,  and  never  paused  upon  his  march 
south-eastward  until  he  had  pitched  his  camp 
upon  the  Ganges.  The  Peshwa,  undismayed  by 
these  misfortunes,  sent  up  a  powerful  army  to 
retrieve  them;  and  in  January  1761  the  two  hosts 
met  at  Panipat.  On  each  side  the  fighting  men 
numbered  over  one  hundred  thousand,  and  the 
combat  was  long  and  stubborn  ;  but  the  Marathas 
were  at  last  defeated  ;  and  defeat  in  the  cir- 
cumstances almost  signified  annihilation,  for  the 
villagers  turned  savagely  upon  the  plundering 
horsemen*  who  for  two  years  had  ridden  rough- 
shod over  them.  The  disaster  was  the  death  of 
the  great  Peshwa  ;  and  the  Marathas,  though 
they  recovered  with  singular  rapidity,  never 
again  reached  such  a  height  of  power  as  they  had 

32 


THE  COMPANY'S  EVIL  DAYS 

attained  from  1758  until  1760.  But  the  victor 
took  no  advantage  of  his  triumph.  The  Afghans 
were  anxious  to  carry  home  their  booty,  for  the 
Persians  were  menacing  their  western  frontiers  ; 
and  thus  it  was  that  Ahmad  Shah  retired  again 
to  his  own  place,  closing  with  a  worthy  majesty 
the  long  series  of  invasions  of  India  from  the 
north-west.  In  reality  the  Afghans  and  the 
Marathas  were  but  rival  vultures  fighting  over 
the  carcase  of  the  Mogul  Empire  ;  but  the  only 
result  of  their  struggle  was  to  exhaust  them- 
selves, and  to  leave  Northern  India  as  masterless 
as  ever.  So  momentous  were  the  events  that 
occurred  in  the  twelve  months  from  the  22nd  of 
January  1760  to  the  29th  of  January  1761. 

Unfortunately  at  this  critical  time  the  guid- 
ing hand  of  the  master  was  withdrawn,  for 
Clive  went  home  in  February  1760,  leaving  the 
supreme  power  in  Bengal  in  the  hands  ot  the 
Company's  clerks.  These  saw  their  opportunity 
for  enriching  themselves,  and,  being  miserably 
paid  and  under  no  restraint  of  law  or  of  honour, 
did  not  fail  to  seize  it.  The  government  and 
all  responsibility  for  the  expenses  of  administra- 
tion lay  nominally  with  Mir  Jaffir,  but  his  rule 
was  wholly  dependent  upon  British  troops, 
which  therefore  held  him  at  their  mercy.  He 
quickly  chafed  against  the  necessity  of  paying 
his  masters  ;  whereupon  the  Company's  servants 
matured  a  plan  tor  deposing  him  and  setting  up 
his  finance-minister,  Mir  Kassim,  in  his  place,  in 
the   hope  that  more  willing   submission   would 

33  D 


CAILLAUD,   KNOX  AND   ADAMS 

be  found  in  a  new  puppet.  At  this  juncture, 
however,  there  intervened  a  complication  from 
without.  The  titular  Emperor,  Shah  Alam, 
being  an  exile  from  Delhi,  took  refuge  with 
the  Nawab  of  Oudh,  and  with  the  latter's 
help  threatened  to  enforce  his  claim  to 
the  sovereignty  of  Bengal.  Major  Caillaud 
marched  forward  with  a  small  force  to  meet 
him  ;  but  the  Emperor  contrived  to  out- 
manoeuvre the  British  and  to  appear  before 
Patna,  which  was  only  saved  by  a  wonderful 
march  and  a  most  daring  action  conducted  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Knox.  The  danger 
being  over  the  Company's  servants  duly  deposed 
Mir  Jaffir,  and  installed  Mir  Kassim,  insisting, 
however,  on  commercial  privileges  for  their  own 
advantage,  which  were  so  exorbitant  as  to 
exhaust  Mir  Kassim's  patience  very  speedily. 
Therefore  they  displaced  him  in  favour  of  their 
former  puppet  Mir  Jaffir  ;  and  Mir  Kassim  very 
justifiably  sought  redress  with  arms. 

He  was  a  dangerous  enemy,  for  he  possessed 
a  certain  number  of  regular  troops  trained  after 
European  fashion  and  commanded  by  an  Alsatian, 
whose  nickname,  Sombre,  had  been  corrupted  by 
the  natives  into  Sumroo.  Moreover,  the  Com- 
pany's servants  had  nothing  ready,  neither  men  nor 
arms  nor  supplies,  nothing  indeed  excepting  one 
marvellous  commander.  Major  Thomas  Adams. 
In  July  1763  Adams  began  his  campaign,  fought 
one  sharp  action  near  Katwa  on  the  19th  ;  a 
second   at   Suti  on  the    2nd   of  August  ;  and    a 

34 


THE  ADVANCE   BEYOND   BENGAL 

third,  a  crowning  victory  against  odds  of  twenty 
to  one,  at  Undwa  Nala  on  the  5th  of  September. 
In  despairing  rage  Mir  Kassim  ordered  the 
massacre  of  all  the  British  in  Patna,  an  order 
which  was  faithfully  executed  by  Sumroo,  and  fled 
to  the  camp  of  the  Emperor  Shah  Alam  and  of 
his  vizier  the  Nawab  of  Oudh.  On  the  6th  of 
November  Adams  took  Patna  by  storm,  and  then, 
worn  out  by  hard  work,  he  sickened,  and  died 
a  few  months  later.  A  feeble  and  incompetent 
successor.  Major  Carnac,  played  for  a  while  un- 
successfully with  the  united  forces  of  the  Allies  ; 
but  was  soon  displaced  by  a  stronger  man.  Major 
Hector  Munro.  After  first  quelling  a  mutiny 
in  his  own  army,  Munro  utterly  overthrew 
the  Emperor  and  his  confederates  on  the  23rd 
of  February  1764  at  Buxar.  The  victory  con- 
verted Shah  Alam  from  an  enemy  into  an  ally  ; 
and  the  army  penetrating  into  Oudh  captured  in 
succession  the  commanding  cities  of  Lucknow 
and  Allahabad.  Thus  for  the  first  time  the 
British  advanced  beyond  Bengal,  and  found 
themselves  in  contact  with  the  new  principalities 
created  by  sundry  adventurers  since  the  death  of 
Aurangzeb — Mohammedan  Pathans  in  Rohil- 
kand,  Mohammedan  officers  of  the  fallen  Empire 
in  Agra  and  Delhi,  Hindu  Jats  in  Bhurtpore. 
There  was  no  stability  in  any  of  them.  Any 
one  of  these  states,  rising  under  some  leader  of 
genius,  might  encroach  upon  the  others,  or, 
falling  under  some  incompetent  successor  to  an 
able  man,  might  be  swallowed  up  by  the  bold 

35 


THE  RETURN   OF   CLIVE 

and  ambitious  owner  of  a  few  villages.  In  other 
words,  they  were  dangerous  neighbours  which, 
as  all  experience  of  conquering  nations  has 
taught,  can  only  be  made  safe  by  absorption  into 
the  system  of  the  conquerors. 

Fortunately  at  this  moment  Clive  returned 
to  India,  and  laid  down  clearly  the  policy  of 
the  Company.  The  first  step  was  to  take  over 
the  administration  of  Bengal,  paying  a  definite 
tribute  to  the  Emperor  as  his  viceroy,  and  so  to 
put  an  end  to  puppet  Nawabs  and  to  corrupt 
practices  among  the  Company's  servants.  The 
second  was  to  resist  the  temptation  to  annex 
Oudh,  to  reinstate  the  former  ruler  in  it  as  a 
friend  and  ally,  and  so  to  establish  what  is  called 
a  buffer-state  between  the  British  in  Bengal  and 
the  confusion  in  the  north-west.  Whatever  was 
to  come  in  the  future,  there  was  to  be  for  the 
present  an  end  of  territorial  expansion. 

But  in  the  south  there  were  more  dangerous 
neighbours  than  in  the  north.  In  addition  to 
the  presence  of  the  Marathas,  Madras  was 
threatened  by  the  rise  of  a  Mohammedan  soldier, 
Haidar  Ali,  who  through  sheer  military  genius 
had  acquired  the  sovereignty  of  the  Hindu  prin- 
cipality of  Mysore,  and  from  that  base  was  lay- 
ing violent  hands  upon  Southern  India  generally. 
His  chief  adversaries  were  the  Nizam  of  Hyder- 
abad, from  whom  he  was  constantly  taking 
territory,  and  the  Marathas,  with  whom  he 
had  fought  many  sharp  actions.  The  Madras 
Government,  in  consideration  of  recovering  from 

36 


WAR   WITH   HAIDAR  ALI 

the  Nizam  the  Northern  Sirkars,  from  which 
the  British  had  driven  the  French,  had  engaged 
themselves  vaguely  to  support  him  in  case  of 
war  ;  and  Haidar  by  entering  the  territory  ot 
Hyderabad  in  1767  obliged  them  to  fulfil  their 
pledges  to  the  Nizam,  which  they  did  by  sending 
an  army  towards  Mysore.  Very  soon,  however, 
both  Nizam  and  Haidar  turned  against  the  British. 
The  former  enemy  was  quickly  disposed  of;  but 
Haidar  was  not  so  easily  beaten,  and  the  Madras 
Council  did  their  best  by  extreme  imbecility 
to  second  him.  There  was  indeed  one  British 
officer.  Colonel  Joseph  Smith,  whose  very  name 
sufficed  to  make  Haidar  tremble,  and  who,  in 
spite  of  a  thousand  embarrassments  put  in  his 
way  by  his  masters,  contrived  always  to  beat 
the  Indian  chief  in  the  field.  But  the  Madras 
Council  deliberately  displaced  him  to  make  room 
for  an  incompetent  nominee  of  their  own  ;  and 
the  result  was  that  in  1769  Haidar  advanced  to 
within  five  miles  of  Madras  itself,  and  forced 
the  Council  to  conclude  an  humiliating  peace. 
Worse  than  this,  Haidar  had  established  friendly 
relations  with  the  French,  who  were  burning 
to  recover  their  lost  ground  in  India  ;  and  the 
British  had  hampered  themselves  not  only  by 
taking  the  Marathas  into  their  pay,  but  by 
binding  themselves  to  a  defensive  alliance  with 
the  Nizam,  with  Haidar  Ali,  and  with  the 
Marathas  against  any  one  or  more  of  the  three 
parties  who  should  aggressively  attack  the  other. 
The    Marathas    shortly    afterwards    did    attack 


WARREN   HASTINGS 

Haidar,  who  appealed  to  the  Madras  Govern- 
ment for  assistance  and  was  refused  it.  From 
that  moment  he  became  the  irreconcilable  enemy 
of  the  British  in  India. 

Meanwhile  Parliament,  after  enquiring  into 
Indian  affairs,  had  passed  in  1773  an  act  to 
reconstitute  the  Government  of  India,  which, 
though  it  contained  some  wise  provisions,  was 
vitiated  by  one  fatal  blunder.  Hitherto  the 
three  Presidencies  had  been  coequal  ;  but  now 
a  Governor-General  and  Council  were  set  up  in 
Bengal  with  general  authority  over  Bombay  and 
Madras  also,  which  change  in  itself  was  eminently 
sensible.  But  unfortunately  it  was  ordained  not 
that  the  Governor- General  should  be  supreme, 
but  that  he  should  be  ruled  by  a  majority  of  the 
Council,  having  himself  no  more  than  a  casting 
vote  in  case  the  Council  were  equally  divided. 
Nothing  could  have  been  worse  devised  for 
purposes  of  Asiatic  government.  The  Governor- 
General,  happily,  was  Warren  Hastings,  but  his 
Council  contained  men  who  from  personal  spite 
laid  themselves  out  to  thwart  him  at  every  turn. 
Yet  the  times  were  most  critical.  England  was 
entering  upon  the  fatal  quarrel  with  the  American 
colonies,  which  was  destined  to  turn  the  swords 
of  half  of  Europe  against  her.  In  India  the 
Maratha  chiefs,  without  forsaking  their  original 
confederacy  under  the  Peshwa,  were  just  begin- 
ning to  carve  out  for  themselves  independent 
sovereignties,  and  every  year  descended  in  pre- 
datory raids    upon    Oudh    and  Rohilkand.       In 

38 


THE   ROHILLA   WAR 

1773  the  Nawab  called  upon  the  Rohillas  and 
the  British  to  aid  him  against  the  invaders  ;  and 
the  armies  of  all  three  in  combination  drove  the 
Marathas  back.  When,  however,  the  question 
of  the  cost  of  the  war  was  raised,  the  Rohillas 
refused  to  pay  to  the  Nawab  the  contribution 
which  they  had  engaged  themselves  to  discharge  ; 
and  the  Nawab  therefore  asked  Hastings  to  join 
him  in  compelling  them.  Hastings  consented  ; 
and  thereupon  followed  the  first  Rohilla  War,  in 
which  the  Rohillas  were  utterly  defeated  by  the 
British,  and  their  territory  annexed  to  Oudh  for 
the  consolidation  of  the  buffer-state. 

This  was  the  only  war  initiated  by  Hastings, 
but  in  Bombay  the  President  and  Council, 
anxious  as  their  peers  to  annex  territory,  en- 
tangled themselves  in  hostilities  with  the  Mara- 
thas ;  and  Hastings,  while  utterly  condemning 
their  folly,  felt  bound  to  support  them.  The 
war,  for  the  most  part  miserably  conducted, 
dragged  on  and  on,  the  only  redeeming  feature 
being  the  storming  of  Gwalior,  an  almost  in- 
accessible fortress,  by  Captain  Popham.  Then 
came  bad  news  of  disasters  in  America,  of  war 
with  France,  and  of  a  coming  effort  of  the 
French  to  recover  what  they  had  lost  in  India. 
Finally  Haidar  AH,  the  Nizam  and  the  Marathas 
formed  a  confederacy  for  the  total  expulsion  of 
the  British  from  India.  The  campaign  against 
Haidar,  directed  by  Hector  Munro  of  Buxar, 
opened  disastrously  in  1780  with  the  complete 
destruction  of  a  strong  detachment  of  the  British 

39 


THE  YEARS   OF   DISASTER 

Army.  Sir  Eyre  Coote  was  then  called  to  the 
command,  and  saved  the  situation  by  the  victory 
of  Porto  Novo  in  1781,  and  by  further  successes 
at  Sholingur  and  Arni.  The  diplomacy  of 
Warren  Hastings  broke  up  the  confederacy,  and 
Haidar  Ali  died  at  the  end  of  1782  ;  but  mean- 
while French  troops  and  a  French  fleet  had 
arrived,  and  the  war  was  carried  on  by  Haidar's 
son,  Tipu  Sahib.  Another  British  detachment 
was  annihilated  at  Bednore.  The  French  fleet 
under  Suifren  had  the  advantage  of  the  British, 
and  affairs  were  coming  to  an  utterly  disastrous 
issue  after  an  obstinate  action  between  the 
British  and  French  armies  at  Gadalur,  when 
the  news  of  peace  with  France  fortunately  saved 
the  British  dominions  in  India.  Humiliating 
treaties  with  the  Marathas  in  1782  and  with 
Tipu  Sahib  in  1784  brought  the  struggle  at  last 
to  an  end.  Hastings  had  been  obliged  to  extort 
money  from  the  Rajah  of  Benares  and  the  Begums 
of  Oudh  in  order  to  carry  on  the  war  at  all  ;  and 
but  for  his  indomitable  courage  all  would  have 
been  lost.  The  twenty  years  from  1764  to  1784 
are  the  most  dismal  and  discreditable  of  all 
Anglo-Indian  history.  Of  the  three  Presidencies 
it  is  difficult  to  say  which  Council  was  the 
worst,  Bombay  and  Madras  for  crookedness  and 
folly,  or  Bengal  from  malignity  of  faction  and 
personal  spite. 

Happily  the  fools  have  been  forgotten,  and 
the  great  man,  Warren  Hastings,  is  remembered. 
His  enemies,  as  is  well  known,  pursued  him  on 

40 


GROWTH   OF  THE  SIKHS 

his  return  to  England,  and  contrived  to  work 
up  against  him  the  attack  which  is  dignified 
by  the  name  of  his  impeachment.  A  more 
infamous  proceeding  is  not  to  be  found  in  our 
history  ;  infamous,  not  because  there  was  no 
ground  for  enquiry  into  the  administration  of 
Hastings,  but  because,  though  it  was  conducted 
partly  by  honest  but  mistaken  men,  it  was  helped 
forward  by  politicians,  who  had  not  an  atom 
of  principle,  and  stooped  to  be  the  instruments 
of  personal  rancour  not  from  any  zeal  for  the 
right,  but  from  sheer  conceit  of  their  own 
oratory. 


It  may  be  gathered  that  the  position  of  the 
British  in  India  at  the  close  of  the  war 
of  American  Independence  was  none  of  the 
strongest ;  but  fortunately  a  new  power  had 
arisen  in  the  north  to  deliver  them  from  their 
most  pressing  dangers.  This  was  the  Sikhs, 
whose  organisation  and  enthusiasm  had  been 
so  far  quickened  by  persecution  that  they  had 
by  1785  mastered  the  whole  of  the  Panjab 
between  the  Jhelum  and  the  Satlaj  ;  where 
they  formed  at  once  a  barrier  against  any  new 
invasion  from  the  north-western  passes,  and  a 
dam  against  the  flood,  which  was  once  again 
rising,  of  the  Marathas.  It  was  pretty  certain 
that    before    long    there    must    be    a    struggle 

4^ 


PITT'S   EAST   INDIA   BILLS 

between  British  and  Marathas  for  the  final 
mastery  of  India  ;  for  Sindia  had  not  only 
reoccupied  Delhi  and  Agra,  but  had  actually 
called  upon  the  East  India  Company  to  pay 
tribute  for  the  tenure  of  Bengal.  For  the 
present,  however,  a  policy  of  aggression  was 
the  last  thing  that  was  favoured  either  in 
England  or  at  Calcutta.  The  British  Parlia- 
ment had  been  very  busy  with  enquiry  into 
Indian  affairs,  with  the  result  that  in  1784  and 
1786  new  India  Bills  had  been  passed  by  Pitt. 
Thereby  the  immediate  Government  in  Calcutta 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  Governor-General, 
who  was  no  longer  merely  a  member  of  his 
Council  with  a  casting  vote,  but  was  authorised 
upon  extraordinary  occasions  to  act  upon  his 
own  responsibility,  no  matter  what  the  opinions 
of  his  councillors.  Simultaneously,  superin- 
tendence of  the  civil,  military  and  financial 
business  of  the  Company  in  England  was 
committed  to  six  commissioners,  nominated  by 
the  Crown,  and  known  as  the  Board  of  Control. 
Thus  the  chief  officials  in  India  ceased  to  be 
answerable  to  the  Company,  and  became 
answerable  to  Parliament,  with  the  result  that 
the  standards  of  integrity  and  efficiency  were 
rapidly  raised,  and  many  of  the  old  abuses 
banished. 

Lord  Cornwallis  was  the  first  Governor- 
General  appointed  under  the  new  system.  He 
was  a  good  soldier  and  an  inflexibly  upright 
man,    but    otherwise   of  little    distinction  ;    and 

42 


FIRST  WAR   WITH   TIPU   SAHIB 

he  was  hampered  by  a  clause  in  the  new  India 
Act  which  forbade  him  to  declare  war  except 
for  the  defence  of  British  territory  or  of  that 
of  their  allies.  So  fatuous  an  enactment  practi- 
cally bade  the  Governor-General  sit  still  while 
his  enemies  completed  their  preparations  for 
war  ;  and  Tipu  Sahib,  puffed  up  by  his  recent 
successes,  did  not  fail  to  take  advantage  of 
the  fact.  Ultimately,  in  1791,  Cornwallis  was 
obliged  to  take  the  field  against  him  in  person  ; 
and  after  two  arduous  campaigns  Tipu  was 
forced  to  sign  a  treaty  which  deprived  him  of 
half  his  territory  and  resources. 

In  1793  began  the  long  war  with  revolu- 
tionary France  ;  and  the  last  act  of  Cornwallis 
before  he  left  India  in  that  year  was  to  seize 
the  French  settlements.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Sir  John  Shore,  a  cautious  and  feeble  man, 
who  allowed  both  the  Marathas  and  Tipu  to 
increase  their  strength  at  the  expense  of  the 
Nizam,  and  by  his  weakness  encouraged  Tipu 
to  court  the  alliance  of  the  French.  Mean- 
while the  Hindu  power  of  the  Marathas  was 
gaining  upon  the  Mohammedans  in  all 
quarters  ;  and  the  five  chiefs  of  the  confedera- 
tion had  by  this  time  practically  established 
themselves  as  independent  rulers  ;  the  most 
powerful  of  them,  Sindia  of  Gwalior,  being 
master  of  the  old  capital  of  the  Mogul  Empire. 
The  control  of  the  Peshwa  over  his  sub- 
ordinates had  ceased  ;  and  these  combative 
leaders     were     indiscriminately     fighting     each 

43 


THE  AGE   OF  ADVENTURERS 

other,  or  any  one  else  who  might  tempt  their 
cupidity.  The  whole  country  was  overrun  by 
mercenary  bands,  ready  to  sell  themselves  to 
the  highest  bidder  ;  and,  in  fact,  those  were 
the  golden  days  of  adventurers  in  India. 
Accordingly  they  swarmed  thither  not  only 
from  all  parts  of  the  Peninsula,  but  also  from 
Europe.  From  the  seventeenth  century  onward 
Europeans  had  resorted  to  the  courts  of  Indian 
potentates  as  soldiers  of  fortune.  Now  they 
came  in  numbers,  French,  Italian  and  British, 
perhaps  the  most  remarkable  of  them  being 
George  Thomas,  an  Irish  sailor,  who  by  rare 
courage  and  undoubted  military  skill  became 
for  a  time  a  reigning  prince  with  an  army  of 
ten  thousand  men.  Indirectly  these  adventurers 
exerted  an  influence  which  was  highly  favour- 
able to  the  British,  for  they  persuaded  the 
Indian  chiefs  to  train  their  troops  after  the 
European  model,  or,  in  other  words,  to  fight 
the  British  with  their  own  weapons.  Tipu 
Sahib  succumbed  to  this  temptation,  as  Haidar 
his  father  had  succumbed  before  him  ;  so  like- 
wise did  Sindia,  and  the  error  was  fatal  to 
both  of  them. 

At  last,  in  1798,  came  a  new  Governor- 
General,  who  from  the  first  made  it  the 
foundation  of  his  policy  that  Britain  must  be 
the  paramount  power  in  India,  and  reduce  the 
prevailing  anarchy  to  order.  This  was  Richard, 
Lord  Mornington,  better  known  by  his  later 
title     of    Marquess     Wellesley  ;     and     he    was 

44 


FALL   OF  TIPU   SAHIB 

accompanied  by  his  brother  Arthur,  a  rather 
sheepish  young  man  of  twenty-nine,  whom  the 
Indian  cUmate  in  a  few  months  suddenly 
ripened  to  the  full  measure  of  an  unsuspected 
genius.  Tipu  of  Mysore,  as  the  open  ally 
of  the  French,  was  the  first  enemy  with  whom 
iVLornington  grappled;  and  in  1799  Seringa- 
patam  was  stormed  by  General  Harris,  and 
Tipu  was  slain.  It  is  noteworthy  that  in  this 
campaign  Arthur  Wcllesley  held  his  first  high 
command,  and  suffered  his  greatest  failure, 
which  might  have  wrecked  any  officer  who 
had  not  the  Governor- General  for  a  brother. 
It  is  noteworthy  also  that,  if  Tipu  had  stuck 
to  the  old  principle  of  reliance  upon  light 
cavalry  only,  instead  of  trusting  to  trained 
infantry  after  the  European  fashion,  he  might 
have  evaded  any  decisive  issue,  and  wearied  out 
the  British  with  an  endless  and  unprofitable 
war.  As  things  fell  out  he  was  destroyed,  and 
his  dynasty  swept  away  ;  a  menace  which  had 
hung  over  Southern  India  for  a  whole  genera- 
tion was  removed  ;  and  the  Carnatic  and 
Tanjore  were  annexed  by  Lord  Mornington 
to  the  British  dominions. 

The  Governor-General's  next  step  was  to 
endeavour  to  restore  the  authority  of  the  Peshwa 
over  the  confederate  chiefs,  and  so  to  keep  them 
not  only  from  aggression  against  their  neighbours 
but  at  peace  with  each  other.  The  Peshwa 
readily  signed  a  treaty  of  offensive  and  defensive 
alliance,   but  Sindia  and   Holkar  refused  to  join 

45 


THE   FIRST   MARATHA   WAR 

in  it,  and  it  was  soon  discovered  that  Sindia  was 
endeavouring  to  form  a  Maratha  combination 
against  the  British.  General  Arthur  Wellesley 
was  accordingly  set  in  motion  against  Sindia's 
dominions  in  the  south,  and  General  Lake  against 
those  in  the  north-west.  Then  followed  the 
series  of  desperate  actions  which  have  immortal- 
ised the  year  1803.  Wellesley  won  the  battles 
of  Assaye  and  Argaum  ;  Lake  stormed  Aligarh, 
captured  Agra  and  gained  the  two  signal  victories 
of  Delhi  and  Laswari.  But  the  Marathas  fought 
most  nobly.  Both  at  Assaye  and  Laswari  their 
troops  displayed  a  power  of  manoeuvre  which 
disconcerted  the  British  commanders,  while  the 
Maratha  gunners  stood  by  their  guns  with  heroic 
tenacity  until  they  were  slain  by  the  bayonet. 
On  the  evening  of  Assaye  the  iron  Wellesley, 
who  had  been  miraculously  calm  all  day,  sat  down 
and  dropped  asleep  among  the  dead  and  dying, 
with  his  head  on  his  knees,  worn  out  with  the 
exertions  and  anxiety  of  the  day.  Lake,  when 
the  battle  of  Laswari  had  at  last  been  gained, 
wrote  to  Lord  Wellesley  that  he  had  never  been 
in  so  critical  a  position  before,  and  hoped  that 
he  never  would  be  again. 

These  victories  shattered  the  strength  and 
influence  of  Sindia  ;  but  Holkar,  who  had  never 
abandoned  the  traditional  tactics  of  the  Marathas, 
was  far  more  difficult  to  deal  with.  He  nearly 
destroyed  one  of  Lake's  detachments  under 
Colonel  Monson,  and,  though  subsequently  de- 
feated by  this  same  Monson  at  Deig,  led  Lake 

46 


THE   WORK   OF   MORNINGTON 

a  long  chase  almost  to  Attock  before  he  was 
finally  brought  to  terms. 

Thus  after  three  years  of  bitter  fighting  the 
great  Maratha  war  came  to  an  end  in  1806; 
having  gained  for  the  British  the  imperial  cities 
of  Delhi  and  Agra  with  the  contiguous  tracts  on 
both  banks  of  the  Jumna,  and  the  entire  country 
between  the  Jumna  and  the  Ganges,  together 
with  the  province  of  Cuttack.  Thereby  British 
territory  was  carried  forward  continuously  from 
Bengal  to  the  upper  Jumna  in  the  north,  and 
from  the  presidency  of  Bengal  to  that  of  Madras 
in  the  south.  Mornington  also  instituted  the 
principle  of  subsidiary  treaties,  which  provided 
that  the  native  states  which  accepted  them  should 
keep  no  troops  except  those  hired  from  the 
Anglo-Indian  government  ;  should  not  take  up 
arms  against  each  other  but  refer  all  disputes  to 
British  arbitration  ;  should  remain  within  the 
territorial  limits  imposed  upon  them  ;  and  should 
enter  into  no  negotiations  with  foreign  powers. 
Incidentally  he  earned  the  eternal  gratitude  of 
the  Rajputs,  the  great  fighting  clans  of  India,  in 
delivering  them  from  extinction  by  the  Marathas. 
Above  all,  as  we  have  seen,  he  took  possession  of 
Delhi,  the  key  of  Northern  India ;  and  the 
object  of  all  these  vast  designs  and  enterprises 
was  to  give  the  country,  what  it  had  never  yet 
enjoyed,  the  blessing  of  peace. 

Mornington's  policy  was  in  the  highest  sense 
imperial,  but  it  had  cost  much  money  ;  and  by 
1805   both  the  Directors  of  the  Company   and 

47 


CORNWALLIS   AND   MINTO 

the  Board  of  Control  were  of  opinion  that  he 
would  be  better  at  home.  He  returned, 
therefore,  to  be  honoured  with  the  title  of 
Marquess  Wellesley,  but  not  with  that  to  which, 
in  his  sublime  conceit,  he  aspired,  of  Duke  of 
India.  He  was  succeeded  by  Lord  Cornwallis, 
too  commonplace  a  man  to  sympathise  with 
Wellesley's  masterful  views  of  political  supre- 
macy and  of  keeping  the  peace  in  India.  He 
thought  that  England  should  remain  strictly 
within  her  own  boundaries  and  not  interfere  with 
her  neighbours  ;  but  before  he  could  carry  his 
opinions  into  action  he  died,  bequeathing  them 
first  to  a  temporary  successor,  Sir  George 
Barlow,  who  is  remembered  chiefly  by  the  fact 
that  he  goaded  the  officers  of  the  Madras  Army 
into  open  mutiny.  Lord  Minto,  who  presently 
superseded  Barlow,  endeavoured  likewise  to 
follow  the  precepts  of  Cornwallis  and  to  avoid 
all  foreign  complications  ;  but  being  confronted 
with  the  schemes  of  Napoleon  and  Alexander 
for  invasion  of  India,  he  was  fain  to  send  missions 
to  Persia,  Afghanistan  and  the  Sikhs  to  secure 
his  north-west  frontier  ;  and  to  despatch  expedi- 
tions to  Mauritius  and  Java,  which  extinguished 
every  French  and  Dutch  settlement  in  the  East. 
The  quarrel  between  the  two  European  poten- 
tates, and  the  invasion  of  Russia  by  Napoleon, 
released  him  from  any  further  apprehension  from 
the  west  ;  and  meanwhile  he  had  the  good  sense 
to  make  a  firm  stand  in  another  direction.  A 
man  of  genius,  Ranjit  Singh,  having  reorganised 

48 


RANJIT   SINGH   AND  THE  SIKHS 

the  Sikhs  as  a  military  power,  had  united  all  the 
petty  chieftainships  of  the  Panjab  into  a  great 
military  despotism.  In  1808  he  was  inclined  to 
extend  his  frontier  to  south  of  the  Satlaj  ;  but 
desisted  in  consequence  of  representations  from 
Lord  Minto  that  England  would  not  permit  it. 
Checked  thus  on  the  south-eastern  side,  Ranjit 
Singh  came  to  a  friendly  agreement  with  the 
British  as  to  his  south-eastern  border,  and  took 
advantage  of  civil  dissensions  in  Afghanistan  to 
carry  his  sovereignty  beyond  the  Indus  and  to 
annex  Kashmir. 

But  though  severely  bitten  with  the  doctrines 
of  Cornwallis,  Lord  Minto  found  himself  obliged 
once  again  to  interfere  beyond  the  British 
frontiers.  True  to  his  principle  he  had  allowed 
Central  India  to  take  care  of  itself;  and  there 
had  arisen  in  it  bands  of  freebooters,  some  of 
which  under  a  celebrated  leader.  Amir  Khan, 
were  finally  united  into  a  compact  force  of  thirty 
thousand  men.  These  bands  were  known  as  the 
Pindaris,  but  were  mere  brigands  who  overran 
all  territories  impartially,  plundering  and  devas- 
tating not  only  with  ruthlessness  but  with 
barbarous  cruelty.  This  Amir  Khan  fastened 
himself  upon  Rajputana,  which  from  internal 
strife  and  general  weakness  was  powerless  against 
him  ;  and,  in  spite  of  Wellesley's  effort  for  their 
salvation,  the  Rajputs  were  once  more  in  danger 
of  being  eaten  up.  Minto  was  obliged  to  send 
an  army  to  check  Amir  Khan's  entry  into  the 
territory  of  England's  allies,  but  he  made  no  effort 

49  E 


THE  EXPEDITION  TO   NIPAL 

to  extinguish  the  evil  of  these  predatory  bands 
altogether.  The  danger  was  the  greater,  for  the 
Maratha  leaders  Sindia,  Holkar  and  Bonsla 
were  still  chafing  over  their  lost  predominance, 
and  might  well  look  to  the  Pindaris  as  useful 
auxiliaries. 

Happily,  upon  the  departure  of  Lord  Minto 
his  place  was  taken  by  a  true  disciple  of  Wellesley 
and  a  very  able  soldier.  General,  Lord  Hastings. 
Soon  after  his  arrival,  in  1814,  his  attention  was 
claimed  by  the  encroachments  of  the  Gurkhas  in 
Nipal  who,  having  trained  and  equipped  their 
men  after  the  European  fashion,  conquered  easily 
the  local  chiefs  in  the  hills  and  descended  upon 
the  English  territory  in  the  plain.  An  expedi- 
tion was  sent  to  punish  them  under  Sir  RoUo 
Gillespie,  a  man  who,  if  it  were  safe  to  fasten 
such  a  title  upon  a  single  individual,  might  be 
described  as  the  bravest  soldier  that  ever  wore 
the  red  coat.  He  failed,  however,  at  the  outset, 
and  was  himself  among  the  killed  ;  nor  was  it 
until  1815  that  Sir  David  Ochterlony  reduced 
the  Gurkhas  to  sue  for  peace,  in  return  for  which 
they  ceded  a  long  tract  of  the  lower  Himalayas, 
thus  carrying  the  British  frontier  up  to  that  of 
the  Chinese  Empire.  This  was  the  first  of  our 
many  expeditions  into  the  mountains  in  the  north 
and  north-west,  and  our  first  and  last  war  with 
the  Gurkhas,  whose  regiments  have  made  so 
famous  a  name  for  themselves  under  the  British 

Meanwhile    the    situation    in    Central    India 

so 


HASTINGS   AND   CENTRAL   INDIA 

grew  worse  and  worse  ;  and  the  Pindaris,  secretly 
abetted  by  the  Maratha  chiefs,  made  raids  upon 
the  presidencies  both  of  Bengal  and  of  Madras. 
The  Rajput  Raja  of  Jaipur,  groaning  under  the 
oppressions  of  these  robbers,  appealed  to  the 
Governor-General  for  help  ;  and  Lord  Hastings 
decided  that  Central  India  must  be  reduced  to 
order  once  for  all.  Sindia  with  some  difficulty 
was  overawed  into  co-operation  with  the  British  ; 
but  the  Peshwa,  Bonsla  and  Holkar  openly 
sided  against  them,  only  to  meet  with  decisive 
repulses  after  hard  fighting  near  Puna,  in 
Nagpur  and  at  Mehidpur.  The  Pindaris  were 
hunted  down  by  the  British  cavalry  ;  and  their 
leader,  Chitu,  was  driven  into  the  jungle  and 
there  killed  by  a  tiger.  The  Peshwa  was  deposed, 
his  office  extinguished,  and  most  of  his  territory 
annexed. 

The  boundaries  of  the  dominions  of  Sindia, 
Holkar  and  Bonsla  were  carefully  laid  down,  and 
the  predatory  system  of  the  Marathas  was  brought 
to  an  end.  Furthermore,  it  was  ordained  that 
in  every  state  in  Central  India  the  British  Govern- 
ment should  in  future  control  all  foreign  relations, 
arbitrate  in  all  disputes  with  neighbours,  super- 
vise generally  through  a  Resident  the  domestic 
administration,  and  hold  superior  command  of  all 
subsidiary  forces  and  contingents.  Thus  the 
peace  of  Central  India  was  not  only  enforced  for 
the  present,  but  assured  for  the  future  ;  and  the 
policy  of  Lord  Wellesley  was  carried  to  its 
appointed    end.     Few    remember    the    merit  of 

51 


THE  FIRST   BURMESE  WAR 

Lord  Hastings,  either  by  that  name,  by  his  earlier 
title  of  Lord  Moira,  or  by  his  earliest  as  Lord 
Rawdon,  which  he  bore  when  he  first  won  fame 
as  a  commander  at  the  action  of  Hobkirk's  Hill 
in  the  American  War.  As  a  politician  at  home 
he  was  a  failure  ;  as  a  military  commander  he 
lacked  opportunity  of  distinction  in  his  mature 
age  ;  but  he  was  none  the  less  a  great  soldier 
and  a  great  administrator,  whose  hand  impressed 
itself  permanently  upon  the  future  of  India. 

There  were  now  but  two  points  at  which  the 
frontier  of  India  was  threatened  with  disturbance, 
in  the  north-west  by  the  Sikhs  and  in  the  north- 
east by  the  ruler  of  Burma.  This  last  had 
been  welded  into  a  single  kingdom  by  conquest 
while  England  was  still  busy  over  the  subdual 
of  Bengal;  and  the  Burmese  armies  in  1823 
carried  their  aggression  so  far  to  the  south 
and  west  as  to  invade  border-states  which  were 
under  British  protection.  Lord  Amherst,  the 
Governor-General,  therefore,  sent  an  expedition 
to  Rangoon,  which,  after  a  campaign  of  two 
years,  dictated  at  Ava  terms  of  peace,  under 
which  the  British  gained  a  safe  frontier  by  the 
cession  of  Assam,  Arakan  and  Tenasserim,  and 
by  the  recognition  of  their  protectorate  over 
sundry  minor  states.  But  while  the  army  was 
engaged  in  Burma,  the  throne  of  Bharatpur 
(Bhurtpore),  a  protected  state,  fell  vacant,  and 
was  usurped  by  a  pretender.  Such  usurpation 
was  a  direct  menace  to  the  peace  of  India,  and 
Sir  David  Ochterlony,  who  was  then  Resident 

52 


LORD  WILLIAM   BENTINCK 

at  Delhi,  promptly  assembled  a  considerable 
force  to  march  against  Bharatpur,  and  to  vindi- 
cate the  principles  laid  down  by  Hastings.  So 
little,  however,  did  Amherst  understand  his  duty 
that  he  countermanded  Ochterlony's  prepara- 
tions in  terms  of  preposterous  harshness.  The 
veteran  general,  a  man  worth  twenty  Amhersts, 
thereupon  resigned  ;  but  he  was  so  much  cha- 
grined alike  by  his  chief's  departure  from  sound 
policy,  and  by  the  slight  put  upon  himself,  that 
he  died  shortly  afterwards.  However,  Amherst 
after  all  was  obliged  to  do  himself  what  he  had 
forbidden  to  Sir  David  ;  and  the  fortress  of  Bharat- 
pur, which  had  foiled  four  successive  assaults  of 
the  fiery  Lake,  fell  before  a  systematic  siege  by 
Lord  Combermere  in  1826. 

Then  in  1828  came  a  new  Governor-General, 
Lord  William  Bentinck,  who  combined  with  the 
office  that  of  Commander-in-Chief  also.  As  a 
soldier  he  had  served  with  no  great  distinction  in 
Spain  and  in  Italy,  and  as  an  administrator  he  had 
been  recalled  from  Madras  in  1807  on  account 
of  his  responsibility  for  the  mutiny  at  Vellore  ; 
wherefore  it  is  upon  his  later  work  in  India  that 
his  reputation,  unduly  exalted  by  the  fact  that 
Macaulay  wrote  his  epitaph,  must  be  taken  to 
rest.  He  is  remembered  chiefly  for  his  aboli- 
tion of  the  rite  of  sati,  or  widow-burning,  and 
because  he  was  the  first  Governor-General  who 
made  the  material  progress  of  the  country  his 
special  care  ;  and  in  virtue  of  these  peculiar 
services  he  holds  a  just  title  to  fame.     On  the 

53 


MIXED  VIRTUES  AND   FAILINGS 

other  hand,  his  name  is  associated  with  certain 
acts  of  economy  and  false  humanity  which  leave 
a  terrible  blot  upon  his  memory.  He  blew  up 
the  celebrated  great  gun  of  Agra  to  make  money 
out  of  the  metal  ;  he  tried  to  sell  the  Taj  Mahal  ; 
and,  in  order  to  save  twenty  thousand  pounds, 
he  nearly  caused  a  mutiny  among  the  British 
officers  of  the  Bengal  army,  by  cutting  off,  in 
direct  breach  of  faith,  one  of  their  allowances. 
The  Directors  of  the  East  India  Company  had 
pressed  this  last  measure  upon  previous  Governors- 
General,  but  every  one  had  refused  to  take  it  ; 
and  its  most  mischievous  result  was  that  it 
lowered  their  officers  in  the  eyes  of  the  Sepoys, 
contributing  not  a  little  to  create  the  spirit 
which  brought  about  the  Mutiny  in  1857. 
Not  content  with  this,  Bentinck  injured  the 
discipline  of  the  Sepoys  still  more  by  abolishing 
the  punishment  of  the  lash  in  native  regiments, 
in  the  face  of  unanimous  advice  to  the  contrary 
both  from  Europeans  and  Indian  officers.^ 
Further,  he  threw  to  the  winds  the  policy  of 
Wellesley  and  Hastings,  by  abstaining,  so  far  as 
possible,  from  intervention  in  the  internal  strife 
of  protected  states.  In  other  words,  he  tried 
to  abjure  his  responsibilities  as  constable  for  the 
maintenance  of  peace  in  India  ;  allowing  in  the 
name  of  humanity  full  scope  to  disorder,  which 
is  only  another  name  for  human  misery,  until 
more  than  once  even  he  at  last  found  himself 
obliged   to   interfere.     Lastly,  it    was    Bentinck 

1  This  measure  was  in  fact  revoked  by  his  successors. 
54 


AUCKLAND  AND  AFGHANISTAN 

who  was  answerable  at  the  very  end  of  his  term 
of  office  for  the  decree  that  made  English  the 
official  language  of  India,  and  thereby  held  up 
the  acquisition  of  a  little  superficial  Western 
culture  as  the  ideal  to  be  attained  by  young 
Indians  of  talent.  On  the  whole,  excuse  could 
be  found  for  a  Governor-General  if  he  prayed 
that  the  record  of  his  rule  might  be  better  than 
that  of  Bentinck. 

Still  during  Lord  William's  term  there  was 
no  war  ;  very  far  otherwise  was  it  with  his 
successor  Lord  Auckland.  After  the  fall  of 
Napoleon  Russia  had  resumed  her  march  east- 
ward, and  very  soon  was  pressing  upon  Persia. 
Though  bound  by  a  treaty  of  alliance  to  defend 
the  Shah  against  aggression,  England,  in  dismay 
at  finding  herself  in  contact  with  an  European 
power,  decided  in  1828  to  ask  release  from 
her  obligations,  and  drew  back  her  defensive 
frontier  to  Afghanistan.  She  thereupon  became 
supremely  interested  in  that  country,  where  the 
sceptre,  by  a  transition  common  in  the  East, 
had  passed  from  Shah  Shuja,  the  legitimate  de- 
scendant of  Ahmad  Shah  Abdali,  to  the  prime 
minister.  Dost  Mohammed.  Matters  were 
brought  to  a  crisis  in  1837  ^7  ^^^  advance  of 
a  Persian  army  on  Herat  ;  the  Shah,  who  had 
ceded  territory  to  Russia  in  the  west,  being 
anxious  to  compensate  himself  by  encroach- 
ments to  the  east.  Russia  promptly  offered 
assistance  to  Dost  Mohammed,  who,  however, 
was  much  more  inclined  to  throw  himself  upon 

55 


THE  YEAR   OF  DISASTER 

British  protection.  But  Auckland  received  his 
overtures  coldly  ;  and,  though  a  British  expedi- 
tion to  the  Persian  Gulf  sufficed  to  raise  the 
siege  of  Herat,  yet  the  Governor-General  deter- 
mined to  settle  the  Afghan  question  in  another 
way  by  entering  into  a  treaty  with  the  Sikhs 
and  with  Shah  Shuja  to  replace  the  latter  on 
the  throne.  Accordingly,  in  1838  a  British 
force  advanced  to  Kandahar,  and  Shah  Shuja 
was  restored  with  little  difficulty. 

The  only  means  of  maintaining  his  rule, 
however,  was  through  a  military  occupation  of 
Afghanistan  by  the  British,  and  this,  not  less 
than  the  original  invasion,  was  an  undertaking 
of  extreme  danger.  The  base  for  the  expedi- 
tion was  Scinde,  a  foreign  country  whose  rulers, 
the  Baluchi  Amirs,  were  not  too  friendly  to  the 
British  ;  while  on  the  flank  of  our  communica- 
tions was  the  Panjab,  now  organised  into  a  great 
military  power  by  the  genius  of  Ranjit  Singh, 
and  exceedingly  suspicious  of  our  movements. 
The  occupation  was  much  resented  by  the  free 
Afghan  tribes,  whose  discontent  in  1841  ripened 
into  a  general  insurrection.  The  supplies  of  the 
British  were  cut  off,  and  the  troops  were  harassed 
by  eternal  petty  fighting  before  the  evacuation 
of  Kabul,  unwisely  deferred  until  the  winter, 
was  finally  carried  out.  The  result,  as  is  well 
known,  was  disastrous,  for  out  of  a  total  force 
of  sixteen  thousand  men  but  one  escaped.  Lord 
Auckland,  absolutely  unnerved  by  a  catastrophe 
unparalleled    in   the   history    of  the    British    in 

56 


NAPIER   IN   SCINDE 

India,  made  no  effort  to  retrieve  their  fallen 
fortunes ;  Lord  Ellenborough,  who  succeeded 
him  in  February  1842,  shrank  equally  from  a 
task  so  formidable  ;  and  it  was  left  to  two 
British  generals,  Nott  and  Pollock,  to  advance 
upon  their  own  responsibility  from  Kandahar 
and  Jelalabad  to  Kabul,  and  to  restore  the 
reputation  of  the  British  arms  by  a  final 
triumphant  campaign. 

Even  so,  however,  the  capital  of  Afghanistan 
was  recaptured  only  to  be  speedily  abandoned, 
together  with  every  political  object  which 
Auckland's  aggression  had  sought  to  attain. 
Moreover,  the  destruction  of  the  British  force 
at  Kabul  had  dangerously  shattered  the  prestige 
of  the  East  India  Company,  and  raised  up  a 
large  crop  of  enemies.  First  the  Amirs  of 
Scinde,  for  violation  of  an  unwelcome  treaty 
which  had  been  thrust  upon  them,  were 
attacked  by  Sir  Charles  Napier,  defeated  in  two 
great  battles  at  Miani  and  Hyderabad,  and  com- 
pelled to  cede  to  us  Karachi  and  the  estuary  of 
the  Indus.  This  was  on  the  whole  the  most 
brilliant  campaign  ever  fought  by  the  British 
in  India.  Next  the  Sikh  army,  released  from 
the  iron  discipline  of  Ranjit  Singh  in  1839,  had 
become  uncontrollable,  while  at  the  same  time 
the  army  of  Sindia  had  been  augmented  to 
dangerous  dimensions  and,  owing  to  a  contest 
over  the  guardianship  of  an  infant  ruler,  might 
easily  become  an  element  of  danger.  Rightly 
perceiving    the   menace    to   the   peace   of   India 

57 


THE   FIRST  SIKH  WAR 

involved  in  the  existence  of  these  two  master- 
less  hordes,  Ellenborough  dealt  first  with  the 
Marathas,  who  in  two  battles,  Maharajpore  and 
Panniar,  fought  on  the  same  day  (December 
29,  1843),  were  reduced  to  powerlessness  for 
mischief.  But  these  masterful  methods  of 
anticipating  and  averting  peril  did  not  commend 
themselves  to  the  Directors  of  the  East  India 
Company,  and  in  1844  Ellenborough  was 
unceremoniously  recalled. 

His  successor.  Sir  Henry  Hardinge,  a  soldier 
of  deserved  reputation,  found  that  Ellenborough's 
forebodings  were  well  justified  ;  for  within  less 
than  six  months  after  his  arrival  the  Sikhs 
crossed  the  Satlaj  into  British  territory  (Dec. 
1844).  Then  followed  the  severest  fighting 
ever  experienced  by  the  British  in  India,  for 
their  General-in-Chief  was  unskilful  and  their 
enemy  most  gallant  and  steadfast.  Four  well- 
contested  actions,  Mudki,  Ferozeshah,  Aliwal 
and  Sobraon,  were  necessary  to  bring  the  army 
of  the  Sikhs  to  reason.  Hardinge  thereupon 
confiscated  all  Sikh  territory  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Satlaj  and  the  tract  between  that  river 
and  the  Beas,  exacted  an  indemnity  of  a  million 
and  a  half,  enforced  the  disbandment  of  many 
Sikh  regiments,  and,  limiting  the  full  number  of 
their  army  to  thirty-two  thousand  men,  fondly 
imagined  that  he  had  given  India  permanent 
peace.  In  vain  men  of  deeper  insight  urged  the 
annexation  of  the  Panjab,  and  the  Government 
of  Lahore  predicted  a  second  rising  of  the  army 

58 


THE  SECOND  SIKH   WAR 

against  itself:  Hardinge,  not  without  reason, 
thought  his  armed  force  insufficient  to  execute  a 
more  thorough  policy  ;  so  he  did  what  he  could 
and  hoped  for  the  best.  All  was  still  quiet 
when  at  the  end  of  1847  he  made  over  the 
viceroyalty  to  his  successor  Lord  Dalhousie. 

Within  three  months  after  Hardinge's 
departure  the  peace  was  broken.  Upon  a 
trifling  pretext  the  Sikhs  again  rose  in  insurrec- 
tion, and,  after  a  very  bloody  and  indecisive 
action  at  Chilianwala,  they  were  finally  crushed 
by  the  victory  of  Gujrat.  They  had  fought 
nobly,  but  had  been  ruined  by  their  own 
indiscipline.  Dalhousie,  refusing  to  risk  further 
trouble  in  the  Panjab,  annexed  it  ;  and  its 
administration  was  refounded  from  the  very  base 
under  the  inspiration  of  Henry  Lawrence,  but 
under  the  actual  rule  of  his  brother  John,  aided 
by  such  young  officers  as  John  Nicholson  and 
Herbert  Edwardes.  The  like  work  is  now  in 
hand  in  the  Soudan,  where  British  officers  are 
proving  themselves  worthy  successors  of  their 
forerunners  in  the  Panjab.  The  annexation 
brought  the  British  frontier  up  to  the  foot  of 
the  Afghan  hills,  and  made  the  conquerors  re- 
sponsible for  checking  any  further  invasions  of 
India  from  the  north-west.  This  was  and  is  no 
trifling  burden,  even  though  recent  events  have 
tended  somewhat  to  lighten  it  ;  for  the  task  of 
punishing  the  raids  of  the  predatory  tribes  in 
the  mountains  has  been  continuous  and  endless. 
The  second  Sikh  campaign,  however,  was  the 

59 


POLICY  OF   DALHOUSIE 

last  campaign  of  conquest  to  be  fought  within 
the  bounds  of  India,  for  it  assured  the  British 
their  supremacy  in  the  country. 

Hardly  had  this  most  important  object  been 
accomplished  in  the  north-west,  when  Dalhousie's 
attention  was  called  to  the  south-east  by  the 
impracticable  conduct  of  the  government  of 
Burma.  A  short  campaign  in  1852  sufficed  to 
defeat  the  Burman  armies  ;  and  the  province  of 
Pegu  in  Lower  Burma,  with  the  estuary  of  the 
Irawadi,  was  likewise  annexed  by  the  British, 
completing  their  hold  on  the  entire  coast-line  of 
the  Bay  of  Bengal.  But  Dalhousie  did  not  stop 
at  annexations  by  conquest.  He  was  not  only  a 
Governor-General  of  Wellesley's  type,  who  took 
it  to  be  England's  highest  duty  to  maintain  the 
peace  of  India,  but  he  was  also  a  typical  Whig 
of  the  early  nineteenth  century,  firmly  convinced 
that  British  institutions  were  the  last  word  in 
political  wisdom,  and  quite  satisfied  that  British 
rule  was  not  only  the  best  but  the  most 
acceptable  that  could  be  offered  to  every  part  of 
India,  Hence,  when  the  sovereignty  of  a  native 
state  lapsed  through  want  of  natural  heirs  to 
the  reigning  dynasty,  he  thought  it  not  only 
expedient  but  morally  binding  upon  him  to 
disallow  the  adoption  of  an  heir,  and  to  take  the 
state  permanently  into  British  possession.  For 
this  reason  he  annexed  Satara,  Jhansi,  Nagpur, 
and  some  less  important  states.  Finally,  in  1856 
he  annexed  Oudh  upon  the  perfectly  sufficient 
ground  that  the  misgovernment  of  its  rulers  was 

60 


RESULTS    OF  THAT   POLICY 

insufferable,  and  in  fact  kept  the  entire  state  in  a 
condition  bordering  upon  anarchy. 

There  can  be  no  question  of  the  honesty  of 
Dalhousie's  plans  and  intentions  for  the  good  of 
India  ;  but  he  had  not  sufficiently  pondered 
Burke's  saying,  that  most  of  the  evils  of  this 
world  arise  from  the  efforts  of  one  set  of  men  to 
determine  concerning  the  happiness  of  others. 
The  failing  was,  and  is,  by  no  means  confined 
to  him  ;  indeed  there  are  signs  that  England 
herself  is  entering  upon  an  era  of  compulsory 
happiness,  which  is  without  a  precedent  in  her 
history.  In  India,  however,  Dalhousie's  feverish 
haste  and  boundless  self-confidence  in  the 
substitution  of  British  for  native  ideas  and 
prejudices  begat  suspicion  and  unrest.  His 
eagerness  to  do  away  with  misrule  was  construed 
as  rapacity  of  power  ;  and  his  zeal  to  abolish 
usages,  which  shocked  his  Western  sensibility, 
was  misinterpreted  as  a  deep  design  to  over- 
throw ancient  custom  and  tradition.  He 
brought,  in  fact,  to  a  head  all  the  discontent 
which  had  been  bred  by  the  mistakes,  mis- 
conceptions and  offences  of  every  Englishman 
who  had  lived  in  India  from  the  beginning  of 
British  rule.  But  it  is  due  to  him  to  add  that 
he  foresaw  that  trouble  might  come  of  some  of 
his  measures,  until  their  good  intent  had  been 
proved  by  experience,  and  that  he  asked,  though 
in  vain,  for  an  increase  of  the  British  garrison  to 
avert  all  peril  meanwhile. 

Now,   however,   the   establishment   of  peace 

6i 


THE  MUTINY  OF  1857 

through  the  length  and  breadth  of  India  left  the 
native  army  idle.  In  the  course  of  a  century 
the  Sepoys,  joined  to  the  British,  had  met  and 
vanquished  every  armed  force  in  the  land,  and 
seeing  their  British  officers  steadily  belittled  both 
by  the  East  India  Company  and  by  successive 
Commanders-in-Chief,  the  native  soldiers  thought 
that  they  themselves  had  accomplished  every- 
thing and  were  invincible.  An  insult  to  their 
religious  prejudices,  which  seems  to  have  been 
fancied,  though  by  them  believed  to  be  real, 
sufficed  to  make  them  break  out  in  May  1857 
into  open  mutiny  and  murder  ;  and  they  were 
joined,  as  was  natural,  by  all  the  bad  characters 
and  very  many  of  the  dissatisfied  in  India  at 
large.  The  insurrection  was,  as  has  been  well 
said,  a  wild  fanatic  outbreak ;  yet,  viewed  soberly 
at  a  distance  of  more  than  fifty  years,  its  weak- 
ness and  helplessness  are  the  facts  that  show 
themselves  in  strongest  relief.  Though  in  more 
than  one  quarter  British  officials  and  officers 
blundered  seriously,  yet  it  can  hardly  be  said 
that  the  issue  was  doubtful  after  the  first  two 
months,  though  the  final  restoration  of  peace  and 
order  was  delayed,  owing  not  a  little  to  military 
mismanagement,  until  1859. 

Some  months  earlier,  on  the  ist  of  November 
1858,  it  was  announced  by  proclamation  that  the 
East  India  Company  was  abolished,  and  that  the 
Government  of  India  had  been  taken  over  by  the 
Queen, with  Lord  Canning,  the  reigning  Governor- 
General,  for  her  first  Viceroy.     Incidentally  the 

62 


INDIA   UNDER  THE  CROWN 

suppression  of  the  mutiny  had  laid  the  uneasy 
ghosts  of  certain  great  names  and  offices  which 
had  long  perished  in  substance  from  India.  "The 
phantom  of  a  Mogul  Emperor  and  his  Court 
vanished  from  Delhi  ;  the  last  pretender  to  the 
honours  of  the  Maratha  Peshwa  disappeared 
from  Cawnpore."  The  East  India  Company, 
whose  authority  had  been  long  threatened  and 
continually  weakened  by  successive  Acts  of 
Parliament,  was  finally  extinguished.  The 
British  Crown  assumed  the  unquestioned  sove- 
reignty of  India  ;  the  new  ruler.  Queen  Victoria, 
announced  that  she  would  always  labour  for  the 
prosperity  of  her  newly  acquired  dominions  ; 
and  she  faithfully  kept  her  word. 


VI 

Since  that  time  there  has  been  unbroken 
internal  peace  in  India.  Dalhousie's  policy  of 
annexation  was  definitely  repudiated  in  i860, 
and  all  ruling  chiefs  received  the  Queen's  assur- 
ance that,  in  default  of  natural  heirs,  successors 
chosen  by  adoption  according  to  the  law  and 
custom  of  their  families  would  be  recognised 
and  upheld  by  the  British  Government.  Twice 
indeed  the  Government  has  intervened  to  depose 
rulers  convicted  of  culpable  misconduct  or  mal- 
administration, but  in  each  case  the  vacancy  has 
been  filled  by  another  representative  of  the 
reigning  family.       So  far  indeed  is  the   Crown 

63 


NORTH-WEST  FRONTIER  WARS 

from  desiring  to  absorb  native  states  that  in  1881 
it  actually  restored  Mysore  to  the  ancient  Hindu 
family  from  which  Haidar  Ali  had  taken  it  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  though   the  burden   of 
reconquest  had  fallen  wholly  upon  the  British. 

On  the  other  hand,  on  the  frontiers,  and 
particularly  in  the  north-west,  there  has  been 
constant  trouble  with  predatory  tribes,  and  a  long 
succession  of  expeditions.  In  1863  the  moun- 
taineers about  the  Peshawar  valley  needed  to  be 
taught  a  stern  lesson  by  what  is  known  as  the 
Umbeyla  campaign.  In  1864  it  was  necessary 
to  send  troops  into  Bhutan,  a  small  state  lying 
to  east  of  Nipal,  which,  however,  soon  saw  the 
advisability  of  submission,  and  has  since  given 
no  trouble.  In  1876  Baluchistan,  whose  unruly 
clans  were  constantly  troubling  the  British 
border,  was  by  successful  diplomacy  turned  into 
a  British  protectorate  ;  and  two  years  later  a 
similar  result  was  brought  about,  principally  by 
force  of  arms,  in  Afghanistan.  In  1878  as  a 
consequence  of  European  complications,  Russia 
sent  an  envoy  to  Kabul,  who  drew  up  a  treaty 
of  alliance  with  the  Amir,  Sher  Ali,  on  the 
strength  of  which  that  potentate,  in  defiance  of 
all  warning,  refused  to  receive  a  British  mission. 
His  territory  was  therefore  invaded.  The 
Amir  fled  ;  and  after  his  death  in  1879  his  son 
Yakub  Khan,  in  return  for  certain  concessions, 
was  set  up  by  us  as  Amir,  agreeing  at  the  same 
time  to  admit  the  British  envoy  whom  his  father 
had  excluded.     Within  three  months   that   un- 

64 


THE  AMIR  ABDUR   RAHMAN 

fortunate  gentleman  was  assassinated,  and  the 
whole  country  rose  up  in  arms  against  Yakub  Khan 
and  his  British  allies.  Not  without  difficulty 
and  danger  Kabul  and  Kandahar  were  held,  but 
the  outbreak  seemed  to  be  hopeless,  for  the 
Government  of  India  had  never  contemplated 
the  subdual  of  the  whole  country,  and  yet  there 
appeared  to  be  no  prospect  of  an  end  to  anarchy  if 
the  British  garrisons  were  withdrawn.  Happily 
at  this  moment  came  forward  Abdur  Rahman, 
nephew  of  a  still  earlier  Amir,  whom  the  Viceroy 
offered  to  accept  as  Yakub  Khan's  successor  and 
to  protect  against  foreign  aggression.  In  1880 
the  matter  was  finally  settled,  and  the  British 
troops  were  about  to  withdraw,  when  a  younger 
son  of  Sher  Ali,  Ayub  Khan,  marched  with 
an  army  from  Herat,  routed  a  British  force 
which  attempted  to  check  him,  and  invested  the 
British  garrison  at  Kandahar.  He  was,  however, 
presently  attacked  and  defeated  by  Sir  Frederick 
Roberts,  who  had  marched  from  Kabul  to  the 
relief  of  Kandahar  ;  and  Abdur  Rahman  was  left 
in  charge  of  the  country.  Being  a  man  of 
remarkable  ability  and  indomitable  will  he  soon 
established  his  authority  on  all  sides,  and  put  an 
end  to  the  internal  disorder  which  had  distracted 
Afghanistan  for  generations.  There  was  a  criti- 
cal moment  in  1885  when  a  dispute  about  the 
frontier  brought  the  Russians  and  Afghans  into 
actual  collision,  and  Russia  and  England  to  the 
verge  of  war  ;  but  hostilities  were  averted,  and 
the    border    was    demarcated    by    international 

65  F 


CHITRAL;    BURMA;    TIBET 

agreement.  Since  then  the  convention  of  1907 
has  still  further  improved  relations  betw^een 
England  and  Russia,  and,  thanks  to  the  removal 
of  this  long-standing  cause  of  quarrel  and  to  the 
firm  rule  of  Abdur  Rahman,  Afghanistan  for 
more  than  twenty  years  has  been  unusually  quiet 
and  prosperous.  Upon  the  death  of  Abdur 
Rahman  in  1901  his  place  w^as  taken  by  his 
son,  the  present  Amir,  without  a  sign  of  any 
revolt  or  contest  for  the  succession. 

There  was  no  further  disturbance  in  the 
north-west  until  1896,  when  the  British  pro- 
tectorate was  extended  to  the  tribes  on  the 
western  border  of  Kashmir.  These  rose  and 
besieged  the  British  garrison  in  Chitral,  which 
was  not  rescued  without  hard  fighting  and  a 
dangerous  and  difficult  expedition.  This  pro- 
tectorate brought  the  British  frontier  up  to  that 
of  the  Chinese  Empire  in  Kashgar. 

The  next  quarter  in  which  there  was  trouble 
was  Burma,  where  the  King  had  not  only  mal- 
treated British  subjects,  but  was  secretly  favour- 
ing French  interests  in  his  country  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  British.  As  he  seemed  deaf 
to  all  warnings,  a  British  force  marched  to 
Mandalay  in  November  1885.  Upper  Burma 
was  annexed,  and  after  two  years  of  hard  work 
order  was  restored  in  the  land.  The  tribes 
on  the  extreme  east  in  due  time  became  our 
tributaries ;  and  on  this  side  again  we  have 
come  into  contact  with  China. 

Lastly,  the  expedition  to  Lhasa  in   1903—4, 

66 


ADMINISTRATIVE   PROGRESS 

put  an  end,  as  was  thought,  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  last  of  our  northern  neighbours. 
But  the  situation  was  presently  complicated 
by  the  expulsion  of  the  Grand  Lama  from 
Tibet  by  Chinese  troops,  and  has  since  been 
still  further  confounded  by  the  return  of  the 
Grand  Lama  to  his  capital  in  consequence 
of  the  domestic  troubles  of  China.  Recent 
occurrences,  indeed,  have  revived  in  great 
measure  our  anxieties  not  only  in  the  north, 
but  in  the  north-west ;  for  with  complete 
anarchy  in  Persia,  and  vast  changes  which  may 
signify  anarchy,  or  at  least  long  intestine  dis- 
turbance, in  China,  it  is  not  easy  to  forecast 
where  troubles  may  begin  or  end  upon  the 
Indian  frontier. 

So  much  for  external  affairs  since  i860  ; 
let  us  now  glance  for  a  moment  at  internal 
progress  within  the  same  period.  The  first 
great  administrative  measures  were  the  recon- 
stitution  of  the  Governor-General's  Council  for 
purposes  of  legislation  in  1861  ;  the  enactment 
of  the  Penal  Code  and  the  Code  of  Criminal 
Procedure  in  the  same  year,  and  the  passing  of 
a  succession  of  Acts  to  serve,  as  well  as  could 
be  designed,  in  lieu  of  codification  of  the  Civil 
Law.  This  great  and  essential  preliminary 
work  having  been  done  for  the  foundation  of 
a  stable  order,  it  remained  to  carry  administra- 
tive reforms  gradually  into  every  department, 
and  to  endeavour  by  patience,  tact,  and  under- 
standing,    to     train     the    people    of    India    to 

67 


MATERIAL   PROGRESS 

sympathy  with  the,  to  them,  new  idea  of 
government  by  fixed  law.  Concurrently,  educa- 
tion was  promoted  according  to  the  ideas  laid 
down  by  Lord  William  Bentinck,  and  conse- 
crated by  the  approval  of  Lord  Macaulay. 
Latterly  Indians  have  been  admitted  more  and 
more  freely  to  high  administrative  and  judicial 
offices  ;  and  a  first  step  has  been  made  towards 
representative  institutions  by  the  introduction 
of  municipalities  into  all  considerable  towns, 
and  of  Legislative  Councils  first  into  the 
provinces  and  recently  into  the  seat  of  supreme 
government. 

Material  enterprise  has  kept  pace  with 
administrative  progress.  Great  public  works 
have  been  undertaken  ;  the  country  has  been 
covered  with  a  network  of  railways ;  and 
gigantic  schemes  of  irrigation  have  made  huge 
areas  productive  which  were  formerly  sterile, 
already  disarming  the  spectre  of  famine  of  some 
of  its  terrors,  and  bidding  fair,  with  further 
development,  to  weaken  it  still  more.  With 
peace  and  order  assured,  with  fertility  enhanced, 
with  improved  means  of  transport  from  the 
interior  to  the  sea,  the  wealth  of  the  country 
has  been  augmented,  the  population  has  in- 
creased, and  the  habits  of  the  people  have  been 
sensibly  affected.  Finally,  the  assumption  by 
Queen  Victoria  of  the  title  of  Empress  of  India 
emphasised  the  incorporation  of  the  great 
Peninsula  into  the  British  Empire,  while  her 
deep  personal  interest  in  Indian  affairs  brought 

68 


THE   MEANING   OF  EDUCATION 

home  to  all  her  Indian  subjects  that  they  were 
indeed  the  children  of  the  Great  White  Queen. 

Yet  the  administrative  policy  and  actions  of 
England,  honestly  and  unselfishly  designed  for 
the  good  of  India,  have  not  borne  the  fruit 
which  was  hoped  for.  The  results  of  higher 
education,  in  the  Western  sense,  have  not  always 
fulfilled  the  hopes  and  aims  of  its  advocates. 
It  is  true  that  this  experience  is  by  no  means 
confined  to  India  among  British  possessions,  nor 
to  British  possessions  in  the  world  at  large  ; 
but  nevertheless  the  real  end  of  education  seems 
to  be  more  dangerously  misconceived  in  India 
than  elsewhere,  or  at  any  rate  the  consequences 
of  such  misconception  are  peculiarly  disturbing 
to  Indian  students.  The  truth  perhaps  is  that 
there  is  much  confusion  of  thought  as  to  the 
meaning  of  the  word  education,  for  the  term 
is  used  to  cover  two  descriptions  of  training — 
that  of  the  intellect  and  character  for  making 
a  good  citizen,  and  that  of  the  hand,  eye  and 
brain  for  the  making  of  a  good  craftsman.  The 
latter  is  a  means  to  an  end,  the  former  is  an  end 
in  itself;  but  modern  enthusiasts  for  so-called 
education  have  confounded  these  two  things. 
They  have  breezily  assumed  that  if  a  man  be 
taught  in  theory  to  conduct  himself  fittingly  as 
a  social  unit,  all  other  things  shall  be  added 
unto  him  ;  that,  if  he  be  trained  in  theory  to 
exercise  the  suffrage,  he  will  thereby  be  qualified 
to  earn  an  honest  living.  In  brief,  they  have 
forgotten    that    a    full    belly,    and    not     a  full 

69 


THE  TWO   CIVIC  VIRTUES 

brain  is  the  vital  condition  of  individual  human 
life. 

In  former  days  in  England  the  distinction 
between  the  two  kinds  of  education  was  care- 
fully observed  ;  and  indeed  it  may  be  said  that  as 
a  rule  both  kinds  were  rarely  given  to  one  man. 
The  English  gentleman,  having  higher  civic 
duties  imposed  upon  him  than,  as  a  rule,  had  the 
craftsman,  trained  himself  to  fulfil  them  by  study 
of  the  laws  of  his  country.  The  craftsman 
learned  his  craft  through  apprenticeship  to  a 
guild,  and,  having  mastered  it,  could  claim 
that  he  too  had  done  his  part  as  a  good 
citizen  ;  even  though  private  bounty  had  estab- 
lished many  schools  where  the  poorer  children 
might  learn  at  any  rate  to  read,  write  and 
cipher.  But  the  children  of  both  rich  and 
poor  were  brought  up  on  perhaps  the  noblest 
brief  code  of  citizenship  ever  drawn  up  by 
human  hand — the  exposition  of  one's  duty 
towards  one's  neighbour  in  the  Church  Cate- 
chism. Hereby  they  were  taught  that  the 
two  great  civic  virtues  are  self-respect  and  self- 
sacrifice  ;  and  this  is  a  lesson  which  cannot  be 
improved  upon.  Since  then  times  have  changed 
greatly.  The  right  of  voting  at  parliamentary 
elections  has  been  given  practically  to  every 
adult  male  ;  and  the  obligation  to  learn  how 
to  read,  write  and  cipher  has  been  forced  without 
cost  to  parents  upon  every  child.  Knowledge 
of  the  law  has,  for  quite  sufficient  reasons, 
perished  from  among  the  gentry  ;    and   know- 

70 


RIGHTS  AND   DUTIES 

ledge  of  their  duty  towards  their  neighbour  is 
perishing  from  among  all  classes.  It  seems  to 
have  been  hoped  that  what  is  called  a  literary 
education  would  make  good  and  more  than  make 
good  all  that  has  hereby  been  lost,  for  train- 
ing the  young  to  self-respect  and  self-sacrifice. 

Now  it  must  be  observed  that  self-sacrifice 
has  always  been  exacted  in  the  form  of  taxation 
by  every  state,  as  well  as  in  other  forms,  such 
as  service  on  juries,  in  the  militia,  and  so  forth. 
With  the  more  elaborate  organisation  of  society, 
however,  the  tendency  in  England  has  been  to 
make  fewer  and  fewer  claims  upon  the  citizen  ; 
to  encourage  him,  in  fact,  to  think  much  of  his 
rights  and  little  of  his  duties.  Other  nations 
exact  from  all  adult  males  a  period  of  military 
training  ;  England  not  only  makes  no  such 
demand,  but  has  swept  away  the  old  militia 
through  which  it  was — perhaps  still  is — the  law 
that  every  man  must  pass.  British  state  educa- 
tion in  the  matter  of  self-sacrifice  must  therefore 
be  set  down  as  imperfect  :  let  us  now  examine 
it  in  the  matter  of  self-respect.  The  first  step 
to  self-respect  is  undoubtedly  self-dependence  ; 
and  it  is  probable  that  the  old  system  which 
made  the  power  to  earn  a  livelihood  the  first 
point  in  the  education  of  the  mass  of  the  people, 
was  at  least  as  good  as  the  new.  On  the  other 
hand,  since  the  franchise  has  now  been  extended 
to  all  men,  it  is  arguable  that  they  should  be 
trained  to  exercise  that  privilege  aright  ;  and 
that  therefore  the  key  to  all  knowledge  should 

71 


LITERARY  EDUCATION 

be  placed  impartially  in  the  hands  of  all. 
Hence  more  and  more  time  is  given  to  deliver- 
ing the  rudiments  of  a  literary  education  to 
children  ;  and  2i  still  higher  literary  education 
is  taken  to  be  the  ideal  for  those  whom  fortune 
has  not  compelled  to  work  with  their  hands. 

Yet  literary  education,  the  advantage  of 
which  I  am  not  concerned  to  deny,  is  after  all 
a  luxury  and  hardly  a  necessity.  At  its  highest 
it  aims  at  imparting  "  the  knowledge  of  the 
best  that  has  been  thought  and  said  in  the 
world,"  or  what  is  often  called  culture  ;  and, 
if  such  culture  were  more  widely  diffused,  it 
would  undoubtedly  be  the  better  for  all  of  us. 
But  much  time,  much  labour  and  peculiar 
gifts  are  needed  for  its  acquisition,  and  still 
more  peculiar  gifts  for  its  rightful  employ- 
ment. It  may  perhaps  be  called  the  highest 
of  all  luxuries,  too  much  despised  by  the  rich, 
who  can  best  afford  to  gain  it  ;  never  perhaps 
so  truly  prized  as  by  the  honourable  poor,  who 
sometimes  starve  themselves  to  win  it  ;  but  in 
any  case  a  luxury  of  luxuries,  enjoyable  only  by 
the  few.  Shepherds  on  different  sides  of  the 
world  are  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  of  its 
votaries.  In  Scotland  there  is  the  born 
shepherd,  unmatched  in  his  own  business  of 
tending  sheep,  but  happy  in  the  industry  and 
devotion  which  has  made  him  learn  Shakespcre 
by  heart,  and  master  thoroughly  the  history  of 
ancient  Greece  and  Rome.  In  Australia  there 
is  the  young  graduate  of  Oxford  or  Cambridge, 

72 


AN   END   IN   ITSELF 

an  intelligent  student  and  no  mean  scholar 
who,  finding  no  work  to  do,  has  become  a 
shepherd — and  probably  an  indifferent  shepherd 
— in  Australia  upon  "  five  bob  a  day  and  his 
tucker,"  and  consoles  himself  for  a  dreary  out- 
look in  life  with  his  Homer  and  his  Aeschylus. 

These  are  men  who  use  their  literary  educa- 
tion aright  as  an  end  in  itself;  but  they  are 
the  exception.  It  is  hard  to  see  how  they 
should  be  otherwise.  In  the  first  place,  the 
State  gives  facilities  for  technical  education  to 
follow  upon  the  earlier  literary  education  ;  and 
technical  education  is  simply  a  means  to  a 
commercial  end.  In  the  second  place,  parents, 
schoolmasters  and  tutors  never  cease  to  hold 
up  to  students  the  commercial  as  well  as  the 
intellectual  value  of  a  good  degree  at  the 
University  ;  while  the  State  itself  has  made 
competitive  examinations  in  literary  subjects 
the  means  of  ingress  to  the  Civil  Service. 
The  truth  is,  that  a  great  many  students,  unless 
they  had  a  vague  idea  that  culture  would 
ultimately  in  some  way  provide  them  with  a 
livelihood,  would  not  pursue  it  at  all  ;  they 
would  abandon  it  for  more  practical  work, 
perhaps,  though  not  certainly,  to  return  to  it 
later  with  joy.  But  few  teachers  have  the 
heart  to  damp  the  ardour  of  an  eager  lad  by 
telling  him  that  his  desperate  struggles  with  two 
dead  languages  must  be  their  own  reward,  and 
cannot  stand  between  him  and  starvation. 
Hence   when   the   time   comes   for    the  youth's 

73 


EDUCATION   IN   INDIA 

entry  in  earnest  upon  the  battlefield  of  life 
there  is  bitter  disillusion  and  disappointment. 
There  is  not  room  for  more  than  a  very  few 
in  the  ranks,  already  overcrowded,  of  the  public 
service  or  of  the  learned  professions  ;  and  he  must 
seek  his  bread  elsewhere.  The  English- 
speaking  world  is  wide  ;  he  crosses  the  ocean 
to  seek  his  fortune  ;  and  after  many  humiliations 
he  settles  down  to  be  a  shepherd  or  a  boundary- 
rider,  happy  or  embittered  according  to  his 
temperament,  but  sometimes  broken-hearted,  and 
always  a  little  astonished. 

In  India  the  case  of  the  student  is  still  worse. 
It  is  difficult  enough  even  for  an  European  to 
assimilate  with  discrimination  the  best  that  has 
been  thought  and  said  in  his  world  ;  for  in  the 
first  place  there  is  considerable  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  what  is  the  best,  and  in  the 
second,  the  best,  unless  rightly  understood,  may 
easily  become  the  worst.  The  true  value  of 
education  is  to  teach  people  to  realise  their  own 
ignorance  ;  but  no  common  knowledge  is 
necessary  to  master  this  lesson,  and  no  ordinary 
courage  in  the  young  to  accept  it  as  worth 
learning.  Youth  always  craves  for  certainty, 
and  finds  it  easiest  to  treat  the  knowledge,  which 
flatters  its  own  crude  prejudices,  as  the  best.  In 
India  the  danger  of  haste  and  misunderstanding 
is  multiplied  an  hundredfold.  There  public 
instruction  is  a  new  thing,  and  in  its  higher 
branches  is  based  on  foreign  thought  embodied 
in   a  foreign   literature,  while   the   intellects   to 

74 


ENGLISH    HISTORY  AT   FAULT 

which  it  is  offered  are  singularly  quick,  subtle 
and  voracious.     What  is  its   object  ?     To   train 
young  men  to  good  citizenship  ?     But  citizen- 
ship  in   the    East   is   a   very    different   thing  to 
citizenship   in   the   West.     The   most    eloquent 
passages    in    English    history    and    oratory    are 
those  devoted  to  conflict  with  Royal  authority, 
the   dethronement   of  Kings,  and   the   conquest 
of  what    is    called    civil    and    religious    liberty. 
The  most  famous  of  English   legal   enactments 
are    those   which    strike    at    the    power    of  the 
Crown  and  curb  the  domination  of  the  priest- 
hood.     Pontiffs  and  autocrats  have  undoubtedly 
been  responsible  for  much  of  the  evil  that  has 
plagued  the  world,  but  they  have  also  been  re- 
sponsible for  much,— perhaps  most— of  the  good 
that  has  improved  it  ;  and  it  may  be  questioned 
whether  the  Anglo-Saxon  is  not  over  prone  to 
exalt    resistance    to    authority    as    something    m 
itself    meritorious.       In    any    case    the    classical 
incidents  of  English  history  do  not  furnish  sound 
models   for    good    citizenship   in    India.   ^  How 
should  an  intelligent  Indian  see  any  profit  in  such 
literary  training  if  it  is  not  to  yield  him  a  liveli- 
hood ?      But  outside  the  public  service  and  the 
legal  and  medical  professions  there  is  no  demand 
for   Indians    of   European    education  ;     and    the 
number  of  candidates  far  exceeds  the  places  that 
can  possibly  be  found  for  them.      The  Indian 
cannot,  like   the  Englishman,  smother  his   dis- 
appointment and  bury  himself  in  the  Colonies. 
The  natural  result  is   that  the  unsuccessful  are 

75 


THE   PAX   BRITANNICA 

bitterly  discontented,  that  they  cry  out  for  the 
vote  which  they  have  been  educated  in  theory 
to  employ,  and  that  they  agitate  for  Society  to 
be  altered  in  order  to  fit  their  needs,  because 
they  find  that  Society  in  its  present  state  offers 
no  outlet  for  their  accomplishments. 

Again,  the  bare  enforcement  of  the  pax 
Britannica^  though  of  infinite  relief  and  benefit 
to  the  peasant,  that  is  to  say,  to  perhaps  three 
hundred  out  of  the  three  hundred  and  twenty 
millions,  is  galling  to  more  ambitious  spirits. 
The  old  medium  of  competition  in  India 
was  the  sword,  and  the  country  was  the 
Paradise  of  adventurers.  A  soldier  of  genius  at 
the  head  of  a  handful  of  villagers  might  carve 
out  a  kingdom  and  found  a  dynasty,  enlisting 
the  unhappy  peasants,  whose  homesteads  he  had 
ruined,  as  his  mercenaries.  Then  in  due  time 
the  Court  gathered  about  itself  artists  and  crafts- 
men to  build  temples  and  palaces,  to  compose 
poems  and  histories,  and  to  preserve  those 
compositions  in  a  beautiful  script  embellished 
with  even  more  beautiful  illuminations.  The 
prosaic  work  of  peace  is  not  yet  found  to  be 
equally  inspiring  ;  the  railway  and  the  canal, 
even  though  the  canal  may  mean  the  difference 
between  life  and  death  to  tens  of  thousands, 
awake  no  lyrics.  All  is  quiet,  but  all  is 
uninteresting.  As  a  French  critic  said,  the 
British  Government  is  just,  but  it  is  not  lovable. 

To  many  of  us  at  home  this  fact  will  seem 
strange    and     even    mortifying.       The     British 

76 


AN   AUSTERE  GOVERNMENT 

civilian's  ideal  of  duty  towards  India  is  very 
high,  and  he  labours  honestly  and  conscientiously 
to  fulfil  it.  The  British  military  officer,  being 
thrown  daily  and  hourly  with  his  Indian  officers 
and  men,  is  even  more  closely  in  touch  with 
Indian  thought  and  feeling  than  the  civilian,  and 
frequently  makes  the  more  successful  adminis- 
trator of  the  two.  We  know  the  names  of  men 
in  both  services  whose  deep  interest  in  the 
Indians  and  sympathy  with  them  has  found 
expression  in  what  may  be  termed  the  classic 
literature  of  British  India,  in  the  writings  of 
Orme  and  Grant  Duff,  Henry  Maine  and  Alfred 
Lyall  among  civilians,  and  of  Mark  Wilks  and 
Meadows  Taylor  among  soldiers.  One  soldier, 
John  Nicholson,  as  is  well  known,  is  still 
worshipped  by  some  Indians  as  a  god.  More- 
over, we  may  confidently  believe  that  there  are 
men  of  this  stamp  always  to  be  found  among 
the  British  servants  of  the  Indian  Government. 
And  yet  that  Government  as  a  whole  is  to  the  in- 
habitants something  distant  and  aloof;  respected, 
indeed,  as  is  the  austere  father  of  a  family  by  his 
children,  but  not  loved.  It  is  often  accused  of 
trampling  ruthlessly  upon  native  custom  ;  but 
one,  who  knew  its  excellences  and  its  failings 
well,  long  ago  vindicated  it  from  this  slander. 
"The  interference  of  the  British  Government," 
he  wrote,  "  has  rarely  taken  the  form  of  high- 
handed repression  or  contemptuous  discourage- 
ment." On  the  contrary,  he  urged  that  since 
1857  British  administrators  had  been  too  nervous 

77 


THE  BENEVOLENT  ELEMENT 

about  altering  native  custom,  alleging  that  the 
Indians  are  not  so  closely  wedded  to  their  usages 
as  to  be  unwilling  to  surrender  them  for  any- 
tangible  advantage.  And  this  complaint  is 
echoed  by  educated  Indians  at  the  present  day, 
who  appeal  to  the  Government  to  come  down 
from  its  high  place  and  give  the  people  a  lead  in 
certain  social  reforms  ;  for  if,  say  these  writers, 
Government  will  not  take  the  matter  in  hand, 
no  one  else  will  or  can.  There  are,  of  course, 
two  sides  to  such  a  question  as  this  ;  and  a  man 
who  is  not  intimately  acquainted  with  India  is 
wise  to  hesitate  before  he  takes  either  the  one 
or  the  other.  Nevertheless,  the  defect  of  our 
administration  seems  to  be  that  its  functions  are 
identified  in  the  native  mind  chiefly  with  those 
of  the  constable  and  the  engineer.  The 
Government  is  just,  but  it  is  insufficiently  human. 
Its  benevolent  element  exists  indeed,  but  has  its 
dwelling-place  in  the  heart  of  a  White  Queen  or 
a  White  King  many  thousands  of  miles  away 
across  the  sea. 


VII 

In  1906  His  present  Majesty,  then  Prince  of 
Wales,  visited  India,  together  with  his  Princess, 
and  was  profoundly  touched  by  the  cordial 
welcome  which  he  received  in  every  quarter. 
On  his  return  he  was  publicly  entertained  by 
the    Lord   Mayor  of  London  at  the   Guildhall, 

78 


'A   LITTLE   MORE   SYMPATHY' 

and  took  occasion  to  appeal  for  a  "  little  more 
sympathy "  in  the  relations  of  the  Indian 
Government  with  the  Indian  people.  The 
native  press  caught  up  the  phrase  with  joy  and 
gratitude,  and  repeats  it  constantly  to  this  day. 
But  sympathy  is  a  personal  and  not  an  official 
matter,  a  quality  of  the  heart  and  not  of  the 
head,  and  therefore  an  attribute  of  a  ruler  and 
not  of  a  Government.  Hence  the  words  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales  seemed  after  analysis  to  be 
rather  a  counsel  of  perfection.  Within  four 
years,  however,  the  Prince,  through  the  lamented 
death  of  his  father.  King  Edward  the  Seventh, 
was  suddenly  called  to  the  throne  and  to  the 
headship  of  the  British  Empire.  He  then 
bethought  himself  of  the  words  that  he  had 
spoken,  and  conceived  at  once  an  earnest  desire 
to  revisit  India  as  King-Emperor.  The  idea, 
wholly  his  own,  commended  itself  to  his 
Ministers,  and  in  his  first  speech  to  Parliament 
on  the  6th  of  February  191 1  His  Majesty 
announced  that  he  purposed  to  journey  to  India 
during  the  ensuing  winter.  The  declaration 
caused  the  greatest  surprise  in  England,  and 
there  was  much  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
wisdom  of  this  unprecedented  step.  Upon  the 
whole,  perhaps,  the  croakers  were  in  the  majority, 
partly  no  doubt  because  such  a  novelty  as  the 
King's  visit  to  India  had  never  occurred  to 
more  than  ten  in  half  a  million  of  them  ;  partly 
because  prognostication  of  evil  is  generally  rated 
a    higher    form    of  sagacity    than    anticipation 

79 


THE   DEPARTURE   FROM   LONDON 

of  good.  This  was  no  more  than  was  to  be 
expected  from  human  nature ;  but  underlying 
these  predictions  of  failure  was  a  very  sincere, 
though  generally  silent,  apprehension  for  the 
King's  safety.  His  Majesty,  however,  had  no 
misgivings  ;  and  many  gentlemen  with  great 
experience  of  India  declined  even  to  listen  to 
gloomy  forebodings  of  any  kind. 

Their  Majesties  were  crowned  in  Westminster 
Abbey  on  the  22nd  of  June  191 1,  the  anniversary 
of  Queen  Victoria's  Diamond  Jubilee  ;  and  long 
before  that  date  the  details  of  the  ceremonies  at 
Delhi  were  under  incessant  discussion,  while 
the  plan  of  the  amphitheatre  for  the  Durbar  had 
been  marked  out  on  its  full  scale  with  flags  in 
Windsor  Home  Park.  After  the  Coronation 
followed  the  Royal  progresses  to  Wales,  Ireland 
and  Scotland,  and  these  had  not  long  been  over 
before  the  preparations  for  the  voyage  to  India 
required  attention.  Their  Majesties  were  able 
to  enjoy  a  few  weeks  of  well-earned  rest  at 
Balmoral  ;  but  the  state  of  public  affairs  in  the 
autumn,  owing  to  the  tension  between  France 
and  Germany,  the  Railway  Strike,  and  the  war 
between  Italy  and  Turkey,  gave  rise  to  constant 
rumours  that  the  visit  must  be  deferred.  Never- 
theless the  date  of  departure  was  but  very  little 
later  than  that  which  had  been  first  appointed. 

At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i  ith  of 
November,  191 1,  Their  Majesties  left  Bucking- 
ham Palace  with  the  Prince  of  Wales  and 
Princess  Mary,  and  drove  by  a  circuitous  route 

80 


DEPARTURE  FROM  PORTSMOUTH 

amid  great  crowds  of  people  to  Victoria  Station.  Nov.  i 
There  Queen  Alexandra,  Queen  Maud,  Princess 
Victoria  and  Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught  were 
waiting  to  accompany  the  King  to  Portsmouth  ; 
and  many  other  members  of  the  Royal  Family, 
besides  several  of  the  Ministers,  and  of  their 
Majesties'  friends  were  assembled  to  bid  them 
farewell.  At  10.30  the  Royal  train  left  Victoria, 
and  punctually  at  12.30  ran  alongside  the  jetty  at 
Portsmouth.  There  the  King,  after  inspecting 
the  Guard  of  Honour,  came  aboard  the  Medina^ 
together  with  the  Queen,  Queen  Alexandra,  the 
Queen  of  Norway,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  Princess 
Mary,  Princess  Victoria,  and  Prince  Arthur  of 
Connaught.  The  captains  of  the  escorting  ships 
were  then  presented  to  the  King  by  Sir  Colin 
Keppel,  after  which  they  returned  immediately 
to  their  commands.  His  Majesty's  guests  at 
luncheon,  including  the  suite  that  was  accompany- 
ing him  to  India,  numbered  in  all  fifty-three. 

At  a  little  after  half-past  two  these  guests 
took  leave  of  Their  Majesties  and  returned  to  the 
shore,  Queen  Mary  supporting  Queen  Alexandra 
to  the  gangway.  Three  tugs  came  alongside  to 
haul  the  Medina  off  from  the  jetty,  and  the  great 
ship  slowly  got  under  way.  By  this  time  the 
weather  had  grown  more  threatening,  the  wind 
was  blowing  fairly  hard  from  the  south-west 
with  every  symptom  of  freshening,  and  the 
rain  had  begun  to  fall  in  angry  stinging  drops. 
Still,  all  adverse  circumstances  notwithstanding, 
the  scene  was  a  remarkable  one.     The  bunting, 

81  G 


THE  SCENE  AT  SPITHEAD 

Nov.  II.  with  which  every  ship  in  the  harbour  was 
dressed,  could  hardly  find  time  to  be  gay  in 
its  desperate  striving  against  wind  and  rain  ; 
but  the  salute  from  the  guns  of  the  Victory 
could  not  but,  from  old  association,  be  stately 
and  solemn.  Ashore,  the  strand  on  the  side  of 
Portsmouth  was  thronged  by  crowds  of  people, 
with  and  without  umbrellas,  all  watching  to 
see  the  last  of  the  King,  who  was  conspicuous 
upon  the  upper  bridge.  I  read  afterwards  in 
the  newspapers  that  they  cheered  loudly  ;  but 
not  a  sound  of  it  was  to  be  heard  on  board. 
The  last  persons  distinguishable  on  land  were 
two  military  officers  in  full  uniform  who,  with 
cloaks  fluttering  madly  to  leeward,  brought  their 
heels  together,  not  without  difficulty,  and  came 
to  the  salute. 

The  Admiralty  yacht,  Irene,  with  the  First 
Lord  on  board,  led  the  Medina  to  Spithead, 
where  her  escorting  squadron  of  four  cruisers 
was  awaiting  her,  namely  the  Cochrane,  Defence, 
Argyll  and  Natal,  which  took  their  places  in 
the  order  named  astern  of  her,  in  single  line 
ahead.  Presently  the  yacht  drew  away,  having 
signalled  a  respectful  message  of  farewell  to 
Their  Majesties  ;  and  an  hour  or  so  later  eleven 
great  ships  appeared  on  the  starboard  bow,  all, 
to  the  landsman's  eye,  in  utter  confusion.  But 
presently  the  Medina  altered  course  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  circle,  when  as  if  by  magic  the 
seeming  disorder  disappeared,  and  the  Home 
Fleet  was  discovered   steaming   in  two   parallel 

82 


THE   HOME   FLEET 

lines   ahead  ;    the   starboard    division   consisting  Nc 
of  the  Neptune  (flagship  of  Admiral  Sir  Francis 
Bridgeman),    Vanguard^  Superb^  St.    Vincent  and 
Collingwood  ;   the  port  division  of  the  Indomitable^ 
Indefatigable,    Invincible,    Temeraire    and     Dread- 
nought, v^^ith    the    Gloucester    cruiser    (to    use    a 
military   phrase)    on   the   flank.      Into   the   gap 
between  the  two  divisions  entered   the   Medina 
and  her  escort,  and  the  fifteen  great  ships,  some 
of  the  most  powerful  war-vessels  afloat,  steamed 
away  into  the  teeth  of  the  increasing    gale  in 
three   parallel   lines,   with   the   Medina   leading, 
one    and    all    in    such    perfect    order    that    the 
whole  seemed  to  be  driven  by  a  single  engine. 
Darkness  fell  rapidly,  the  more  rapidly  as   the 
weather  grew  steadily  worse  ;   and  the  ships  of 
the  Home  Fleet  could  hardly  be  distinguished 
except   by   the   signal -lights   that    flickered   in- 
cessantly at  their  foremast-heads,  showing  that 
the    perfection    of    orderly    movement    was    no 
mechanical   matter,  but    the    fruit   of  practised 
skill   and   unintermittent   vigilance.     There   are 
few   things   more   striking   to  a  landsman   than 
the  silent  garrulity  of  a  fleet  at  sea.     To  him, 
a  mere   passenger,  everything   seems   to   go   on 
with    monotonous    smoothness  ;     and     only    if 
admitted  to  a  sight  of  the  signal-logbook  does 
he  realise   how   incessant  is  the  interchange  of 
messages  between  ship  and  ship. 

Soon  after  night  fell  Sir  Francis  Bridgeman, 
having  permission  from  the  King  to  take  his 
ships  back  to  their  anchorage,  signalled  to  Their 

83 


H.M.S.   MEDINA 

Nov.  II.  Majesties  the  Home  Fleet's  farewell  ;  and  at 
this  point,  when  the  Medina  and  her  escort 
were  for  the  first  time  left  alone,  it  becomes 
time  to  say  something  of  this  vessel,  and  of 
those  that  sailed  in  her. 

The  Medina  herself  was  in  November  1 9 1 1 
the  latest  addition  to  the  fleet  of  the  Peninsular 
and  Oriental  Company,  built  of  steel,  with 
reciprocating  engines  and  twin  screws  ;  and  her 
burden,  measured  by  the  standard  of  the  mercan- 
tile marine,  is  thirteen  thousand  tons.^  Hired 
by  the  Admiralty  to  convey  the  King  and  Queen 
to  India,  she  was  commissioned,  together  with 
the  four  escorting  cruisers,  for  particular  service, 
and,  when  Their  Majesties  were  not  on  board, 
carried  the  flag  of  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin 
Keppel,  who  commanded  the  whole  squadron. 
Sir  Colin's  flag-captain  was  Captain  Chatfield  ; 
and  the  ship's  full  complement  was  thirty-two 
officers  and  three  hundred  and  sixty  petty  officers 
and  men  of  the  Royal  Navy,  over  and  above 
four  officers  and  two  hundred  and  six  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  men  of  the  Royal  Marines, 
including  the  band  of  the  Royal  Marine  Artillery. 
The  total  number  of  souls  of  all  classes  and 
denominations  on  board  the  ship  was  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-three. 

Built  to  accommodate  about  six  hundred  and 
fifty  passengers  of  all  classes,  it  may  be  guessed 
that  the  Medina  aflForded  ample  space  for  the 
King  and  Queen  and  their  suite  of  twenty-two 

^  Eighteen  thousand,  Admiralty  measurement. 
84 


I 


MISS   BARING.  DUCHESS  OF    DEVONSHIRE.  COUNTESS   OF  SHAFTESBURY. 

THE   QUEEN    AND    HER   LADIES. 


To  /ace  J>agc  85. 


H.M.S.   MEDINA 

persons.  She  possesses  a  great  many  decks,  Nov.  n 
called  by  sundry  arbitrary  names,  of  which  it  must 
suffice  to  say  that  the  uppermost  was  occupied 
by  the  officers  of  the  ship,  the  next  by  the 
junior  members,  and  the  third  by  the  senior 
members  of  the  suite  ;  Their  Majesties'  cabins 
being  forward  on  the  same  deck  with  the 
senior  members,  but  separated  from  most  of 
them  by  the  entire  length  of  an  immense  saloon. 
This  proved  to  be  a  bad  arrangement.  The 
cabins  of  Their  Majesties  and  of  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  who  were  near  them  were  so  far 
forward  as  to  be  very  trying  in  a  seaway,  though 
in  other  respects  they  were  luxurious.  No 
pains,  however,  had  been  spared  to  ensure  the 
comfort  of  all  ;  and,  to  speak  only  for  myself,  I 
can  say  that  I  have  in  other  voyages  in  distant 
seas  shared  with  seven  other  persons  a  smaller 
space  than  was  in  the  Medina  assigned  to  me 
alone.  Being  old  enough  to  remember  that 
thirty  years  ago  subaltern  officers  were  forced  to 
be  content  with  a  hammock  in  the  lower  troop- 
deck  of  the  old  Indian  troop-ships,  and  having 
seen  "  the  pandemonium  "  (as  it  was  called)  with 
the  troops  actually  in  it,  I  am  glad  to  think  that 
the  enormous  increase  in  the  size  of  ships  has 
brought  augmented  comfort  to  many  thousands. 
The  suite  consisted  of  the  Duchess  of  Devon- 
shire, Mistress  of  the  Robes  ;  Lady  Shaftesbury, 
Lady  of  the  Bedchamber  ;  Miss  Venetia  Baring, 
Maid  of  Honour  ;  and  Lord  Shaftesbury,  Lord 
Chamberlain,   in    attendance    upon    the    Queen. 

85 


THE   KING'S   SUITE 

Nov.  II.  In  attendance  upon  the  King  were  H.S.H.  the 
Duke  of  Teck,  personal  Aide-de-Camp  ;  Lord 
Crewe,  Secretary  of  State  for  India ;  Lord 
Durham,  Lord  High  Steward ;  Lord  Annaly, 
Lord-in-Waiting ;  Lord  Stamfordham,  Private 
Secretary  ;  Lieutenant-general  Sir  Horace  Smith- 
Dorrien,  Aide-de-Camp  General  ;  Sir  Derek 
Keppel,  Master  of  the  Household ;  Captain 
Godfrey  Faussett  and  Commander  Sir  Charles 
Cust,  Majors  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  and 
Wigram,  Equerries  ;  Major-general  Sir  Stuart 
Beatson,  Extra  Equerry  ;  Lieutenant-colonel  Sir 
Havelock  Charles,  late  of  the  Indian  Medical 
Service,  Serjeant  Surgeon  ;  Sir  Edward  Henry, 
Chief  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  and  Extra 
Equerry  ;  Sir  James  Dunlop  Smith,  Political 
Officer  ;  Mr.  Frank  Lucas  of  the  India  Office, 
private  secretary  to  Lord  Crewe  ;  Mr.  Jacomb 
Hood,  the  official  artist  ;  and  the  present  writer. 
Of  the  above-named  gentlemen  all  but  three 
had  visited  India  before,  as  travellers  or  on  duty  ; 
and  five  had  spent  a  good  part  of  their  lives  there. 
No  fewer  than  thirteen  had  begun  life  in  the 
Army  or  Navy,  or  are  still  serving  in  one  or  the 
other,  of  whom  eight  had  seen  active  service  in 
the  field  ;  and  strangely  enough  there  were  among 
them  representatives  of  the  Household  Cavalry, 
Cavalry  of  the  Line,  Indian  Cavalry,  Artillery, 
Foot  Guards,  and  Infantry  of  the  Line.  Taking 
the  whole  body  together  there  were  few  portions 
of  the  British  Empire,  to  say  nothing  of  foreign 
countries,  which  were  not  known  to  one  or  other 

86 


A   GALE   IN  THE   BAY 

of  them  at  first  hand,  and  few  campaigns  of  the  Nov.  12. 
past  thirty  years  in  which  one  or  other  of  them 
had  not  taken  a  share.  There  were  only  two 
who  had  travelled  less  than  thirty  thousand 
miles,  and  only  three  who  had  travelled  less 
than  fifty  thousand  miles  by  sea  ;  while  one,  not 
a  naval  officer,  had  traversed  over  two  hundred 
thousand  miles. 

The  wind  continued  to  freshen ;  and  after 
rounding  Ushant,  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
1 2th,  the  Medina  encountered  a  full  gale  from 
the  south-west.  In  order  to  reach  Gibraltar  at 
the  appointed  time  the  Admiral  increased  speed 
to  seventeen  knots  ;  and  thereupon  matters 
became  uncomfortable.  The  huge  bulk  of  the 
Medina  seemed  to  promise  that  she  would  be 
comparatively  still  in  any  sea  ;  but  driven 
against  the  long  rollers  of  the  Atlantic  she  was 
sufficiently  lively,  and  pitched  heavily.  At 
every  plunge  she  took  in  green  seas  over  her 
bows,  while  the  flying  spray  drenched  her  from 
stem  to  stern.  Considering  that  most  of  the 
people  in  her  were  old  travellers  or  sea-faring 
men,  the  amount  of  sea-sickness  was  astonishing. 
Officers,  men  and  passengers,  all  suffered  alike, 
the  men  perhaps  most  severely  of  all.  Doubtless 
this  was  due  in  part  to  the  fact  that  their 
quarters  were  very  far  forward,  where  the 
motion  of  the  ship  was  felt  at  its  worst  ;  but  the 
truth  is  that  the  British  sailor  of  these  days  so 
rarely  leaves  home-waters  that  he  has  little 
experience    of  long    heavy   seas.     Thirty   years 

87 


CRUISERS   IN  A  GALE 

Nov.  12.  ago  a  naval  officer  twenty-one  years  of  age  had 
probably  served  in  at  least  three  different  foreign 
stations  ;  now  it  is  a  common  thing  to  find 
officers  of  still  longer  standing  who  have  never 
travelled  so  far  even  as  Gibraltar.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  the  number  of  seamen  prostrate  was  extra- 
ordinary ;  and  the  attendance  of  the  passengers 
at  meals  was  very  scanty.  The  cruisers  astern 
thought  that  the  Medina  was  making  bad  weather 
of  it,  and  we  certainly  thought  the  same  of  them. 
Low  in  freeboard  and  weighed  down  forward 
by  huge  guns,  the  cruisers  took  the  water  over 
their  bows  in  tons  ;  and  at  every  plunge  they 
were  hidden  to  their  topmast-heads  by  clouds 
of  spray  —  a  very  grand  sight.  Nevertheless 
they  suffered  little  harm.  In  the  morning 
the  Argyll's  torpedo-netting  broke  loose,  and  she 
dropped  out  of  the  line  to  secure  it,  the  Natal 
standing  by  her  to  give  assistance.  All  day  the 
gale  continued,  and  in  the  course  of  the  night  a 
heavy  sea  struck  the  Medina  amidships,  broke 
the  window  of  a  cabin  on  the  second  deck,  tore 
down  all  the  fittings  of  the  electric  light,  and 
flooded  the  cabin  itself.  Had  any  one  been 
sleeping  there  he  would  have  been  unpleasantly 
awakened,  but,  as  it  happened,  there  was  no  one, 
the  place  having  been  set  apart  as  a  writing- 
room  for  myself.  I  am  bound  to  say  that  the 
first  aspect  of  the  cabin  after  the  mishap  filled 
me  with  dismay  ;  but  fortunately  little  of  my 
stuff  had  been  unpacked,  the  trunks  were  water- 
proof, and  the  damage  done  was  trifling. 


OFF  CAPE   ST.    VINCENT 

By  daylight  of  the  13th  the  gale  had  Nov.  13. 
greatly  moderated,  the  sea  had  gone  down,  it 
was  brighter  and  warmer,  the  passengers  were 
reappearing  one  after  another,  and  altogether 
it  was  pleasant  cruising.  Another  twenty-four 
hours  brought  still  greater  improvement  ;  and 
at  a  little  past  eight  in  the  morning  of  the 
14th  we  were  off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  steaming  over 
the  waters  where  Sir  John  Jervis  fought  his 
memorable  action  of  the  14th  of  February 
1797.  Even  now,  when  Captain  Mahan's  books 
have  been  in  our  hands  for  nearly  twenty  years, 
we  have  hardly  done  full  justice  to  the  great 
commander,  who  in  the  sixth  year  of  a  war  of 
almost  uninterrupted  failure  boldly  attacked 
twenty-one  ships  with  twelve,  because  "  England 
had  great  need  of  a  victory  at  that  moment." 
Meanwhile,  however,  the  wind  continued  always 
dead  in  our  teeth,  checking  our  way,  and 
making  it  impossible  to  reach  Gibraltar  at  half- 
past  four,  which  was  the  appointed  time.  It 
was  therefore  necessary  to  cancel  all  previous 
arrangements  ;  and  in  the  forenoon  the  Admiral 
sent  the  four  cruisers  forward  at  a  speed  of 
nineteen  knots,  so  that  they  might  have  the 
more  time  to  coal,  and  thus  save  delay  in  the 
departure  on  the  morrow.  They  left  us  accord- 
ingly ;  and  after  one  of  the  most  glorious 
sunsets  that  I  ever  beheld  we  steamed  into 
Gibraltar,  guided  by  the  search-lights  of  the 
Atlantic  fleet,  which  was  anchored  in  two  lines 
outside  the  mole. 

89 


GIBRALTAR;    KING'S   BASTION 

Nov.  15.  The  town  was  a  blaze  of  illumination,  which 
forbade  all  sight  of  the  Rock  itself;  and  hardly 
was  the  Medi?jas  anchor  down  at  a  little  before 
nine  o'clock  than  a  flotilla  of  steam-launches 
swarmed  out  all  round  her,  playing  their  little 
search-lights  in  all  directions,  and  sparkling  like 
fireflies.  The  fleet  knows  how  to  keep  watch 
over  the  Sailor  King. 

Dawn  of  the  15th  revealed  the  Rock  in  all 
its  majesty,  with  the  curious  zigzag  walls  which 
mark  the  remains  of  the  old  fortifications,  and 
the  modern  guns  stark  against  the  sky-line. 
Over  against  us  lay  the  King's  Bastion,  its  glory 
departed,  if  indeed  the  glory  can  ever  depart 
from  such  a  relic.  For  here  it  was  that  stout 
old  Eliott  strode  up  and  down  in  the  thick  of 
the  French  and  Spanish  shot  during  the  long 
night  of  the  13th  and  14th  of  September  1782, 
until  day  dawned  at  last  and  showed  the  enemy 
discomfited.  Within  it,  too,  there  is  the 
grave  of  General  Robert  Boyd,  the  engineer 
who  designed  the  bastion  ;  who  was  Eliott's 
second  in  command  during  the  famous  siege  ; 
who  urged  upon  him  the  use  of  red-hot 
shot  against  the  French  floating  batteries  ;  and 
who  finally  begged  that  he  might  be  buried 
on  the  spot  which  he  had  defended  so  well. 
In  the  King's  Bastion,  accordingly,  he  lies, 
too  much  forgotten  by  the  thousands  of  English- 
men who  week  after  week  pass  and  repass 
Gibraltar,  without  a  thought  for  those  who 
kept  the    flag   flying    on    the    summit    through 

90 


THE   ATLANTIC   FLEET 

some   of  the    darkest    years    of  recent    English  Nov.  15. 
history. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  ten  ships  of  the  Atlantic 
fleet  fired  a  salute  ;  and  two  hours  later  the 
chief  officers  of  the  garrison  and  the  fleet  came 
on  board  to  pay  their  duty  to  the  King, — the 
Governor,  Sir  Archibald  Hunter  and  his  staflf; 
Vice-Admiral  Sir  John  Jellicoe  ;  Rear-Admirals 
Cradock  and  Burney  ;  Captains  Hopwood, 
Sinclair,  Ward,  Prendergast,  Sheppard,  Chapman, 
Kemp,  Hodges,  Grant  and  Heaton  Ellis,  all  of 
the  Atlantic  fleet  ;  and  Rear-Admiral  Pelham, 
Admiral  Superintendent  of  the  Dockyard.  The 
Spanish  Governors  of  Cadiz  and  Alge^iras,  the 
captain  of  His  Spanish  Majesty's  ship,  Principe 
Regente,  the  captain  of  the  Portuguese  w^arship, 
Adamaster^  and  the  foreign  consuls  were  also 
received  by  His  Majesty. 

The  escorting  cruisers,  having  completed 
their  coaling,  steamed  out  shortly  afterwards  ; 
and  at  a  little  past  eleven  the  Medina  followed 
them,  every  ship  of  the  Atlantic  fleet  saluting, 
with  her  seamen  lining  the  decks  and  her 
marines  on  the  superstructures.  The  King, 
always  in  his  uniform  as  Admiral  of  the  Fleet, 
was  on  the  bridge  of  the  Medina^  and  as  she 
steamed  past  the  fleet  the  men  gave  him  three 
cheers,  ship  after  ship,  the  marines  holding  their 
white  helmets  high  aloft  in  their  left  hands.  It 
was  a  fine  sight,  for  disciplined  men  are  always 
a  fine  sight  ;  and  when  they  cheer  from  their 
hearts   it    is   an    inspiriting   sound.     Within   an 

91 


THE   MEDITERRANEAN 

Nov.  hour  the  Medina  had  overhauled  the  cruisers 
^5-20-  and  taken  her  place  at  the  head  of  the  line  ;  and 
thus  ended  the  King's  outward  visit  to  Gibraltar, 
so  far  abridged,  owing  to  the  inevitable  delay 
caused  by  foul  winds,  as  to  be  practically 
deferred  until  the  return  journey. 

Beautiful  weather  followed  Their  Majesties 
on  their  passage  through  the  Mediterranean  ; 
and  the  whole  party,  being  recovered  from  sea- 
sickness, settled  down  to  the  regular  routine  of 
life  at  sea — breakfast  at  8.30,  luncheon  at  i.o, 
dinner  at  7.30,  and  the  band  at  all  hours.  The 
prayers,  which  are  read  daily  (except  on 
Saturdays)  in  the  King's  ships,  were  regularly 
attended  by  Their  Majesties  ;  and  on  Sunday 
mornings  (excepting  during  the  gale  in  the  Bay 
of  Biscay)  Divine  Service  was  held  on  deck  by 
the  chaplain.  Early  in  the  voyage  the  King 
expressed  his  desire,  though  he  did  not  make  it 
his  command,  that  such  members  of  the  suite 
and  their  servants  as  required  it,  should  be 
revaccinated.  To  so  wise  a  measure  there  were 
no  conscientious  objectors ;  and  for  a  day  or  two 
Sir  Havelock  Charles  and  the  naval  surgeons 
were  besieged  by  a  crowd  of  patients.^  On  the 
night  of  the  19th  the  Admiral  reduced  speed 
to  thirteen  knots,  so  as  to  avoid  too  early  an 
arrival  at  Port  Said.  About  four  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  20th,  the  two  rearmost  of  the  cruisers 
came  up  on  the  Medina  s  port  quarter,  and   in 

^  It  may  be  mentioned  that  at  least  one  visitor  at  the  Durbar — an 
American  gentleman — caught  small-pox  and  died  at  Delhi  on  the  very 
day  when  the  camp  was  broken  up. 

92 


PORT   SAID 

this  new  formation  the  squadron  steamed  up  to  Nov.  20. 
the  anchorage. 

It  was  now  ascertained  that  one  of  the 
colliers  appointed  to  bring  coal  to  the  squadron 
had  gone  ashore  some  eighty  miles  from  Port 
Said,  and  that  in  consequence  fresh  arrangements 
for  coaling  must  be  made.  It  was  therefore 
decided  that  three  of  the  cruisers  should  be 
sent  forward  to  Aden  to  coal  there,  and  that 
the  Argyll^  after  coaling  at  Port  Said,  should 
form  the  Medina's  sole  escort  to  Aden.  The  sun 
went  down  in  gorgeous  colours  behind  the  low 
land  and  palm  trees  before  us ;  and  at  about  six  in 
the  evening  the  Medina  picked  up  her  moorings 
opposite  to  the  Custom  House  and  about  a 
hundred  yards  from  it.  The  entire  town  was 
illuminated,  making  a  very  pretty  effect,  which 
was  heightened  by  the  reflection  of  the  lamps 
in  the  water.  Shortly  afterwards  Lord  Kitchener 
came  on  board  with  his  staff,  followed  by  the 
Sirdar  and  by  General  Maxwell  ;  all  of  whom 
having  been  received  by  the  King  went  ashore, 
returning  later  to  dine  with  Their  Majesties. 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  hubbub  by  land  and 
water  the  Argyll  came  up  into  the  narrow 
passage,  all  crowded  with  shipping,  where  the 
Medina  lay,  her  vast  bulk  creeping  on  silently  and 
very  slowly  like  a  huge  grey  ghost.  It  seemed 
almost  incredible  that  so  powerful  an  engine  of 
destruction  should  be  so  noiseless,  and  her  appear- 
ance suggested  astonishing  possibilities  of  surprise 
against  an  unwary  enemy,  if  there  should  arise 

93 


THE   KHEDIVE'S   VISIT 

Nov.  21.   such  another  master  of  that  difficult  art  as  the 
famous  Dundonald. 

All  night  the  process  of  coaling  the  Medina 
went  forward,  with  extraordinarily  little  sound 
and  disturbance  considering  the  circumstances  ; 
and  dawn  revealed  great  activity  in  the  camp  of 
a  British  battalion  which  lay  a  few  hundred 
yards  distant  from  the  ship.  That  activity  was 
presently  explained  by  the  appearance  of  a  guard 
of  honour  of  the  Scots  Guards,  and  of  a  second 
guard  of  the  Seventh  Egyptian  battalion,  before 
the  Custom  House.  The  Egyptians  were  fine 
men,  well  set-up  ;  and  in  their  uniform  of  dark 
grey-blue,  red  tarboosh  and  white  Zouave  gaiters, 
they  looked  uncommonly  smart.  At  half-past 
ten  His  Highness  the  Khedive,  wearing  Egyptian 
uniform  and  the  star  and  ribbon  of  the  Bath, 
came  on  board,  attended  by  his  brother.  Prince 
Mehemet  Ali,  his  Prime  Minister,  and  the  two 
British  Ministers  of  Finance  and  the  Interior. 
H.I.H.  Prince  Zia-ed-Din,  son  of  the  Sultan  of 
Turkey,  attended  by  the  Turkish  Grand  Master 
of  the  Ceremonies,  arrived  at  the  same  time. 
Lord  Kitchener,  the  Sirdar,  and  General  Maxwell 
had  already  preceded  them  ;  and  the  Governor 
of  Suez,  Kiamil  Pasha,  and  the  principal  officials 
of  the  Suez  Canal  Company  also  came  on  board. 
The  King,  who  wore  the  uniform  of  an  Admiral 
of  the  Fleet,  and  the  ribbon  and  star  of  the 
Medjidieh  Order,  received  their  Highnesses  in 
the  drawing  -  room  above  the  dining  saloon, 
where    Kiamil    Pasha    read    aloud    a    letter    of 

94 


NEW  AND   OLD   EGYPT 

welcome  to  His  Majesty  from  the  Sultan  in  Nov.  21. 
Turkish,  of  which  the  Master  of  the  Ceremonies 
read  a  translation  in  French.  The  King  then 
replied  in  English.  Shortly  afterwards  the  King 
returned  the  Khedive's  visit  on  board  His 
Highness's  yacht,  which  was  lying  close  by,  and 
the  King  and  Khedive  then  inspected  the  two 
guards  of  honour.  At  one  o'clock  His  Highness, 
Kiamil  Pasha  and  the  whole  of  the  visitors  of 
the  morning  returned  to  the  Medina  for  luncheon, 
and  at  a  little  before  three  His  Highness  took 
leave.  No  one  could  fail  to  remark  the  very 
cordial  bearing  of  the  Khedive  towards  Lord 
Kitchener,  bearing  witness  to  the  good  relations 
which  evidently  reigned  between  the  head  of  the 
Egyptian  State  and  the  British  Consul-General. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  Queen  went  ashore 
privately,  and  most  of  the  suite  also  went  ashore 
upon  their  own  account.  To  the  present  writer, 
who  had  not  visited  Egypt  since  1878,  the 
change  in  the  appearance  of  the  natives  was 
startling.  Their  bearing  was  independent  and 
self-  respectful,  and  their  physical  condition 
greatly  improved ;  while  the  number  of  the 
blind,  of  the  one-eyed,  and  of  those  marked  with 
small-pox  was  reduced  beyond  belief.  It  was 
difficult  to  credit  that  these  were  the  same  people 
which  one  had  seen  sometimes  working  in  chains 
in  the  fields,  sometimes  trussed  like  fowls  and 
carried  away  to  Cairo  as  refractory  conscripts, 
nearly  always  abject  and  cowering.  One  must 
not    draw    hasty    conclusions    from    superficial 

95 


THE   SUEZ  CANAL 

Nov.  22.  observation,  but,  even  after  all  that  one  has  heard 
and  read  of  the  benefits  thatEgypt  has  derived  from 
British  direction  of  her  Government,  I  confess 
that  I  was  amazed  at  the  transformation  which 
had  been  accomplished  within  thirty  years.  One 
change,  however,  though  doubtless  welcome  to  a 
section  of  Englishmen,  seemed  to  me  deplorable, 
namely  the  substitution  of  vulgar  Manchester 
goods  for  the  older  cotton  garments,  woven  and 
dyed  at  home,  which  formerly  clothed  the 
Egyptian  peasant. 

The  Royal  dinner-party  in  the  evening 
included  Lord  Kitchener,  the  Sirdar,  Admiral 
Gamble,  and  Captains  Culme  Seymour,  Tothill, 
Moubray,  and  Tyrrwhitt  of  His  Majesty's  ships 
Argyll y  Lancaster^  Suffolk  and  Bacchante^  of  which 
ships  the  three  last  were  lying  at  Port  Said  when 
the  Medina  came  in.  After  dinner  there  was  a 
display  of  fireworks  given  by  the  Suez  Canal 
Company  ;  and  as  water  was  not  lacking  to 
reflect  the  blaze,  which  is  of  the  essence  of  a 
successful  show  of  fireworks,  the  effect  was 
extremely  beautiful. 

The  Medina  weighed  anchor  at  6  a.m.  on  the 
22nd  November,  and  shortly  afterwards  entered 
the  Suez  Canal.  The  Khedive  had  taken  every 
precaution  for  the  safety  and  honour  of  his 
Royal  guest  during  the  passage.  At  every 
kilometre-post  stood  a  sentry  ;  and  patrols  of  the 
Egyptian  camel-corps  or  of  Bedaween  followed 
the  ship  throughout  on  both  banks,  relieving 
each    other  from   time  to   time.     Sometimes   a 

96 


THE  KING'S  EGYPTIAN  ESCORT 

group  of  fifteen  or  twenty  Bedaween  would  Nov. 
assemble  together  in  their  picturesque  robes  of 
black  and  white,  fire  their  muskets  in  salute,  and 
trot  alongside  for  a  few  hundred  yards.  Hardly 
less  picturesque  were  the  men  of  the  Egyptian 
camel-corps  in  khaki  coat,  tarboosh  and  putties, 
mauve-grey  breeches,  brown  bandoliers  and 
brown  goat-skin  saddles  ;  a  beautiful  combina- 
tion of  greys  and  browns  which  admirably  sets 
off  their  jet-black  faces  for  purposes  of  parade, 
and  yet  makes  for  the  extreme  of  invisibility  on 
active  service.  Curiously  enough  the  actual 
speed  of  one  of  the  camels  was  just  that  of 
the  ship  ;  and  this  animal  kept  his  station  exactly 
off  a  certain  point  of  the  starboard  quarter  for 
fully  six  miles.  But  the  most  remarkable  feat 
of  all  was  that  of  an  Austrian  officer  of  the 
Egyptian  gendarmerie,  who  followed  the  ship 
from  Port  Said  to  the  lakes  without  a  moment's 
halt.  He  was  well  mounted,  changing  horses 
about  every  ten  miles,  and  moved  generally  at 
a  trot  with  an  occasional  break  into  a  canter,  but 
sat  always  bolt  upright  without  rising  in  his 
stirrups.  He  crossed  Lake  Timsah  in  a  steam- 
launch,  and  on  reaching  the  other  side  mounted  a 
camel  which  was  waiting  for  him,  when  he  con- 
tinued his  trot  until  he  reached  the  Bitter  Lakes, 
forty-seven  miles  from  his  starting-point,  and 
could  go  no  farther.  I  watched  him  constantly, 
and  I  could  not  see  that  he  displayed  the 
slightest  symptom  of  fatigue,  for  he  sat  erect 
and  soldierlike  from  beginning  to  end. 

97  H 


SUEZ   AND  THE  RED   SEA 

Nov.  At    Ismailia,    where     Sir    Garnet    Wolseley 

23-27-  landed  in  1882,  the  whole  population  was  on 
the  banks  ;  and  when  the  Medina  reached  Suez 
at  seven  in  the  evening  the  entire  front  of  the 
canal  was  lined  with  people,  bands  were  play- 
ing, and  the  town  was  ablaze  with  rockets 
and  illuminations.  One  party  of  Englishmen, 
apparently  at  the  Club,  gave  three  tremendous 
cheers  ;  and  when  Their  Majesties  showed 
themselves  on  deck,  a  stentorian  voice  cried  out 
"  One  cheer  more  for  their  coming  up,"  which 
evoked  a  final  prodigious  roar.  We  did  not  stop 
at  Suez,  however,  but  only  slowed  down  to  take 
on  board  some  telegrams,  and  proceeded  onwards 
down  the  Red  Sea. 


VIII 

And  now  for  the  first  time  the  three  flags 
borne  by  a  royal  yacht — Admiralty  flag  at  the 
fore.  Royal  standard  at  the  main,  and  the  Union 
Jack  of  an  Admiral  of  the  Fleet  at  the  mizzen 
— were  seen  east  of  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  it 
seemed  a  pity  that  there  was  but  one  escorting 
cruiser  to  do  honour  to  the  occasion.  In  the 
Red  Sea  we  were  lucky  in  encountering  calm 
weather  and  no  oppressive  heat.  Indeed  at 
sunset  on  the  25th  we  ran  into  heavy  squalls  of 
rain,  lit  up  by  an  incessant  flicker  of  blue  sheet- 
lightning,  which  not  only  was  better  than  any 
display     of    fireworks,     but     also     considerably 


ARRIVAL  AT  ADEN 

reduced  the  temperature.  At  one  in  the  Nov.  27. 
morning  of  the  27th  we  passed  Perim,  and  at  a 
little  after  nine  the  Argyll  went  ahead  to  join 
the  remaining  cruisers  at  Aden.  An  hour  and  a 
half  later  the  Medina  dropped  her  anchor  in 
Aden  harbour,  amid  a  thunder  of  salutes  from 
the  four  cruisers  of  the  escort  and  from  the 
Royal  Arthur^  which,  together  with  three 
destroyers,  was  awaiting  Their  Majesties'  arrival. 
Each  of  the  large  ships  fired  one  hundred  and 
one  guns,  for  we  were  now  within  the  territory 
of  the  Indian  Empire,  where  salutes  of  twenty- 
one  guns  are  given  to  native  princes,  and  are  no 
longer  sufficient  for  the  King-Emperor  and  the 
Queen-Empress. 

Aden  is  generally  known  in  England  as  the 
abomination  of  desolation,  and  it  is  not  difficult 
to  believe  that  it  is  a  dreary  quarter  for  a 
garrison.  Nevertheless,  for  all  their  aridity,  its 
cinder -coloured  peaks  and  mountains  are 
singularly  wild  and  grand  ;  while  the  ancient 
lines  of  fortifications,  wall  within  wall,  invest  it 
with  some  halo  of  romance.  Probably,  how- 
ever, Aden  has  never  in  the  whole  of  its  history 
presented  such  an  aspect  as  it  did  on  the  27th 
of  November  191 1.  The  five  men-of-war  in 
the  harbour  were  all  dressed  with  bunting  ;  the 
entire  foreshore  was  hung  with  festoons  of  gay 
colours  ;  the  houses  were  brightly  decorated, 
and  the  native  population  in  a  hundred  gaudy 
hues  were  clustered  like  bees  upon  the  lower 
slopes.     Towering  above   them   the   cold   grey- 

99 


THE  LANDING  AT   ADEN 

Nov.  27.  purple  mountains  looked  down  with  a  cer- 
tain kindly  condescension  upon  the  swarming 
humanity  below.  The  weather  was  for  Aden 
decidedly  cool  ;  the  sunshine  was  frequently 
broken  by  clouds  ;  and  heavy  showers  during 
the  past  forty-eight  hours  had  imparted  to  the 
place  generally  an  unwonted  savour  of  freshness. 
Soon  after  the  Medina  s  arrival  the  Resident, 
Major-general  John  Bell,  came  on  board  with 
his  staff  and  was  received  by  His  Majesty,  who 
conferred  on  him  the  second  class  of  the  Victorian 
Order,  and  knighted  him  there  and  then.  At 
half-past  three  Their  Majesties  went  ashore, 
whither  the  bulk  of  their  suite  had  already 
preceded  them,  the  King  in  the  white  uniform 
of  an  Admiral  of  the  Fleet  with  the  ribbon  and 
star  of  the  Order  of  the  Star  of  India  and  the 
star  of  the  Bath  ;  and  the  Queen  in  pale-blue  silk. 
A  pavilion  had  been  erected  by  the  landing-stage, 
where  the  Resident  and  Lady  Bell,  with  the 
members  of  the  staff  and  the  leading  officials, 
were  waiting  to  receive  them.  On  the  left  of 
Their  Majesties,  as  they  landed,  was  drawn  up 
the  Aden  troop  of  Native  Cavalry,  principally 
Sikhs,  in  khaki  uniform  with  red  girdles  and 
turbans  of  khaki,  blue  and  yellow  ;  a  very  smart 
body  of  men  and  in  one  respect  unique,  inasmuch 
as  the  front  rank  was  composed  of  lancers  mounted 
on  Arab  horses,  and  the  rear-rank  of  riflemen 
mounted  on  camels.  In  front  stood  a  guard  of 
honour  of  the  Lincolnshire  Regiment,  a  fine 
body  of  men  in  white,  with  the  King's  colour — 


THE   PEOPLE  OF   ADEN 

evidently  a  very  old  one — still  showing  the  Nov.  27. 
former  regimental  number  Ten.  The  Resident 
having  presented  the  leading  officials  and  their 
ladies  to  the  King  and  Queen,  Their  Majesties 
drove  off,  followed  by  their  suite,  in  five  more 
carriages,  to  the  bronze  statue  of  Queen  Victoria, 
which  is  the  most  conspicuous  object  on  the 
small  area  of  flat  ground  that  faces  the  harbour. 

On  its  own  limited  scale  this  short  progress 
was  probably  one  of  the  strangest  ever  made  by 
a  British  sovereign.  In  the  first  place  the  van 
of  the  escort  was  composed  of  horsemen  and 
the  rear  of  camel-men  ;  and  in  the  second  it 
is  probably  for  once  a  literal  truth  to  say  that  the 
entire  population  was  out  to  see  the  procession. 
The  entire  population  of  Aden,  to  be  sure,  is  not 
very  large,  though  far  larger  than  I,  for  one,  had 
imagined  ;  but  it  is  very  decidedly  mixed. 
Within  the  course  of  half  a  mile  it  was  easy  to 
distinguish  at  a  glance  Sikhs,  Pathans,  Bengalis, 
Parsis,  Somalis,  Arabs,  Negroes,  Jews,  Greeks, 
Levantines — what  not  ;  and,  since  the  principal 
street  has  for  the  most  part  houses  upon  one  side 
only,  there  was  plenty  of  room  for  all  the  men 
and  children  by  the  roadside  and  for  the  maturer 
ladies  on  the  house-tops.  The  variety  of  colour 
was  not  so  great  as,  say,  in  Rajputana,  but  two 
or  three  very  young  ladies  in  gorgeous  gowns  of 
magenta  silk  made  a  bright  touch  here  and  there, 
contrasting  strongly  with  the  white  which  was 
worn  by  most  of  the  spectators  and  with  the 
copper  skins  of  a  certain  number  who  had  little 


RECEPTION   AT  ADEN 

Nov.  27.  clothing  of  any  kind.  The  route  was  lined  by 
a  body  of  Sikh  infantry,  and  here  for  the  first 
time  we  heard  the  English  words  of  command 
delivered  by  native  officers  and  non-commissioned 
officers,  curiously  combining  the  foreign  accent 
with  the  traditional  vigour  and  intonation  of  the 
British  drill-sergeant — "  Sacund  Sekshan,  slo-p-e 
arms."  The  procession  trotted  briskly  on,  the 
camels  keeping  their  distance  in  rear  of  the  Royal 
carriage  with  admirable  accuracy,  and  producing 
a  most  imposing  effect  ;  and  finally,  when  the 
Victoria  Memorial  was  reached,  they  formed  line 
to  the  left  with  a  precision  that  the  Life  Guards 
themselves  might  have  envied.  These  may  seem 
to  be  small  things,  but  they  make  all  the 
difference  to  the  success  or  failure  of  a  pageant. 

Adjoining  the  Victoria  Memorial  a  pavilion, 
which  was  really  a  large  tent,  had  been  erected  ; 
and  with  excellent  judgment  Indian  stuffs  and 
Indian  dyes  had  been  selected  for  the  decoration 
of  the  roof.  The  native  taste,  while  not  shrink- 
ing from  strong  colours  upon  occasion,  delights 
especially  in  pale  and  tender  tints,  than  which 
none  look  more  beautiful  under  the  Eastern  sun. 
The  roof  of  the  tent  at  Aden  was  in  broad  stripes 
of  pale  yellow  and  rose-madder,  which  gave 
sufficient  dignity  to  the  interior  and  yet  was  cool 
and  restful  to  the  eye.  The  carpet  was  of 
the  commonplace  red  which  the  official  mind 
— quite  unnecessarily  in  the  East  at  any  rate — 
appears  to  regard  as  inseparable  from  any  royal 
function,  and  at   the  far   end  were   two   carved 


RECEPTION   AT  ADEN 

thrones  heavily  gilt  and  upholstered  in  crimson  Nov.  27. 
velvet.  To  these  thrones  Their  Majesties  then 
walked  in  procession  between  a  great  throng 
of  the  more  distinguished  inhabitants.  A  Parsi 
gentleman,  Mr.  Cowasji  Dinshaw,  read  an 
address  of  welcome,  to  which  His  Majesty 
read  a  reply,  not  failing  among  other  things 
to  commend  the  happy  choice  of  the  place  of 
his  reception  at  the  foot  of  Queen  Victoria's 
statue.  The  Resident  then  presented  the  fore- 
most of  the  native  gentlemen  to  the  King,  and, 
the  ceremony  being  over.  Their  Majesties  drove 
to  the  Residency,  some  two  or  three  miles 
distant,  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  sea.  It 
is  noteworthy  that  the  latter  part  of  the  route 
was  lined  by  the  Fifty -second  company  of 
Garrison  Artillery,  which  had  saluted  His 
Majesty  when  Prince  of  Wales  from  Colombo 
in  1 90 1  and  from  Madras  in  1906,  and  had  on 
this  same  morning  fired  the  first  salute  ever  paid 
on  East  Indian  Territory  to  the  King-Emperor 
in  person. 

At  the  Residency  Their  Majesties  drank  tea, 
and  after  conversation  with  the  guests  who  had 
been  honoured  with  an  invitation  to  meet  them, 
took  their  leave  soon  after  five  and  returned  to 
the  Medina.  As  their  launch  moved  off  from 
the  quay  the  foreshore  and  all  the  principal 
buildings  burst  suddenly  into  a  blaze  of  illumina- 
tion, making  an  extremely  pretty  and  striking 
end  to  a  very  successful  day.  The  rain,  though 
often  threatening,  happily  held  off;  but,  as  the 

103 


FIRST  MESSAGE  FROM  DELHI 

Nov.  28-  sun  fell  low,  the  wind  became  positively  cold. 

Dec.  I.     jt   ^as   something   to   have   felt  the  want  of  a 
great-coat  at  Aden. 

On  the  28th  the  Medina  entered  the  Indian 
Ocean,  which  was  pleasantly  cooler  than  the 
Red  Sea  ;  and,  as  we  were  now  drawing  near 
our  destination.  Sir  Havelock  Charles  took 
occasion  to  give  a  short  lecture  both  to  the 
suite  and  to  the  servants,  laying  down  a  few 
simple  rules  for  the  preservation  of  health  in 
India.  Knowing  India,  as  a  medical  man,  by 
heart,  he  succeeded  so  well  in  impressing  his 
lessons  upon  them  that  none  but  trifling  cases  of 
sickness  occurred  among  them  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  visit  to  the  East.  It  was,  however, 
difficult  to  realise  that  a  few  days  more  would 
find  us  at  Delhi,  until  on  the  night  of  the  29th 
the  Defence  transmitted  the  following  wireless 
telegram,  which  had  just  been  received  direct 
from  the  Mogul  capital  over  a  distance  of  sixteen 
hundred  miles  :  "  Marconi  Wireless  Telegraph 
Company,  Fort,  Delhi,  beg  to  offer  their  most 
loyal  greetings  on  His  Majesty's  approach  to 
India."  If  all  wireless  telegrams  received  during 
the  voyage  had  been  of  the  like  innocent  tenour, 
the  King  would  have  enjoyed  more  repose  in  the 
course  of  it  than  he  did. 

For  the  rest,  the  last  three  days  at  sea,  the 
29th  of  November  to  the  ist  of  December,  were 
in  part  taken  up  by  sports  among  the  ship's 
company.  There  was  not — indeed  there  could 
hardly   be — much  variety  from   the   usual  pro- 

104 


^ 


SPORTS   ON  THE  MEDINA 

gramme  of  obstacle-races,  three-legged  races,  Nov.  28- 
potato-races  and  so  on  ;  but  there  was  one  form  ^^^-  '• 
of  contest  which  possessed  an  irresistible  fascina- 
tion both  for  combatants  and  onlookers,  that 
namely  in  which  two  men  sit  astride  of  a  greased 
spar,  which  they  are  forbidden  to  touch  with 
their  hands,  and  strike  at  each  other  with  pillows 
until  one  or  other  falls  off  the  spar  into  a  sail 
suspended  below.  The  number  of  aspirants  to 
fame  in  this  particular  field  was  extraordinary. 
Marines,  bluejackets,  officers,  even  to  the  Captain 
himself,  members  of  the  King's  suite,  their 
servants,  the  photographer  and  the  barber,  all 
came  down  to  try  their  fortune  amid  breathless 
excitement  and  shouts  of  laughter  from  every 
soul  in  the  ship  who  was  not  on  duty.  Lord 
Annaly  after  a  strenuous  conflict  was  defeated 
but  not  disgraced  by  Lord  Shaftesbury  ;  Captain 
Godfrey  Faussett  vanquished  a  bluejacket,  but 
was  overthrown  by  the  Fleet-Surgeon,  a  most 
dangerous  opponent.  Soon  it  became  apparent 
that  Major  Phillips  of  the  Marine  Artillery,  a 
gentleman  of  herculean  strength,  and  not  less 
skilled  in  parrying  with  his  left  hand  than  in 
striking  with  his  right,  was  superior  to  all  rivals  ; 
and  after  three  battles,  which  can  only  be 
described  as  Homeric,  he  finally  swept  the 
Fleet-Surgeon's  legs  from  under  him,  and  was 
hailed  as  victor  among  the  officers.  A  private 
of  his  corps  won  the  same  distinction  among  the 
men. 

In  the  evening  the  Queen  presented  prizes  to 

105 


THE  ROYAL   MARINES 

Dec.  I.  the  winners  ;  but  the  passengers  secured  very 
few  of  these  trophies  ;  and  indeed  their  credit 
was  only  saved  by  one  of  the  King's  footmen,  an 
old  Coldstreamer  and  the  most  powerful  man  on 
the  ship,  who  vanquished  all  rivals  in  the  gentle 
art  of  cock-fighting.  Nearly  every  prize  fell  to 
the  marines ;  and  in  truth  the  marine  is  a  wonder- 
ful person.  The  press  is  fond  of  holding  up  the 
bluejacket  as  a  handy  man  ;  but  in  these  days 
the  epithet  should  be  transferred  to  the  marine. 
On  the  ist  of  December,  the  last  day  of  the 
voyage  out,  there  was  a  concert  on  board.  The 
suite  could  produce  in  Lord  Shaftesbury  a  trained 
singer  who  naturally  eclipsed  all  other  performers; 
but  setting  him  aside,  the  marines  had  matters 
all  their  own  way.  One  of  them  was  a  sufficiently 
accomplished  vocalist  to  be  accompanied  by  the 
band,  while  several  others  played  an  astonishing 
number  of  instruments  and  played  them  in  tune. 
The  credit  of  the  bluejackets  was  mainly  saved 
by  the  proficiency,  in  a  sister  art,  of  Mr.  Staples 
the  boatswain,  who  danced  a  hornpipe  quite 
admirably.  Their  Majesties  were  of  course 
present  ;  and  so  passed  away  the  last  evening  of 
real  freedom  which  they  were  to  enjoy  for  some 
weeks. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  2nd  of  December 
the  low  land  and  palms  of  Bombay  were  seen  ; 
and  at  about  ten  o'clock  the  Medina  and  her 
escort  anchored  about  two  miles  from  the 
shore  in  a  dead  calm  and  rather  oppressive 
heat.       Three-quarters    of   an    hour    later    the 

io6 


THE   LANDING   AT  BOMBAY 

Viceroy  ^  came  on  board  to  wait  upon  the  King  ;  Dec. 
presently  followed  by  the  Governor  of  Bombay, 
Sir  George  Clarke.  The  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  East  India  Squadron,  whose  flagship 
the  Highflyer  was  lying  in  the  harbour,  and 
other  officials  followed ;  and  the  Viceroy  with 
his  staff  remained  to  luncheon.  At  half- past 
three  the  greater  number  of  the  suite  went 
ashore  to  be  ready  to  receive  Their  Majesties, 
who  shortly  afterwards  left  the  ship  and 
steamed,  amid  a  salute  of  one  hundred  and 
one  guns,  to  the  landing-place  at  the  Apollo 
Bandar.  The  King-Emperor  wore  the  white 
uniform  of  an  Admiral  of  the  Fleet,  with  the 
ribbon  and  star  of  the  Star  of  India,  and  the 
Queen-Empress  wore  on  her  dress  the  star  and 
the  ribbon  of  the  Garter,  the  latter  fastened  on 
the  shoulder  by  a  brooch  of  a  single  row  of 
diamonds  and  clasped  below  by  a  diamond 
George.  The  Viceroy  and  the  whole  of  the 
Imperial  suite  were  in  full-dress  white  uniform. 
At  the  pavilion  the  principal  officials  of  the 
Bombay  Government  and  Corporation  and  the 
foreign  consuls,  in  all  about  forty  gentlemen,  were 
presented  by  Sir  George  Clarke  to  His  Majesty  ; 
after  which  a  procession  was  formed,  and  Their 
Majesties  advanced  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred 
yards  to  a  second  and  smaller  pavilion,  where  two 
thrones  upon  a  dais  had  been  prepared  for  them. 

1  singularly  enough,  among  the  King's  suite  there  were  no  fewer  than 
three  gentlemen  who  had  been  school-fellows  of  Lord  Hardinge  at  Harrow, 
two  of  whom  had  also  been  his  fellow-undergraduates  at  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge. 

107 


THE  RECEPTION   AT   BOMBAY 

Dec.  2.  Over  against  the  pavilion  an  amphitheatre 
had  been  made  ready  for  the  accommodation  of 
several  hundred  spectators  w^ho,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
must  have  suffered  not  a  little  from  the  fierce 
and  unusual  heat  of  the  day.  All,  however, 
rose  and  cheered  enthusiastically  as  Their 
Majesties  took  their  places  ;  and  then  Sir 
Pherozsha  Mehta,  President  of  the  Bombay 
Municipal  Corporation,  stepped  forward  and 
read  an  address  welcoming  Their  Majesties  to 
India,  vindicating  the  right  of  Bombay,  as  part 
of  the  dowry  of  Queen  Katharine  of  Bragan^a, 
to  be  the  first  to  welcome  them,  and  recalling 
the  fact  that  this  was  not  the  first  time  that 
Bombay  had  had  the  honour  of  entertaining 
them.  His  Majesty  having  received  the  address 
in  the  silver  casket  which  had  been  given  to 
him  with  it.  Sir  Pherozsha  presented  to  him  the 
members  of  the  Corporation. 

Then  to  the  great  surprise,  as  was  afterwards 
discovered,  of  the  majority  of  the  spectators, 
the  King-Emperor  delivered  his  reply  in  a  loud 
clear  voice,  which  could  be  heard  by  every  one 
of  them.  Catching  up  at  once  the  note  which 
had  been  struck  by  the  Corporation,  "  I  can 
heartily  respond,"  said  His  Majesty,  "  that  I 
feel  myself  no  stranger  in  your  beautiful  city  "  ; 
and  proceeded  next  to  speak  of  his  earnest  desire, 
as  soon  as  he  found  himself  called  to  the  Throne, 
to  revisit  his  good  subjects  in  India.  Ignoring 
all  accepted  traditions  of  etiquette,  the  audience 
broke   in  again  and   again  with   loud  applause, 

io8 


•n 


DRIVE  THROUGH  BOMBAY 

which  culminated  in  a  great  outburst  of  cheering  Dec.  2. 
at  the  close.     Their  Majesties  then  entered  the 
carriage   prepared   for  them,  and   started   forth, 
the    suite  following   in    six   more    carriages,   to 
drive  in  procession  round  the  city. 

The  troops  that  took  part  in  the  procession 
were  the  Seventh  Dragoon  Guards  and  Y  Battery 
of  the  Royal  Horse  Artillery  in  advance  ;  the 
Governor's  bodyguard  of  Lancers  in  scarlet 
and  gold  forming  the  immediate  escort  of  the 
Imperial  carriage,  and  King  George's  own  regi- 
ment of  the  Twenty-sixth  Lancers,  in  French 
grey  with  dark -blue  turbans,  the  rearguard. 
But  in  India  it  is  not,  as  in  England,  the  troops 
that  supply  the  bulk  of  the  colour  in  the 
pageant.  Much  care  had  been  devoted  to  the 
decoration  of  the  streets  of  the  European  quarter 
with  arches,  masts  and  festoons,  and  the  effect 
was  decidedly  better  than  I  have  ever  seen  in 
London.  The  Indian  sun  may  have  been  partly 
responsible  for  this,  but  not  wholly.  On  one  or 
two  buildings  there  was  a  bold  and  successful 
scheme  of  colour  ;  but  in  adorning  their  houses 
the  Europeans  too  often  bound  themselves  to 
the  slavery  of  English  decoration — trophies  of 
European  flags  and  even  worse  displays  of  crude 
and  tasteless  colour.  It  is  strange  that  the 
British  in  India  cannot  make  better  use  of  the 
native  materials  and  dyes,  which  can  hardly  be 
dearer,  and  are  certainly  much  more  beautiful, 
than  those  of  the  West.  Fortunately  the  eye 
was  distracted  by  the  far  more  lovely  decoration 

109 


THE   BEAUTIES   OF  BOMBAY 

Dec.  2.  presented  by  the  people  themselves.  The  crowd 
was  immense,  and  the  variety  of  shades  inde- 
scribable— here  a  group  of  men  in  rich  dark- 
red  turbans,  with  perhaps  one  of  vivid  grass 
green  flaming  among  them  ;  there  a  group  of 
children,  wide-eyed  and  open-mouthed,  with 
one  or  two  little  maids  in  blazing  crimson 
silk  huddled  into  their  midst  ;  there  again  a 
body  of  Parsi  ladies  in  simple  gowns  of  the 
palest  pink,  blue  or  dove-colour,  draped  on 
one  side  with  light  transparent  muslin  in 
graceful  folds,  which  made  the  delicate  hues 
more  dainty  still.  There  was  no  rest  for  the  eye 
in  the  ever-changing  feast  of  colour. 

But  most  striking  of  all  was  the  scene  in  the 
quaint  irregular  buildings  and  narrow  streets  of 
the  native  town.  There  is  no  appearance  of 
wealth  in  the  houses,  the  stucco  being  often 
decayed  and  fortunately  rarely  repainted  ;  but 
there  are  quaint  wooden  stairways,  balconies 
and  loggias,  which  the  wealthy  owners  had 
beautified  with  the  best  and  simplest  of  all 
street-decorations  by  simply  throwing  over  them 
rugs  and  carpets,  or  occasionally  a  great  sheet 
of  rich  dark  silk  shot  with  gold.  The  houses 
were  crammed  with  spectators.  The  housetops 
and  the  highest  stories  were  occupied  chiefly  by 
peeping  women,  nearly  all  of  whom  displayed  at 
least  a  scrap  of  costly  red  material  ;  the  lower 
windows  were  simply  packed  with  tier  upon 
tier  of  heads — I  counted  over  thirty  in  one  of 
no  extraordinary  size — and  even  the  steep  narrow 


A   SULTRY  EVENING 

scraps  of  verandah  over  the  native  shops  were  Dec.  2. 
swarming  w^ith  men  and  boys.  In  the  East  it 
is  not  considered  respectful  to  make  even  a 
joyful  noise  in  the  presence  of  the  great  ;  yet 
the  native  inhabitants  of  Bombay  upon  this 
occasion  cheered  loudly  and  continuously,  and 
in  fact  gave  Their  Majesties  an  enthusiastic 
reception. 

The  entire  route  measured  about  six  miles, 
which  was  traversed  at  a  slow  trot,  the  procession 
returning  through  the  suburbs  and  round  Mala- 
bar Point  to  the  Apollo  Bandar.  Here  the  King 
inspected  the  guard  of  honour  of  the  Norfolk 
Regiment,  and  then  returned  to  the  ship,  which 
was  reached  at  a  little  before  six  o'clock.  The 
sun  went  down  in  a  gorgeous  blaze  of  orange 
and  scarlet,  against  which  the  palms  on  the  low 
spit  of  Malabar  Point  showed  black  as  ink. 
For  a  short  time  the  temperature  fell  slightly, 
but  soon  rose  again,  and  the  thermometer,  even 
in  the  King's  cabin,  stood  at  eighty-five  degrees. 
In  the  evening  Their  Majesties  gave  a  state 
dinner  on  board  the  Medina,  at  which  fifty-four 
guests,  including  the  suite,  were  present  ;  but, 
though  the  dinner  was  held  on  deck,  the  heat 
was  such  as  to  make  full-dress  European  uniform 
very  trying  to  wear.  None  the  less  the  Queen, 
who  was  wearing  a  white  dress  embroidered 
with  gold,  never  looked  better  than  on  that 
evening  ;  and  the  guests  soon  discovered  that  the 
temperature  made  no  difference  to  the  welcome 
accorded  to  them  by  their  Royal  hosts. 


SUNDAY  AT   BOMBAY 

Dec.  3.  On  the  morning  of  Sunday  the  3rd  Their 
Majesties  attended  Divine  Service  as  usual  on 
board  ;  but  the  day  was  no  idle  one  for  the 
King  or  for  his  Secretaries,  for  over  six  hundred 
telegrams  of  welcome  had  been  received  from 
different  persons  and  societies  in  India  since  the 
Medina  had  dropped  anchor  in  Bombay,  and  all 
required  an  answer.  In  the  afternoon  Their 
Majesties  honoured  the  Governor  of  Bombay 
with  their  presence  at  luncheon  at  Government 
House,  and  in  the  evening  attended  Divine 
Service  in  the  Cathedral.  The  weather  was 
hotter  than  ever,  and  the  Bishop  of  Bombay 
who  preached  the  sermon,  wisely  ascended  the 
pulpit  in  his  rochet  only,  though  the  building 
was  kept  fairly  cool  by  electric  fans.  Later  on 
Their  Majesties  gave  a  second  official  dinner 
on  board  the  Medina,  under  even  more  trying 
conditions  than  on  the  previous  day,  the  heat 
being  more  intense  and  the  air  perfectly  still. 
This  was  a  misfortune  which  could  not  have 
been  anticipated  at  the  time  of  year.  Perhaps 
the  only  one  of  the  guests  on  either  evening 
who  felt  himself  not  only  in  comfort  but  in 
luxury  was  the  Captain  of  H.M.S.  Fox,  who, 
after  months  of  service  in  prevention  of  "  gun- 
running  "  in  the  Persian  Gulf  at  a  temperature 
of  one  hundred  and  ten  degrees,  found  the 
eighty -five  degrees  of  Bombay  very  pleasantly 
cool.  It  was  a  good  lesson  for  any  of  us  who 
were  inclined  to  complain,  for  the  work  in 
the  Fox  signified  not  merely  existence,  in  itself 


CHILDREN'S   FETE,   BOMBAY 

sufficiently  trying,  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  but  Dec.  4. 
incessant  watchfulness  and  hard  labour  for  all 
on  board,  with  many  a  difficult  diplomatic 
problem  for  the  commander  in  addition.  For 
the  rest,  Bombay,  being  illuminated  on  both  of 
these  nights,  presented  a  most  beautiful  appear- 
ance when  looked  on  from  the  sea. 

On  the  4th  of  December  Their  Majesties 
left  the  Medina  soon  after  nine  o'clock,  landed  at 
the  Apollo  Bandar  at  half-past  nine  and  drove, 
with  their  suite  in  attendance,  to  a  children's 
fete  in  the  grounds  adjoining  the  Bombay  Gym- 
khana Building.  Here  in  an  open  space  some 
twenty-six  thousand  children  had  been  drawn 
up  in  a  large  semicircle,  over  against  the  centre 
of  which  was  a  dais  for  the  King  and  Queen. 
As  Their  Majesties  drove  up  at  a  quarter  to  ten, 
four  selected  groups  of  children,  belonging  to 
European,  Urdu,  Gujarati  and  Marathi  schools, 
sang  each  two  verses  of  the  National  Anthem 
in  their  own  tongue.  The  bare  fact  is  a  lesson 
to  those  who  talk  glibly  about  the  "  Indian 
people."  Twenty-six  thousand  children  is  not 
a  very  great  many  ;  yet  to  gather  that  number 
together  as  representatives  of  the  Presidency  of 
Bombay  it  was  necessary  to  include  the  speakers 
of  three  diffisrent  tongues  (or  four  if  we  include 
the  Europeans),  each  of  them  with  its  own 
literature  and  its  own  written  character,  and 
one  of  them — Marathi — with  three  principal 
dialects,  and  sub-dialects  innumerable.  How- 
ever,  to   return   to   our   main   narrative,   it   was 

113  i 


A  BEAUTIFUL  CEREMONY 

Dec.  4.  curious  to  note  the  difficulty  which  the  Indian 
children  evidently  found  in  singing  a  western 
melody  in  the  major  mode.  To  them  it  was 
obviously  a  noise,  compounded  of  strange  in- 
tervals, with  an  over-monotonous  rhythm  ;  and 
the  cause  was  soon  sufficiently  apparent. 

Immediately  after  the  children  had  fallen 
silent  at  the  close  of  their  singing,  some  fifty  to 
a  hundred  Gujarati  girls  performed  a  Gurbi  or 
rhythmic  dance  and  song — one  might  rather 
call  it  a  prayer,  for  the  ceremony  is  of  a  religious 
character — for  behoof  of  Their  Majesties.  They 
formed  two  concentric  circles,  the  older  girls 
wearing  simple,  loose-flowing  gowns,  mostly  of 
very  pale  pink,  blue  or  orange,  varied  occasionally 
by  the  mixture  of  two  pale  colours  or  by  vivid 
magenta  or  still  more  vivid  green,  and  relieved 
in  nearly  every  case  by  a  scarf  of  transparent 
white  muslin.  Many  of  the  younger  children 
unfortunately  wore  European  clothes,  which, 
being  white,  were  comparatively  harmless,  but 
were  too  frequently  marred  by  atrocious  Euro- 
pean button- boots  reaching  to  mid-calf.  The 
dance  consisted  of  rhythmic  waving  of  raised 
arms,  rhythmic  clapping  of  hands,  and  curious 
interlacing  movements  of  the  performers  in  the 
two  circles.  The  language  of  the  song  was 
Gujarati  ;  and  the  music,  of  course  in  the  minor 
mode,  was  not  only  curious  but  effective.  The 
rhythm,  however,  was  very  difficult  to  seize  ; 
duple,  triple  and  quintuple  time  being  each  of 
them  easily  perceptible  by  the  ear,  but  no  one 

114 


THE  JOURNEY  TO   DELHI 

of  them  continued  for  long  consecutively.  The  Dec.  3-5. 
dance  was  extremely  graceful  and  impressive, 
being  carried  out  in  a  religious  spirit  without 
a  trace  of  self-consciousness  on  the  part  of  the 
performers.  At  its  close  Their  Majesties  drove 
through  the  heart  of  the  semicircle,  where  a 
way  had  been  left  clear,  so  that  all  the  children 
might  see  them,  and  the  young  people,  both 
white  and  brown,  shouted  themselves  hoarse 
with  delight.  Their  Majesties  then  inspected 
some  historic  exhibits  in  the  old  Bombay 
exhibition  hard  by,  and  returned  to  the  Medina 
soon  after  eleven  o'clock- 
Owing  to  the  number  of  the  King's  suite,  an 
advanced  party  of  nine  gentlemen  ^  was  sent 
forward  to  Delhi  on  the  evening  of  the  3rd. 
The  total  length  of  the  journey  was  nine  hundred 
and  eighty-two  miles,  and,  thanks  to  those  who 
were  charged  with  the  care  of  us,  we  made  the 
journey  of  thirty- six  hours  with  all  possible 
comfort.  But  India  is  the  land  of  dust,  and  it 
is  impossible  to  travel  there  by  rail  in  the  dry 
season  without  realising  that  fact  to  the  full. 
The  route  lay  by  Baroda,  which  took  us  through 
a  dreary  and  monotonous  country,  but  incident- 
ally through  the  famous  Mokandara  pass,  the  scene 
of  the  military  blunder  which  led  to  the  de- 
struction of  Monson's  detachment  in  1804.  The 
most  singular  point  about  railway  travel  in  India 

'  Prince  George  of  Battenberg  (midshipman  on  H.M.S.  Cochrane), 
Lord  Annaly,  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice,  Lt.  -  Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith  Dorrien, 
Maj.-Gen.  Sir  Stuart  Beatson,  Sir  J.  Dunlop  Smith,  Mr.  Jacomb  Hood, 
Major  Ashburner,  Mr.  Fortescue. 


THE  CAMP  AT  DELHI 

Dec.  5.  is  that  one  rarely,  if  ever,  sees  a  town.  There  are 
not,  relatively  speaking,  many  towns  in  India ;  and 
stations  are,  for  good  reasons,  as  a  rule  situated 
two  or  three  miles  from  them.  Hence  one  seems 
to  traverse  an  interminable  land  of  jungle  and 
villages.  The  changes  of  temperature  also  were 
trying,  varying  in  our  carriage  from  eighty 
degrees  by  day  to  forty-eight  or  lower  by  night. 
However,  this  was  a  matter  concerning  which 
we  had  been  amply  warned  ;  and  soon  after  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  December 
we  arrived  at  the  Kingsway  station  at  Delhi, 
whence  motors  conveyed  us  to  our  camp. 

Certainly  the  first  sight  of  the  great  canvas 
city,  covering  in  all  twenty-five  square  miles, 
was  very  wonderful,  and  all  the  more  so  when 
we  saw  the  trim  grass  lawns  which  marked  the 
camps  of  the  greater  officials,  and  remembered  that 
a  year  ago  this  was  a  mere  brown  waste.  The 
King-Emperor's  camp  lay  at  the  extreme  edge, 
being  in  the  form  of  a  huge  semicircle,  with 
the  arc  facing  towards  the  remaining  camps,  and 
the  base  formed  by  the  road  to  Delhi  city. 
Opposite  the  central  point  of  this  arc  was  a  large 
open  space  with  a  tall  flag-staff,  and  over  against 
this  staff  lay  three  huge  reception-tents,  facing 
almost  west,  with  the  Viceroy's  camp  to  the  left 
or  north,  and  the  King- Emperor's,  with  the 
circuit-house  behind  it,  on  the  right  or  south. 
A  circuit- house,  it  must  be  explained,  is  a 
residence  kept  up,  somewhat  like  the  judges' 
lodges    in    England,    for    the    reception    of  the 

116 


'<^ 


ROYAL  ARRIVAL  AT  DELHI 

Viceroy  or  of  minor  great  officials  when  on  tour.  Dec.  7. 
The    Viceroy's    staff  was   encamped    round    the 
curve  of  the  semicircle  to  the  north,  and  Their 
Majesties'  round  the  corresponding  curve  to  the 
south. 

At   ten   o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the   7th 
Their  Majesties  arrived  at  the  Selimgarh  station 
upon   a   detached   bastion   of  the   great   fort   of 
Delhi,  where  the  Viceroy,  Lady  Hardinge,  the 
leading    officials    of    India    and    several    Indian 
princes  were  assembled  to  receive  them.     Among 
these    last   was   the    Maharaja   of  Udaipur,   the 
Ruling  Chief  in  Waiting  and  the  representative 
of  the  bluest  blood  in   India,  an  elderly  prince 
dressed     in    a    flowing     gown     of   white    satin 
edged  with    gold  ;    Sir    Pratap    Singh   and    the 
Maharaja  of  Bikaner,  the  former  in  the  white 
frock  and  sky-blue  turban  of  the  Imperial  Cadet 
Corps,  and  the  latter  in  the  beautiful  uniform  of 
his    own    Camel    Corps.       As    Their    Majesties 
alighted,  the  guns  of  the  fort  opened  a  salute  of 
one   hundred   and   one  guns,  twice   broken   and 
finally  concluded  by  a  feu  de  joie  from  the  troops 
in  the  plain  without.     Within  the  bastion,  ringed 
about  by  the  pink  sandstone  of  the  walls,  was 
drawn  up  a  guard  of  honour  of  the  second  battalion 
of  the  Berkshire  Regiment,  with  the  remainder  of 
the  battalion  in  rear  ;  the  rest  of  the  space  being 
filled  by  selected  men  from  every  corps  in  the 
Native    Army  and  representative   sections   from 
every  corps  present  at  Delhi,  with  three  squadrons 
of  the  Thirtieth  Native  Lancers,  part  mounted 

117 


IN  THE   FORT,   DELHI 

Dec.  7.  and  part  dismounted,  in  rear  of  all.  The  great 
space  was  thus  worthily  filled,  and  presented  a 
fine  mass  of  colour,  topped  by  the  bright  points 
and  waving  pennons  of  the  lances.  After  the 
presentation  of  several  high  officials  in  a  pavilion 
which  had  been  erected  on  the  platform,  the  King 
inspected  the  guard  of  honour,  and  observing 
four  representative  veterans,  one  English  and 
three  Indian,  just  outside  the  right  of  the  line, 
stepped  aside  to  shake  hands  with  each  and  ask 
them  as  to  the  campaigns  where  they  had  won 
their  medals.  The  old  fellows  drew  themselves 
up  and  saluted  after  the  fashion  of  their  youth, 
with  the  hand  parallel  to  the  horizon,  remem- 
bering bygone  times.  They  will  not  readily 
forget  this  day. 

A  procession  was  then  formed  with  the  heralds 
at  its  head,  followed  by  the  staffs  of  the  Viceroy 
and  the  King- Emperor  ;  and  Their  Majesties 
advanced  over  the  crenellated  bridge  that  spans 
the  moat,  between  a  line  of  men  drawn  from 
each  of  the  King's  own  regiments  ;  then  entering 
the  inner  courtyard  they  turned  sharp  to  the 
right,  where  a  large  tent  had  been  set  up  for 
the  formal  reception  of  the  native  princes  by  the 
King.  It  was  perhaps  a  pity  that  the  Dewan- 
i-am,  or  public  hall  of  audience  of  Shah  Jahan, 
which  was  likewise  within  the  fort,  had  not  been 
selected  for  this  ceremony.  It  is  true  that  the 
original  tent  designed  for  the  purpose,  the  Baha- 
walpur  State  "  Shamiana,"  was  so  superb  that  it 
might  well  have  been  worthy  of  the  occasion  ; 

118 


THE  HOMAGE   IN  THE  FORT 

but  this  had  perished  by  fire  on  the  5th,  and  the  Dec.  7. 
new  tent  hastily  improvised  to  take  its  place, 
though  in  no  degree  mean,  appeared  small  and 
low,  strait  and  dark.  The  great  open  space  of 
the  courtyard,  with  a  splendid  regiment  of  native 
lancers  drawn  up  in  hollow  square,  and  four 
companies  of  British  and  native  infantry,  seemed 
to  dwarf  it  still  more  ;  but  there  was  no  help  for 
it.  The  staff  parted  to  right  and  left  at  the 
entrance.  Their  Majesties,  advancing  up  the 
centre,  took  their  seats  upon  the  thrones  erected 
for  them  ;  and  the  ceremony  of  presentation 
began. 

First  came  the  Nizam  of  Hyderabad  in  plain 
black  with  yellow  mitre-like  head-dress,  then 
the  Gaekwar  of  Baroda,  the  Maharajas  of 
Mysore  and  Kashmir,  and  the  rest  of  the  Ruling 
Chiefs  in  succession  according  to  territorial 
arrangement  ;  but  it  will  be  more  convenient  to 
speak  in  detail  of  this  homage  when  we  come 
to  the  repetition  of  it  on  a  greater  scale  at  the 
Durbar.  The  presentations  ended,  His  Majesty 
mounted  his  horse,  and  a  procession,  or  rather 
three  processions,  were  formed,  first  that  of  the 
principal  British  officials  in  carriages  with  their 
escorts  and  bodyguards  ;  then  that  of  the  King- 
Emperor  ;  and  lastly  that  of  the  Ruling  Indian 
Chiefs.  In  the  King's  procession  twenty-eight 
officers  of  the  King's  staff  led  the  way  ;  then 
came  the  Viceroy's  bodyguard,  gigantic  lancers 
in  scarlet  and  gold  ;  then  three  non-commissioned 
officers  of  the  First  and  Second  Life  Guards  and 

119 


THE  STATE  ENTRY,  DELHI 

Dec.  7.  Blues,  in  cuirasses  and  brazen  helmets,  the  Duke 
of  Teck,  two  equerries,  and  finally  the  King- 
Emperor,  with  the  Viceroy  and  Lord  Crewe 
immediately  behind  him.  The  Queen  followed  in 
a  carriage  drawn  by  six  horses,  conspicuous  by  the 
huge  golden  fan  and  crimson  and  gold  umbrella 
held  over  her  by  the  Indian  attendants  ;  then 
came  the  Imperial  Cadet  Corps  ;  and  lastly  the 
remainder  of  the  suite  in  five  carriages,  with  a 
rearguard  of  native  lancers.  A  salute  of  one 
hundred  and  one  salvos  announced  the  departure 
of  the  procession  for  what  was  described  as  the 
State  entry  into  Delhi. 

Every  yard  of  the  route  was  crammed  with 
spectators  ;  and  where,  as  in  the  progress  round 
the  Jama  Masjid,  there  was  an  architectural 
setting  to  the  crowd,  the  scene  was  most  striking. 
The  sky  overhead  was  cloudless,  and  the  white 
marble  domes  of  the  great  mosque  fairly  flamed 
above  the  dull  pink  sandstone  of  the  walls. 
Below  it  the  turbans  of  the  people  made  a 
nodding  flower-bed  of  every  shade  of  blue  and 
green  and  every  variety  of  brown,  tawny,  yellow 
and  orange.  In  more  than  one  place  members 
of  some  school  or  college  had  been  grouped 
together,  making  a  sheet  of  blue  or  pink  or 
yellow  ;  but  such  colours  are  better  scattered 
than  massed.  In  the  main  street,  the  once 
famous  Chandni  Chauk,  the  diversity  of  colour 
in  the  dress  of  the  spectators  was  even  more 
pleasing  against  the  background  of  rather  un- 
kempt   white    houses  ;    but    it    was    painful    to 


THE  STATE  ENTRY,  DELHI 

notice  that  a  few  occupants  had  decorated  their  Dec.  7. 
balconies  with  some  of  the  vilest  colours  pro- 
duced by  Manchester.  The  whole  body  of  the 
spectators,  Europeans  only  excepted,  was  silent 
after  the  Oriental  fashion  ;  but  the  truth  must 
be  told  outright  that  the  King-Emperor  was  not 
recognised  as  he  passed.  He  alone  wore  the 
uniform  of  a  Field-Marshal,  but  this  does  not  to 
a  native  eye  differ  materially  from  that  of  a 
general  or  staff-officer  ;  while  the  ribbon  of  the 
Star  of  India,  which  he  wore  over  his  tunic,  was 
also  to  be  seen  over  the  shoulders  of  every  great 
official  present.  Again,  our  military  head-dresses, 
from  the  helmet  to  the  bear-skin,  entirely  conceal 
the  face  when  the  lip-chain  is  down,  and  this  is 
doubly  true  of  the  white  helmet,  necessarily  wide 
and  overshadowing,  of  the  British  Army  in  India. 
His  Majesty's  equerries  could  hear  the  spectators 
murmuring  as  they  passed  that  the  King  was  not 
there  ;  and  when  the  Queen  followed,  marked 
out  conspicuously  by  the  gorgeous  fan  and 
umbrella,  the  natives  noticed  that  she  was  alone, 
and  decided  that  His  Majesty  was  not  present. 

There  was  a  certain  irony  in  the  situation  ; 
for  the  King  had  deliberately  chosen  to  ride 
a  horse  instead  of  an  elephant,  as  had  been  done 
by  Lord  Curzon  in  1902,  so  that  he  might 
more  easily  be  seen  of  the  people.  Critics  were 
ready  immediately  after  the  event  with  a  score 
of  recommendations  as  to  what  should  have 
been  preferred.  The  King  ought  to  have  worn 
a  special   dress  ;    he    ought    to  have    ridden    an 


THE  STATE  ENTRY,  DELHI 

Dec.  7.  elephant  ;  he  ought  to  have  driven  with  the 
Queen  ;  he  ought  to  have  ridden  a  horse  w^ith  a 
Royal  Standard  before  him  ;  he  ought  to  have 
had  four,  eight,  a  dozen  standards  all  round  him. 
"  Malignant  officialism,"  such  was  the  phrase, 
had  deliberately  destroyed  the  pageant.  In  con- 
sideration of  all  this  it  must  be  remembered  that 
the  troops  formed  the  most  essential  part  of  the 
pageant  ;  that  indeed  there  can  be  no  true  pageant 
without  disciplined  men  ;  that  in  the  last  resort 
everything  in  India  depends  upon  the  British 
soldier — a  fact  which  the  Indian  civil  officials 
nowadays  appear  not  always  to  remember — and 
that  in  such  a  huge  concourse  of  soldiers,  British 
and  native,  lining  the  route  and  taking  part  in  the 
procession,  it  was  fitting  and  right  that  the  King 
should  appear  in  the  uniform  which  distinguished 
him  at  once  as  their  chief  and  as  one  of  them- 
selves. From  an  Oriental  point  of  view  probably 
the  ideal  arrangement  would  have  been  that  the 
King-Emperor  should  have  ridden  a  horse,  and 
that  the  Governors  and  Lieutenant-Governors, 
instead  of  riding  in  carriages,  each  with  his  own 
petty  escort  to  indicate  his  comparative  insig- 
nificance, should  have  walked  afoot  in  a  body 
surrounding  him  ;  and  it  was  perhaps  unfortunate 
that  the  climate  makes  such  a  thing  impossible. 
Nothing  could  have  exalted  both  His  Majesty 
and  those  high  officers  so  truly  in  the  Indian 
mind  ;  and  the  latter  would  have  gained  rather 
than  lost  honour  by  such  an  act  of  voluntary 
self-abasement.       The   Indian   takes   no   account 


ADDRESS   AT  THE   RIDGE 

in  the  Sovereign's  presence  of  his  deputies,  Dcc.17. 
much  less  of  Ministers  of  State,  Parliaments  and 
the  like  appendages.  His  attention  fastens  itself 
for  better  or  worse  wholly  upon  the  person  of  the 
Sovereign  ;  and  in  comparison  with  him  all  other 
officials  are  as  nothing.  Plainly,  therefore,  on  any 
future  occasion  the  person  of  the  King  should  be 
notably  distinguished.  Should  he  ride — and  a 
chief  who  is  a  man,  a  soldier,  and  a  horseman  is 
very  dear  to  the  greatest  of  the  Indian  Princes — 
a  standard  should  be  borne  before  him,  and  a 
host  of  native  attendants  with  Imperial  insignia 
should  be  about  him.  Should  His  Majesty  drive 
in  the  same  carriage  with  the  Queen,  they 
should  be  surrounded  with  the  like  pomp  and 
circumstance. 

After  leaving  the  city  the  procession  halted 
at  a  pavilion  on  the  summit  of  the  historic  ridge 
on  the  way  to  the  camp,  where  were  assembled 
representatives  of  British  India,  that  is  to  say. 
Members  of  the  Imperial  and  Provincial  Legisla- 
tive Councils,  the  Judges  and  other  high  officers. 
Here  the  Hon.  Mr.  Jenkins,  the  Vice-President 
of  the  Governor-General's  Legislative  Council, 
read  a  short  address  of  welcome  and  loyalty  to  the 
King- Emperor,  which  was  then  handed  to  His 
Majesty  on  a  silver  tray.  His  Majesty  read  his 
reply  as  usual  in  a  loud  tone,  which  could  be 
heard  by  all  present.  At  about  half-past  twelve 
the  Imperial  camp  was  reached,  and  here  was 
drawn  up  a  quadruple  guard  of  honour,  one  of 
bluejackets,  one  of  Marine  Artillery,  one  of  the 

123 


A   GUARD   OF   HONOUR 

Dec.  7.  Royal  Fusiliers  and  one  of  the  130th  Baluchis, 
this  last  the  King's  own  regiment,  picturesquely 
dressed  in  green  coats  and  loose  cherry-coloured 
knickerbockers.  The  whole  formed  a  magni- 
ficent body  of  men  ;  and  the  contrast  was  great 
from  the  broad  sturdy  bluejackets  on  the  right 
of  the  line  to  the  lean  slender  Pathans,  long- 
haired, hawk-eyed  and  hawk-nosed,  on  the  left. 
There  was  little  to  choose  between  the  four 
companies  when  they  saluted,  but  the  Marines 
showed  just  the  slight  superiority  over  the  rest 
which  made  perfection.  Presently  the  guards 
filed  away,  and  revealed  the  person  of  Sergeant 
Trotter  of  the  King's  company  of  the  Grenadier 
Guards,  standing  solitary  in  his  bearskin  at 
attention  by  the  flag-staff,  an  unrehearsed  effect 
which,  owing  to  the  huge  stature  and  disciplined 
bearing  of  the  Sergeant,  was  sufficiently  im- 
pressive. 

In  the  afternoon  the  King  held  his  first 
reception  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs  individually, 
giving  to  each  one  of  them  an  audience  of  at 
least  ten  minutes,  and  welcoming  them  as  his 
friends.  The  Queen,  whose  interest  in  historic 
buildings  is  inexhaustible,  with  the  Viceroy,  her 
ladies,  and  a  few  gentlemen  in  attendance,  paid 
a  visit  to  Shah  Jahan's  palace,  built  in  1638-48, 
within  the  fort  of  Delhi.  This  volume  is  not  a 
guide-book  and  no  place  for  a  description  of  the 
famous  building,  which  in  extent,  and  many 
would  contend  in  beauty  also,  far  outdoes  any 
palace     in     Europe.      But     Her     Majesty,     and 

124 


THE   OLDER   DELHIS 

others  who  had  visited  the  place  before,  were  Dec. 
amazed  at  the  improvements  which,  under  the 
impulse  of  Lord  Curzon,  had  been  effected 
through  the  sweeping  away  of  modern  excres- 
cences, the  restoration  of  gardens,  fountains, 
watercourses  and  grass-plats, —  in  a  word,  the 
general  rehabilitation  of  order,  amenity  and 
good  taste.  The  British  are  by  no  means  solely 
responsible  for  the  debasement  of  some  of  the 
noblest  buildings  in  India  ;  but  it  is  incontest- 
able that  it  was  a  British  Governor-General,  a 
sentimental  Whig  and  an  arch-Philistine,  who 
proposed  to  sell  the  Taj  Mahal  ;  so  that  it  is  not 
surprising  if  officers  boldly  erected  coarse 
partition-walls  and  carved  out  spaces  from  the 
(j-ems  of  Oriental  architecture  in  order  to  make 
an  orderly-room  or  an  ordnance-store. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  King 
continued  his  reception  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs  ; 
and  the  Queen,  attended  by  a  small  party  of 
the  suite,  visited  the  Kutab  Minar,  the  Mosque 
of  Kutab-ud-din,  and  the  tomb  of  Ala-ud-din, 
buildings  which  date  from  the  twelfth  to  the 
fourteenth  centuries  of  the  Christian  era,  and 
preserve  the  memories  of  far  older  Delhis  than 
the  present.  In  the  afternoon,  soon  after  three 
o'clock,  Their  Majesties  drove,  under  escort  of  a 
squadron  of  the  Tenth  Hussars  and  a  squadron 
of  native  cavalry,  to  lay  the  first  stone  of  the 
memorial  to  the  late  King  Edward  the  Seventh. 
The  site  of  this  memorial,  which  will  ultimately 
take  the  form  of  a  bronze  equestrian  statue,  is 

125 


KING   EDWARD   MEMORIAL 

Dec.  8.  well  chosen,  being  in  a  garden  which  stands  on 
a  sHght  eminence  in  the  open  space  between  the 
Jama  Masjid  and  the  fort  ;  and  a  huge  crowd  of 
Indians  filled  a  series  of  stands  running  down 
from  the  Jama  Masjid  to  the  scene  of  the 
ceremony.  Here  a  pavilion  had  been  erected  ; 
and  the  way  from  the  entrance  of  the  garden  to 
this  pavilion  was  lined  by  guards  of  honour  of 
the  Gordon  Highlanders  and  the  Second  Gurkha 
Rifles,  both  of  them  King  Edward's  own 
regiments.  The  ceremony  itself  was  brief 
enough.  The  Viceroy  read  an  address  setting 
forth  that  the  cost  of  the  memorial  was  to  be 
defrayed  by  subscription,  which  had  been 
contributed  by  "  thousands  and  thousands "  of 
loyal  subjects  of  all  ranks  and  conditions  in 
India,  testifying  to  their  love  and  reverence  for 
the  ruler  whom  they  had  lost.  His  Majesty 
replied  in  a  few  feeling  words,  and  with  due 
ceremony  laid  the  first  stone.  A  salute  of  one 
hundred  and  one  guns  was  then  fired  ;  Their 
Majesties  drove  off,  and  all  was  over.  But  for 
the  vast  throng  of  Indians  present  one  would 
have  thought  that  the  function  was  one  that 
would  hardly  have  appealed  to  them.  There 
were  no  masonic  rites,  in  which  many  might 
have  joined,  yet  they  watched  the  brief  spectacle 
by  tens  of  thousands. 

In  the  evening  Their  Majesties  gave  a  state 
dinner  to  one  hundred  and  six  guests,  including 
the  Viceroy  and  Lady  Hardinge,  six  Indian 
Princes    and  several  members  of  the    Vicerov's 

126 


PRESENTATION  TO   THE   QUEEN 

Council.  The  banqueting  tent  offended  against  Dec.  9. 
the  elements  of  sanitary  science  in  the  matter 
of  ventilation  ;  and  it  must  here  be  added,  as  a 
warning  for  future  occasions,  that  being  very 
long,  very  narrow  and  low,  it  presented  neither 
a  dignified  nor  an  inviting  appearance.  The 
reception  -  tent  beside  it,  to  which  Their 
Majesties  and  their  guests  withdrew  after  dinner, 
was  less  open  to  such  reproach,  except  in  respect 
of  ventilation,  being  both  lofty  and  spacious  ; 
while  the  roof,  in  broad  stripes  of  pale  blue  and 
white,  was,  though  somewhat  paltry,  at  least 
pleasing  and  restful  to  the  eye. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th  the  King  held 
his  third  reception  of  Ruling  Chiefs  ;  and  the 
Queen  likewise  received  a  number  of  Indian 
ladies  who  came  to  present  an  address  of  wel- 
come and  a  historic  jewel  and  necklace  to  Her 
Majesty.  The  address,  having  been  read  by 
Lady  Hardinge,  and  the  presentation  having 
been  made  by  H.H.  the  Maharani  of  Patiala, 
the  Queen  read  her  reply  of  thanks,  which  was 
then  interpreted  in  Urdu,  after  which  the  whole 
of  the  ladies  were  presented  to  Her  Majesty.  In 
the  afternoon  Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  polo- 
ground,  arriving  there  at  half-past  three,  just  at 
half  time,  in  the  middle  of  two  matches  between 
the  King's  Dragoon  Guards  and  Bhopal  upon 
one  ground,  and  between  the  Inniskilling 
Dragoons  and  Kishengarh  upon  another.  These 
matches  were  semi-final  ties,  for  the  final 
decision  of  which,  as  the  day's  work  proved,  the 

127 


THE  KING   AND   HIS   SOLDIERS 

Dec.  9.  Inniskillings  and  the  King's  Dragoon  Guards, 
both  of  them  fine  teams,  were  destined  to  meet 
again.  The  ground  was  thronged  with  private 
soldiers,  both  British  and  native  ;  and  it  was 
pleasant  to  see  a  tall  British  red-coat  take  up  an 
excited  little  Gurkha  on  his  back  to  enable  him 
to  witness  a  thrilling  moment  in  the  game. 
But  beyond  the  polo-ground  was  another  field, 
where  a  football- match  was  going  forward 
between  the  Lancashire  Fusiliers  and  the  Border 
Regiment,  with  an  even  greater  crowd,  composed 
chiefly  of  private  soldiers.  To  this  the  King 
presently  made  his  way,  walking  across  the  polo- 
ground  attended  by  the  Viceroy  and  by  his  staff- 
in -waiting.  The  visit  to  the  polo  being 
informal.  His  Majesty  wore  a  simple  grey  suit 
with  a  grey  topee  and  broad  gold  puggaree  ;  the 
Viceroy  was  as  simply  dressed  ;  and  the  whole 
proceeding  came  upon  the  soldiers,  as  indeed 
upon  every  one  else,  as  a  surprise.  However,  on 
recognising  their  visitor  they  made  a  rush  to  see 
His  Majesty  enter  the  stand  with  roars  of  de- 
lighted cheering.  The  sound  naturally  increased 
the  crowd,  and  when,  after  watching  the 
match  for  half  an  hour,  the  King  went  back  to 
rejoin  the  Queen,  it  was  only  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  he  was  able  to  pass  through  the 
masses  of  enthusiastic,  shouting  men. 

In  the  evening  Their  Majesties  attended  a 
torchlight  tattoo  on  the  polo-ground,  of  which 
it  is  unnecessary  to  say  more  than  that,  owing  to 
the    extremely    heavy   work   thrown    upon    the 

128 


THE  CHURCH   PARADE 

troops  at  Delhi,  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  Dec.  lo. 
find  time  to  prepare  a  really  effective  display  of 
that  kind.  At  Calcutta,  as  we  shall  see,  the  case 
was  different,  and  the  spectacle  was  very  fine. 
But  at  Delhi  the  men  were  on  duty  every  day 
lining  the  streets  ;  they  were  turned  out  very 
early,  some  ventured  to  think  unnecessarily  early  ; 
they  had  long  marches  to  make  from  their  own 
camps  ;  they  were  out  in  the  sun  during  the 
fiercest  heat  of  the  day  ;  and,  though  the 
oiling  of  most  of  the  roads  about  the  camp 
delivered  them  from  a  certain  amount  of  dust, 
yet  it  did  not  deliver  them  from  all ;  while  finally, 
owing  to  the  long  distances  to  be  traversed,  they 
frequently  did  not  get  back  to  their  tents  until 
late.  In  such  circumstances  the  preparation  of 
the  elaborate  manoeuvres  which  go  to  make  an 
effective  tattoo  was  out  of  the  question.  The 
parade,  therefore,  was  necessarily  too  simple  to 
be  really  striking. 

On  Sunday  the  loth  of  December  Divine 
Service  was  held  at  Jagatpur  Island,  on  the  far 
side  of  the  Military  Camp,  eight  thousand 
British  troops  being  present.  Although  the 
King  and  Queen  attended,  all  arrangements  were 
of  the  simplest,  three  small  shelters  for  Their 
Majesties  and  for  the  clergy  alone  testifying  to 
the  fact  that  some  ceremony  was  going  forward. 
The  clergy  and  the  massed  bands  with  a  body  of 
singers  selected  from  the  troops  were  placed 
upon  a  slight  eminence  at  the  edge  of  the  con- 
gregation,   with    the    natural    result    that    both 

129  K 


THE   CHURCH   PARADE 

Dec.  lo.  voices  and  music  reached  the  mass  of  the  troops 
indistinctly,  and  after  an  interval.  It  seemed  a 
pity  that  the  men  had  not  been  grouped  around 
the  clergy  and  bands  as  a  centre.  The  service 
was  admirably  intoned  in  unison  by  Archdeacon 
Nicholas  and  the  Rev.  W.  Foster.  The  Bishop 
of  Lahore  read  the  prayers  slowly  and  earnestly, 
in  a  voice  that  could  be  heard  by  all  ;  and  the 
Bishop  of  Madras  likewise  made  his  sermon 
reach  the  ears  of  at  least  the  majority  of  those 
present.  But  the  soldiers  would  not  sing.  In 
fact  the  British  soldier  at  best  will  rarely  sing 
more  than  two  or  three  hymns,  and  those 
unfortunately  not  of  the  highest  quality  ;  while 
unless  he  is  brought  into  a  proper  frame  of 
mind  (which  is  difficult  when  he  considers 
himself  to  be  more  or  less  on  duty)  and  unless 
he  is  well  supported  by  a  band  close  to  him,  he 
will  not  sing  at  all.  The  element  of  a  great 
body  of  sound  was  therefore  wanting  to  this 
huge  congregation  ;  and  its  absence  was  a  dis- 
appointment to  many.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
approach  to  the  site  of  the  ceremony  through 
the  military  camp  had  a  grandeur  that  was  all 
its  own — a  huge  brown  dead  flat  plain,  covered 
with  little  humble  tents  and  streaked  with  bodies 
of  troops,  moving,  both  mounted  and  on  foot,  in 
all  directions.  It  presented  a  fine  contrast  to  our 
own  luxurious  camp  with  its  great  marquees, 
fringed  with  palms,  its  broad  drives  and  refresh- 
ing grass -plats,  its  bustling  orderlies  and 
chuprassies    gorgeous   in   scarlet   and    gold.     At 

130 


PRESENTATION   OF   COLOURS 

one  point  could  be  seen  a  swarm  of  little  Dec.  u. 
Gurkhas  climbing  about  the  decayed  walls  of  a 
ruined  building  from  mere  schoolboys'  love  of 
adventure,  and  grinning  over  the  pleasure  of  it. 
One  could  hardly  believe  that  they  were  ready 
to  march,  fully  equipped  for  service  in  the  field, 
within  twenty-four  hours,  and  to  give  a  good 
account  of  themselves  against  any  enemy. 

The  morning  of  Monday  the  iith  witnessed 
what  was  perhaps  the  prettiest  and  most  perfect 
of  all  the  pageants  that  were  crowded  into  the 
eventful  eight  days  at  Delhi,  namely  the  presenta- 
tion of  colours  to  seven  battalions  of  British 
infantry  on  the  polo-ground.  The  ground  was, 
of  course,  perfectly  flat,  though  reasonably  green 
for  India  in  the  dry  season  ;  and  the  seven 
battalions,  each  of  them  in  quarter-column  with 
fixed  bayonets,  were  drawn  up  in  a  hollow 
square.  On  the  left,  as  one  faced  the  interior  of 
the  square,  stood  the  Northumberland  Fusiliers 
and  the  Durham  Light  Infantry  ;  in  the  centre 
the  Black  Watch,  Seaforth  Highlanders  and 
Gordon  Highlanders ;  and  on  the  right  the  High- 
land Light  Infantry  and  the  Connaught  Rangers.^ 
The  Scottish  Borderers  were  to  have  received 
new  colours  at  the  same  time,  but  could  not  be 
brought  to  Delhi  owing  to  an  outbreak  of 
cholera.^     Thus  two  English  battalions  formed 

^  To  give  them  their  old  numbers  in  succession  the  battalions  were  the 
i/5th,  68th,  73rd,  72nd,  93rd,  71st  and  88th. 

2  Here  it  must  be  remarked  that  it  was  only  by  unremitting  vigilance 
and  care  that  the  awful  spectre  of  cholera  was  kept  at  a  distance. 
At  Bombay  the  King's  suite  was  to  have  been  provided  with  Indian 
servants.     Half  of  these  servants  could  not  come,  owing  to  an  outbreak  of 


PRESENTATION   OF   COLOURS 

Dec.  II.  one  side  of  the  square  ;  three  kilted  battalions  the 
second  side  ;  and  a  Scots  battalion  in  trews  and 
an  Irish  battalion  the  third  side,  with  the  massed 
pipes  in  rear  of  the  Black  Watch,  and  the  massed 
drums  and  bugles  in  rear  of  the  Gordons. 

Before  the  King's  arrival  parties  marched  out 
from  each  battalion  and  built  up  a  small  pyramid 
of  drums,  those  of  the  Connaught  Rangers 
solitary  in  front,  those  of  the  two  English 
battalions  next  behind  them,  and  those  of  the 
four  Scottish  battalions  in  rear  of  all,  the  drums 
thus  arranged  being  in  the  form  of  a  triangle 
with  the  apex  towards  the  saluting  point.  The 
new  colours  were  laid  crosswise  upon  the  drums, 
and  a  guard  of  two  sergeants  and  a  colour-sergeant 
was  left  over  each.  The  clergy  then  advanced 
and  grouped  themselves  near  the  drums,  the 
Bishop  of  Lahore  and  the  chaplains  of  the 
English  Church  in  front  of  the  English  battalions : 
Father  Gentilli,  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop 
of  Agra  and  his  chaplains  over  against  them  ; 
and  the  six  Presbyterian  ministers  in  their  black 
gowns  in  front  of  the  kilted  battalions  and  at 
right  angles  to  their  brethren  of  England  and  of 
Rome  ;  each  one  of  the  clerical  parties  moving 
with  as  stately  precision  as  if  they  had  been 
themselves  soldiers.      Presently  the  King  at  the 

cholera  in  their  district,  and  I  was  told  that  two  of  them  had  actually  died 
in  Bombay  that  morning.  At  Delhi  other  servants  were  provided,  but 
some  of  them  were  again  withdrawn  from  the  same  cause.  All  this  was 
rightly  kept  very  quiet  ;  but  from  these  circumstances  the  reader  may 
judge  of  the  anxiety  and  trouble  which  was  thrown  upon  those  who 
were  responsible  for  such  matters. 

132 


PRESENTATION   OF   COLOURS 

head  of  a  very  large  staff  rode  on  to  the  parade-  Dec.  u. 
ground  and  into  the  hollow  square  ;  and  the  five 
thousand  men,  acting  under  an  admirable  v^ord 
of  command,  presented  arms  as  one  man.  Then 
with  the  same  perfect  unity  the  five  thousand 
bayonets  flew  up  together  and  came  down  to  the 
"  slope,"  and  the  King  rode  round  the  hollow 
square  to  inspect  the  troops.  The  inspection 
over.  His  Majesty  rode  to  the  saluting  point  and 
dismounted  ;  and  the  sergeants  guarding  the  new 
colours  marched  back  to  join  their  battalions. 

Then  Bishop  Lefroy  came  forward  to  the 
English  drums  and  read  the  prayers  of  consecra- 
tion, slowly  and  impressively  in  a  penetrating 
voice  which  must  have  been  audible  not  only  to 
the  troops  but  to  most  of  the  spectators.  After 
him  the  six  Presbyterian  ministers  came  forward 
to  do  the  like  for  the  Scottish  colours  ;  and 
lastly  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of  Agra, 
vested  with  cope  and  mitre,  read  the  prayers  of 
his  church  and  sprinkled  the  colours  of  the 
Connaught  Rangers  with  holy  water.  Each 
group  of  the  clergy  retired  in  rear  of  His 
Majesty  when  its  work  was  done,  and  then  the 
commanding  officer,  the  two  senior  Majors,  and 
the  two  senior  subalterns  of  each  battalion 
advanced  to  the  drums  ;  the  Majors  took  up  the 
new  colours,  and  the  parties  advanced  in  three 
columns  towards  the  King  and  halted.  The 
massed  bands  played  a  slow  march,  and  each 
party  in  succession  marched  in  slow  time  to 
the    King,    who    took    the    colours    from    the 


PRESENTATION   OF  COLOURS 

Dec.  II.  Majors  and  handed  them  to  the  kneehng 
subalterns.  Each  party  having  received  its 
colours  moved  back  in  slow  time  to  its  drums, 
and  the  commanding  officers  again  advancing 
took  each  of  them  in  succession  a  written  address 
from  the  hand  of  the  King. 

It  is  usual  in  presenting  colours  for  the 
Sovereign  to  address  the  battalion  that  receives 
them  by  word  of  mouth,  but,  this  being 
impossible  on  so  large  a  parade.  His  Majesty 
substituted  a  written  address  signed  with  his 
own  hand — no  unwelcome  novelty,  for  the  docu- 
ment can  be  framed  and  hung  up  in  the  mess- 
room  as  a  perpetual  memorial  of  the  occasion. 
The  opening  exhortation  was  the  same  for  all  ; 
but  at  the  close  were  a  few  special  words  for 
each  corps.  The  Northumberland  Fusiliers 
were  reminded  specially  of  St.  Lucia  in  1778  ; 
the  Durham  Light  Infantry  of  their  latest  feat 
at  Vaal  Krantz  more  than  a  century  later  ;  the 
Black  Watch  of  their  share  in  the  old  campaigns 
of  India  ;  the  Seaforths  of  a  yet  longer  list  of 
Indian  honours  ;  the  Gordons  of  the  great  name 
which  they  have  made  greater  during  every 
successive  campaign  during  the  past  century  ; 
the  Highland  Light  Infantry  of  the  defence  of 
Gibraltar  and  the  action  of  Porto  Novo  ;  and 
the  Connaught  Rangers  of  their  superb  behaviour 
at  Bussaco.  It  is  true  that  the  very  names  of 
these  great  feats  of  arms  are  absolutely  unknown 
to  an  overwhelming  majority  of  the  British 
nation,  who  make  money  out  of  East  Indian  and 

134 


PRESENTATION   OF  COLOURS 

colonial  trade  without  remembering  who  gained  Dec.  n, 
that    trade   for    them  ;     but    regiments    happily 
never  forget  such  deeds  and  rejoice  to  find  that 
others  too  have  kept  them  in  mind. 

Having  received  their  addresses,  the  com- 
manding officers,  always  moving  at  slow  march, 
rejoined  the  colour-parties,  and  amid  a  great  roll 
of  drums  the  colour -parties  advanced  each 
towards  its  own  battalion  ;  upon  which  the  seven 
battalions  as  one  man  presented  arms  to  their 
new  colours.  Then  came  the  singularly  pathetic 
incident  which  is  inevitable  at  this  ceremony — 
"  Old  colours,  march  off."  The  bands  struck 
up  "  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  and  the  subalterns 
bearing  the  old  colours  marched  slowly  from 
their  places  in  the  centre  of  battalions  across  the 
front  and  round  the  flank  to  the  rear,  where  the 
old  colours,  some  of  them  mere  ragged  ends  of 
silk  at  the  end  of  a  staff,  were  veiled  in  their 
cases,  to  be  seen  no  more  on  parade.  Finally 
the  troops  again  presented  arms,  and  the  new 
colours  were  borne  to  the  place  of  the  old  and 
let  fly,  while  the  band  played  "  God  Save  the 
King."  His  Majesty  then  remounted  his  horse, 
the  seven  battalions,  removing  their  helmets, 
gave  him  three  cheers,  and  the  ceremony  was 
over. 

All  who  witnessed  the  parade — and  there  were 
officers  present  of  very  many  years'  service — 
agreed  that  it  was  the  most  perfect  thing  of  the 
kind  that  they  had  ever  seen.  An  inspection  of 
a  brigade  of  Guards  in  Hyde  Park  by  the  Duke 

135 


AN  EFFICIENT  SENTRY 

Dec.  II.  of  Cambridge  thirty  years  ago  was  a  sight  not 
easily  to  be  forgotten  ;  but  in  these  days,  when 
parade  movements  are  rightly  held  to  be  of  little 
account,  such  a  display  is  very  rare.  But  it 
must  not  be  thought  that  such  perfection  in 
mere  manual  movement  of  arms  is  valuable  for 
spectacular  purposes  only  ;  for,  as  every  military 
man  knows,  it  is  indicative  of  the  greater  unity 
that  is  produced  by  good  discipline.  A  rather 
curious  example  of  discipline  in  another  form 
came  under  my  immediate  notice  on  (I  think) 
this  same  day.  The  pavilion  of  the  polo-ground 
was  reserved  for  such  spectators  only  as  had  been 
provided  with  a  ticket  ;  and  two  sentries  of  the 
Gordon  Highlanders  were  posted  at  the  entrance 
to  see  that  none  but  ticket-holders  were  admitted. 
Among  others  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  army 
in  India  presented  himself,  advancing  in  full  uni- 
form with  many  decorations,  so  that  there  could 
be  no  mistake  as  to  his  rank  or  as  to  his  claim 
to  be  present.  He  was  stopped  by  the  sentry  and 
required  to  produce  his  ticket.  By  accident  or 
mishap  he  had  none,  and  was  proceeding  to 
explain,  when  the  sentry  cut  him  short  with 
"  Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  my  orders  are  to  admit  no 
one  without  a  ticket,"  to  which  unanswerable 
statement  the  Adjutant-General,  being  responsible 
for  the  discipline  of  the  army,  cheerfully  bowed 
his  head,  and  fetched  a  wide  compass  to  seek 
legitimate  entrance  elsewhere. 

From    the     British     regiments    the     King- 
Emperor  rode  next  to  two  Indian  battalions,  the 

136 


INSPECTION  OF  VETERANS 

Eighteenth  Infantry  and  the  Ninetieth  Panjabis,  Dec.  n. 
to  which  he  presented  colours  with  the  same 
formaHties,  omitting  the  consecration.  His 
Majesty  then  proceeded  to  the  veterans  and 
holders  of  the  Order  of  British  India,  who  were 
present  to  the  number  of  eight  hundred  and 
eighty,  thirty  of  them  being  Europeans.  As  he 
passed  down  the  line  he  said  a  few  words  to  each 
of  the  Europeans,  giving  particular  attention  to 
Major  Allum  of  the  old  Bengal  Horse  Artillery, 
who  is  eighty-four  years  of  age,  and  was  wearing 
two  medals  of  earlier  date  than  the  Mutiny. 
Two  more  veterans — Mr.  Thitton  and  Mr.  James 
Roots,  the  latter  of  whom  wears  the  Victoria 
Cross — also  received  special  notice,  both  from  the 
King  and  the  Queen.  Among  the  Indian  soldiers 
were  many  grand  old  fellows,  notably  a  father 
and  a  son,  the  one  seventy-eight,  the  other  fifty- 
eight  years  old,  both  of  them  late  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Sikhs,  and  both  wearing  five  or  six  medals. 
One  younger  man  explained  to  the  King  that 
he  had  received  twenty -two  wounds  in  Chitral, 
showing  some  of  them  as  he  spoke,  but  added 
proudly  that  he  had  killed  two  of  the  enemy. 
Altogether  the  King  devoted  a  full  hour  to  these 
gallant  old  men,  the  Queen  following  him 
closely  in  her  carriage  ;  and  never  was  an  hour 
better  spent.  Even  from  an  ordinary  European 
the  Indian  officer  or  soldier  rates  no  compliment 
so  highly  as  a  glance  at  his  medals  and  a  salute 
paid  to  them,  from  which  it  may  be  guessed  that 
the  appreciation  of  the  King-Emperor  and  the 

137 


THE  GREAT  DAY  COME 

Dec.  12.  Queen -Empress  was  received  as  the  highest  of 
honours  and  gratifications. 

In  the  afternoon  Their  Majesties  again  visited 
the  polo-ground  to  witness  the  final  contest  for 
the  championship  of  the  Delhi  Durbar  Polo 
Tournament,  between  the  King's  Dragoon 
Guards  and  the  Inniskillings.  After  a  very  fine 
and  hard-fought  game  the  Inniskillings  were 
victorious  ;  whereupon  both  teams  were  sum- 
moned to  the  pavilion  and  presented  to  Their 
Majesties,  the  Inniskillings  also  receiving  the 
cup  from  the  hand  of  the  Queen. 


IX 

And  now  Tuesday  the  1 2th  day  of  December 
was  come,  the  great  day  around  which  all  other 
events  of  the  Imperial  visit  were  centred,  and  for 
which  preparations  had  been  going  forward  for 
many  months.  The  general  arrangements  were 
entrusted  to  a  Committee,  of  which  Sir  John 
Hewett  was  the  chief  and  the  leading  spirit  ; 
and  it  may  be  well  first  to  take  account  of  these 
and  of  the  many  difficulties  which  confronted 
the  Committee  in  getting  ready  for  the 
ceremony. 

It  was  early  decided  by  the  King  that  the 
Durbar  must  not  be  held  in  any  building,  no 
matter  how  superb  its  intrinsic  magnificence  or 
how  interesting  its  historic  associations,  but  in 
the  open  air,  so  that  it  might  be  witnessed  by 

138 


s 


SCENE  OF  THE   DURBAR 

the  greatest  possible  number  of  spectators  of  all  Dec.  12. 
races  and  conditions.  The  ground  does  not 
naturally  lend  itself  to  the  convenience  of 
spectators,  Delhi  being  situated  on  a  level  plain 
with  no  eminence  near  it  except  the  famous  ridge, 
which  is  only  sixty  feet  high  and  ill-suited  for 
any  such  purpose.  His  Majesty  therefore  urged 
that  a  semicircle  should  be  marked  out  in  the 
plain  ;  that  the  outer  circumference  should  be 
raised  into  a  mound,  so  as  to  afford  room  for 
fifty  or  seventy  thousand  spectators  ;  that  at  the 
centre  of  the  semicircle  there  should  be  erected 
a  pavilion,  high  enough  to  enable  Their 
Majesties  to  be  seen  from  all  points  of  the 
amphitheatre  ;  and  that  the  stands  for  the  Indian 
Princes  and  for  privileged  spectators  should  like- 
wise be  curved  about  the  Royal  pavilion  for  the 
same  object. 

Upon  this  plan  the  ground  was  laid  out. 
From  the  Royal  pavilion  as  a  centre  a  semicircle 
with  a  radius  of  about  two  hundred  and  forty  yards 
was  marked  out  to  the  north,  and  a  mound  was 
erected  round  the  circumference  for  spectators. 
All  round  the  base  of  the  mound  ran  a 
processional  road,  so  that  Their  Majesties  could 
drive  under  the  very  eyes  of  the  onlookers.  A 
broad  road  also  led  from  the  pavilion  due  north, 
called  the  central  road,  and  two  more  due  east 
and  west,  called  the  east  and  west  vistas 
respectively,  all  of  them  designed  to  open  a  clear 
view  of  Their  Majesties  from  every  quarter. 

From  the  same  centre  of  the  Royal  pavilion, 
139 


THE   DURBAR;   PREPARATIONS 

Dec.  12.  but  on  the  opposite  side  to  the  mound,  a 
circular  road  was  marked  out  on  a  radius  of 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards  ;  and  round 
the  southern  margin  of  this  road  was  erected  a 
huge  stand  with  seating  accommodation  for  some 
ten  thousand  spectators,  and  with  closed  apart- 
ments up  above  for  the  great  Indian  ladies. 
Southward  from  the  Royal  pavilion  ran  a  paved 
way  leading  to  a  second  royal  canopy  called 
by  the  native  name  (which  I  shall  retain  for 
convenience)  of  the  Shamiana,  which  abutted 
immediately  upon  the  stand  above  mentioned. 

The  general  plan  having  been  decided,  the 
formation  of  the  mound  and  the  sowing  of  the 
arena  with  grass  became  a  question  of  labour, 
severe  and  trying  enough  no  doubt  in  itself, 
but  still  comparatively  speaking  simple  ;  and  the 
problem  now  was  to  work  out  the  remaining 
details.  It  was  here  that  the  Committee's 
difficulties  began,  and  they  were  very  many  and 
great.  It  was  plain  that  the  body  of  the  spectacle 
at  the  Durbar  must  be  furnished  by  soldiers  ;  and 
it  was  therefore  rightly  decided  that  the  main 
space  of  the  arena  must  be  filled  with  troops. 
But  the  great  mass  of  the  King's  soldiers  are 
dressed  in  scarlet,  and  though  I  should  be  the 
last  to  say  a  word  against  the  historic  red  coat, 
which  is  now  approaching  the  age  of  three 
centuries,  it  must  be  confessed  that  it  does  not 
look  its  best  under  the  Indian  sun.  It  is  hard, 
crude  and  glaring,  and  there  is  no  escape 
from   the  fact.      The   Indian   army,   of  course, 

140 


THE  DURBAR  ;  AMPHITHEATRE 

affords  a  greater  variety  of  colour  than  the  British.  Dec.  12. 
There  is  plenty  of  khaki,  which  looks  far  better 
in  India  than  in  England,  often  blended  with 
turbans  of  blue,  green  or  orange  ;  and  there  are 
regiments  of  cavalry  in  light  blue,  yellow,  and 
other  less  difficult  colours.  Still  the  prevailing 
tone,  even  with  twenty  thousand  troops  massed 
within  the  arena,  was  bound  to  be  scarlet,  and 
the  only  thing  that  could  be  done  was  to  blend 
the  scarlet  well  with  other  less  glaring  colours. 

To  accomplish  this,  as  well  as  to  make  the 
troops  within  the  amphitheatre  visible,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  arena  should  be  terraced,  for 
it  is  obvious  that,  if  it  were  left  at  its  original 
unbroken  level,  not  one  tenth  part  of  the  soldiers 
could  be  seen.  This  terracing  could  be  accom- 
plished in  two  ways.  The  first  was  to  raise  the 
earth  from  the  circumference  towards  the  centre, 
so  that  the  Royal  pavilion  would  have  risen  as 
the  highest  point,  above  tier  upon  tier  of  troops, 
and  above  successive  waves  of  colour.  This 
would  have  been  highly  effective  ;  and  though 
no  doubt  there  would  have  been  some  difficulty 
in  adjusting  this  arrangement  to  the  smaller  space 
to  south  of  the  greater  semicircle,  yet  this  need 
not  have  proved  insuperable.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  would  have  been  possible  to  terrace 
the  arena  from  the  centre  outwards,  so  that  it 
should  rise  in  continuous  tiers  up  to  the  extreme 
circumference  at  the  spectators'  mound.  This 
would  have  been  both  less  effective  and  more 
costly  than  the  other,  for  it  would  have  involved 

141 


THE   DURBAR;    BUILDINGS 

Dec.  12.  the  raising  both  of  the  spectators'  mound,  and 
therefore  of  the  Royal  pavilion  also,  to  much 
greater  height.  However,  whether  these  diffi- 
culties of  terracing  were  invincible  or  not,  no 
attempt  was  made  to  overcome  them.  The  body 
of  the  arena  was  left  at  its  original  dead  level, 
and  hence  for  the  vast  majority  of  the  beholders 
three-quarters  of  the  troops  contributed  in  no 
degree  whatever  to  the  spectacle. 

Another  point  must  also  be  noticed.  With 
excellent  judgment  the  Committee  left  a  gap 
in  the  north  centre  of  the  spectators'  mound,  so 
that  there  should  be  a  vista  of  Their  Majesties 
upon  their  thrones  from  north,  east  and  west  ; 
but  none  the  less  the  effect  of  the  mound  was 
such  as  to  make  a  hard  unbroken  straight  line 
against  the  horizon.  By  unhappy  mischance 
no  trees  grew  anywhere  near  the  amphitheatre 
to  break  this  line,  and  it  was  of  course  impossible 
to  plant  trees  of  sufficient  size  for  the  purpose. 
It  must  be  added  that  no  attempt  was  made  to 
break  it  by  artificial  decoration.  If  the  experi- 
ence of  the  past  is  to  be  used  for  the  profit  of 
the  future,  this  hard  line  should  be  noted  with 
a  view  to  possible  amendment. 

As  regards  the  minor  details,  the  architecture 
selected  for  the  stand  and  for  the  pavilion  was 
rightly  Oriental  in  its  general  character.  The 
stand,  however,  presented  a  compromise  between 
East  and  West,  for  it  had  a  steep  sloping  roof, 
a  thing  so  rarely  seen  in  the  East  that  the  tiny 
Oriental   cupolas   with   which    it   was    liberally 

142 


THE   DURBAR;   PAVILION 

sprinkled  could  not  disguise  its  foreign  character.  Dec.  12. 
Moreover,  this  sloping  roof,  being  abruptly  cut 
off  at  the  ends,  presented  an  appearance  so  far 
from  Oriental  as  to  recall  painful  visions  of  a 
grand  stand  at  Ascot.  As  the  roof  was  not 
occupied  by  spectators,  this  unhappy  effect  might 
have  been  avoided,  and  should  be  avoided  at  any 
future  durbar. 

The  Royal  pavilion  rose  from  a  broad  base 
in  three  tiers,  ascended  by  broad  stairways,  to 
a  central  structure  supported  by  four  slender 
columns  and  surmounted  by  a  huge  gilt  bulbous 
dome.  This  dome  rose  out  of  a  kind  of  balu- 
strade of  gilt  fretted  work  with  four  small  domes 
at  the  four  corners,  beneath  which  extended  a 
kind  of  gilt  verandah,  and  beyond  this  a  canopy 
of  crimson  velvet  with  a  broad  straight  fringe  of 
crimson  and  gold.  The  canopy  was  carried  out 
as  far  as  to  the  second  tier  of  the  pavilion,  upon 
which  it  was  supported  by  a  number  of  thin 
gilded  iron  poles.  These  very  slight  supports 
were  necessary,  lest  the  view  of  the  interior  of 
the  pavilion  should  be  obstructed  ;  but  at  a  short 
distance  they  gave  the  impression  that  the  heavy 
dome  and  canopy  were  resting  upon  nothing, 
and  the  more  so  inasmuch  as  the  bulbous  dome, 
which  is  typical  of  late  Mohammedan  architec- 
ture, seems  even  in  the  finest  buildings  to  weigh 
very  heavily  on  the  substructure  and  to  threaten 
to  crush  it.  It  may  therefore  be  doubted  whether 
the  dome  and  its  adjuncts  would  not  have  been 
better    of   white,    picked   out   with    gold  ;    the 


THE   DURBAR  ;    A   BLEMISH 

Dec.  12.  canopy  itself  of  white,  or  of  some  pale  colour, 
embroidered  in  gold  ;  and  the  straight  fringe 
(which  was  not  beautiful)  made  lighter  by  being 
broken  up. 

Indeed  it  may  be  questioned  whether  too 
slavish  an  adherence  to  crimson  as  the  Royal 
colour,  even  though  it  was  in  some  sort  the 
Imperial  colour  of  the  Moghuls,  be  not  a 
mistake.  The  canopy  over  the  Shamiana  and 
the  embroidered  mat  at  its  foot  might  well 
have  been,  as  they  were,  of  crimson  and  gold  ; 
but  the  carpet  round  the  foot  of  the  stand  and 
that  leading  from  the  Shamiana  to  the  pavilion 
were  of  the  commonplace  red  baize  which 
is,  perhaps,  most  generally  associated  with 
weddings  at  churches  in  the  west  end  of  London. 
The  colour  is  not  a  good  red,  and  at  the 
foot  of  the  stand  made  a  very  poor  background 
for  the  rich  dresses  of  the  Indian  Princes.  But 
it  was  still  worse  on  the  paved  way  which  led 
to  the  pavilion.  There  were  officers  in  one 
shade  of  scarlet  to  walk  on  it  ;  soldiers  in  a 
slightly  different  shade  of  scarlet  all  round  it  ; 
Their  Majesties'  Indian  attendants  in  a  deeper 
and  nobler  shade  of  scarlet  to  stand  by  it  ;  the 
Imperial  trains  of  rich  purple  to  be  held  up 
against  it ;  and  the  deep  crimson  of  the  pavilion's 
canopy  to  overhang  it  ;  and  the  miserable  baize 
swore  vigorously  and  irreconcilably  with  one 
and  all  of  them.  Moreover,  its  appearance  was 
lamentably  mean  and  paltry.  A  decent  border 
would  have  done  something  to  redeem  it,  but 

144 


DAWN  OF  THE  TWELFTH 

even  this  was  wanting.  Indeed  to  me  it  seemed  Dec.  12. 
that  the  circumstances  positively  demanded  a 
pale  tint  both  in  this  carpet  and  in  the  canopy 
of  the  pavilion.  The  Shamiana  lay  in  shade, 
screened  by  the  grand  stand.  The  paved  way 
and  the  pavilion  lay  out  in  the  full  glare  of  the 
Indian  sun.  Their  Majesties  were  to  march 
from  the  first,  where  they  could  hardly  be  seen 
by  the  spectators  on  the  mound,  to  the  second, 
where  they  were  in  full  view.  The  transition 
from  the  homage  of  the  Princes,  which  was  practi- 
cally hidden,  to  the  homage  of  the  whole  people, 
which  was  in  the  full  light  of  day,  should  have 
been  marked  by  a  change  of  hue  ;  and  it  must 
be  repeated  that  the  Indian  dyers  excel  in  the 
production  of  pale  and  tender  colours.^ 

So  much  must  be  said  for  the  preparations,  in 
order  that  the  reader  may  imagine  the  setting  of 
the  scene  in  which  the  King-Emperor  and  the 
Queen-Empress  were  to  play  their  most  difficult 
part  of  the  central  figures.  The  morning  of  the 
1 2th,  to  the  general  relief,  broke  fine  and  cloud- 
less. On  the  two  previous  days  the  sky  had 
become  overcast,  and  the  evening  temperature 

^  Objections  may  of  course  be  raised  to  the  foregoing  criticisms  on  the 
ground  of  expense  ;  but  a  glance  at  the  distribution  of  the  funds  would 
seem  sufficient  refutation.  According  to  figures  supplied  to  me,  the  cost 
of  the  Government  of  India's  camp — 60  people — for  the  week  was  500,000 
rupees  ;  the  expenditure  on  four  persons  alone  out  of  those  60  was  22,000 
rupees  ;  the  grant  for  the  whole  of  the  head-quarter  camp  of  the  army, 
160  people,  was  25,000  rupees.  From  this  it  would  seem  to  be  a  legitimate 
conclusion  that  if  the  leading  civilians  of  India  had  meted  out  to  themselves 
the  allowance  which  they  thought  sufficient  for  the  leading  soldiers,  there 
would  have  been  more  money  to  spare  for  the  proper  decoration  of  the 
amphitheatre  on  the  great  occasion,  perhaps  the  greatest  in  the  history  of 
India,  of  the  12th  of  December  191 1. 

14s  L 


THE  SPECTATORS'  MOUND 

Dec.  12.  had  risen,  both  of  them  signs  of  coming  rain 
which  were  accentuated  by  gloomy  forecasts 
from  the  Meteorological  Office  at  Simla.  All 
misgivings  were  happily  set  at  rest  at  dawn  of 
the  1 2th.  Long  before  that,  the  air  had  been 
alive  with  the  song  of  bugles  and  trumpets,  with 
the  braying  of  bands,  the  roll  of  drums  and  the 
tramp  of  marching  troops.  By  nine  o'clock  the 
royal  escort  was  beginning  to  form  ;  a  battery  of 
Horse  Artillery  was  halted  in  the  avenue  of  the 
King-Emperor's  camp,  with  its  guns  and  harness 
looking  fit  to  be  placed  on  a  lady's  dressing-table  ; 
and  the  three  huge  non-commissioned  officers  of 
the  Household  Cavalry,  with  cuirasses  flaming  in 
the  sun,  were  seeking  their  horses.  At  half-past 
ten  such  of  the  suite  as  were  not  in  personal 
attendance  began  to  leave  camp  in  motors  for 
the  amphitheatre,  which,  owing  to  the  excellent 
arrangements  of  the  police,  was  reached  within  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  By  that  time  the  spectators' 
mound  was  already  more  than  three  parts  full, 
and  presented  generally  a  huge  dark  mass  of 
black  and  white,  dotted  with  the  red  tunics  of 
British  soldiers  who,  with  inexhaustible  patience 
and  good  temper,  mingled  with  a  certain  per- 
emptoriness  of  manner,  were  guiding  people  into 
their  seats.  On  one  side  of  the  central  gap 
broad  bands  of  yellow,  white,  green  and  blue 
showed  the  presence  of  some  college  or  similar 
institution.  On  the  other,  a  still  happier  mixture 
of  turbans  of  every  imaginable  hue  gave  the 
appearance  of  a   giant  bed   of  flowers.     Round 

146 


THEIR  MAJESTIES'  PAGES 

the  base  of  the  stand  most  of  the  principal  Dec.  12. 
officials  and  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs  were  already 
assembled  ;  and  grouped  on  the  steps  of  the 
Shamiana  were  Their  Majesties'  pages,  ten  in 
number,  all  of  them  either  themselves  Princes 
or  the  descendants  of  Princes.^  They  were 
charmingly  dressed,  no  two  of  them  alike,  in 
the  usual  long-skirted  cassock  of  white  or  pale- 
coloured  silk,  buttoned  to  the  waist,  with  turbans 
of  another  pale  shade  or  of  orange,  shot  with 
gold,  jewelled  swords,  priceless  necklaces  and 
armlets  of  precious  stones,  and  a  brooch  of  the 
King  -  Emperor's  initials  in  diamonds — the  gift 
of  His  Majesty — fastened  in  their  turbans.  They 
varied  in  age  from  fourteen  to  six  ;  but  the 
centre  of  all  their  attention  at  the  moment  was 
the  Lord  High  Steward,  gorgeous  in  gold  lace 
and  the  collar  of  the  Garter,  who  was  blandly 
explaining,  amid  shouts  of  laughter,  that  the  true 
use  of  his  long  wand  of  office  was  to  whip  little 
boys  at  durbars. 

The  arena  was  already  full  of  troops,  beauti- 
fully turned  out,  but  a  little  too  monotonously 
scarlet.     There   was   abundance  of  variety   if  it 

'  The  King-Emperor's  pages  : — 

(1)  His  Highness  The  Maharaja  of  Jodhpur. 

(2)  His  Highness  The  Maharaja  of  Bharatpur. 

(3)  The  Maharaj  Kunvvar  of  Bikaner. 

(4)  Maharaj  Kumar  Himmat  Singh  of  Idar. 

(5)  Bhanwar  Vir  Singh  of  Orchha. 

(6)  Sahibzada  Muhammad  Wahid-uz-Zafar  Khan  of  Bhopal. 

Queen-Empress's  pages  : — 

The  Thalcur  of  Palitana. 
Maharaj  Kumar  Gulab  Singh  of  Rewa. 
Kumar  Mandhata  Singh  of  Sailana. 
Kumar  Ramchandra  Singh  of  Sailana. 


THE  VICEROY'S  ARRIVAL 

Dec.  12.   could    have    been    seen  ;  but    only    the    waving 
pennons   of  the  lancers,  green,  blue  and    white 
above  their  heads,  softened  the  glare  of  the  red, 
though    the    prominent    place    assigned    to    the 
Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Baluchis  in  their  green 
and  crimson  also  gave  a  little  relief.     The  guards 
of  honour  were  furnished  by  bluejackets,  Royal 
Marines,  the    Black  Watch,  and  by  the   Fifty- 
third  regiment  of  Native  Infantry,  this  last  being 
specially    chosen    for   the  honour,   because  it  is 
recruited  from  every  part  of  India.     Dressed  in 
khaki    with   touches  of  bright  orange   in    their 
turbans,  they    made    a    remarkable    foil    to    the 
scarlet    doublets    and    dark    kilts    of  the    Black 
Watch. 

The    first    episode    was    the    entry    of    the 
Veterans,  who    were  loudly  cheered,  though    a 
repetition  of  the  pathetic  scene  at  Lord  Curzon's 
durbar  was  not  to  be  expected.     On  that  occa- 
sion their  entry  was  new  and  a  surprise  ;  now  it 
was  looked  for,  and  people  were  prepared.     The 
massed  bands  played  "  See  the  conquering  hero 
comes "  ;    and    then    one    realised    how    nobly 
Handel's  music,  no  matter  how  much  hackneyed, 
can    sound    on   a  great   occasion.     At   half-past 
eleven  the  Viceroy  and  Lady  Hardinge  arrived 
with  their  escort,  and  the  massed  bands  played  the 
march  which  he  had  selected  for  himself  during 
the    King's    visit,    most    fortunately    that    from 
Scipio,  again  by  Handel.     Thus,  so  far  as  music 
was  concerned,  the  day  was  opened  with  dignity. 
His  Majesty  meanwhile  had  begun  the  day 
148 


THEIR  MAJESTIES'  ESCORT 

characteristically  with  holding  a  Council  ;  for,  Dec,  12. 
no  matter  what  may  be  going  forward,  the  King 
is  never  free  from  the  routine  of  business.  At 
half-past  eleven  Their  Majesties  left  the  camp  in 
an  open  landau  drawn  by  four  horses,  with  two 
Indian  attendants  behind  them,  carrying  the 
crimson  umbrella  embroidered  in  gold  and  the 
huge  gold  fan-like  sunshade  which  belong  to 
their  Imperial  rank.  Both  were  arrayed  in  Royal 
attire  ;  the  King  in  the  raiment  of  white  satin 
which  he  wore  at  the  Coronation  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  with  robes  of  purple  velvet  bound  with 
gold,  and  wearing  further  his  Imperial  crown, 
which  was  one  great  sheet  of  diamonds,  the  collar 
of  the  Garter,  and  the  star  of  the  Order  of  the  Star 
of  India  in  diamonds.  The  Queen  was  dressed  in 
white  embroidered  with  gold,  with  a  robe  of 
purple,  a  circlet  of  emeralds  and  diamonds  on  her 
head,  and  the  Orders  of  the  Garter  and  of  the 
Crown  of  India.  For  their  escort  the  Tenth 
Hussars,  V  Battery  of  Horse  Artillery,  and  the 
Bodyguard  rode  in  front  of  the  carriage ;  General 
Rimington,  Sir  Pratap  Singh,  and  two  equerries 
alongside  it  ;  and  the  Imperial  Cadet  Corps  and 
Eighteenth  Indian  Lancers  in  rear.  Over  and 
above  these  the  Third  battalion  of  the  King's 
Royal  Rifle  Corps,  and  the  First  Ghurkha  Rifles, 
awaited  them,  also  as  part  of  the  escort,  at  the 
south-eastern  corner  of  the  amphitheatre. 

Just  before  noon  Their  Majesties  reached  this 
entrance,  their  arrival  being  heralded  by  a  salute 
of  one  hundred  and   one  guns.     The  whole  of 

149 


THEIR  MAJESTIES'  ARRIVAL 

Dec.  12.  the  vast  assemblage  rose  to  its  feet  ;  and  the 
procession,  reducing  its  pace  to  a  walk,  passed 
amid  the  salaams  of  the  Indians  and  the  cheers 
of  the  Europeans,  round  the  eastern  half  of  the 
spectators'  mound  and  thence  down  the  central 
road.  Here  the  Tenth  Hussars  and  the  battery- 
turned  out  of  the  route,  while  the  Bodyguard, 
the  Royal  carriage  and  the  Imperial  Cadet  Corps — 
let  me  call  it  the  Noble  Guard  for  brevity — pro- 
ceeded down  the  eastern  side  of  the  circular  road 
to  the  Shamiana.  The  steady  array  of  the  blue- 
clad  hussars  ;  the  less  compact  but  not  less  perfect 
order  of  the  Horse  Artillery,  in  their  bright 
yellow-embroidered  jackets  ;  the  tall  stature  and 
dignified  bearing  of  the  Bodyguard,  all  scarlet 
and  gold  ;  the  gleaming  helmets  and  cuirasses  of 
the  three  Lifeguardsmen  ;  the  huge  crimson 
umbrella  and  golden  fan  which  marked  the 
Royal  carriage  ;  the  scarlet  tunic  of  General 
Rimington  and  the  spotless  white  of  the  veteran 
Sir  Pratap  Singh,  followed  by  the  gleaming  white 
frocks,  sky-blue  turbans  and  glittering  aigrettes  of 
the  Noble  Guard — all  this  long  parti-coloured 
procession  winding  its  devious  way  half  seen 
above  the  immovable  forest  of  turbans,  helmets, 
bayonets  and  lance-pennons,  presented  a  spectacle 
of  amazing  majesty  and  grandeur.  Nothing 
could  have  been  better  conceived  or  more 
admirably  executed. 

Arrived  at  the  Shamiana  the  King  and  Queen 
alighted,  the  Viceroy  coming  forward  to  receive 
them  ;  the  pages  gathered   up  the  long  purple 

150 


SCENES  AT  THE  SHAMIANA 

trains  ;  and  Their  Majesties,  standing  for  a  Dec  12. 
moment  before  their  thrones  on  the  dais,  bowed 
right  and  left  to  the  huge  ring  of  spectators  in 
the  stand,  and  then  took  their  seats  with  their 
pages  grouped  on  the  steps  before  them.  The 
Viceroy  then  seated  himself  with  Lady  Hardinge, 
Lord  Crewe  and  the  Lord  High  Steward  on  the 
lower  stages  of  the  dais  to  the  right  of  the  King  ; 
the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire, 
Lord  Shaftesbury  and  Miss  Baring  occupying  the 
corresponding  place  to  the  left  of  the  Queen. 
The  remainder  of  Their  Majesties'  suite  and  the 
Viceroy's  staff  were  behind  them  on  both  sides  ; 
and  the  Noble  Guard,  which  had  dismounted, 
was  seated  in  rear  of  all.  It  must  be  added  that 
for  the  first  time  in  British  history  members 
of  the  corps  of  Gentlemen-at-arms  and  of  the 
Scottish  Archers  were  in  waiting  simultaneously 
upon  the  King  upon  this  unique  occasion  ;  and 
that  among  all  the  thousands  of  soldiers  of  the 
King's  own  regiments,  the  Royal  bodyguard  of 
England,  represented  by  four  men,  held  its  place 
of  honour  ;  a  mounted  Lifeguardsman  being 
stationed  at  the  northern,  eastern  and  western  faces 
of  the  Royal  pavilion,  and  the  solitary  sergeant 
of  the  Grenadier  Guards  half-way  up  the  steps 
on  the  southern  face.  But  perhaps  the  most 
striking  figures  of  all  were  Their  Majesties'  Indian 
attendants,  fourteen  of  them  carrying  maces,  and 
the  remaining  four  the  fans  of  yaks'  tails  and  of 
peacocks'  feathers,  which  are  the  eastern  emblems 
of  royalty.       All  were  dressed  in   long    scarlet 

151 


THE  DURBAR  OPENED 

Dec.  12.  gowns  covered  with  gold  embroidery,  and  wore 
white  turbans  striped  with  gold  about  their 
heads  ;  but  there  was  no  mistaking  these  grand 
grey  warriors  for  anything  but  old  soldiers,  even 
if  the  row  of  medals  upon  their  breasts  had  not 
proclaimed  the  fact  aloud.  Immensely  proud  of 
their  office,  they  never  for  a  moment  took  their 
eyes  off  their  sacred  charge,  while  from  time  to 
time  a  whisk  of  the  yak's  tail  or  a  sudden  lunge 
of  the  peacock's  feathers,  aimed  at  imaginary 
insects,  proclaimed  alike  their  readiness  and  their 
vigilance.  They  were  grey,  as  I  have  said,  and 
their  natural  force  was  abated  with  age,  but  any 
one  approaching  the  King-Emperor  with  evil 
intent  would  have  reached  him  only  over  their 
dead  bodies. 

All  being  ready,  Sir  Henry  McMahon,  as 
Master  of  the  Ceremonies,  asked  His  Majesty's 
permission  to  open  the  Durbar,  which  being 
granted,  the  massed  bands  by  the  pavilion 
sounded  a  noble  flourish  of  trumpets  culminating 
in  a  mighty  roll  of  drums.  Then  His  Majesty 
rose,  the  whole  assembly,  of  course,  rising  with 
him,  and  read  slowly  and  clearly  a  short  speech 
expressive  of  his  desire  to  announce  the  ceremony 
of  his  Coronation  in  person  to  his  subjects  in 
India.  "  To  all  present,"  His  Majesty  ended, 
raising  his  voice  and  glancing  round  the  sea  of 
upturned  faces,  "  feudatories  and  subjects,  I 
tender  my  loving  greetings."  A  purely  Oriental 
audience  would  have  received  such  an  allocution 
with  a  silent  obeisance  ;  but  the  leaven  of  Euro- 

152 


HOMAGE  OF  THE  PRINCES 

peans  in  the  stands  was  large,  and  the  English,  Dec.  12. 
being  too  self-conscious  to  express  satisfaction  by 
mute  gesture,  broke  into  loud  cheers.      Oriental 
taste  showed  at  this  moment  to  advantage. 

Then  the  Viceroy  came  forward  to  do 
homage,  bowing  low  thrice  as  he  approached  the 
throne,  and  finally  kneeling  to  kiss  His  Majesty's 
hand,  a  distinction  confined  to  him  alone.  To 
Lord  Hardinge  succeeded  the  members  of  his 
Executive  Council  ;  and  then  followed  the 
Ruling  Chiefs  of  Hyderabad,  Baroda,  Mysore, 
Kashmir,  Rajputana,  Central  India,  Baluchistan, 
Sikkim  and  Bhutan,  led  by  the  Nizam,  who  was 
dressed  entirely  in  black  but  for  his  yellow 
mitre-like  head-dress,  his  simple  dignity  en- 
hancing the  respect  of  his  obeisance.  After  them 
came  the  Chief-Justice  and  Judges  of  the  High 
Court,  and  the  Viceroy's  Legislative  Council  ; 
and  then  in  succession  the  Governors  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Governors of  Madras,  Bombay,  Bengal, 
the  Panjab,  Burma  and  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam, 
and  the  Chief  Commissioners  of  the  Central  and 
North-West  Frontier  Provinces  ;  followed  in 
each  case,  first  by  their  Executive  Councils,  next 
by  the  Ruling  Chiefs  in  relation  with  their 
Governments,  and  lastly  by  the  representatives 
of  their  provinces. 

The  entire  ceremony  occupied  a  full  hour, 
and  was  not  only  often  extremely  picturesque, 
but,  to  those  who  know  anything  of  the  history 
of  India,  of  surpassing  interest.  The  British 
officials,  for  the  most  part  in  staid  blue  uniforms 

153 


HOMAGE  OF  THE  PRINCES 

Dec.  12.    with  little  adornment,  quietly  and  unpretendingly- 
made  the  military  salute  and  passed  almost  un- 
noticed ;    though   now  and  again   attention  was 
arrested  by  a  giant  such  as  Sir  Charles  Bayley, 
the  Governor  of  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam,  or 
by  a  Hercules,  such  as  Sir  George  Roos-Keppel, 
who,  for  all  his  civil  uniform,  bore  the  unmistak- 
able brand  of  the  soldier  and  the  fighting  man, 
ready  to  wring  the  life  out  of  an  opponent  at  any 
moment,  and  able  by  sheer  personal  prowess  to 
overawe  an  angry  mob  of  the  wildest  tribes  on 
the  marches.     No  one  would  have  suspected  that 
the  quiet,  low-voiced  Master  of  the  Ceremonies 
himself  is  most  at  home  on  the  Baluchi  Frontier, 
where  he  has  made  his  reputation  as  a  patient, 
*      tenacious   and   successful    diplomatist.       But   all 
eyes    were    naturally    reserved    for    the    Indian 
Princes,  resplendent  in  gorgeous  robes,  hung  with 
priceless   jewels,    and    employing   every    variety 
of  salutation.     Very  many  used   the   gesture  of 
throwing   earth   on   the   head   once   or   oftener  ; 
others  simply  bowed,  sometimes  over  their  hands 
placed    palm     to    palm,    sometimes    over    their 
tendered    swords.       The    Rajput    chiefs    almost 
without  exception  laid  their  swords  first  at  the 
feet    of  the    King -Emperor,  and    then    of  the 
Queen- Empress,  with  deep  obeisance  ;   and  not 
the    least    striking     of    these    was    the    young 
Maharaja     of    Jodhpur,    who,     together    with 
another  of  the  Imperial  pages,  left  his  place  by 
the  throne  for  a  moment  to  do  homage.     The 
Begum  of  Bhopal,  veiled  from  crown  to  heel  in 

154 


HOMAGE  OF  THE  PRINCES 

cloth  of  gold,  made  her  reverence  with  a  stately  Dec.  12. 
gravity  which  impressed  the  beholders  not  a 
little.  The  little  Maharaja  of  Bharatpur,  quite  a 
child,  bore  himself  with  childish  naturalness  and 
grace.  Then  occasionally  the  ordinary  course 
would  be  broken  by  the  homage  of  one  of  the 
Noble  Guard,  who,  with  moustache  curling  up 
to  his  eyes,  and  sky-blue  turban  low  over  his 
forehead,  marched  upright  as  a  dart  to  his  place, 
halted  with  heels  together,  pressed  the  scabbard 
of  his  curved  sword  to  his  side,  and  saluted  with 
the  conscious  pride  of  a  soldier  of  the  King- 
Emperor.  Most  reverential  of  all  were  the 
chiefs  of  Bhutan  and  of  Sikkim,  who,  after 
bowing  profoundly  and  throwing  earth  by  gesture 
seven  times  on  their  heads,  drew  from  their 
breasts  two  white  shawls,  such  as  they  use 
only  to  drape  the  most  sacred  images  of  their 
gods,  spread  them  before  the  King  and  Queen, 
and  finally  raising  their  quaint  caps  from  their 
heads,  passed  on.  Their  homage  was  a  solemn 
religious  ceremony.  One  chief  only  marred  the 
proceedings  for  a  moment  by  a  laboured  un- 
gainliness  of  bearing  which  lent  itself  to  mis- 
interpretation. It  was  a  pity,  for  Indian  Princes 
do  not  generally  need  lessons  in  deportment  ; 
and  it  may  be  hoped  that  after  this  occurrence 
no  further  lessons  will  be  necessary. 

Incidentally  the  Durbar  afforded  curious 
illustrations  of  the  past  history  of  India.  The 
greatest  of  the  chiefs  were  the  latest,  the  Nizam 
and  the  Marathas  having  no  more  lengthy  pedi- 

155 


RAJPUTS  AND  BENGALIS 

Dec.  12.  grees  of  sovereignty  to  show  than  have  the 
English  themselves  in  India.  There  w^as,  how- 
ever, a  goodly  company  of  the  old  proud  families 
and  of  the  heads  of  the  fighting  clans  which, 
even  after  repeated  defeats,  had  defied  the  Moguls 
in  the  plenitude  of  their  power,  and  with  un- 
quenchable pride  and  independence  even  rejected 
alliances  with  them  by  marriage.  These  were 
they  who  laid  their  swords  at  the  feet  of  Their 
Majesties,  remembering  that  Lord  Mornington 
and  Lord  Hastings  had  saved  them  from  utter 
extinction  at  the  hands  of  the  Marathas.  They 
had  ruled  India  once  and,  if  their  brains  had 
been  commensurate  with  their  bravery,  would 
have  ruled  it  for  longer.  Very  noticeable,  on 
the  other  hand,  were  the  absence  of  any  Bengali 
chiefs  enjoying  independent  relations  with  the 
central  Government,  and  the  very  small  number, 
no  more  than  two,  of  those  who  stood  in  the  like 
relation  to  the  Government  of  Bengal.  For  the 
Bengali  is  the  converse  of  the  Rajput,  a  thinking 
man  rather  than  a  fighting  man,  who  surrenders 
his  outward  independence  with  little  ado,  trust- 
ing, not  without  justification  from  past  history, 
that  his  intellect  will  give  him  the  greater 
sovereignty  which  belongs  to  those  who  govern 
the  Governors. 

For  the  rest  it  would  be  impossible  to 
describe  the  richness  and  variety  of  colour 
displayed  by  the  dresses  of  the  native  princes. 
The  head-dresses  alone  would  require  several 
pages,  from  the  voluminous  turban  of  Kashmir 

156 


THE  HOMAGE  ENDED 

to  the  small  golden  jewelled  cap  (I  know  not  Dec.  12. 
how  else  to  describe  it)  of  Travancore,  and 
the  pagoda -like  structures  of  Burma.  In  the 
surroundings  and  against  the  infelicitous  back- 
ground selected  by  the  Committee,  one  costume 
of  white  shot  with  gold,  with  a  broad  girdle 
and  turban  of  bright  green  silk,  was  perhaps  the 
most  effective  ;  but  taken  as  a  body  nothing 
could  exceed  the  group  of  the  Imperial  pages. 

At  length  the  homage  was  over.  Few  if  any 
of  those  who  saw  it  could  have  found  it  tedious, 
and,  if  they  did,  the  monotony  was  broken  by 
the  applause  with  which  the  different  personages 
were  greeted  as  they  advanced  to  the  throne. 
Such  applause  perhaps  suggested  rather  prize- 
giving  than  reverence,  but  the  instincts  of  the 
public  meeting  are  strong  in  Englishmen  ;  and, 
if  cheers  were  out  of  place,  it  may  at  least  be 
pleaded  that  they  were  more  freely  bestowed  upon 
the  Indian  Princes  than  upon  the  European  gentle- 
men. The  last  outburst  died  away.  The  fourteen 
mace-bearers  faced  about  and  formed  in  column, 
two  and  two,  on  the  paved  way  ;  and  the  Lord 
High  Steward  and  the  Queen-Empress's  Lord 
Chamberlain  presently  took  their  places  behind 
them.  The  King  and  Queen  rose  ;  the  pages 
gathered  up  the  purple  trains  ;  the  massed  bands 
blared  out  a  march  ;  and  the  whole  assemblage 
sprang  to  its  feet.  Then  with  joined  hands  and 
measured  step  Their  Majesties  moved  slowly  up 
the  paved  way  towards  the  Royal  pavilion. 
Immediately   before    them    and    facing   towards 

157 


THE  ROYAL  PAVILION 

Dec.  1 2.  them  walked  Lord  Durham  and  Lord  Shaftesbury, 
with  the  mace-bearers  in  front  of  all.  Imme- 
diately behind  them  marched  the  four  remain- 
ing Indian  attendants  ;  then  after  an  interval  the 
Viceroy,  Lady  Hardinge,  the  Duke  of  Teck, 
Lord  Crewe  and  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  ; 
and  after  a  second  interval  the  remainder  of  the 
suite  and  the  Viceroy's  staff,  four  abreast,  in  all 
nearly  fifty  persons.  At  the  foot  of  the  pavilion 
the  mace-bearers  halted,  and  turning  right  and 
left  lined  the  way  on  each  side  ;  and  Their 
Majesties,  slowly  ascending  the  steps  to  the 
highest  stage,  took  their  seats  on  two  gorgeous 
thrones,  with  their  four  Indian  attendants  behind, 
and  the  pages  grouped  before  them.  On  the 
stage  next  below  them  the  Viceroy,  Lady 
Hardinge,  Lord  Crewe  and  Lord  Durham  stood 
upon  the  King's  (or  eastern)  side  ;  the  Duke 
of  Teck,  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  Lady 
Shaftesbury  and  Miss  Baring  upon  the  Queen's 
side  ;  while  the  remainder  of  the  suite  divided 
themselves  between  the  two  sides  of  the  lowest 
stage. 

The  scene  at  this  moment  was  extremely  fine. 
As  a  matter  of  spectacular  effect  the  lower  tiers 
of  the  pavilion  might  perhaps  with  advantage 
have  been  more  thickly  covered,  while  some 
Oriental  dresses  would  have  brought  a  welcome 
relief  of  soft  colour  to  the  hard  blue  and  scarlet 
of  the  uniforms.  Still  the  presence  of  the 
Maharaja  of  Bikaner  and  of  Sir  Pratap  Singh 
gave  at  any  rate  a  touch  of  white  and  sky  blue  ; 

158 


THE  ROYAL  TRUMPETERS 

and  on  the  Queen's  side  the  three  ladies — the  Dec.  12. 
Duchess  of  Devonshire  in  creamy  white,  Lady 
Shaftesbury  in  buff  with  a  pale-pink  sunshade, 
and  Miss  Baring,  tall  and  graceful,  in  pale 
blue  —  provided  just  what  was  needed.  But 
this  was  merely  a  question  of  the  setting,  for 
all  eyes  were  rightly  fixed  on  the  topmost 
stage,  where  Their  Majesties  sat,  all  white  and 
gold  against  the  rich  purple  and  creamy  ermine 
of  their  trains,  with  the  soft-coloured  robes  of 
the  pages  grouped  about  their  feet.  And  this 
was  beautiful  as  well  as  imposing. 

The  massed  bands  again  sounded  a  superb 
flourish  of  trumpets,  with  a  thundering  roll  of 
drums  :  a  shrill  fanfare  answered  them  from 
without  the  amphitheatre,  and  the  trumpeters 
advanced  on  horseback  to  the  north  entrance  of 
the  central  road,  with  the  two  heralds,  Brigadier- 
General  Peyton  and  the  Hon.  Malik  Umar 
Hyat  Khan,  in  tabards,  at  their  head.  The 
trumpeters  numbered  twenty -four,  drawn  in 
equal  numbers  from  British  and  Indian  cavalry 
regiments,  with  one  drummer  from  the 
Thirteenth  Hussars.  They  were  dressed  in  the 
crimson  and  gold  worn  by  the  State  trumpeters 
at  home,  the  British  wearing  white  helmets, 
and  the  natives  white  and  gold  turbans  ;  and  all 
were  of  course  mounted  on  white  horses. 
Arrived  before  the  entrance  to  the  central  road 
at  the  cut  through  the  spectators'  mound,  they 
halted  and  blew  a  second  fanfare.  Then 
advancing    up    the    central    road    to    the   Royal 

159 


THE  ROYAL  PROCLAMATION 

Dec.  12.  pavilion  the  drummer  again  spread  his  arms 
wide,  and  at  his  signal  the  flourish  was  repeated 
a  third  time. 

Then  the  chief  herald  rode  up  before  the 
pavilion  and  read  the  King-Emperor's  proclama- 
tion, announcing,  in  efl^ect,  that  the  solemnity  of 
his  Coronation  had  been  celebrated  in  Westminster 
Abbey  on  the  22nd  of  June,  and  that  it  was  his 
wish  and  desire  to  make  this  known  in  person  to 
all  his  loving  subjects  in  India.  "  Now"  (ran 
the  closing  words),  "We  do  by  this  Our  Royal 
Proclamation  make  announcement  thereof,  and 
extend  to  all  Our  officers  and  to  all  Princes, 
Chiefs  and  Peoples  now  at  Delhi  Our  Royal  and 
Imperial  Greeting,  and  assure  them  of  the  deep 
affection  with  which  We  regard  Our  Indian 
Empire,  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  which  are, 
and  ever  will  be.  Our  constant  concern."  The 
Indian  herald  then  repeated  the  Proclamation  in 
Urdu,  in  tones  which,  though  less  deep  and 
powerful  than  General  Peyton's,  were  more 
penetrating  and  carried  much  farther.  "  God 
Save  the  King-Emperor,"  cried  the  shrill  voice 
in  Urdu  ;  and  the  drummer  once  more  opened 
his  arms  wide  for  a  last  flourish  ot  trumpets. 
The  supreme  moment  was  come.  The  bugler 
of  the  commanding  General  sounded  a  note  ;  the 
troops  presented  arms  ;  and  with  a  crash  the 
massed  bands  burst  into  the  National  Anthem. 
The  last  note  was  hardly  silent  when  a  battery 
of  artillery  at  the  north  end  of  the  amphitheatre 
fired  the  first  salvo  of  six  guns,  which  was  repeated 

160 


THE  SUPREME  MOMENT 

by  a  second  battery  to  west,  and  a  third  to  east,  Dec. 
the  salute  passing  round  and  round  in  the  same 
order  until  thirty-four  salvos  had  been  fired. 
Then  came  a  faint  sound  as  of  rending  paper, 
which  died  away  into  a  faint  mutter  and  swelled 
again  into  an  angry  snarl,  as  the  Jeu  de  joie  of  the 
troops  that  lined  the  roads  sped  away  for  three 
miles  from  the  amphitheatre  to  the  King's  Camp, 
and  rushed  back  from  thence  to  the  amphitheatre 
again.  The  bands  once  more  played  the  opening 
bars  of  the  National  Anthem  ;  the  batteries  fired 
three  more  salvos  ;  and  the  same  procedure  was 
followed  until  one  hundred  and  one  salvos  and 
three  y^'WAT  de  joie  had  been  completed. 

Throughout  this  time,  full  fifteen  minutes,  the 
whole  of  the  great  congregation  remained  silent 
and  motionless.  The  sun,  high  in  the  heavens, 
beat  down  fiercely  upon  all  within  the  amphi- 
theatre— upon  all  except  the  King-Emperor  and 
the  Queen-Empress,  who  stood,  even  as  the  rest, 
erect  and  still  in  all  the  pomp  and  glitter  of  robes 
and  crown,  under  the  shadow  of  the  canopy. 
They  alone,  being  seen  of  all  men,  could  command 
at  a  glance  of  the  eye  the  huge  concourse  of  men 
that  encircled  them.  At  their  feet  in  long 
curved  concentric  lines  stood  great  ranks  of  dis- 
ciplined soldiers,  standing  patiently,  in  contempt 
of  all  muscular  strain,  with  presented  arms — 
light  little  English  townsmen  from  London, 
Birmingham,  Sheffield,  Durham  and  fifty  other 
cities  ;  heavier  country  lads  from  Berkshire,  from 
the  Midlands  and  from  Northumberland  ;  solemn 

l6l  M 


THE  SUPREME  MOMENT 

Dec.  12.  Highlanders  from  Banff  and  Aberdeen  ;    sturdy 
bluejackets  from  Hants  and  Devon  ;  lean,  eager- 
eyed    Pathans    from    the    north-west  ;     bearded 
Sikhs  with  the  steel  quoits  glittering  round  their 
turbans  ;   tall  Rajputs  with  traditions  of  centuries 
of   fighting    behind    them  ;     Dogras,    Panjabis, 
Marathas,  and  last,  and  least  in  stature  though  by 
no  means  least  in  fighting  power,  battalion    on 
battalion  of  short  Mongolian  Gurkhas.     At  the 
head  of  them  all  an  officer  in  high  command  sat 
on  his  horse  before  the  pavilion,  through  salvo 
after  salvo,  with  his  hand  glued  to  his  helmet  ; 
a  little  to   his   rear  stood    the    solitary   gigantic 
Guardsman,    equally    with    hand    held    fast    to 
his  bearskin.      For  this  mingled    host  of   many 
ranks    and    many   races  and   many   tongues    was 
united   into    one   by    the    bond    of  discipline    as 
soldiers  of  the  King.     Let   men  revile  as    they 
will  the  noble  profession  of  arms  ;  it  will  always 
form  the  strongest  of  human  brotherhoods,  for 
military    discipline  is  the    organised   abnegation 
of  self. 

And  beyond  these  ranks  of  scarlet  and  blue  and 
yellow  and  khaki  lay  the  vast  ring  of  the  peoples, 
no  mere  claque  of  the  populace  of  Delhi,  but  a 
great  assembly  gathered  together  from  every 
part  of  India.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say  how 
many  languages  and  dialects  were  used  as  mother- 
tongues  within  the  small  compass  of  those  two 
semicircles  that  day,  certainly  not  fewer  than 
twelve,  and  quite  possibly  more  than  twenty  ; 
but  not  a  voice  was  heard  among  them.     The 

162 


UNDER  THE  GOLDEN  DOME 

huge  mass  of  spectators  stood  silent  and  awe-  Dec.  12. 
struck,  gazing  at  the  two  resplendent  figures 
beneath  the  golden  dome,  with  thoughts  that 
were  presently  to  be  revealed  in  a  manner  for 
which  no  one  had  looked.  And  through  boom 
after  boom  of  the  cannon  Their  Majesties  gazed 
upon  the  great  throng  before  them,  with  simple, 
tranquil  dignity  and,  though  deeply  moved,  with 
perfect  outward  calm.  One  would  have  said,  and 
said  truly,  that  they  were  present  as  earnest  and 
devout  leaders  and  partakers  in  a  great  religious 
celebration.  It  was  indeed  the  reverential  spirit 
in  which  they  regarded  the  ceremony  that 
brought  them  into  sympathy  with  the  feelings  of 
the  large  majority  of  the  spectators  about  them.^ 
None  who  saw  them  during  that  long  salute 
will  speedily  forget  the  sight  ;  and  those,  I 
think,  who  were  privileged  to  stand  near  the 
Queen  will  never  quite  lose  the  vision  of  her 
noble  bearing  as,  with  head  slightly  thrown  back, 
she  stood  out  in  majestic  gentleness  against 
the  radiant  grey-blue  of  the  Indian  sky. 

The  tension  had  become  almost  unbearable 
when  the  last  sound  of  the  salute  died  away,  and 
the  bugle  sang  out  three  quiet  notes  :  "  Slope 
arms  "  ;  "  Order  arms."  The  supreme  moment 
was  over  ;  and  after  another  preliminary  blast 
from  the  trumpeters  the  Viceroy,  by  the   King- 

*  A  Madras  Brahman,  a  very  successful  pleader  both  in  British  and 
Hyderabad  courts  and  in  sympathy  with  the  India  Congress,  turned  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  to  an  English  friend  at  the  close  of  the  Durbar,  and  said, 
"  This  is  what  I  have  always  dreamed  the  procession  of  a  God  must  be. 
If  the  Bengalis  give  any  more  trouble,  they  will  get  no  support  from  any 
other  province  in  India." 

163 


THE  ROYAL  ANNOUNCEMENT 

Dec.  12.  Emperor's  order,  stepped  forward  and  read  a 
proclamation  of  boons  to  be  conferred  in  honour 
of  the  occasion.  These  may  be  summarised 
shortly  as  increased  expenditure  on  education  ; 
grant  of  half  a  month's  pay  to  all  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  soldiers  and  to  minor  civil 
officials  ;  concession  of  additional  privileges  in  the 
matter  of  honours  and  rewards  to  native  officers, 
and  release  of  certain  criminals  and  of  poor 
persons  imprisoned  for  debt.  Then  after  yet 
another  preliminary  flourish  of  trumpets  the 
chief  herald  stood  up  to  his  full  height  in  his 
stirrups  and,  doffing  his  helmet,  called  for  three 
cheers  for  the  King-Emperor,  and  three  more 
for  the  Queen-Empress  ;  and  with  this  final  roar 
of  sound  the  ceremony  at  the  pavilion  came  to 
an  end.  The  trumpeters  galloped  away  to  a 
new  station,  and  Their  Majesties  descending, 
returned  hand  in  hand  to  the  Shamiana  to  the 
worthy  music  of  German's  Coronation  March,  in 
like  procession  as  they  had  advanced  from  it. 

There  the  trumpeters  sounded  another  fanfare, 
and  then  to  the  general  surprise,  for  the  official 
programme  gave  no  hint  of  such  a  thing.  His 
Majesty  rose,  holding  a  paper  in  his  hand. 
With  clear  voice  and  just  emphasis  he  announced 
that  the  capital  of  India  would  be  transferred 
from  Calcutta  to  Delhi,  and  that  a  Governorship 
would  be  created  for  the  Presidency  of  Bengal,  a 
new  Lieutenant-Governorship  for  Behar,  Chota- 
Nagpur  and  Orissa,  and  a  Commissionership,  as 
before,  for  Assam,  with  a  general  redistribution 

164 


THE  PEOPLE'S  HOMAGE 

of  boundaries.  In  other  words,  Lord  Curzon's  Dec.  12. 
partition  of  Bengal,  which  had  caused  so  much 
agitation,  was  revised,  and  a  new  and  different 
partition  projected.  Admirably  delivered  though 
this  announcement  was,  no  human  voice  could 
have  reached  more  than  a  small  portion  of  the 
spectators  in  the  stand  ;  and  the  news  flew  from 
the  centre  to  both  flanks  with  a  buzz  as  of 
passing  bees.  But  the  trumpeters  now  blew 
their  last  fanfare,  and  galloped  out  of  the  arena. 
The  Master  of  the  Ceremonies  received  per- 
mission to  close  the  Durbar,  the  massed  bands 
again  played  the  National  Anthem,  all  present 
rising  to  their  feet  and  singing  with  the  bands  ; 
and  Their  Majesties,  re-entering  their  carriage, 
drove  off  amid  loud  cheers  and  a  last  salute  of 
one  hundred  and  one  guns  in  the  same  order  as 
that  of  their  arrival,  only  taking  this  time  the 
road  along  the  western  corner  of  the  amphi- 
theatre. The  Viceroy  followed  next,  and  after 
him  the  members  of  the  Imperial  suite.  And 
then,  when  all  seemed  to  be  over,  came  the  most 
impressive  scene  of  all.  The  people  rushed 
down  by  thousands  from  the  mound  to  the 
Royal  pavilion  on  which  Their  Majesties  had 
sat,  and  prostrating  themselves,  pressed  their 
foreheads  against  the  marble  steps.  Soon,  as 
the  crush  became  too  great,  they  were  fain  to 
touch  the  pavilion  with  their  hands  and  press 
their  fingers  to  their  foreheads,  content  with  this, 
so  only  they  could  pay  their  homage  to  the  one 
supreme    ruler  of  all  India.     For  the  East  has 

165 


THE  DURBAR  CLOSED 

Dec.  12.  not  yet  lost  the  ancient  habit  of  exalting  their 
Emperor  above  all  human  kind,  a  habit  which 
the  West,  with  its  Divus  Julius  and  Sanctus 
Carolus,  formerly  shared,  and  perhaps  may  yet 
again  share,  with  them.  So  strong  is  the  im- 
pulse in  men  to  deify  the  power  which  keeps 
them  in  discipline  and  order,  and  thus  brings 
to  them  the  divine  blessing  of  peace. 

In  the  evening  Their  Majesties  gave  a  State 
dinner  in  the  banqueting  tent  to  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three  guests,  no  light  addition  to  a 
heavy  day's  work  ;  but  every  one  was  cheerful 
and  of  good  heart  on  that  evening  after  the 
brilliant  success  of  the  Durbar.  It  may  fairly 
be  said  that  everything  passed  off  without  the 
slightest  hitch  or  mishap.  That  the  preliminary 
arrangements  might  possibly  have  been  some- 
what improved,  many  were  disposed  to  agree  ; 
but  as  regards  the  actual  transaction  of  the 
ceremony  in  every  detail  from  beginning  to  end 
there  were  not  two  opinions.  The  filling  and 
emptying  of  the  huge  amphitheatre  was  accom- 
plished without  the  slightest  difficulty,  and  the 
patience  and  gentleness  of  the  police,  both 
British  and  native,  were  beyond  praise.  The 
appearance  of  the  troops  was  faultless  ;  the 
massed  bands  played  their  part  admirably,  alike 
in  whiling  away  for  the  spectators  the  tedious 
hours  of  waiting,  and  also  in  accompanying  the 
most  solemn  moments  of  the  ceremony.  The 
selection  of  music  was,  on  the  whole,  good,  and 
the  flourish  of  trumpets  and  drums  magnificent. 

i66 


A  BRILLIANT  SUCCESS 

The  trumpeters  likewise  did  themselves  credit.  Dec.  12. 
The  fanfare  composed  for  them  was  stately  and 
stirring  ;  they  played  it  exceedingly  well  ;  and 
their  appearance,  with  its  alternation  of  white 
faces  and  brown,  of  white  helmets  and  gorgeous 
turbans,  was  well  fitted  to  the  spectacle  at  large. 
There  were,  it  is  true,  critics  who  objected  to 
the  headlong  speed  at  which  they  galloped 
round  the  circular  road,  half  of  them  on  the  east 
side  and  half  on  the  west,  when  the  time  came 
for  them  to  change  stations.  But  though  there 
was  certainly  high  speed,  there  was  no  disorder  ; 
the  men  kept  their  distances  admirably  ;  they 
had  their  horses  perfectly  in  hand  ;  and  they 
rode  particularly  well.  Further,  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  their  movements  filled  up 
very  suitably  the  short  pauses  that  necessarily 
intervened  between  different  stages  of  the 
ceremonial.  But  by  general  consent  the  success 
of  the  Durbar  was  ascribed,  above  all,  to  the 
sympathetic  bearing  and  perfect  dignity  of  Their 
Majesties. 


X 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  King- 
Emperor  was  on  horseback  before  eight  o'clock, 
riding  through  the  camps  of  the  naval  contingent 
and  of  the  Infantry  brigades  which  had  worked 
so  hard  for  him  on  every  day  of  his  stay.  At 
eleven    o'clock  he    presented   the   Albert   medal 

167 


A  GREAT  RELIGIOUS  SERVICE 

Dec.  13.  to  ten  officers  and  sergeants  of  the  Indian 
Ordnance  Corps,  who  had  distinguished  them- 
selves by  conspicuous  gallantry  in  saving  life 
after  the  explosion  of  cordite  at  Hyderabad  and 
Ferozpur  in  1906.  He  then  held  a  levee  of 
the  officers  of  the  Volunteers,  of  the  Indian 
officers  of  the  Imperial  Army,  and  of  the  Imperial 
service  troops  of  the  native  princes,  touching  the 
swords  which  they  tendered  to  him  according  to 
the  graceful  custom  of  India.  He  then  accepted 
addresses  from  deputations  from  the  Presidency 
of  Madras  and  the  municipality  of  Delhi,  while 
the  Queen-Empress  received  one  hundred  and 
twenty  ladies  of  the  families  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs. 
In  the  King-Emperor's  camp  that  morning  all 
functions  seemed  to  be  of  minor  importance  after 
the  Durbar,  and  yet  in  those  very  hours  there 
was  taking  place  at  Delhi  the  most  remarkable 
ceremony  of  all. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  three  separate  pro- 
cessions of  Hindus,  Jains,  Mohammedans  and 
Sikhs  should  start  early  in  the  morning  by  three 
different  routes,  and,  after  offering  prayer  for  the 
King-Emperor  each  in  their  own  congregations, 
should  proceed,  the  chiefs  to  the  fort  of  Delhi 
and  the  remainder  to  the  plain  beneath  it,  where 
all  should  meet  and  together  make  their  common 
supplication  to  the  Most  High.  The  earliest 
of  these  processions  started  at  half-past  six  in 
the  morning,  and  before  nine  o'clock  a  vast 
crowd  was  assembled  at  the  fort.  I  personally 
was    unable    to    see    more    than  the  Sikhs,  and 

168 


THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  SIKHS 

among  them  chiefly  the  followers  of  the  Maha-  Dec.  13. 
raja  of  Patiala.  These  included  wild  horsemen, 
some  clad  in  orange,  with  breastplate,  matchlock, 
lance  and  shield  ;  others  similarly  armed,  but 
dressed  in  blue,  with  ring  upon  ring  of  steel 
encircling  their  high  caps  ;  foot-soldiers  similarly 
attired  ;  gorgeously  caparisoned  horses,  and  two 
elephants,  upon  one  of  which  was  seated  the 
High  Priest.  Every  Sikh  soldier  of  the  British 
Army  who  could  be  spared  was  present  ;  and 
the  aspect  of  the  Maharaja  and  his  suite,  all  with 
yellow  garlands  about  their  necks,  showed  that 
this  was  no  common  occasion.  They  had  already 
visited  the  shrine  in  the  Chandni  Chauk  of  Guru 
Teg  Bahadur,  who  in  1675,  when  dying  in 
torment  at  the  hands  of  Aurangzeb,  had  flung 
at  the  fanatical  Emperor  this  prophecy  —  "I 
behold  coming  from  across  the  ocean  a  race  of 
men,  who  will  spread  peace  and  justice,  and  root 
out  tyranny  and  oppression."  Before  this  shrine 
they  had  uttered  the  following  thanksgiving  : 
"  By  Thy  Mercy,  O  God,  his  words  have  proved 
true  ;  for  the  British  Government,  which  confers 
happiness  on  its  subjects,  has  been  established  in 
India.  We  Sikhs  of  the  Gurus  in  the  midst 
of  our  happiness  and  rejoicing  to-day  specially 
render  Thee  our  humble  thanks  that  our  beloved 
Emperor  has  come  to  the  City  where  our  holy 
Guru,  the  Bestower  of  Salvation,  uttered  this 
fateful  prophecy,  in  order  to  place  the  crown  of 
many  realms  upon  his  head.  O  Eternal  God, 
may    this    peaceful    and   just    Sovereignty    ever 

169 


THE  MOHAMMEDANS'  PRAYER 

Dec.  13.  endure,  and  may  the  Emperor  George,  and  his 
gracious  Consort,  Queen  Mary,  abide  in  happi- 
ness, and  may  the  Empire  extend  and  prosper." 
At  the  shrine  Sir  Louis  Dane,  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  Panjab,  had  met  them,  a 
welcome  guest,  and  joined  in  their  wishes  for 
the  welfare  of  the  King- Emperor  and  of  the 
Khalsa.  Presently  these  gaily  dressed  warriors 
began  to  move  down  from  the  fort  to  the  plain 
below,  following  the  High  Priest  on  the  elephant. 
There  hundreds  of  the  King's  Sikh  soldiers 
joined  them  and,  massing  themselves  together, 
watched  at  a  little  distance,  while  some  scores 
of  yellow  turbans  swarmed  round  the  High 
Priest's  elephant,  repeating  with  endless  iteration 
a  plaintive  chant  ^  to  the  accompaniment  of 
drums  and  tambourines. 

Meanwhile  the  Mohammedans  had  met  in 
vast  numbers  in  the  Jama  Masjid,  and  since  early 
morning  the  most  famous  preachers  of  their  faith 
in  Upper  India  had  discoursed  to  them  of  the 
value  and  virtue  of  loyalty.  From  the  Sikhs 
Sir  Louis  Dane  passed  to  this  mosque,  where, 
after  listening  for  some  time  to  the  address  of  a 
learned  Maulvi  from  Lucknow,  he  was  begged 
by  the  leading  men  to  say  a  few  words,  which 
request  was  confirmed  by  the  entire  assembly. 
He  therefore  spoke  briefly,  thanking  them  and 
joining  in  their  prayers  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
King-Emperor  who  on  the  preceding  day  had 

1  Curiously  enough  this  chant  was  identical  with  the  first  six  notes  of 
Sullivan's  air  "  Prithee,  pretty  maiden  "  in  Patience. 

170 


THE  HINDUS'  PRAYER 

restored  the  glories  of  Delhi  by  making  it  again  Dec.  13. 
the  capital  of  India.  That  a  Christian  should 
deliver  an  address,  which  was  itself  in  the  nature 
of  a  sermon,  to  thirty  thousand  Mohammedans 
in  a  mosque  by  their  own  invitation,  is  a  fact 
which  sounds  almost  incredible  ;  yet  so  it  was  ; 
and  the  vast  congregation  not  only  heard  him 
with  eager  respect,  but  greeted  the  conclusion  of 
the  exhortation  with  fervent  shouts  of  "  Amin." 

The  Hindus  likewise  were  holding  their 
religious  service — an  oblation  with  sacrifice — 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Maharaja  of  Darbhanga 
and  the  Sanatam  Dharm  Mahamandal  upon  the 
traditional  site  by  the  Jumna  where  Yudisthira 
(as  related  in  the  Mahabharata)  performed  his 
oblation  and  horse-sacrifice  when  he  was  crowned 
Emperor  of  all  India. 

Finally  the  whole  of  the  processions  met 
under  the  walls  of  the  fort,  immediately  facing 
the  historic  balcony  where  the  Mogul  Emperors 
were  wont  to  show  themselves  to  the  people. 
The  British  Governors  and  Lieutenant-Governors, 
and  the  Ruling  Chiefs  thereupon  descended  from 
the  fort  where  they  had  met  together,  and  took 
their  appointed  places,  the  British  officials  in  the 
centre  of  all,  and  the  Ruling  Chiefs  at  the  head 
of  the  groups  formed  by  the  leaders  of  their 
religions.  A  gun  was  then  fired  as  a  signal  from 
the  Selimgarh  bastion,  and  all  present  offered  up 
united  thanksgivings  for  the  success  of  the  great 
solemnity  of  the  Coronation,  and  prayers  for  the 
King- Emperor  and    the    Royal   Family.      The 

171 


THE  PRAYER  OF  ALL  CREEDS 

Dec.  13.  Imam  of  the  Jama  Masjid  led  the  Mohammedan 
prayers,  two  Pandits  those  of  the  Hindus  ;  two 
Granthis  those  of  the  Sikhs  ;  and  the  Archbishop 
of  Simla  read  a  prayer  to  the  little  body  of 
British  officials.  To  any  one  who  knows  aught 
of  the  history  of  India  the  spectacle  was  almost 
staggering  in  its  impressiveness.  In  that  country 
religious  differences  are  accentuated  by  the  fact 
that  religious  observance  governs  the  minutest 
details  of  daily  social  life  ;  yet  Christian  English- 
men— descendants  of  the  men  who  had  fought 
savagely  to  rescue  the  Holy  Sepulchre  from  the 
followers  of  Islam — Hindus,  Jains,  Sikhs  and 
Mohammedans  by  a  common  impulse  laid  aside 
all  prejudice  and  crushed  down  all  intolerance  in 
order  to  unite  in  one  heartfelt  prayer  for  the 
King -Emperor.  For  the  first  time  they  felt 
that  they  were  possessed  by  a  sentiment  common 
to  them  all,  and  so  paramount  as  to  dominate  all 
the  impulses  bred  by  divergence  of  creed, 
dissimilarity  of  custom  and  rivalry  of  race — the 
sentiment  of  loyalty  to  one  sovereign.  That 
Sovereign  was  no  longer  a  mere  legend  to  them. 
He  had  come  over  the  sea  many  thousand  miles 
to  visit  them  ;  they  had  seen  him  with  their 
eyes  ;  he  was  even  then  near  them,  and  in  a  few 
hours  would  be  in  the  fort  actually  moving  in 
their  midst.  The  white  men  from  overseas 
bowed  down  to  him  even  as  they  themselves  ; 
under  his  rule,  as  past  years  had  shown,  all 
might  live,  if  they  would,  in  peace — in  peace 
after   endless   centuries   of  war  and   devastation. 

172 


THE  PARTY  IN  DELHI  FORT 

Therefore  were  they  met  together  to  give  God  Dec.  13. 
thanks. 

In  the  afternoon  Their  Majesties  drove  to  the 
fort  and  there  held  a  garden-party — a  name  too 
paltry  for  the  reception  of  many  hundreds  of 
guests  in  such  surroundings  as  the  beautiful 
buildings  of  Shah  Jahan's  palace  and  the  stately 
and  peaceful  gardens  which  connect  them  to- 
gether. Even  these,  however,  formed  not  the 
most  remarkable  feature  of  the  occasion.  A 
great  national  festival  had  been  organised  by 
Sir  Louis  Dane  for  this  day,  and  the  plain 
between  the  eastern  wall  of  the  fort  and  the 
Jumna  was  thronged  by  a  vast  assembly  of 
half  a  million  people,  all  waiting  to  defile  past 
the  King-Emperor.  The  spectacle  was  one  that 
bewildered  the  oldest  inhabitants,  whether  native 
or  English,  of  India.  Scattered  about  in  open 
spaces  were  to  be  seen  groups  of  entertainers  ;  in 
one  place  a  handful  of  jugglers  ;  in  another  a 
musical  ride  of  green  -  clad  lancers  from  some 
Indian  Prince's  contingent;  in  another  a  war-dance 
of  wild  warriors  with  sword  and  shield  ;  in  a 
fourth  a  group  of  lightly-clad  sowars,  leaping  to 
and  from  their  steeds  at  full  gallop  and  perform- 
ing other  feats  of  horsemanship.  But  these  were 
mere  islands  in  a  vast  sea  of  brown  faces  and 
many-coloured  turbans.  To  prevent  dangerous 
crushing,  barriers  had  been  erected  at  intervals 
leading  on  to  two  broad  ways,  like  racecourses, 
which  met  below  Shah  Jahan's  balcony  already 
mentioned,    and    there    parted    right    and    left 

173 


THE  NATIONAL  FESTIVAL 

Dec.  13.  parallel  to  the  wall  of  the  fort.  Within  these 
barriers  the  people  had  been  assembled  in  parties 
according  to  the  several  districts  from  which 
they  came  ;  and,  as  many  of  them  had  taken  a 
distinguishing  colour,  one  could  see  looking 
down  upon  them  fringe  after  fringe  of  white, 
backed  by  great  blocks  of  yellow  and  red  and 
green  and  blue  in  every  imaginable  shade.  At 
the  outermost  edge  of  each  lay  a  thin  line  of 
khaki  topped  with  the  turbans  of  red  and  blue 
which  distinguish  the  Panjab  police. 

In  due  time  Their  Majesties  appeared  at  the 
historic  balcony.  The  King  had  come  to  the 
garden-party  in  the  undress  uniform  of  a  field- 
marshal  and  the  Queen  in  a  plain  mauve 
morning  dress  ;  but  they  had  determined  not  to 
disappoint  the  expectations  of  the  people,  and, 
before  they  showed  themselves,  they  had  put  on 
their  robes  of  purple  and  ermine,  the  Imperial 
crown  and  the  tiara  worn  at  the  Durbar.  They 
stepped  into  the  balcony  without  sound  of 
trumpets  to  herald  their  coming,  and  their 
appearance  was  therefore  not  recognised  by  all 
of  the  onlookers  simultaneously.  The  buzz  of 
voices  suddenly  died  down,  giving  place  for  a 
few  seconds  to  a  low  hum  ;  and  then  tens  of 
thousands  of  arms  leapt  into  the  air  and  the  hum 
swelled  from  front  to  rear  and  from  flank  to 
flank  into  one  mighty  shout  of  wonder  and 
acclaim.  The  balcony,  however,  being  small. 
Their  Majesties  left  it  and  took  their  seats  upon 
two  thrones  on  the  ramparts  where,  with  their 

174 


THEIR   MAJESTIES   AT   THE   NATIONAL    FESTIVAL. 


To  /ace  page  174. 


<: 
z 
o 

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THE  NATIONAL  FESTIVAL 

pages  grouped  around  them,  they  remained  in  Dec.  13. 
full  view  of  all  for  nearly  an  hour.  Presently 
the  foremost  string  of  khaki  police  shrivelled  up 
quietly  into  a  knot,  and  the  first  great  masses  of 
colour  moved  forward  to  defile  past  the  King- 
Emperor.  The  effect  was  indescribably  beautiful. 
The  hard  blocks  of  yellow  dissolved  into  a  soft 
confusion  of  yellow  and  white,  and  streamed  away 
on  one  hand  with  the  varied  hues  of  a  flight  of 
canaries.  The  rigid  masses  of  blue  and  green 
and  red  melted  into  a  wave  of  mingled  colour,  and 
flowed  away  to  the  other  hand  as  though  they  had 
been  floating  feathers  from  a  parrot's  wing.  Com- 
pany after  company  was  released  in  due  time  by 
the  patient  police  to  add  their  volume  to  the  flood, 
until  for  a  full  mile  in  length  and  half  a  mile  in 
depth  the  plain  was  inundated  with  one  great 
sea  of  colour,  which  moved  and  halted,  eddied 
and  swayed,  deepened  and  lightened  with  ever 
new  combinations,  until  the  eye  turned  from  it 
in  sheer  bewilderment  and  amaze.  And  so  the 
defile  continued  with  increasing  shouts  of 
acclaim,  until  at  last  there  arose  a  kind  of  wail, 
and  the  one  or  two  hundred  thousand  who  were 
still  crowded  before  the  thrones  stretched  out 
their  hands  in  appeal.  The  King  and  Queen 
had  risen  and  were  withdrawing  themselves 
from  sight.  Their  Majesties  did  not  reach  the 
camp  until  nearly  six  o'clock,  concluding  the 
day  as  usual  with  a  dinner-party  to  ninety-seven 
guests. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  Their  Majesties 

T7S 


THE  MILITARY  REVIEW 

Dec.  14.  motored  to  the  village  of  Dahirpur,  where  the 
King-Emperor  mounted  his  charger  to  review 
the  troops,  which  were  drawn  up  in  two  lines  to 
receive  him  under  the  command  of  General  Sir 
O'Moore  Creagh.  The  total  strength  of  the 
force  was  close  upon  forty-nine  thousand  men, 
of  which  rather  more  than  sixteen  thousand, 
including  officers  of  native  regiments,  were 
British,  and  the  remainder  Indian  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  King's  army  and  of  the  Imperial 
Service  Corps,  After  the  usual  Royal  salutes 
the  troops  marched  past,  the  Horse  Artillery  in 
line  of  batteries,  and  the  cavalry  by  brigades 
in  brigade-mass,  at  the  walk  ;  and  the  infantry 
by  brigades  in  line  of  quarter-columns.  The 
infantry  being  for  the  most  part  brigaded  as 
if  for  active  service,  that  is  to  say  with  one 
British  to  every  three  Indian  battalions,  the  march 
past  was  not  so  perfect  to  the  eye  as  it  might 
have  been  had  the  brigades  been  composed 
of  homogeneous  units,  such  as  Gurkhas  or 
Highlanders  ;  but  on  the  other  hand  its  interest 
was  enormously  increased  by  the  mingling  of 
the  soldiers  of  both  nations,  and  by  the 
knowledge  that  it  was  in  this  order  that  they 
would  take  the  field.  Perhaps,  however,  the 
most  gratifying  sight  of  all  was  the  Imperial 
Service  troops,  which  made  an  astonishingly  fine 
display.  Of  the  cavalry  the  Bhopal  Lancers 
had  perhaps  rather  the  best  appearance  in  the 
walk  past  :  but  it  was  difficult  to  choose  between 
the  diiferent  contingents,  whether  in  cavalry  or 

176 


TWO  PROMISING  OFFICERS 

infantry.  A  word  must  be  said,  too,  in  praise  of  Dec.  14. 
the  European  Volunteers,  and  in  particular  of 
a  composite  battalion  of  infantry,  over  eight 
hundred  men  strong,  which  had  been  raked 
together  from  all  quarters,  many  of  the  men 
paying  their  own  travelling  expenses.  They 
marched  past  with  a  steadiness  and  a  swing 
which  did  them  much  credit. 

The  Indian  chiefs  generally  led  their  cavalry 
past  in  person,  and  by  no  means  always  as 
amateurs.  Few  men  can  handle  a  brigade  of 
cavalry  or  of  infantry  better  than  the  Maharaja 
of  Gwalior,  who  was  conspicuous  in  his  uniform 
of  a  British  Major-general.  The  Maharaja  of 
Bikaner,  again,  is  at  home  both  with  his  infantry 
and  his  camel-corps.  But  the  leaders  that 
attracted  the  most  attention  were  naturally  the 
young  Princes.  The  Maharaja  of  Jodhpur,  one 
of  the  Queen's  pages,  rode  at  the  head  of  his 
lancers.  As  he  reached  the  saluting  point  his 
horse  swerved  away  from  the  waving  plumes  of 
the  King  and  his  staff;  and  it  was  pretty  to 
see  how  this  young  soldier,  without  taking  his 
eyes  for  a  moment  off  the  King,  and  without 
apparent  movement  of  a  muscle,  brought  the 
animal  square  to  the  front  again  and  completed 
his  salute.  A  still  younger  officer,  the  child 
Maharaja  of  Bahawalpur,  led  his  camel-corps 
past,  himself  riding  a  camel  in  front  of  a  grave 
and  trusty  trooper.  Dressed  in  full  uniform  of 
khaki  with  gold-embroidered  skirts  the  little 
fellow  boldly  faced    the    King-Emperor    at   the 

177  N 


IMPERIAL  SERVICE  TROOPS 

Dec.  14.  saluting  point,  threw  out  a  baby's  right  arm  to 
its  full  length,  and  with  perfect  correctness  and 
time  in  every  motion  brought  down  his  tiny 
sword  to  the  salute.  Seventy  or  eighty  years 
hence,  it  may  be,  he  will  be  conspicuous  as  the 
only  survivor  of  the  many  gallant  gentlemen 
who  rode  past  King  George  on  that  day. 

The  Horse  Artillery  then  galloped  past  by 
batteries  and  the  cavalry  by  regiments,  in  line  ; 
and,  as  is  so  common  in  the  British  Army,  the 
effect  was  too  often  spoiled  by  excessive  speed. 
In  both  batteries  one  gun  was  at  least  a  length 
in  rear  of  the  rest  ;  and  its  drivers  could  be  seen 
punishing  their  horses,  not  because  the  animals 
were  sluggish,  but  because  the  highest  speed  of  a 
slow  team  is  not  so  rapid  as  that  of  a  fast  team. 
All  of  the  British  regiments,  except  the  King's 
Dragoon  Guards,  galloped  too  fast,  and  con- 
sequently were  in  very  ragged  order  ;  and  their 
example  led  most  of  the  Indian  cavalry  astray, 
though  the  Ninth  and  Tenth  Indian  Lancers 
were  an  exception.  The  Imperial  Service 
Cavalry  mostly  followed  the  lead  of  the  British, 
though  the  Patiala  Lancers  held  their  horses 
well  in  hand  until  close  upon  the  saluting  point, 
when  a  shrill  whistle  from  a  veteran  Indian 
officer  sent  them  flying  past  like  a  whirlwind. 
Considering  that  British  Generals  first  en- 
deavoured to  check  this  tendency  to  headlong 
speed  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  it  seems 
a  pity  that  they  should  not  have  succeeded  yet. 
The   parade  ended   with  an  advance   in  review 

178 


THE  INVESTITURE 

order,  which  was  exceptionally  magnificent  and  Dec.  14.. 
impressive  ;  and  altogether  the  military  display 
was  extremely  successful. 

In  the   evening    at   half-past   nine   the    King 
held  an  investiture  in  the  largest  of  his  reception- 
tents.     It   must,   I   fear,   be   remarked   that   the 
decorations  of  the  tent  were  not  worthy  of  such 
an  occasion,  which  indeed  demanded  something 
more  magnificent  than  stripes  of  light  blue  and 
white    in   cheap   materials.      However,   nothing 
better    had    been    provided  ;    and   the   tent,  just 
as    it    was,    was    packed    with     from    three    to 
four  thousand  ladies  and  gentlemen.     The  first 
candidate  for  investiture  was  the  Queen-Empress 
who,  dressed  in  pale  blue,  made  a  graceful  obei- 
sance, knelt  before  the  King,  and  was  invested 
with    the   Order   of  the   Star    of   India.       Her 
Majesty  then  kissed  His  Majesty's  hand,  received 
his  kiss  on  her  cheek,  and  took  her  seat  on  the 
throne  by  his  side  robed,  with  the  happiest  and 
most  becoming  effect,  in  the  light-blue  mantle  of 
the  Order.     The  remaining  candidates,  of  whom 
there  were  a  very  large  number,  then  came  for- 
ward one  after  another,  and  the  ceremony  was 
about   half- completed,  when  suddenly  the  fire- 
alarm  was    heard  without,  and   a   strong    smell 
of  burning  became  evident  to  every  one.     The 
electric  light  at  the  same  time  flickered  up  and 
down,  threatening  to  go  out  at  every  moment, 
and  continued  to  do  so  for  two  or  three  minutes. 
Presently  some  one  cried  out  "  Fire^'  and  two  or 
three   hundred    people  rose  to  their  feet.     The 

179 


A  DANGEROUS  MOMENT 

Dec.  14.  officials  who  were  taking  part  in  the  Investiture 
pursued  their  functions  with  perfect  calmness 
and  indifference  ;  the  Queen,  who  has  a  peculiar 
horror  of  fire,  sat  motionless  and  apparently 
unconcerned  ;  and  His  Majesty  continued  to 
throw  ribbons  over  heads  and  to  pin  stars  to 
breasts  as  if  he  had  been  at  St.  James's.  Never- 
theless, the  assembly  was  within  a  hair's-breadth 
of  a  panic,  and  might  have  succumbed  to  it, 
had  not  some  gentleman  in  the  body  of  the 
tent  sternly  growled  out  "  Sit  down,"  where- 
upon the  timid  reluctantly  resumed  their  seats. 
Presently  the  light  became  steady  ;  and  confidence 
being  restored,  the  ceremony  came  success- 
fully to  an  end. 

The  danger,  however,  had  been  real  and 
great.  The  tent  of  Lord  Crewe's  private 
secretary,  not  above  one  hundred  yards  away, 
had  caught  fire,  and  from  thence  to  the  recep- 
tion-tent there  was  one  continuous  spread  of 
canvas.  Happily  there  was  no  wind,  and  the 
fire-picquets  had  immediately  cut  the  ropes  of 
the  adjoining  tents,  so  that  the  conflagration 
spread  no  farther.  Three  hundred  men  were 
on  duty  round  the  reception-tent  with  orders  to 
cut  away  the  sides  instantly  if  anything  should 
go  wrong,  but  even  so  a  panic  must  have  led  to  a 
great  catastrophe  ;  and  this  warning  is  one  which 
should  not  be  neglected  in  future.  It  is  not  safe 
to  pack  people  by  the  thousand  into  a  single  tent 
in  the  midst  of  a  great  camp.  Mr.  Lucas's  tent 
was  burning  for  about  three  minutes,  and  after 


FOUNDING  OF  NEW  DELHI 

that  brief  space  he  was  left  literally  with  nothing  Dec.  1 5. 
except  the  civil  uniform  which  he  wore  on  his 
back.  Tin  trunks  with  the  whole  of  their 
contents  had  vanished  as  if  they  had  been  made 
of  wax,  and  only  the  corners  of  a  stout  leather 
portmanteau  had  made  some  little  resistance  to 
the  fierce  heat  and  flame.  It  must  be  added 
that  no  man  could  have  accepted  so  trying  a 
misfortune  with  more  perfect  cheerfulness  and 
good  temper  that  did  Mr.  Lucas. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  at  ten  o'clock 
Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  avenue  of  the 
Indian  Government's  camp  to  lay  the  first  stone 
of  the  new  capital  city  of  Delhi.  By  dint  of 
working  day  and  night  the  Public  Works 
Department  had  raised  a  wall  seven  feet  high 
upon  solid  foundations,  and  over  this  wall  were 
hung  two  huge  blocks  of  dressed  stone.  The 
ceremony  was  extremely  simple,  and  those  that 
attended  it  were  necessarily  few,  since  there  was 
no  space  for  more.  A  small  but  very  beautiful 
tent  had  been  erected  hard  by,  where  Their 
Majesties  upon  arrival  were  received  by  the 
Viceroy  and  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Council  ;  a  guard  of  honour  of  the  Gordon 
Highlanders  being  drawn  up  in  the  avenue. 
The  Viceroy  then  addressed  a  short  allocution 
to  the  King  -  Emperor,  dwelling  upon  the 
importance  and  advantages  of  the  change  of 
capital,  and  announcing  at  the  close  that  the 
Maharaja  of  Gwalior  had  expressed  his  intention 
of  presenting  a  statue  of  the  King-Emperor  to 


AN  ARCHITECT'S  OPPORTUNITY 

Dec.  15.  the  new  city.  His  Majesty,  having  made  a 
brief  reply,  advanced  to  lay  the  first  stone,  after 
which  the  Queen  came  forward  and  laid  the 
second  stone.  The  heralds,  British  and  Indian, 
then  proclaimed  the  fact  with  a  flourish  of 
trumpets  ;  Sir  Louis  Dane  called  for  three 
cheers  for  Their  Majesties  ;  and  the  brief  cere- 
mony was  over.  The  change  of  capital  having 
been  kept  a  secret  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
1 2th,  there  was  no  possibility  of  making  greater 
preparations,  and  it  must  be  confessed  that  the 
inception  of  the  new  Delhi  was  decidedly 
modest.  This,  however,  is  no  great  matter. 
What  is  of  more  importance  is  that  its  progress 
should  be  in  accordance  with  the  aspirations 
expressed  with  no  uncertain  voice  by  the  King. 
"  It  is  my  desire,"  said  His  Majesty,  "  that  the 
planning  and  designing  of  the  public  buildings 
to  be  erected  should  be  considered  with  the 
greatest  deliberation  and  care,  so  that  the  new 
creation  may  be  in  every  way  worthy  of  this 
ancient  and  beautiful  city."  Here  is  an  oppor- 
tunity indeed  for  a  great  architect  of  original 
genius  and  ideas,  not  only  to  give  India  a  capital 
worthy  of  herself,  but  to  obliterate  the  reproaches 
to  British  architecture  which  at  present  stand 
unabashed  in  Calcutta  and  Bombay. 

From  the  avenue  Their  Majesties  drove  to 
the  polo-ground,  where  a  force  of  over  twenty- 
seven  hundred  Indian  Police  had  been  drawn 
up  for  the  King-Emperor's  inspection.  Con- 
siderably   more  than  half  of  them    were    from 

182 


INSPECTION  OF  POLICE 

the  Panjab,  about  one -fifth  from  the  United  Dec  15. 
Provinces,  and  the  remainder  small  contingents 
from  all  the  other  provinces  of  India,  all  of 
whom  had  been  on  duty  at  the  Durbar. 
Having  ridden  up  and  down  the  line  the  King 
dismounted,  and  the  men  filing  past  received 
each  a  medal  from  his  hand  ;  after  which  His 
Majesty  expressed  to  the  Inspector-General,  Sir 
E.  Lee- French,  his  satisfaction  at  the  arrange- 
ments made  and  the  work  done  by  the  police 
during  the  past  week.  The  compliment  was 
well  deserved,  for,  though  on  every  occasion 
when  His  Majesty  drove  out  at  Delhi  the  way 
was  lined  with  troops,  the  strain  upon  the  police 
was  very  heavy  and  was  admirably  met.  No 
one  who  had  not  seen  it  would  credit  how 
immense  were  the  mass  and  variety  of  vehicles, 
and  the  rush  of  traffic  with  which  they  had  to 
contend,  and  the  patience  and  good  temper  with 
which  they  handled  the  native  crowds.  Privi- 
leged motors  by  the  score  were  dashing  along 
the  roads  at  all  hours,  imperiously  demanding 
passage  ;  and  the  way  was  always  cleared 
somehow,  without  bustle  and  without  bullying. 
A  word,  however,  must  be  added  in  praise  of  the 
additional  police,  both  mounted  and  afoot,  which 
was  drawn  from  the  British  regiments  of  cavalry 
and  infantry.  Any  one  might  have  thought  that 
they  had  passed  an  apprenticeship  in  the 
Metropolitan  Police  under  Sir  Edward  Henry, 
and  I  know  of  no  higher  praise  that  could  be 
given  them.     As  to  the  work  done  by   British 

183 


THE  MILITARY  TOURNAMENT 

Dec.  15.  officers  of  the  Indian  police  force,  I  saw  with 
my  own  eyes  during  the  religious  processions  on 
the  13th  a  young  fellow,  who  could  not  have 
been  more  than  twenty-three,  gently  manoeuvring 
a  mass  of  from  two  to  three  thousand  Sikhs 
into  their  right  places,  single-handed,  without 
putting  his  horse  into  a  trot,  without  a  harsh 
word,  without  so  much  as  a  violent  gesture. 

In  the  afternoon  Their  Majesties  drove  to  the 
polo-ground  to  witness  point-to-point  races  and  a 
military  tournament.  The  Indian  cavalry  may 
be  called  the  creators  of  our  military  tourna- 
ments, and  their  feats  of  horsemanship,  fully 
equal  to  those  of  many  circus-riders,  in  leaping 
on  and  off  a  galloping  horse,  picking  up  objects 
from  the  ground  without  quitting  a  horse's  back, 
and  such  like,  are  too  well  known  to  need 
description  here.  But  when  the  whole,  or  at 
any  rate  the  greater  part,  of  a  regiment  of  Sikhs 
charges  forward  together,  every  man  galloping 
at  the  top  of  his  speed  to  pick  up  his  tent-peg — 
this  is  not  an  ordinary  spectacle.  For  the  rest, 
■  the  British  Seventeenth  Lancers,  as  usual  fault- 
lessly turned  out,  performed  a  musical  ride  with 
great  skill.  Possibly  indeed  many  of  the 
spectators  did  not  appreciate  that  skill,  nor 
realise  how  much  more  difficult  it  is  to  make 
two  equine  quadrupeds  waltz  together  than  two 
human  bipeds.  Finally,  a  battery  of  Horse- 
Artillery  in  line  charged  a  mud-wall  three  feet 
high  ;  and  the  whole  of  the  six  teams,  with  their 
guns,  jumped  it  simultaneously   without  mishap 

184 


THE  RULING  CHIEFS'  FAREWELL 

to  drivers  or  horses.      When  one  reflects  that  the  Dec.  i6. 
sUghtest     mismanagement     of    any    one    of  the 
eighteen    pairs    of  horses    would    have    thrown 
down  a  part,  if  not  the  whole  of  the  team,  this 
stands  out  as  a  great  feat  of  driving. 

The  last  day  was  now  come,  and  it  began 
early  for  the  King-Emperor.  At  half-past  nine 
His  Majesty  received  a  number  of  civil  and 
military  officials  who  had  been  concerned  with 
the  arrangements  for  the  Durbar,  and  distributed 
among  them  medals  in  honour  of  the  occasion. 
At  a  quarter-past  eleven  the  Ruling  Chiefs  came 
to  the  reception -tent  to  take  leave  of  His 
Majesty,  and  among  the  last  of  them  were  the 
Maharana  of  Udaipur,  Ruling  Chief-in-Waiting, 
and  the  chiefs  and  distinguished  Indian  soldiers 
who  are  aide-de-camps  to  the  King- Emperor. 
These  were  the  Maharaja  Sindia  of  Gwalior,  the 
Maharaja  of  Bikaner,  the  Nawab  of  Rampur, 
Sir  Pratap  Singh  of  Jodhpur,  and  Colonels 
Sir  Muhammad  Aslam  Khan  and  Nawab  Sir 
Muhammad  Abdullah  Khan  ;  though  some 
of  them,  as  shall  be  seen,  were  again  in  waiting 
on  the  King  at  Calcutta.  This  farewell  was 
a  mere  formality,  as  recorded  in  the  dry  official 
manner  for  readers  of  the  newspapers,  but 
a  very  different  matter  for  those  who  took 
part  in  it.  All  felt  that  a  great  occasion, 
without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  India,  was 
come  and  gone  ;  few  could  count  upon  seeing 
the  King  again  ;  and  the  great  majority  knew 
that    they   would  look  upon  his  face  no  more. 

185 


THE  DEPARTURE  FROM  DELHI 

Dec.  1 6.  He  had  received  every  one  of  them,  not  only  in 
public  as  their  suzerain,  but  in  private  as  their 
friend  ;  and  they  had  realised  the  true  secret 
of  His  Majesty's  coming,  namely  that  he  cared 
very  much  for  them  and  for  India. 

Therefore  they  parted  from  him  in  sorrow. 
There  v^ere  few  who  were  not  profoundly 
moved,  while  some  could  hardly  restrain  their 
tears  ;  and  the  King  himself  was  not  less  troubled 
than  they.  Many  harsh  criticisms  had  been 
passed  in  England  upon  his  resolution  to  visit 
India  ;  but  the  fervent  welcome  accorded  to  him 
by  all  classes  from  the  Ruling  Chiefs  to  the 
humblest  peasant  had  proved  to  him  that  he  had 
done  well.  It  is  small  wonder  that  he  was 
grieved  at  taking  leave  of  such  friends. 

At  noon  Their  Majesties  drove  in  procession 
to  the  Selimgarh  station.  The  last  farewells 
were  spoken  ;  the  last  salutes  were  fired  ;  the  train 
steamed  away,  and  the  first  great  meeting  of  the 
King-Emperor  with  his  subjects  of  all  India  was 
over.  To  say  that  its  success  exceeded  the  most 
sanguine  expectations  is  to  say  little.  English- 
men with  the  longest  experience  of  the  country 
stood  amazed  at  the  enthusiasm  manifested  by 
the  inhabitants  assembled  at  Delhi  ;  and  the 
phrase  constantly  recurred  "  Such  a  thing  has 
never  been  seen,  no  nor  even  dreamed  of,  in 
India  before."  And  what  was  it  that  brought 
forth  these  extraordinary  results  ?  It  was  not 
the  mere  organisation  of  pageants.  Great  praise 
is    due   to  the  Committee  of  Management    for 

i86 


THE  KINGS'  INDIAN  SUBJECTS 

its  labours  ;  but  they  would  be  the  last  to  Dec.  i6. 
claim  that  all  their  arrangements  had,  from  a 
spectacular  point  of  view,  been  faultless.  Yet 
even  if  all  the  setting  had  been  perfect,  it  would 
have  availed  nothing  without  the  precious  stone 
in  its  midst.  It  was  the  King  and  not  the  King's 
clothes  or  the  King's  surroundings  that  so  pro- 
foundly impressed  India.  The  inhabitants,  it 
must  be  repeated,  believe  in  no  vague  abstraction 
called  a  Government  ;  they  believe  in  the  one 
ruler  whom  God  has  set  over  them  ;  and  when 
he  comes  among  them  they  fall  down  and 
worship.  Nor,  if  the  matter  be  considered,  is 
this  surprising.  In  the  ordinary  routine  of  life 
one  man  is  better  than  another  ;  but  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  King  all  men  are  so  immeasurably 
below  him  as  to  be  merged  together  on  the 
same  footing.  The  King  is  the  King.  All  others 
are  his  subjects  ;  as  such  they  are  equal  ;  and 
in  the  King's  presence  the  humblest  peasant 
feels  himself  on  the  same  level  with  the  Viceroy. 
In  the  King's  absence,  indeed,  the  Viceroy  is 
above  all,  but  only  as  the  King's  vicegerent  ; 
and  it  is  solely  in  virtue  of  the  powers  deputed 
to  him  by  his  Sovereign  that  he  may  enjoy 
respect  and  command  obedience.  In  the  pre- 
sence of  the  King  the  Viceroy  is  nothing  ;  and 
no  number  of  guards,  salutes  and  escorts  will 
make  him  anything  in  the  eyes  of  the  people. 
If  he  effaces  himself  and  walks  humbly  before 
his  Sovereign,  he  will  be  honoured  ;  and  the 
greater  and  truer  his  humility  the  higher  will 

187 


THE  KING'S  INDIAN  SUBJECTS 

Dec.  1 6.  be  his  honour  and  his  influence  among  those 
who  are  placed  under  his  rule.  For  he  can  then 
say  to  any  who  offer  him  disrespect,  "  If  I  bow 
to  the  ground  before  the  King,  you  owe  the 
like  homage  and  obedience  to  me  as  his  vice- 
gerent." If  on  the  other  hand  any  Viceroy 
should  aspire  to  take  rank  with  his  Sovereign  in 
that  Sovereign's  presence  and  put  himself  forward 
as  of  equal  importance,  so  much  the  worse  for 
him.  He  would  be  set  down  not  only  as  ill- 
mannered,  but  as  a  foolish  man  who  knows  not 
that  all  subjects  alike  sink  into  insignificance 
before  the  King.  This  is  the  reason  why  His 
Majesty's  visit  to  India  filled  even  the  poorest 
classes  with  a  mysterious  joy — a  joy  which  was 
mightily  increased  when  King  George  showed 
himself  to  be  in  true  sympathy  with  all  his 
subjects.  The  lowest  peasant  feels  that  he  has 
a  part  in  this  Sovereign  Lord,  which  no  man 
can  take  from  him,  and  his  heart  is  uplifted  as 
to  something  given  of  Heaven. 


XI 

At  the  Selimgarh  station  the  King  and  Queen 
took  different  routes,  the  first  to  Nipal,  and  the 
second  to  Agra.  It  will  be  convenient  first  to 
follow  the  movements  of  His  Majesty.  Travel- 
ling by  special  train  the  King  reached  Arrah  at 
ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday  the  17th  of 
December  ;  where  he  stopped  for  two  hours  and 


t   z 


KING'S  JOURNEY  TO  NIPAL 

a  half  in  order  to  attend  Divine  Service.  Before  Dec.  17. 
starting  again  he  went  to  visit  the  bilHard-room 
which  was  the  scene  of  the  famous  defence 
against  the  mutineers  in  1857.^  Two  Indians 
who  had  taken  part  in  the  defence  were  present, 
the  one  a  bowed  and  shrivelled  old  man  over 
one  hundred  years  old  ;  the  other  younger  in 
years,  having  been  at  the  time  a  boy,  who  stole 
out  of  the  compound  and  gave  information  to 
the  relieving  force  concerning  the  beleaguered 
garrison.  To  both  of  them  the  King  said  a  few 
words,  ordering  also  a  present  to  be  given  to 
them  of  a  certain  sum  for  every  year  that  they 
had  lived.  Returning  to  the  train  before  one 
o'clock  the  King  on  arrival  at  Bankipore 
embarked  at  Digha  Ghat  and  steamed  for  three 
or  four  miles  down  the  Ganges,  the  vessel  hug- 
ging the  bank  on  the  side  of  Patna  city,  which 
was  lined  with  crowds  of  cheering  inhabitants. 
Here  there  was  leisure  to  think  of  the  fatal 
errors  of  the  Agent  at  Calcutta,  which  led  to 
the  massacre  at  Patna  in  1763,  the  desperate 
fighting  of  the  victims  before  they  finally 
succumbed,  the  escape  of  the  sergeant  who  bore 
a  charmed  life,  and  the  vengeance  taken  for  the 
massacre  by  Major  Adams. 

Soon  after  ten  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th 
the  train  arrived  at  Bikna  Thori,  on  the  borders 
of  British  India  and  Nipal.     Here  the  Hereditary 

'  The  story  of  the  defence  of  Arrah  has  been  written  once  for  all  by  Sir 
George  Trevelyan,  to  whose  book  any  readers  who  do  not  know  it  should 
turn  without  delay.  I  have  no  intention  of  spoiling  their  enjoyment,  nor 
of  marring  a  noble  narrative  by  attempting  to  abridge  it. 

i8q 


THE  MAHARAJA  OF  NIPAL 

Dec.  17.  Prime  Minister  and  actual  ruler  of  Nipal,  Sir 
Chandra  Sham  Sher  Jang  Bahadur  Rana,  G.C.B., 
was  awaiting  His  Majesty  with  his  three  sons, 
his  military  commander-in-chief,  the  British 
Resident,  Colonel  Manners  Smith,  V.C.,  and  one 
or  two  more.  Having  presented  the  members 
of  his  suite  to  the  Maharaja,^  the  King-Emperor, 
followed  by  the  rest  of  the  party,  motored  by  a 
road,  specially  cut  through  the  jungle  for  some 
thirteen  miles,  to  a  spot  where  elephants  were 
awaiting  him. 

The  ground  here  was  flat  and  undulating, 
being  in  fact  the  lower  slopes  of  the  lower  hills 
of  the  Himalayas,  the  main  range  of  which, 
rising  to  a  height  of  twenty-five  thousand  feet, 
could  be  seen  in  all  its  majesty  of  unbroken 
snow,  apparently  twenty  miles,  but  really  seven 
times  that  distance,  away  to  the  northward. 
Below  this  great  wall  of  white  the  lower  hills 
loomed  gaunt  and  blue,  and  below  them  again 
the  blue  melted  into  the  green  of  the  nearer 
thicket  and  forest.  For  many  months  the 
Maharaja  had  been  making  preparations  for  the 
King's  visit,  clearing  the  ground  for  camps, 
cutting  roads  for  miles  through  the  jungle, 
and  keeping  careful  watch  upon  the  game.  In 
all  he  had  six  hundred  and  forty-five  elephants 
ready  for  the  sport,  the  need  of  which  number 

1  The  Duke  of  Teck,  Lord  Durham,  Lord  Stamfordham,  Lord  Annaly, 
Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice,  Sir  E.  Henry,  Sir  H.  Smith -Dorrien,  Sir  Derek 
Keppel,  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  Sir  C.  Cust,  Sir  Havelock  Charles,  Capt.  G. 
Faussett,  Major  Wigram,  Sir  R.  Grimston,  Col.  Watson,  Capt.  Hogg, 
Mr.  Jacomb  Hood. 

190 


THE  CHASE  OF  THE  TIGER 

will    be     more     readily    understood    when     the  Dec.  17. 
methods  of  proceeding  are  explained. 

Over  night,  or  in  the  afternoon  bullocks  are 
tied  up  in  likely  places  for  a  tiger,  generally  at 
the  edge  of  thick  jungle  ;  and  in  the  morning 
the  shikaris  (or  gamekeepers  as  we  should  call 
them)  go  round  to  see  if  any  of  these  have  been 
killed.  A  tiger  does  not  necessarily  kill  his 
victim  because  he  is  in  want  of  food,  for  he  will 
often  do  so  from  sheer  wantonness  ;  but  having 
done  so  he  generally,  though  not  always,  drags 
it  a  little  way  into  the  thick  jungle,  devours 
enough  to  satisfy  himself  if  he  is  hungry,  or 
simply  leaves  it  and  lies  down  not  far  away  to 
sleep.  In  the  morning  the  shikaris  come  in 
with  reports  of  the  "  kills,"  upon  which  about  a 
hundred  and  fifty  "  pad  "  elephants,  that  is  to  say 
elephants  not  intended  to  carry  guns,  proceed  to 
the  appointed  place.  These  include  many  of 
the  female  elephants,  with  their  young  ones 
roped  to  them  to  train  them  up  in  the  right  way. 
The  whole,  having  been  formed  into  line  a  mile 
or  more  from  the  "kill,'  advance  through  the 
jungle,  and,  as  they  approach  nearer  to  it,  the 
flanks  of  the  line  move  forward  from  right 
and  left  and  meet  beyond  it,  thus  forming  a  ring 
of  perhaps  half  a  mile  in  diameter.  All  of 
the  elephants  in  the  ring  then  advance  towards 
the  centre,  closing  in  gradually  until  they  almost 
touch  each  other,  by  which  time  the  diameter 
of  the  circle  is  reduced  to  two  or  three  hundred 
yards.     At  this  point  the  "  howdah-elephants," 

191 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

Dec.  17.  which  carry  guns  or  privileged  spectators,  enter 
the  ring  at  intervals  which  leave  eight  or  twelve 
pad -elephants  between  each  of  them.  It  is 
necessary  to  keep  the  guns  pretty  close  together, 
otherwise  an  incautious  or  erratic  shot  might 
slay  his  neighbour  on  the  other  side  of  the 
circle. 

Such  a  ring  was  already  formed  when  the 
King  arrived.  A  ride  of  a  mile  and  a  half 
through  the  jungle  on  pad  -  elephants  brought 
the  whole  party  to  the  howdah  -  elephants, 
to  which  they  transferred  themselves,  His 
Majesty  being  accompanied  by  the  Maharaja, 
and  took  their  places  in  the  ring.  Four  or 
five  staunch  pad  -  elephants  then  went  inside 
the  ring,  tramping  through  the  grass  to  move 
the  tiger ;  and  here  it  must  be  explained 
that  the  grass  and  reeds  are  incredibly  high, 
often  rising  not  merely  above  the  backs  of 
the  elephants  but  over  the  very  tops  of  the 
howdahs.  In  such  an  undergrowth,  if  the  term 
may  legitimately  be  employed,  a  tiger  or  a 
rhinoceros  looks  like  a  rabbit  among  rushes, 
visible  only  in  open  patches  and  disappearing 
very  rapidly.  Very  soon  a  tiger  dashed  out 
with  a  roar,  leaped  over  a  nullah  (watercourse), 
and  disappeared,  but  presently  charged  back 
straight  upon  the  King,  who  fired  and  wounded 
him  badly.  Again  he  disappeared,  but  a  second 
tiger  came  out,  rose  in  the  air  to  leap  the  nullah, 
and  fell  stone-dead,  in  sight  of  every  one  except 
the  King,  who  had  killed  him  with  a  snap-shot 

IQ2 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

through  the  neck  as  if  he  had  been  a  rabbit.  Dec.  i8. 
The  howdah  -  elephants  then  advanced,  the 
wounded  tiger  was  presently  found  and 
despatched  by  His  Majesty  ;  and  a  move  was 
then  made  in  motors  to  another  ring,  nineteen 
miles  away  ;  the  Duke  of  Teck,  Sir  Charles 
Cust  and  Sir  Horace  Smith-Dorrien  going  in  a 
different  direction  in  search  of  another  tiger. 

After  luncheon  the  howdah-elephants  entered 
the  new  ring,  His  Majesty  announcing  that  Lord 
Durham  and  Lord  Annaly  should  have  first  shot. 
The  tiger  presently  charged.  Lord  Annaly  fired 
and  hit  him  ;  but  the  animal  went  on  until,  as  it 
was  turning  back  into  the  long  grass,  Lord  Dur- 
ham stopped  its  progress  for  ever.  The  elephants 
then  formed  line  to  beat  for  rhinoceros,  and 
soon  a  very  fine  one  broke  away  at  great  speed, 
offering  a  difficult  shot  to  the  King,  who  fired 
without  apparent  effect,  for  the  huge  creature 
disappeared  into  impassable  jungle,  and  was  seen 
no  more.  The  line  continued  to  advance,  and 
by  chance  the  King  happened  upon  two  more 
rhinoceros,  killed  the  first  dead  with  one  barrel, 
and  with  his  second  wounded  the  other,  which 
was  followed,  and  in  due  time  despatched  by  His 
Majesty.  Yet  another  was  wounded  by  Lord 
Durham  and  Lord  Annaly,  and  led  his  pursuers 
a  long  chase,  being  quite  invisible  in  the  tall 
grass  ;  and  it  was  not  until  many  shots  had  been 
fired  into  the  moving  reeds  that  he  was  at  last 
killed. 

By   half- past   five   the  camp,  being  close  at 
193  o 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

Dec.  19.  hand,  was  reached,  a  most  beautiful  spot  from 
which  the  jungle  had  been  cleared  on  the  bank 
of  the  Rapti  river,  with  a  noble  view  of  the 
great  wall  of  the  Himalayas  to  northward. 
Here  the  Maharaja  had  erected  a  spacious 
wooden  hut  with  six  rooms,  replete  with 
every  comfort,  for  the  King,  and  tents  close  by 
for  the  suite,  the  whole  being  lit  by  electric 
light.  This  camp  offered  a  very  pleasant  con- 
trast to  that  at  Delhi  which,  so  far  as  the  suite 
was  concerned,  was  incomparably  the  worst  in 
every  respect  that  we  encountered  in  India. 
The  nights  were  cold,  and  the  dew  after  sunset 
so  heavy  that  it  was  hopeless  to  think  of  reaching 
the  mess-tent  dry-shod  without  waterproof  over- 
shoes, which,  however,  the  King's  Indian  staff 
had  been  careful  to  provide.  In  the  mornings 
there  was  always  thick  fog  until  ten  o'clock  or 
rather  later,  when  it  cleared  off,  giving  place  to 
a  very  hot  sun.  Reports  of  the  "  kills  "  during 
the  preceding  night  could  not  therefore  come 
in  until  that  time,  nor  could  a  start  be  made  for 
the  day's  shooting. 

On  the  19th  no  news  of  tiger  came  in  until 
half  an  hour  after  noon,  when  His  Majesty,  the 
Duke  of  Teck,  Lord  Durham  and  Lord  Annaly 
set  off  at  once  on  pad- elephants,  travelling  at 
good  speed,  and  therefore  with  considerable 
shaking  and  discomfort,  to  the  spot  where  the 
ring  was  formed.  A  tiger  was  soon  found,  but 
wisely  kept  himself  under  cover,  charging  con- 
tinuously from  side  to  side    in   the    long  grass, 

194 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

until  at  last  he  fell  to  the  King's  rifle.  After  Dec.  20. 
luncheon  a  line  was  formed  to  beat  home- 
ward, but  nothing  was  seen.  The  remainder  of 
the  suite  went  out  in  several  different  parties, 
among  whom  Sir  Charles  Cust  got  a  tiger,  and 
Sir  Colin  Keppel  and  Sir  Horace  Smith-Dorrien 
each  a  rhinoceros. 

News  came  in  earlier  on  the  20th,  and  three 
parties  started  out,  two  after  tiger  and  one  after 
rhinoceros.  In  the  first  His  Majesty  was  the  only- 
gun,  though  several  were  with  him  as  spectators  ; 
and  the  ring  being  close  at  hand  was  reached 
before  eleven  o'clock.  In  the  first  ring  the  King 
shot  a  tigress  ;  after  which  a  second  ring  was 
formed  close  by.  Here  there  was  another  tiger, 
but  also  a  cow-rhinoceros  and  calf,  which  charged 
straight  at  the  ring  and  broke  it  at  once,  for  no 
elephant  will  face  the  charge  of  a  rhinoceros. 
The  tiger  probably  slipped  out  at  the  same  time, 
for  no  more  was  seen  of  him.  After  luncheon 
yet  another  ring  was  reached  in  which  four 
tigers  were  enclosed  ;  and  here  the  sight  was  a 
wonderful  one.  The  imprisoned  tigers  charged 
the  line  of  elephants  at  various  points  ;  and 
everywhere  the  mahouts  scared  them  back  by 
throwing  sticks  at  them  and  by  frantic  shouts, 
which  the  elephants  swelled  by  loud  trumpetings 
and  screams.  One  succeeded  in  breaking  the 
ring,  but  some  elephants  were  quickly  passed 
round  him  and  again  he  was  hemmed  in  ;  another 
actually  made  a  spring  at  an  elephant,  mauling 
its  trunk  with  his  claws  ;  but  for  the  most  part 

195 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

Dec.  20.  the  elephants  plucked  branches  of  trees,  stripped 
them  of  leaves  and  small  twigs,  and  holding  them 
horizontally  under  their  trunks,  kept  brandishing 
them  to  avert  any  such  assault.  Ultimately 
every  one  of  the  four  tigers  fell  to  the  King's 
rifle.  A  line  was  then  formed  to  move  home- 
ward, when  a  solitary  bull  rhinoceros  suddenly 
appeared  before  His  Majesty,  and  though  only 
wounded  by  his  first  shot,  was  eventually  killed 
by  him.  Five  tigers,  a  rhinoceros  and  a  hog- 
deer  were  the  King's  bag  for  the  day  ;  to  which 
Captain  Godfrey  Faussett  and  Sir  Colin  Keppel 
added  each  one  tiger  ;  Captain  Godfrey  Faussett 
and  Sir  Horace  Smith-Dorrien  each  a  bear  ;  and 
the  Duke  of  Teck  a  rhinoceros. 

By  great  good  fortune  this  party  witnessed  a 
very  singular  scene.  A  tiger,  slightly  wounded 
by  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  took  refuge  in  thick  grass, 
where  he  came  upon  a  she -bear  and  cub. 
Furious  at  being  disturbed  the  enraged  mother 
at  once  fell  upon  the  tiger,  standing  up  to  her 
full  height  and  striking  at  him  savagely  with 
her  fore-paws.  The  tiger,  whose  temper  had 
been  ruffled  by  his  wound,  was  in  no  mood 
to  endure  such  aggression  tamely  ;  and  the  two 
settled  down  to  a  regular  fight  with  savage 
grunting  and  snarling,  until  the  bear  made  oil- 
in  one  direction  and  the  tiger  in  another,  both 
of  them  to  meet  their  end  by  a  rifle  bullet.  But 
perhaps  the  most  exciting  experience  was  that 
of  Major  Wigram,  whose  pad-elephant,  while 
on  the  way  home,  was  pursued  by  a  rhinoceros. 

196 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

The  elephant  of  course  ran  madly  away  through  Dec  21. 
the  jungle,  and  the  Major  was  obliged  to  lie  down 
at  full  length  on  his  back,  clinging  with  all  his 
strength  to  the  pad,  with  the  second  mahout  on 
top  of  him.  After  a  burst  of  half  a  mile  the 
rhinoceros  fortunately  abandoned  the  chase  of 
Major  Wigram,  and  transferred  his  attentions  to 
another  pad-elephant,  which  he  hunted  for  four 
miles  before  at  last  allowing  it  to  go  in  peace. 
The  mahouts,  however,  had  the  enjoyment  of  this 
latter  pursuit  to  themselves. 

On  the  2 1  St  the  King  reached  the  first  ring, 
not  far  from  home,  before  noon,  and  found  in 
it  four  tigers  and  a  Himalyan  bear — the  last 
named  a  very  rare  visitor  in  the  low  country — 
all  of  which  he  killed,  one  tiger  and  the  bear 
right  and  left,  each  with  a  single  bullet.  This 
ended  his  day's  sport,  for  a  second  ring  in  the 
afternoon  proved  to  be  blank.  On  this  day 
Captain  Faussett  and  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice 
went  out  in  another  direction  after  rhinoceros  ; 
and  the  former  underwent  the  uncomfortable 
experience  which  had  befallen  Major  Wigram 
on  the  20th,  his  elephant  being  hunted  for  some 
distance  by  a  fine  bull  rhinoceros,  which  he 
eventually  killed. 

On  the  22nd  Sir  Charles  Cust  and  Captain 
Faussett  accompanied  the  King  with  rifles, 
several  other  gentlemen  going  as  spectators. 
The  first  ring,  being  near  home,  was  reached 
before  noon,  and  three  tigers  were  found  to  be 
within  it.     Two  at  once  dashed  out  towards  the 

197 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

Dec.  23.  King,  who  killed  with  his  first  barrel  but  missed 
with  his  second.  The  second  tiger,  however, 
again  charged  towards  him  and  was  killed  ;  and 
the  third  met  with  the  same  fate  at  a  single  shot. 
A  line  was  then  formed  to  beat  for  rhinoceros, 
and  after  a  long  time  one  was  reported  to  be  on 
the  left  of  the  line.  All  the  elephants  therefore 
started  in  that  direction  at  once,  and  in  ten 
minutes  the  whole  were  scattered  about  the 
dense  jungle  in  hopeless  confusion.  From  the 
midst  of  them  there  suddenly  emerged  a  fine 
bull  rhinoceros.  He  received  a  bullet  from 
Sir  Charles  Cust,  blundered  on  past  the  King 
who  had  an  awkward  shot  at  him,  but  missed, 
and  finally  charged  three  pad-elephants  close  to 
Captain  Faussett,  who  killed  him  just  as  he  had 
passed  them.  On  this  day  Lord  Durham,  Lord 
Charles  Fitzmaurice,  Sir  Derek  Keppel,  Sir 
Colin  Keppel  and  Sir  Henry  McMahon  killed 
between  them  seven  tigers  and  a  Himalayan 
bear,  making  a  total  bag  of  ten  tigers,  a  bear  and 
a  rhinoceros  ;  a  wonderful  day's  sport. 

On  the  24th,  being  Sunday,  the  King  and 
suite  attended  Divine  Service,  which  was 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  J.  Godber,  chaplain  to 
the  Bishop  of  Calcutta.  In  the  evening  His 
Majesty  with  the  whole  of  his  suite  moved  to  a 
new  camp  at  Kasra,  a  duplicate  of  the  former 
camp  at  Sakhi  Bar  and  about  eight  miles  from  it. 
Early  on  the  25th  all  again  attended  Divine 
Service  ;  and  towards  noon  the  whole  party 
went  with  the  King  to  the  jungle  about  three 

198 


^ 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

miles  away,  where  a  ring  had  been  formed.  Dec.  25. 
With  hardly  any  delay  a  very  fine  tiger  came 
charging  through  the  grass,  and  was  killed  stone 
dead  by  the  King  with  a  shot  through  the  heart. 
He  measured  9  feet  6  inches  in  length.  Another 
ring  had  been  formed  two  miles  away,  but  His 
Majesty  made  this  over  to  the  Duke  of  Teck 
and  Lord  Durham,  preferring  to  beat  for 
rhinoceros.  After  a  time  a  cow  with  a  well- 
grown  calf  was  found,  which  made  off,  but 
being  fired  at  and  missed  by  the  King,  turned 
back  at  once  and  charged  at  the  top  of  her 
speed.  A  second  bullet  from  His  Majesty's  rifle 
laid  her  stone  dead  with  a  shot  through  the 
chest  ;  and  every  effort  was  then  made  to 
capture  the  calf  by  forming  a  ring  about  him. 
But  the  gallant  little  fellow  rushed  straight  at 
the  circle  of  elephants,  broke  through  it  and 
disappeared.  The  ladies  and  Colonel  Manners 
Smith's  three  little  girls  came  out  to  luncheon 
by  the  King's  invitation  ;  and  when  the  meal 
was  over,  another  line  of  elephants  was  formed, 
when  the  King  again  killed  a  rhinoceros  dead 
with  a  single  shot.  Meanwhile  the  Duke  of 
Teck's  party  had  found  four  tigers,  and  had 
enjoyed  some  excitement  with  them,  no  fewer 
than  three  of  the  animals  having  jumped  on  to 
the  elephants'  trunks,  and  one  having  actually 
climbed  up  within  striking  distance  of  the 
mahout.  They  then  hid  themselves  in  thick 
grass,  growling  continually,  while  the  mahouts 
shouted  and  the  elephants  trumpeted  all  round 

199 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

Dec.  them,  afraid  to  come  nearer.  Ultimately  they 
26-27.  were  dislodged  by  three  or  four  bullets,  and  the 
party  returned  with  three  tigers  and  a  rhino- 
ceros, making  four  tigers,  three  rhinoceros  and 
a  hog-deer  (shot  by  the  King)  for  the  day.  In 
the  evening,  being  Christmas  night,  the  whole 
of  the  suite  dined  with  His  Majesty. 

The  sport  of  the  previous  days  by  this  time 
had  begun  to  tell  on  the  quantity  of  game  still 
afoot.  The  reports  of  the  morning  of  the  26th 
set  forth  that  though  sixty  bullocks  had  been 
tethered  in  the  jungle  on  the  previous  night,  one 
only  had  been  killed.  The  King  appointed  that 
the  Duke  of  Teck,  Lord  Durham  and  Lord 
Annaly  should  draw  lots  for  the  single  tiger,  and 
the  lot  fell  upon  Lord  Durham,  who  duly  killed 
him.  His  Majesty  himself,  with  Sir  Charles 
Cust,  Sir  Henry  McMahon  and  Lord  Charles 
Fitzmaurice  beat  for  rhinoceros  with  a  line  of 
elephants.  One  only  was  found,  which  was 
killed  by  the  King  ;  and  the  afternoon  was 
absolutely  blank.  There  was  therefore  little 
surprise,  when  on  the  27th  there  came  news  that 
not  a  single  bullock  had  been  killed.  However 
the  King  started  forth  at  noon  on  an  elephant 
to  a  place  where  a  tiger  had  been  tracked  ;  and 
a  ring  was  formed,  but  no  tiger  was  within. 
After  luncheon  therefore  the  party  was  divided  ; 
and  a  line  of  elephants  was  formed  in  which 
His  Majesty,  Sir  Henry  McMahon  and  Colonel 
Watson  carried  rifles.  Presently  the  King 
noticed   the  grass  moving  before  him  ;    a  tiger 

200 


THE  KING  IN  NIPAL 

dashed  out,  and  the  flank  elephants  were  quickly  Dec.  28. 
thrown  round  to  form  a  ring.  The  tigress, 
however,  for  such  she  was,  was  one  of  those  who 
would  not  be  pent  in.  Charging  straight  at  the 
ring,  she  broke  through  it  not  far  from  the 
King,  who  missed  her  with  his  first  barrel,  but 
rolled  her  over  stone  dead  outside  the  ring  with 
his  second,  making  the  twentieth  tiger  that  he 
had  shot  since  his  arrival  in  Nipal. 

On  the  28th  there  was  again  news  of  a  tiger, 
and  the  King  started  at  a  little  before  noon  for 
his  last  day's  sport.  A  ring  had  been  formed, 
but  it  was  some  time  before  the  tiger  broke, 
crossing  straight  in  front  of  the  King  and  the 
Duke  of  Teck.  Both  fired  simultaneously,  and 
the  beast  fell  dead  with  two  bullets  in  the  neck. 
After  luncheon  a  move  was  made  by  motor  to 
another  ring  twelve  miles  distant,  where  the 
King  killed  his  twenty-first  tiger,  and  fired  his 
last  shot  in  India.  The  total  bag  for  the  ten 
days  was  thirty-nine  tigers,  eighteen  rhinoceros, 
of  which  the  King  killed  eight,  and  four  bears, 
of  which  the  King  killed  one.  An  unexpected 
addition  was  made  to  the  tale  of  the  killed  by 
the  motor  mail-cart  while  on  its  way  from  the 
camp  to  Biknathori  on  the  night  of  the  27th, 
when  it  ran  over  a  full-grown  panther,  smashing 
the  lamps  and  the  glass  shield  and  apparently 
breaking  the  unlucky  animal's  back,  for  he  could 
only  with  difficulty  struggle  again  into  the 
jungle  by  the  help  of  his  fore-paws.  Were  it  not 
that  the  next  rains  will  infallibly  wash  away  all 

201 


THE  DEPARTURE  FROM  NIPAL 

Dec.  28.  the  roads  made  by  the  Maharaja,  motorists  in 
search  of  new  emotions  might  do  worse  than 
take  their  vehicles  to  Nipal. 

In  the  evening  His  Majesty  took  leave  of  the 
Maharaja,  who  had  housed  him  and  his  suite 
with  such  admirable  comfort  and  provided  him 
with  such  excellent  sport.  On  Christmas  Eve  the 
King  had  pinned  on  his  breast  the  Grand  Cross 
of  the  Victorian  Order  and  a  golden  Coronation 
medal  ;  but  the  Maharaja's  gifts  to  His  Majesty 
were  not  so  easily  carried  away,  for  they  included 
a  young  elephant,  a  young  rhinoceros,  bears, 
panthers,  snow  panthers,  a  Tibetan  jackass  (very 
wild  and  very  active  with  his  heels),  a  pair  of 
Tibetan  mastiffs  (both  rather  savage),  bara  singh 
deer,  sambhur  deer,  hog  deer,  cheetul,  jackals, 
and  others  of  the  same  order,  mongeese  and  other 
smaller  quadrupeds,  with  peacocks,  jungle  fowl, 
pheasants,  partridges,  and  all  manner  of  lovely 
birds,  besides  beautiful  products  of  native  art 
in  various  kinds.  But  no  such  remembrances 
will  be  necessary  to  recall  to  memory  the  most 
courteous  and  hospitable  of  hosts,  from  whom 
His  Majesty,  and  not  less  the  whole  of  his  suite, 
parted  with  deep  gratitude  and  very  sincere 
regret. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Royal 
train  steamed  away  to  the  sound  of  a  salute  of 
one  hundred  and  one  guns,  and  of  cheering  from 
a  great  crowd  of  natives,  many  of  whom  ran 
alongside  the  train  for  so  long  as  they  could  keep 
up  with  it.     At  every  station  where   the   train 


JOURNEY  TO  BANKIPORE 

stopped  throughout  the  night  there  was  a  crowd  Dec.  29. 
of  natives  shouting  in  their  own  tongue  "  Victory 
to  the  King,"  and  on  the  following  day,  the 
29th,  at  every  crossing  and  every  station,  whether 
the  train  stopped  or  not,  they  were  assembled 
in  thousands  to  greet  him  with  the  same  cry. 
At  Muzaffarpur  the  throng  broke  through  the 
barriers  and  swarmed  round  both  sides  of  the  train, 
trying  only  to  touch  the  feet  of  His  Majesty, 
as  he  stood  visible  to  all  on  the  platform  of  his 
saloon-car  with  his  suite  about  him.  Arriving 
at  Paleza  Ghat  on  the  Ganges  in  the  afternoon, 
the  King  and  his  party  embarked  on  a  steamer, 
and  went  down  the  river  towards  the  city  of  Patna, 
again  hugging  the  bank  of  the  river  for  five 
miles  amid  the  uproarious  enthusiasm  of  a  great 
multitude  of  people.  Then  landing  at  Digha 
Ghat  he  entered  the  train,  and  twenty  minutes 
later  met  the  Queen  at  Bankipore.  It  is  now 
time  to  follow  Her  Majesty's  movements  during 
the  days  when  the  King  was  in  Nipal. 


XII 

Leaving  the  Selimgarh  station  at  Delhi  with 
a  suite  of  eight  persons,^  the  Queen  travelled  by 
train  to  Agra,  arriving  at  the  cantonment  station 
at  five  o'clock.      Here  Her  Majesty  was  received 

'  Prince  George  of  Battenberg,  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  Lord  and  Ladv 
Shaftesbury,  Miss  Baring,  Maj.-Gen.  Sir  S.  Beatson,  Lt.-Col.  Bird  (Indian, 
Medical  Service),  Major  Hill,  Major  Money,  Mr.  Fortescue. 

203 


THE  QUEEN  AT  AGRA 

Dec.  1 6.  by  Mr.  Reynolds,  Commissioner  for  the  District, 
and  drove  to  the  Agra  Circuit  House,  which  had 
been  made  ready  for  her,  with  a  camp  pitched 
about  it  for  the  suite.  After  the  rush  and  turmoil 
of  Delhi  the  change  to  this  quiet  and  beautiful 
camp  was  very  pleasant.  The  ground  about  the 
Circuit  House  has  been  laid  out  as  a  park  ;  and 
standing  by  the  entrance  one  could  see  to  the 
left,  two  miles  distant  across  the  valley  of  the 
Jumna,  the  noble  red-sandstone  fort  of  Agra,  and 
to  one's  right  front  the  swelling  dome  and  slender 
minarets  of  the  Taj  Mahal  gleaming  white  above 
a  bank  of  dark  foliage  a  few  hundred  yards  away. 
In  spite  of  the  exhausting  week  at  Delhi,  a  most 
busy  morning,  and  four  hours  of  a  very  dusty 
railway  journey,  the  Queen  went  almost  imme- 
diately to  the  Taj  to  revisit  it  before  the  light 
should  fail.  One  after  another  the  suite  drifted 
away  in  the  same  direction,  to  watch  the  scarlet 
of  the  sunset  blazing  over  the  fort  of  Agra  and 
on  the  face  of  the  Jumna,  and  blushing  faintly 
on  the  silent  marble  of  the  Taj,  till  the  last  light 
died  away,  and  dome  and  minarets  again  loomed 
white  against  a  sky  of  cold  steel  blue. 

Our  new  camp,  having  been  formed  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  King's  Indian  staff,  con- 
trasted very  favourably  with  our  late  quarters 
at  Delhi.  The  tents  were  pitched  at  a  proper 
distance  from  each  other,  they  were  comfortably 
warmed,  and  they  were  clean.  All  other  arrange- 
ments for  messing  and  so  forth  were  equally  good, 
and  immeasurably  superior  to  the  corresponding 

204 


THE  QUEEN  AT  AGRA 

arrangements  at  Delhi  ;  while  Colonel  Banner-  Dec.  17 
man,  the  political  officer  who  was  in  charge  of 
the  Queen's  tour,  speedily  installed  himself  among 
the  suite  as  the  most  attentive  and  courteous  of 
hosts,  and  a  very  welcome  companion.  To  all 
intent,  between  journeys  and  functions,  this  was 
the  first  quiet  night  that  we  had  enjoyed  since 
we  left  the  Medina  ;  and  the  Queen,  who  needed 
rest  more  than  any  of  us,  took  advantage  of  it. 
The  suite,  for  their  part,  found  very  agreeable 
guests  in  the  officers  of  the  Royal  Irish  and 
of  the  Thirteenth  Rajputs,  which  regiments 
furnished  the  guards  of  the  camp. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  Sunday  the 
17th  of  December,  the  Queen,  attended  by  her 
suite,  drove  to  St.  George's  Church  for  Divine 
Service,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Dr. 
Westcott,  Bishop  of  Lucknow  and  son  of  the  late 
Bishop  of  Durham.  The  church,  which  was 
built  by  the  East  India  Company  in  1828,  has, 
like  all  of  its  kind,  no  architectural  pretensions, 
but  as  usual  carries  on  the  walls  many  sad 
memorials  of  young  lives  cut  short,  "  Died  of 
exposure  during  the  Indian  Mutiny  "  is  a  curt 
phrase  which  sums  up  a  long  and  dreary  account 
of  human  misery,  and  reminds  one  that  the 
casualties  of  a  campaign  do  not  end  at  the 
conclusion  of  peace.  "  Fell  in  action  "  are  words 
that  stir  the  heart ;  but  "Died  of  cholera,"  "Died 
of  fever,"  leave  behind  a  dull  sense  of  pain,  as 
we  reflect  on  the  frightful  toll  of  British  lives 
which  has  been  levied  during  the  last  century 

205 


A  FAULTLESS  ESCORT 

Dec.  17.  and  a  half  by  India.  Her  Majesty  had  wished 
to  go  to  church  as  quietly  as  possible,  but  the 
Thirteenth  Hussars,  who  had  escorted  the  Royal 
procession  from  the  station  on  the  previous 
day,  begged  permission  to  have  the  honour  of 
furnishing  a  full  escort.  We  had  remarked  the 
regiment  at  Delhi  ;  but  even  so  we  were  not 
quite  prepared  for  what  we  saw  on  that  Sunday. 
All  the  officers  in  the  suite  agreed  that  the 
escort  was  the  most  perfect  that  they  had  ever 
seen,  so  admirably  were  the  distances  and  the 
dressing  preserved.  This  may  seem  to  be  a 
small  matter,  but  such  details  count  for  much  in 
the  discipline  of  a  regiment  ;  for  those  that  are 
careful  in  small  matters  are  unlikely  to  be  care- 
less in  great.  Moreover,  it  is  a  real  pleasure  in 
this  imperfect  world  to  see  anything  faultlessly 
done. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Queen,  still  attended  by 
her  suite,  motored  to  the  fort  of  Agra,  where 
Mr.  Sanderson  of  the  Archaeological  Depart- 
ment guided  her  over  the  huge  palaces  of  Akbar, 
Jahangir  and  Shah  Jahan.  Excellent  work  has 
been  done  here  in  clearing  away  modern 
excrescences  and  excavating  the  foundations  of 
ruined  buildings.  The  palaces  are  too  well 
known  to  need  description  by  me  ;  but  one  or 
two  points  respecting  the  Mohammedan  archi- 
tects may  be  noted.  First,  they  thoroughly 
realised — what  has  too  often  been  forgotten  in 
England — that,  if  a  court  is  to  look  beautiful, 
the  buildings  around  it  must  be  low  ;  and  hence 

206 


THE  PALACES  OF  AGRA 

their  courts  wear  a  peculiar  grace  of  spaciousness.  Dec.  17. 
Secondly,  their  construction  was  often  very 
slovenly  ;  Akbar's  palace,  for  instance,  having  a 
very  loose  core  of  brick,  held  together  by  a  great 
deal  of  soft  mortar,  and  very  thinly  faced  with  slabs 
of  red  sandstone.  The  walls  of  Delhi  fort  are 
another  example  of  this,  being  simply  rubble  with 
a  thin  stone  face.  Thirdly,  they  delighted  in 
architectural  puzzles.  They  seldom  if  ever  built 
a  true  arch,  so  that  the  structure  of  arch-shaped 
apertures  often  presents  some  mystery  ;  but  this 
pales  beside  the  problem  presented  by  a  ceiling 
of  flat  marble  slabs.  According  to  all  the  rules  of 
gravity  this  ought  to  fall  on  the  floor,  being  to  all 
appearance  an  inverted  pavement  ;  but  it  does  not  ; 
and  although  no  doubt  there  are  many  ways  of 
performing  the  trick,  it  would  be  interesting  to 
know  how  in  this  instance  it  is  accomplished. 

From  thence  the  Queen  proceeded  a  short 
distance  farther  to  the  tomb  of  Etmad-ud- 
dowlah,  a  very  marvellous  example  of  fretted 
marble -work,  beautiful  in  detail  but  lacking 
the  imposing  simplicity  of  earlier  and  ruder 
Mohammedan  tombs.  There  was  still  time 
for  another  visit  to  the  Taj  after  our  return  ; 
but  indeed  being  so  near  at  hand,  we  wandered 
into  its  silent  garden  at  all  unoccupied  hours,  the 
most  constant  visitor  and  admirer  of  all  being 
the  Queen.  In  the  evening  Her  Majesty  gave 
a  small  dinner-party,  in  which  the  Bishop  of 
Lucknow,  the  Commissioner  and  Mrs.  Reynolds, 
and  a  few  more  were  included. 

207 


FATEHPUR  SIKRI 

Dec.  1 8.  On  the  morning  of  the  i8th  the  Queen  with 
her  suite  started  early  in  motors  to  the  deserted 
palace  of  Akbar  at  Fatehpur  Sikri,  some  twenty 
miles  distant.  It  is  easy  to  understand  why  it 
was  deserted,  but  difficult  to  comprehend  why 
even  an  Oriental  despot  should  have  set  down 
a  gigantic  palace  in  so  barren  and  waterless  a 
region.  Mr.  Sanderson  again  acted  as  guide  to 
the  Queen,  to  the  great  good  fortune  of  those 
who  were  lucky  enough  to  be  with  Her 
Majesty  ;  and  the  hours  passed  rapidly  as  we 
wandered  through  the  deserted  courts  and 
chambers  or  stood  in  the  hall  of  audience  with 
its  marvellously  carved  superstructure,  where  the 
greatest  of  the  Mogul  Emperors  received  the 
petitions  of  suitors  and  meted  out  justice  to  high 
and  low.  The  buildings  are  interesting,  too,  as 
including  an  effort  at  a  feature  which  the 
Mohammedan  architects  as  a  rule  neglected,  a 
great  flight  of  steps.  What  they  understood 
best  was  gateways,  but  steps  for  some  reason 
were  beyond  them.  The  stairways  in  the  build- 
ings of  the  Mogul  period  are  always  bad,  so 
high,  steep  and  narrow  indeed,  even  in  the 
zenanas,  that  one  wonders  how  the  little  ladies 
of  the  harem  can  have  climbed  up  them. 
Even  the  different  levels  of  the  platforms  of 
the  Taj  are  connected  by  stepping-stones  and 
not  by  steps.  At  Fatehpur  Sikri,  however, 
below  the  magnificent  gateway  is  an  attempt  at 
a  flight  of  steps,  which,  if  executed,  as  it  might 
have  been,  on  a  great  scale  and  carried  down  the 

208 


THE  QUEEN  AT  JAIPUR 

side  of  the  height,  on  which  the  palace  stands,  to  Dec.  19. 
the    plain,  would    have  been  one    of   the    most 
magnificent  architectural  objects  in  the  world. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  after  a  last  visit 
to    the  Taj,  the  Queen  left  Agra  by   train    for 
Jaipur,  where   she  arrived  in  the   evening.      At 
the  station  she  was  met  by  the  Maharaja,  who 
laid   his  sword  at  her  feet  with  the   chivalrous 
courtesy    of  the    East  ;     and    from    thence    she 
drove  some  two  miles  to  the  Residency  through  a 
host  of   the  Maharaja's  armed   retainers.     Very 
picturesque  was  the  spectacle  that  they  presented, 
in    colours    of   every    variety    and    shade  —  red, 
orange,     dark     green,     pea -green,     sage-green. 
Here    there    was   a  long  row   of  stately    mace- 
bearers  ;  hard  by  a  troop  of  gorgeous  spearmen  on 
Arab  horses  ;    beyond  them   imposing    ranks   of 
matchlockmen.      Here  again  were  companies  of 
fifty  or  sixty  camels,  some  carrying  wild-looking 
warriors  with  lances,  others  heavy  swivel-guns, 
which  must  have  been  most  dangerous  in  the  field, 
yet  others  a  few  kettle-drummers  of  inexhaust- 
ible thumping  power  ;   there  stood  a  noble  array 
of  forty  elephants   with   their  faces  coloured  in 
fantastic  patterns,  and  gorgeous  housings  of  gold 
and  silver  on  their  backs  ;   here  an  assembly  of 
half- naked     Nagas     with     gigantic     quivering 
swords  ;  there    a    train   of  great    grey    bullocks 
harnessed     to     gorgeous     litters,     to     humbler 
carriages  or  to  quaintly  painted  guns,  their  sleek 
hides    often  hidden  by   pea-green  housings    and 
their  horns  by  pea-green  cases,  but  their  great 

209  p 


RECEPTION  AT  JAIPUR 

Dec.  19.  soft  eyes  looking  kindly  upon  the  world.  And 
the  drummers  drummed,  and  the  pipers  piped, 
and  the  horses  pranced,  and  the  patient  elephants 
saluted,  and  the  Nagas  leaped,  and  the  spearmen, 
flintlockmen  and  matchlockmen  brandished  or 
presented  arms  ;  and  so  through  a  blaze  of  colour 
and  every  description  of  gleaming  weapon  Her 
Majesty  drove  to  the  Residency.  It  was  a  true 
Oriental  welcome,  where  a  host  displays  all  that 
he  has  as  a  courtly  intimation  that  it  is  at  the 
disposal  of  his  guest.  Arrived  at  the  Residency 
the  Queen  was  received  by  the  Resident,  Colonel 
Showers  ;  and  the  suite  had  just  time  before  dark 
to  learn  the  ways  of  a  very  comfortable  camp, 
pitched  in  the  garden.  The  day  ended  with  a 
small  dinner-party  given  by  Her  Majesty. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  the  Maharaja 
had  motors  waiting  at  the  door  ;  and  the  Queen 
with  her  suite  drove  to  the  deserted  town  of 
Amber,  which  lies  in  a  deep  cleft  of  the  hills, 
seven  miles  from  Jaipur.  Here  Her  Majesty 
mounted  an  elephant  and,  followed  by  her  suite 
likewise  on  elephants,  went  up  the  steep  ascent 
to  the  palace  built  by  Raja  Man  Singh,  the 
favourite  of  the  Emperor  Akbar,  in  1592. 
Amber  has  been  described  by  Mr.  Kipling,  and 
therefore  needs  no  description  from  me.  In 
bygone  ages  it  was  a  stronghold  of  the  aboriginal 
Meenas  who  were  dispossessed,  through  highly 
questionable  methods,  by  a  family  of  Rajputs  at 
the  end  of  the  tenth  century  of  our  era  ;  and 
with  the  Rajputs  it  has  remained  ever  since.     A 


VISIT  TO  AMBER 

huge  deserted  city  set  with  deserted  temples  and  Dec.  20. 
crowned  by  a  deserted  palace,  none  of  them  of  any 
great  architectural  interest,  is  a  sufficiently  bleak 
and  melancholy  object,  even  when  repeopled  by 
such  an  imagination  as  Mr.  Kipling's.  But 
there  is  eloquent  testimony  to  the  troubled  past 
of  India  in  the  choice  of  such  a  site  for  a  city  as 
a  gap  in  the  barrenest  hills  of  a  barren  country, 
approachable  only  through  narrow  and  dangerous 
dehles  and  defended  by  ring  within  ring  of  walls 
and  towers  and  circular  bastions.  The  fortifica- 
tions crumble  without,  and  the  houses  clustered 
upon  the  steep  hillsides  crumble  within.  The 
men  who  dwelt  in  them  must  have  lived  in  fear 
and  trembling.  One  may  still  see  in  the  palace 
a  hall  supported  by  columns  which  at  their  core 
are  of  carved  sandstone,  but  have  been  cased  in 
stucco.  The  Emperor  Jahangir,  hearing  that 
there  were  pillars  at  Amber  which  vied  with 
the  glories  of  Agra  and  Delhi,  in  high  wrath 
sent  commissioners  to  overthrow  them.  The 
Raja,  however,  had  been  warned  ;  and  when  the 
commissioners  arrived  they  found  nothing  more 
ambitious  than  stucco,  with  which  he  had 
prudently  veiled  the  perilous  glory  of  the  sand- 
stone. No  doubt  he  was  wise  in  his  generation  ; 
but  in  so  strong  a  place  as  Amber  one  would 
have  preferred  him  to  defy  the  Emperor  and 
stand  a  siege. 

In  the  evening  the  Queen  gave  a  second 
small  dinner-party,  at  the  close  of  which  the 
Maharaja's    Naga  warriors  danced  a  war-dance. 


VISIT  TO  MAYO  COLLEGE 

Dec.  2  1.  The  characteristics  of  all  war- dances  are  the 
same — much  brandishing  of  weapons,  much 
leaping  in  the  air,  and  remarkably  little  clothing 
— so  that  it  is  not  worth  while  to  describe  this 
one  at  greater  length.  One  is  inclined  to  agree 
with  Corporal  Trim  that  one  push  of  the 
bayonet  is  worth  the  whole  of  it. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day  the  Queen 
took  leave  of  the  Maharaja  and  started  with  her 
suite  for  Ajmer,  which  was  reached  early  in  the 
afternoon.  At  the  station  she  was  received  by 
the  Resident,  Sir  Elliot  Colvin,  and  from  thence 
drove  straight  to  Mayo  College,  the  place  of 
education  favoured  by  all  ruling  Princes  for  their 
sons,  and  therefore  called  the  Eton  of  India. 
After  inspecting  the  college  buildings  under  the 
guidance  of  the  Principal,  Mr.  Waddington,  Her 
Majesty  proceeded  to  the  cricket  pavilion,  on  the 
sloping  front  of  which  were  banked  up  the  whole 
of  the  two  hundred  students,  making  the  most 
beautiful  group  of  colour  which  we  saw  in  India. 
All  wore  native  dress — a  cassock  of  rich  material 
and  delicate  colour  buttoned  from  neck  to  waist, 
and  with  long  skirts  from  the  waist  to  the  heel, 
and  a  turban  of  stronger  and  more  decided  tint. 
The  Queen  requested  that  every  one  of  them 
might  be  presented  to  her  individually  ;  and 
accordingly  they  filed  past  her,  each  bowing 
gracefully  over  his  hands  pressed  palm  to 
palm  before  him,  and  returning  to  his  place. 
The  Queen  then  obtained  for  them  an  extra 
week's  holiday,  the  grant  of  which  they  received 


THE  CITY  OF  AJMER 

in  silence,  bowing  almost  to  their  knees.  One  Dec.  21, 
could  not  help  contrasting  their  behaviour  both 
on  this  occasion  and  when  presented  to  the 
Queen  with  the  awkward  self-consciousness  of 
English  boys  in  parallel  circumstances.  The 
elder  students  then  withdrew,  and  presently 
reappeared  mounted  on  polo-ponies,  on  which, 
while  the  Queen  drank  tea  with  the  Principal, 
they  went  through  such  sports  as  tent-pegging  by 
sections,  jumping  by  sections,  and  a  "bending 
race."  Finally,  when  the  light  began  to  fail 
Her  Majesty  drove  to  the  quarters  prepared  for 
her  at  the  Residency. 

This  building,  beautifully  situated  on  the  top 
of  a  steep  eminence,  overlooks  the  lake  of  Ajmer, 
along  one  side  of  which  lies  the  town  with  a 
stern  fortified  height  rising  behind  it  ;  while  on 
the  other  is  a  narrow  stretch  of  plain  bounded 
by  a  wall  of  rugged  rocky  hills.  The  situation 
and  surroundings  of  the  town  suggest  a  home  of 
romance,  and  such  a  home  Ajmer  undoubtedly 
was.  The  foundation  of  the  citadel  by  the 
royal  race  of  Chauhan  Rajputs  is  lost  in  extreme 
antiquity,  but  it  seems  certain  that  as  early  as 
A.D.  712  these  Princes  were  the  most  determined 
opponents  of  Mohammedan  invasion.  Three 
hundred  years  later  the  mighty  Mahmoud  of 
Ghazni  fell  back,  foiled  and  wounded  from  before 
Ajmer;  and  it  was  not  until  1556  that  it  was 
finally  occupied  by  Akbar,  upon  whom,  as  also 
upon  both  of  his  two  immediate  successors,  it 
exerted  an  irresistible  fascination.      Here  it  was 


AJMER  ILLUMINATED 

Dec.  2  1.  that  Jahangir  received  Sir  Thomas  Roe,  the 
ambassador  of  King  James  the  First  of  Britain, 
in  1 615,  and  here  it  was  that  the  same  Emperor 
and  his  son  Shah  Jahan  spent  their  happiest  days 
with  their  adored  wives  Nur  Mahal  and  Mumtaz 
Mahal.  Possibly  it  was  the  place  last  recalled 
to  memory  by  the  dying  Shah  Jahan,  as  he 
looked  with  dim  eyes  from  his  palace  at  Agra  to 
the  Taj,  and  knew  that  the  time  was  come  at 
last  for  him  to  rejoin  his  beloved  under  the 
white  dome  where  they  still  sleep  side  by  side 
in  peace. 

The  hill  on  which  the  Residency  stands  is  so 
steep  that  only  a  few  tents  could  be  pitched  near 
the  house  ;  and  the  main  most  comfortable  camp 
was  situated  on  the  plain  at  its  foot.  The  Queen 
gave  a  small  dinner-party  in  the  evening  ;  and 
after  dinner  every  one  sought  the  terrace  of  the 
Residency  to  see  the  illuminations  of  the  lake, 
the  fort  and  the  city.  The  art  of  illumination  is 
nowhere  so  perfectly  understood  as  in  India, 
where  it  is  not  confined  to  hard  straight  lines  of 
glaring  electric  light  on  public  buildings,  but 
follows  the  beautiful  curves  of  lake  and  hill, 
fortress  and  bastion,  in  myriads  of  tiny  flames  fed 
by  oil  only.  The  cost  is  trifling,  for  little 
earthenware  bowls,  wicks  and  oil  are  all  alike 
cheap  ;  and  hundreds  of  natives  can  be  found, 
for  the  reward  of  a  few  pence,  to  arrange  them 
by  natural  instinct  in  perfect  order. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22nd  the  Queen  with 
her  suite  drove  in  motors  through  a  pass  in  the 

214 


THE  QUEEN  AT  PUSHKAR 

ring  of  hills  to  Pushkar,  a  village  about  nine  miles  Dec  22. 
distant,  where  there  is  a  tank  which  is  of  peculiar 
sanctity  to  the  Hindus  and  therefore  the  resort 
of  many  pilgrims.  Part  of  the  road  was  ex- 
tremely steep,  and  the  country,  as  commonly  in 
Rajputana,  is  miserably  barren  and  inhospit- 
able ;  but  as  usual  on  every  progress  of  the 
Queen  during  this  tour,  the  people  swarmed  up 
from  no  one  knew  whence  to  see  her  go  by. 
Pushkar  itself,  a  picturesque  village  of  a  single 
long  narrow  street,  was  alive  with  spectators,  the 
women  being  clustered  like  flies  on  the  roofs, 
where  their  deep  red  clothing  made  a  delight- 
ful mass  of  rich  colour.  The  tank  itself  is 
about  five  hundred  yards  in  diameter,  and 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  houses  of  Rajput 
and  Maratha  chiefs,  with  steps  down  to  the 
water.  At  the  end  of  the  village  is  a  temple,  to 
which  the  Queen  ascended  by  many  steps  to 
wild  music  of  pipe  and  tabor,  and  left,  after  the 
precedent  of  all  distinguished  visitors  before  her, 
a  present  of  fifteen  hundred  rupees.  As  usual 
on  such  occasions  the  ministers  of  the  temple 
were  ready  with  garlands  which  they  hung 
round  the  necks  of  all  their  visitors.  At  a  i^iat 
(landing-stage)  hard  by  the  inhabitants  presented 
the  Queen  with  an  address,  and  there  was  more 
hanging  of  garlands.  In  curious  contrast  to  the 
festal  appearance  of  the  village,  fakirs,  smeared 
with  ashes,  sat  here  and  there  about  the  shrines, 
with  limbs  hideously  deformed  and  atrophied  by 
sitting   for  months  and  even  years  in  the  same 

215 


MOSQUE  AND  TEMPLE 

Dec.  22.  natural  or  distorted  posture.  One  of  them,  who 
sat  motionless  but  for  the  twitching  of  his  fingers 
as  he  told  his  beads,  had  a  singularly  beautiful 
face,  and  would  have  seemed  from  his  closed 
eyes  and  grey-stained  features  to  be  dead  indeed 
to  the  world,  had  not  close  observation  revealed 
that,  when  not  conscious  of  being  watched,  he 
opened  his  eyes  and  took  a  lively  interest  in 
things  mundane. 

In  the  afternoon  Her  Majesty,  with  her  suite 
in  attendance,  again  drove  out  ;  and  the  Cadet 
Corps  of  Mayo  College  asked  and  obtained 
permission  to  furnish  her  escort.  A  very  fine 
appearance  they  made  in  the  white  tunics  and 
sky-blue  turbans  of  the  Noble  Guard  ;  and  if 
there  was  more  cantering  and  less  trotting  than 
an  orthodox  riding-master  might  have  approved, 
the  Queen  at  any  rate  found  no  fault  with  the 
characteristic  eagerness  of  young  men  mounted 
on  young  horses.  The  objects  of  Her  Majesty's 
visit  were  a  Mohammedan  mosque  and  a  Hindu 
temple  of  peculiar  holiness,  named  respectively 
the  Dargah  and  Adhai-din-ka-Jhoara,  the  former 
of  little  architectural  interest,  but  the  latter 
possessing  a  fine  Hindu  screen  and  hall  of  pillars. 
As  usual  the  adornment  was  in  detail  most 
beautiful,  but  the  general  effect,  to  an  eye  trained 
in  the  Hellenic  school,  was  marred  by  the 
impression  of  excessive  decoration.  It  is  im- 
possible, however,  to  visit  any  Hindu  or 
Mohammedan  building  of  any  architectural 
pretension    without  lamenting   that  our  Roman 

216 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  BUNDI 

and  Gothic  scripts  fall  so  far  behind  the  Arabic  Dec.  23. 
and  Persian,  or  indeed  almost  any  Oriental 
character,  in  grace  and  variety.  Bands  and 
panels  filled  with  texts  possess  in  the  East  a 
decorative  value  such  as  we  cannot  approach  in 
the  West. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23rd  the  Queen  and 
her  suite  left  Ajmer  on  a  journey  of  about  one 
hundred  miles  by  motor  to  Bundi.  Her  Majesty 
stopped  on  the  way  to  visit  the  sites  of  projected 
memorials  to  King  Edward  VH.  and  Sir  Curzon 
Wyllie,  and  to  receive  the  valedictory  salutations 
of  the  students  of  Mayo  College,  who  were  drawn 
up  at  the  entrance  to  the  grounds.  She  also 
caused  speed  to  be  reduced  when  passing  by  the 
orphan  school  of  the  Scotch  mission  at  Nasirabad, 
so  that  the  children  might  see  her.  A  drearier 
country  it  would  be  difficult  to  traverse — mile 
upon  mile  of  stony  desert  dotted  with  thorns,  or 
from  time  to  time  varied  by  a  patch  of  uncomely 
and  unprofitable  jungle.  Here  and  there  only 
was  a  patch  of  cultivation.  The  sole  excitement 
was  the  overhauling  of  motors  which  had  broken 
down,  and  the  only  amusement  the  multitude  of 
conflicting  opinions  as  to  the  best  method  of  re- 
storing their  suspended  animation.  After  three 
hours  we  reached  an  oasis — Deoli — where  Her 
Majesty  was  received  at  the  Agency  by  the 
Agent,  Major  Peacock,  and  a  halt  was  made 
for  luncheon.  The  Deoli  Regiment  has  its 
quarters  here,  and  Colonel  Waller  and  his  officers 
had    most  kindly  arranged  for  shooting  a  large 

21 7 


A  TANK  IN  RAJPUTANA 

Dec.  23.  tank^  or  mere,  about  eleven  miles  farther  on  the 
road,  in  case  any  of  the  Queen's  suite  should  care 
for  the  sport.  Two  of  them  were  very  ready  for 
it,  and  were  well  rewarded.  The  evening  was 
delightfully  warm  and  nearly  cloudless,  and  the 
sun  went  down  slowly  and  reluctantly  in  a  blaze 
of  scarlet  and  orange,  which  was  reflected  on  the 
still  surface  of  the  mere — a  sheet  of  water  perhaps 
three  miles  in  circumference,  dotted  with  tiny 
islands,  overhung  in  places  with  low-roofed 
temples,  and  fringed  with  a  margin  of  green, 
doubly  refreshing  to  the  eye  after  some  days  of 
travel  through  the  desert  of  Rajputana.  And  in 
the  air  was  every  description  of  water-bird, 
cranes  and  storks  and  coots  and  endless  varieties 
of  duck.  When  they  came  within  range,  they 
taxed  one's  best  skill  to  bring  them  down,  and, 
when  they  did  not,  it  was  an  equal  pleasure  to 
watch  them  and  the  beautiful  scene  around. 
After  about  two  hours,  darkness  drove  us 
reluctantly  back  to  our  motors,  with  a  bag  of 
close  upon  one  hundred  and  fifty  duck,  widgeon 
and  teal  to  five  guns  ;  and  we  were  fain  to  take 
leave  of  our  most  hospitable  hosts  and  resume 
our  journey. 

The  Maharao    Raja    of   Bundi,  true    to    the 

^  It  is  curious  that  the  word  tank  should  be  invariably  used  in  India 
where  in  England  we  should  employ  the  words,  pond,  mere  or  even  lake. 
Derived  through  the  French  estang,  itang  from  the  Latin  stagnum,  the 
word  tank  (or,  in  its  earlier  form,  stank)  is  known  to  me  best  through  old 
deeds,  where  it  generally  signifies  the  reservoir  of  water  for  turning  a  water- 
mill.  On  the  other  hand,  the  word  creek  universally  used  in  America  and 
the  Australasian  Colonies  to  signify  a  stream  or  river,  is  never  heard  in 
India,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  in  this  sense  in  England. 

218 


BUNDI  BY  NIGHT 

courtesy  of  his  race,  had  meanwhile  come  forward  Dec.  23. 
to  the  marches  of  his  territory  to  escort  Her 
Majesty  to  her  camp.  We  belated  ones  of 
the  shooting-party,  however,  had  the  rare 
experience  of  traversing  the  city  of  Bundi  after 
dark.  We  entered  a  narrow  defile  between  high 
rocky  hills,  and  plunged  into  a  labyrinth  of 
narrow,  tortuous  streets,  through  which  it  seemed 
hopeless  to  attempt  to  make  one's  way.  Again 
and  again,  not  knowing  the  road,  we  found  our- 
selves in  what  appeared  to  be  a  blind  alley,  from 
which  sometimes,  though  not  always,  a  narrow 
lane  turning  at  the  sharpest  of  angles  led  us  into 
a  fresh  puzzle  of  the  same  kind.  But  these 
delays  were  welcome,  for  the  sight  was  extra- 
ordinary. The  whole  city  was  lit  up  in  honour 
of  the  occasion,  and  was  swarming  with  people, 
whose  brilliant  sashes  and  turbans  of  orange  and 
yellow  and  red,  passing  continuously  from  deep 
shadow  into  glaring  light,  against  the  background 
of  their  white  robes,  presented  marvellous  effects 
of  colour.  At  length  we  passed  through  the 
city  and  reached  our  tents,  which  were  arranged 
in  three  sides  of  a  square  on  a  carefully  prepared 
lawn  of  grass,  making  the  prettiest  and  most 
comfortable  camp  that  we  encountered  in  the 
whole  of  the  tour.  Even  Her  Majesty  was  for 
once  lodged  in  a  tent,  and  was  well  content  to  be 
so  in  such  a  camp. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  Maharao 
Raja  came  with  carriages  to  escort  the  Queen  to 
his  palace,  and   Her  Majesty  accordingly  drove 

219 


THE  PALACE  OF  BUNDI 

Dec.  24.  off  with  him  followed  by  her  suite.  The 
palace,  a  huge  white  building,  stands  on  the 
side  of  a  very  steep  hill  within  a  fortified 
enceinte,  with  two  outer  lines  of  fortification 
above,  and  the  town  crouching  below  it.  The 
entrance  is  reached  by  a  very  steep  paved  ramp, 
from  three  to  four  hundred  yards  long,  at  the 
head  of  which  one  turns  at  right  angles  in  to  the 
gateway.  The  scene  here  was  one  which  an 
artist  might  have  despaired  of  setting  on  canvas. 
The  Maharao  Raja  had  provided  palanquins  to 
carry  the  whole  party  up  the  ascent  ;  and  the 
bearers,  some  in  scarlet  robes  and  yellow  turbans, 
mingled  with  guards  in  rich  dark  green  or  in 
yellow,  were  scattered  about  at  the  foot  of  the 
ramp  ;  the  gorgeous  silver  palanquin,  which  was 
to  be  occupied  by  the  Queen,  blazing  like  fire  in 
the  midst  of  them.  Hard  by  stood  the  leading 
nobles  of  Bundi,  a  group  of  some  twenty  or 
thirty  splendid  figures  with  beards  brushed 
fiercely  away  from  the  face,  but  all,  whether 
the  beards  were  grey  or  white,  bearing  the 
unmistakable  mark  of  high  lineage  and  ancient 
race.  The  Maharao  Raja  was  dressed  in  a  black 
gown  with  an  orange  turban,  and  a  broad  orange 
shawl  of  different  shade  round  the  waist.  Most 
of  the  nobles  wore  the  same  colours  over  a  white 
linen  gown  with  bell-shaped  skirts  ;  but  a  few 
added  new  and  different  touches  of  colour.  One 
was  in  sky  blue  with  three  shades  of  yellow — 
from  sulphur  to  orange — in  turban  and  shawl  ; 
another  had  a  gown  of  deep  chocolate  brown, 


'I  HK    MAHARAO.  THE   Q^UEEN-EMPR  tSS. 

IN   THE    PALACE    OF    BUNDI. 


To  face  page  220. 


THE  PALACE  OF  BUNDI 

relieved  by  brilliant  green  round  head  and  waist  ;  Dec.  24. 
and  a  third,  whose  hair  was  white,  wore  dove- 
colour  and  crimson.  All  looked  well  ;  it  seems 
to  be  impossible  for  them  to  err  in  the  choice 
and  blending  of  colours.  Then  the  palanquin- 
bearers  took  up  their  burdens,  and  the  whole 
party  —  royal,  noble  and  simple — streamed  in 
irregular  procession  up  the  ramp  under  the  lofty 
weather-worn  white  walls  of  the  inner  enceinte, 
with  the  sun  blazing  down  upon  them — a  sight 
such  as  a  man  does  not  see  twice  in  a  lifetime. 

Over  the  gateway,  as  usual,  pipers  and  drum- 
mers made  strenuous  music  as  Her  Majesty 
entered  ;  and  within  the  courtyard  we  came 
upon  the  lower  walls  of  the  main  building, 
towering  up  to  a  gigantic  height  and  looking 
all  the  higher  for  being  somewhat  narrow. 
The  palace,  which  was  built  in  1644,  shows 
no  great  variation  from  the  usual  Hindu  archi- 
tecture of  the  period,  though  to  me,  personally, 
it  was  more  pleasing  than  most,  being  chaste  and 
subdued  in  decoration.  A  detailed  description 
would  be  tedious,  and  it  can  only  be  said  that 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Maharao  Raja,  Her 
Majesty  and  her  suite  roamed  with  perfect 
contentment  over  the  palace  for  an  hour  and  a 
half.  Above  all,  they  admired  the  armoury,  a 
beautiful  little  hall,  supported  by  columns  which 
(a  rare  thing  in  India)  were  ornamented  on  the 
capital  only  and  were  perfectly  plain  in  the  shaft, 
so  that  for  once  they  looked  stout  enough  to  carry 
the  roof.      From  the  very  summit  the  view  of  city 


THE  VALHALLA  OF  BUNDI 

Dec.  24.  and  lake  below  was  magnificent,  while  in  the 
foreground  the  grace  of  the  cupolas  and  of  the 
inner  courts  of  the  ladies'  apartments  was  delight- 
ful. Altogether  I  think  that  of  all  the  sights 
seen  in  the  Queen's  tour  in  Rajputana,  the  palace 
of  Bundi  was  the  most  enjoyable,  and  in  some 
respects  the  most  interesting. 

From  the  palace  the  Maharao  escorted  the 
Queen  to  a  very  beautiful  garden,  which  is  the 
place  of  cremation  of  the  dead  of  the  reigning 
family,  and  contains  domed  pavilions  which  are 
the  cenotaphs  erected  to  their  memory.  Simple 
and  unpretentious,  yet  lacking  neither  richness 
nor  dignity  in  due  measure,  this  Valhalla  has  a 
pathos  and  a  charm  that  is  all  its  own.  The 
garden  has  no  ostentatious  gloom  of  cypresses, 
but  cheerful  spreading  trees  and  broad  spaces  of 
sunlight  and  shade  in  which  the  domes  stand 
white  and  silent,  telling  that  this  is  a  resting- 
place  of  the  dead,  indeed,  but  of  the  happy 
dead. 

A  visit  to  the  Maharao  Raja's  hunting-box 
through  three  miles  of  jungle  brought  the 
morning  and  a  too  short  visit  to  Bundi  to  a 
close.  After  luncheon  His  Highness  came  to 
take  his  leave  of  the  Queen  ;  and  Her  Majesty, 
followed  by  the  suite,  started  by  motor  for 
Kotah,  under  thirty  miles  away.  Here  again 
the  Maharao  of  Kotah  came  forth  to  escort  Her 
Majesty  when  she  entered  his  borders,  with 
artillery  to  fire  a  salute,  musicians,  elephants 
and  a  host  of  armed  retainers.     Very  welcome 


CHRISTMAS  AT  KOTAH 

was  the  sight  of  the  Chambal,  flowing  broad  Dec.  z\ 
and  deep,  for  we  had  wandered  for  days  through 
arid  country  over  endless  dry  watercourses,  but 
without  a  ghmpse  of  a  running  stream.  Here, 
too,  memory  called  up  a  thought  of  the  remnants 
of  Monson's  army  of  1804,  weary,  dispirited  and 
demoralised,  dragging  themselves  painfully  away 
from  the  city  where  the  Raja  dared  not  ofl^er 
them  asylum.  Her  Majesty  proceeded  to  the 
Agency,  where  she  was  received  by  the  Political 
Agent,  Colonel  Berkeley,  while  the  rest  of  us 
found  quarters  in  a  camp,  as  usual  most  comfort- 
able, in  the  grounds.  In  the  evening  Her 
Majesty,  her  suite,  and  the  few  Europeans  at 
Kotah  attended  Divine  Service  in  a  tent. 

Christmas  Day  opened  with  Divine  Service 
in  the  same  tent  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  the 
Maharao  provided  two  launches  for  a  trip  up  the 
Chambal,  himself  accompanying  Her  Majesty 
in  one,  and  leaving  three  rifles  with  the  men  of 
the  party,  as  he  had  arranged  to  beat  the  jungles 
on  the  banks.  Her  Majesty  returned  in  time 
for  tea,  having  seen  four  bears  making  away  ; 
and  the  second  launch  was  following  hers  when 
the  villagers  shouted  that  they  could  see  a 
leopard.  The  banks  of  the  Chambal  rise  in 
sheer  cliffs  of  sandstone  to  a  height  of  about 
forty  feet  above  the  water  ;  and  on  a  ledge  just 
below  the  summit  we  caught  sight  of  the 
leopard  from  the  launch,  while  he  at  the  same 
moment  caught  sight  of  us  and  crouched  down. 
It  was  curious  to  watch  him.      The  animal  was 

223 


A  VIGILANT  HOST 

Dec.  26.  halting  between  two  opinions,  having  one  eye 
upon  us,  and  the  other  upon  a  bullock  fifty  yards 
away,  which  had  been  tied  up  for  his  delectation 
and  towards  which  he  was  making  his  way. 
For  half  an  hour  he  remained  motionless,  until 
some  beaters  crossed  the  river  from  the  other 
bank  and  moved  him,  when  he  bounded  quietly 
along  a  ledge  of  the  cliff  like  a  cat  on  a  garden 
wall.  A  lively  fusillade  greeted  him  from  the 
launch,  and  he  fell  down  the  face  of  the  cliff 
as  if  dead,  but  recovered  himself  and  continued 
his  flight  along  a  lower  ledge,  where  he  crept 
into  a  deep  cleft  and  disappeared,  no  doubt  to  die. 
On  this  evening,  being  Christmas  night.  Her 
Majesty  asked  the  whole  of  her  suite  to  dine 
with  her,  even  as  the  King  at  the  same  moment 
was  entertaining  the  whole  of  his  suite  in  Nipal. 
As  the  party  broke  up,  we  came  upon  the 
Maharao  on  his  way  to  inspect  the  sentries  and 
turn  out  the  guard  of  the  Kotah  Regiment 
at  the  Agency,  a  duty  which  His  Highness 
fulfilled  punctually  on  every  night  of  the  Queen's 
stay. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  the  Queen  drove 
with  her  suite  to  the  Maharao's  palace,  the 
Maharao  in  person  commanding  the  escort  of 
Her  Majesty's  carriage,  and  afterwards  conducting 
her  over  the  building.  Perhaps  the  most 
remarkable  thing  to  be  seen  in  it  was  the 
collection  of  arms  and  armour,  which  included 
some  wonderfully  beautiful  specimens  of  native 
workmanship.      Indeed     it    may    be    questioned 

224 


THE  PALACE  OF  KOTAH 

whether  Indian  art  ever  exhibits  itself  to  greater  Dec.  26. 
advantage  than  in  the  decoration  of  weapons, 
whether  it  be  applied  to  the  handle  of  a  sword 
or  to  the  barrel  of  a  matchlock.  After  luncheon 
the  Queen  and  her  party,  under  the  Maharao's 
guidance,  went  to  the  tank  of  Abhera,  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  city,  where  a  dozen  alligators, 
one  of  them  very  large,  came  swimming  up 
from  a  distance  at  the  call  of  the  keeper  to  be 
fed.  Great  efforts  were  made  to  induce  them  to 
put  their  heads  on  the  landing  steps  in  search  of 
food,  in  order  that  their  portraits  might  be  taken 
by  photograph,  but  they  were  too  shy  to  make 
the  venture.  An  endeavour  to  hold  them  in  the 
necessary  position  by  a  rude  wooden  hook  was 
equally  unsuccessful.  They  swallowed  the  bait 
greedily,  but  speedily  disgorged  it  on  feeling  the 
strain  of  the  line.  They  therefore  forfeited 
such  chances  of  immortality  as  the  camera  can 
confer. 

In  the  evening  the  Queen  gave  a  small 
dinner-party  ;  and  at  night  the  city,  the  banks 
and  the  islands  of  the  Chambal  were  illuminated 
with  very  beautiful  effect.  The  Indians  have  a 
real  genius  for  seizing  the  finest  lines  of  a 
contour  for  illumination,  and  for  making  the 
most  of  the  effect  by  breaking  those  lines  at 
intervals  with  little  structures  of  bamboo  which, 
at  a  short  distance,  present  the  appearance  of  tiny 
towers  of  flame.  While  the  Queen  was  still 
watching  and  admiring,  there  arose  a  sound  of 
much  trumpeting  on  the  other  side  of  the  house  ; 

225  Q 


TIGER-HUNT  AT  KOTAH 

Dec.  27.  and  there  were  seen  six  or  eight  elephants  and  as 
many  horses,  gorgeously  caparisoned,  while  the 
verandah  was  literally  covered  with  the  most 
costly  and  beautiful  of  Indian  and  Persian  fabrics, 
mingled  with  a  few  caskets  of  priceless  jewels. 
This  was  the  ceremony  of  the  Pesh  Kash^ 
signifying  that  the  Maharao  laid  all  of  his  most 
precious  possessions  at  the  feet  of  Queen  Mary 
for  her  acceptance.  Her  Majesty  accordingly 
inspected  the  costly  gift,  and  then,  as  is 
customary,  remitted  it,  fully  appreciating  that 
this  compliment  is  the  highest  and  most  sincere 
that  an  Indian  Prince  can  tender  to  his  suzerain. 
On  the  27th  the  Maharao,  being  very  anxious 
to  show  the  Queen  a  wild  tiger  in  the  jungle, 
arranged  to  beat  the  Bundi  jungle  some  eight 
miles  from  Kotah,  and  conveyed  Her  Majesty 
and  the  suite  thither  in  motors,  providing  rifles 
for  such  of  the  gentlemen  as  had  not  brought 
them  from  England.  Arrived  at  the  jungle  Her 
Majesty  with  her  ladies  and  Lord  Shaftesbury 
were  stationed  on  a  broad  platform  constructed 
at  some  height  up  a  tree.  Other  guns  were 
likewise  installed  in  trees  to  right  and  left  ;  and 
it  was  I  think  the  inward  wish  of  every  one  that 
the  tiger  might  pass  close  to  the  Queen  and  fall, 
if  not  to  Lord  Shaftesbury's  rifle,  then  to  that  of 
Prince  George  of  Battenberg,  who  was  as  keen 
as  only  a  midshipman  ashore  can  be.  The 
beaters,  quite  half  of  them  native  soldiers  in 
khaki  uniform,  then  started  to  drive  the  jungle 
towards  the  guns  with  wild  shouts  and  screams, 

226 


FELINE  PERVERSITY 

mingled  with  terrific  aspersions  upon  the  tiger's  Dec.  27. 
ancestry  and  upon  the  virtue  of  his  female  relations. 
All  the  most  nervous  inhabitants  of  the  jungle  at 
once  hurried  forward,  a  crowd  of  pea-hens  the 
foremost,  then  the  young  cocks  and  finally  the 
old  cocks,  the  most  cunning  of  which  lay  fast  just 
in  sight  of  the  guns,  watching  for  an  opportunity 
to  fly  back.  Last  of  all  came  the  tiger,  slowly 
slinking  forward  ;  but  such  is  the  perversity  of 
the  feline  nature  that  instead  of  passing  near  the 
Queen,  he  made  straight  for  the  two  guns  next 
to  the  right  of  Her  Majesty,  who  happened  to 
be  the  one  a  man  of  letters  and  the  other  a  man 
of  drugs.  The  former  had  drawn  by  lot  the 
right  of  first  shot,  but  so  intensely  interested  was 
he  in  watching  the  creature's  movements  that 
he  quite  forgot  the  rifle  in  his  hand,  and 
waiting  far  too  long,  he  let  slip  his  chance  of  an 
easy  shot,  and  only  sent  an  erratic  bullet 
crashing  through  the  bushes  when  it  was  too 
late. 

However,  it  was  thought  that  the  tiger 
would  not  have  gone  far,  and  the  Maharao 
determined  to  drive  the  jungle  back  in  the  hope 
of  recovering  him.  The  new  beat  therefore 
began,  and  with  diabolic  persistence  everything 
again  made  for  the  same  two  guns  —  first  a 
sambhur,  then  a  pig,  both  of  which  were 
allowed  to  go  by,  and  lastly  the  tiger,  this 
time  galloping  fast.  Happily  he  came  in  full 
view  of  the  Queen,  but  unfortunately  not  of 
Lord    Shaftesbury,    who    had    more    ground    to 

227 


A  BEAR  SLAIN 

Dec.  27.  command  than  one  gun  could  watch  ;  and  hence 
it  was  that  for  the  second  time  he  passed  nearest 
to  the  two  erudite  guns  on  the  right  flank. 
This  time  it  was  the  man  of  drugs  who  fired. 
Tiger-shooting  was  no  novelty  to  him  ;  but  the 
shot  was  a  difficult  one,  and  the  animal  galloped 
off  unhurt.  The  Maharao,  however,  tried  yet 
another  beat  over  the  same  ground  ;  and  the 
beaters,  being  now  reinforced  by  drums,  bugles 
and  abundance  of  blank  cartridge,  raised  din 
enough  to  make  any  self-respecting  animal  seek 
new  lodgings  at  once  in  a  quieter  neighbourhood. 
Nothing,  however,  came  forward  but  a  black 
bear,  which  was  killed  by  Lord  Shaftesbury. 
Her  Majesty  therefore  had  at  least  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  the  picturesque  assembly  of  men 
and  elephants  which  gathers  together  on  such 
occasions  for  the  removal  of  the  corpse  ;  and  so 
ended  a  very  amusing  day,  unfortunately  the  last 
of  Her  Majesty's  tour. 

The  morning  of  the  28th  was  taken  up  in 
preparations  for  departure  ;  and  with  keen  regret 
we  had  to  take  leave  not  only  of  the  generous 
host  who  had  done  so  much  for  the  amusement 
and  pleasure  of  Her  Majesty  and  her  suite,  but 
of  Colonel  Bannerman,  who  was  in  charge  of  all 
the  arrangements  for  the  tour.  At  noon  the 
Queen  entered  the  Royal  train  ;  the  Maharao, 
with  the  princely  courtesy  which  had  marked 
his  every  action,  attending  Her  Majesty  to  the 
last  minute  ;  and  our  rambles  about  Rajputana 
had  come  to  an  end.      Everything  concerning  it 

228 


FAREWELL  TO  RAJPUTANA 

had  been  easy  and  pleasant  from  beginning  to  Dec.  28. 
close.  The  evenings  and  nights  had  grown 
steadily  warmer  at  every  change  of  station, 
while  the  days  were  so  gloriously  fine  and  cloud- 
less as  to  make  us  very  sympathetic  with  sun- 
worship.  The  air  of  Rajputana  is  incredibly 
bracing  ;  it  is,  in  fact,  rather  too  like  champagne, 
for  it  sometimes  causes  headache  in  the  morning. 
The  people  are  both  friendly  and  courteous,  while 
their  tall  figures  and  the  daring  colours  which 
they  wear  make  them  a  perpetual  delight  to  the 
eye.  At  every  progress  of  the  Queen  they  came 
in  swarms  to  greet  her  ;  even  on  the  railway  there 
were  crowds  at  every  station,  whether  it  were  a 
stopping-place  or  not,  and  not  a  man  allowed 
the  Royal  train  to  pass  without  a  salute.  As 
to  the  Rajput  nobles  and  their  chiefs.  Her 
Majesty's  hosts,  they  were  delighted  beyond 
measure  at  the  opportunity  of  displaying  their 
loyalty  and  devotion  to  the  King-Emperor  and 
the  Queen-Empress  ;  and  that  with  no  fulsome 
ostentation  of  self-abasement,  but  with  the 
chivalry  that  comes  naturally  to  a  proud  and 
ancient  race. 

Arriving  at  five  o'clock  at  Guna  the  Queen 
found  the  Thirty-eighth  Central  India  Horse 
drawn  up  by  the  station  to  receive  her,  and 
alighted  to  see  them  pass  in  review  before  her, 
and  to  drink  tea  with  the  officers.  The  two 
regiments  of  Central  India  Horse  were  formed 
in  1859  and  i860  to  suppress  the  brigandage  to 
which  the  defeated  mutineers  had  resorted  after 

229 


THEIR  MAJESTIES  REUNITED 

Dec.  29.  the  British  victories  at  Delhi  and  Lucknow. 
They  are  not  what  is  called  parade -regiments, 
and  I  have  seen  many  that  marched  past  better 
than  the  Thirty-eighth  ;  but  a  finer  body  of  men 
it  would  be  hard  to  find,  and  their  appearance 
showed  them  to  be  what  they  actually  are, 
ready  for  work  in  the  field  at  the  shortest  notice. 
After  the  review  Her  Majesty  resumed  her 
journey,  always  through  great  crowds  of  people, 
and  rejoining  the  King  on  the  evening  of  the 
29th  at  Bankipore,  travelled  from  thence  to 
Calcutta  in  company  with  His  Majesty. 


XIII 

Calcutta  was  reached  at  noon  of  the  30th. 
Their  Majesties  were  received  at  the  station  by 
the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge  ;  and 
after  the  presentation  of  the  officials  of  the  railway 
and  the  inspection  of  the  guard  of  honour,  they 
embarked  on  the  steamship  Howrah  to  cross  the 
river  Hugli.  At  the  moment  of  embarkation  a 
salute  of  one  hundred  and  one  guns  was  fired  by 
H.M.S.  Highflyer^  whose  men  lined  decks  and 
gave  three  cheers  for  Their  Majesties  as  they 
passed.  All  the  ships  in  the  river  were  dressed 
with  bunting,  and  the  bridge  of  boats  was  packed 
from  end  to  end  with  a  dense  crowd  of  spectators. 
Upon  landing  at  Prinsep's  Ghat  a  procession  was 
formed  to  an  amphitheatre  containing  some  two 
thousand    spectators,  where  a  dais    and    thrones 

230 


ENTRY  INTO  CALCUTTA 

had  been  erected  under  a  canopy.  Here  Their  Dec.  3< 
Majesties  took  their  seats  ;  and  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  then  presented  first  the  members  of  his 
Executive  Council,  next  the  Indian  Princes  of 
Bengal,  and  lastly,  in  groups,  the  members  of  the 
principal  municipal  and  administrative  bodies. 
This  done,  an  address  of  welcome  was  read  from 
the  Corporation,  to  which  the  King  read  a 
cordial  reply  ;  and  Their  Majesties  then  entered 
a  carriage  drawn  by  six  horses  for  their  State 
entry  into  the  city  ;  the  escort  being  composed 
of  the  Viceroy's  bodyguard,  two  regiments  of 
regular  cavalry,  a  battery  of  Horse  Artillery 
and  a  body  of  Volunteer  Light  Horse. 

The  greater  part  of  the  route  was  lined  with 
stands,  and  for  some  distance  it  ran  alongside  the 
Maidan,  which  is  the  Hyde  Park,  on  a  greater 
scale,  of  Calcutta.  The  crowd  of  spectators  was 
enormous.  For  days  the  country  people  around 
had  been  pouring  into  the  city.  There  was 
ample  space  for  them  to  stand  in  the  Maidan, 
and  they  were  ranked  to  an  amazing  depth  in 
this  open  space,  where,  the  ground  being  a  dead 
flat,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  tens  of  thousands 
could  see  nothing.  Whole  lengths  of  plaster 
balustrade  were  thrown  down  by  the  press,  but 
there  was  no  disorder  ;  and,  whether  they  could 
see  or  not,  all  the  people  were  enthusiastic  to  a 
degree  which  astonished  every  English  resident. 
The  Bengali  is  a  man  who  rarely  smiles,  unless 
at  jests  which  perhaps  he  would  do  better  to 
receive  with  gravity  ;   but  he  proved  by  grave 

231 


GOVERNMENT  HOUSE,  CALCUTTA 

Dec.  30.  salutations  and  loud  acclaim  that  he  shared  the 
deep  feeling  of  reverence,  manifested  alike  at 
Delhi  and  on  the  journey  in  Nipal,  for  the  person 
of  the  King-Emperor. 

On  arrival  at  Government  House  the  King 
and  Queen  were  received  by  the  Viceroy  and  Lady 
Hardinge  ;  a  great  number  of  other  officials,  civil 
and  military,  being  also  in  attendance,  some 
of  whom  were  presented  to  Their  Majesties. 
Government  House  was,  pardonably  enough,  too 
small  to  hold  Their  Majesties,  Lord  Hardinge's 
guests  and  the  whole  of  the  King's  suite  ;  so  a 
great  many  of  us  found  ourselves  again  under 
canvas,  very  comfortably  lodged  in  the  garden 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  house.  The  only 
drawback  was  that  we  were  within  a  stone's 
throw  also  of  the  public  street  and  of  some  very 
noisy  trams  ;  but  that  was  in  the  circumstances 
inevitable,  being  due  entirely  to  the  persons,  long 
since  forgotten,  who  blundered  in  the  planning 
of  Government  House  grounds  a  century  ago. 
It  is  satisfactory  to  think — or  at  any  rate  to 
hope — that  the  Governor-General  will  be  more 
worthily  housed  in  the  new  capital  than  he  is 
at  present  in  Calcutta.  In  the  afternoon  Their 
Majesties,  attended  by  the  Viceroy  and  Lady 
Hardinge,  visited  the  Zoological  Gardens,  which 
it  may  be  remarked  are  exceedingly  good  and 
attractive  in  Calcutta  ;  and  so  the  first  day  in  the 
capital  came  to  an  end. 

On  Sunday  the  31st  the  King  and  Queen 
attended  Divine  Service  in  the  cathedral,  where 

232 


REVIEW  AT  CALCUTTA 

the  Bishop  of  Calcutta  preached  the  sermon,  and  Jan.  1-2. 
in  the  afternoon  the  Queen  visited  the  Botanical 
Gardens  under  the  guidance  of  Major  Gage,  the 
superintendent.  Monday,  the  i  st  of  January  1 9 1 2, 
was  also  comparatively  a  quiet  day,  the  only  func- 
tions being  Their  Majesties'  visit  to  the  polo- 
ground  in  the  afternoon  to  witness  a  match  be- 
tween  the  Thirteenth  Hussars  and  the  Scouts, 
and  a  State  dinner  to  nearly  one  hundred  guests 
at  Government  House.  The  festival  of  the 
Mohurram  being  in  progress,  the  streets  were 
densely  crowded.  On  Tuesday  the  2nd  there  was 
the  usual  "  Proclamation  Parade  "  to  commem- 
orate the  assumption  of  the  title  of  Empress  of 
India  by  Queen  Victoria,  which  took  place  in 
the  presence  of  Their  Majesties  ;  but  this, 
being  an  affair  of  fewer  than  ten  thousand  men, 
seemed  small  after  the  fifty  thousand  at  Delhi. 
Curiously  enough,  however,  the  excellences  and 
defects  of  Delhi  were  exactly  reproduced.  The 
Volunteers,  both  cavalry  and  infantry,  made  a 
very  creditable  display  ;  but  the  gallop  past  of 
the  regular  cavalry  and  horse  artillery  was  too 
headlong,  with  the  usual  result  that  there  was  a 
lagging  gun  in  the  battery  and  great  appearance 
of  raggedness  among  the  cavalry.  The  Six- 
teenth Lancers,  a  Hindu  regiment,  was  per- 
haps that  which  acquitted  itself  best.  In  the 
afternoon  the  King  and  Queen  were  present  at 
a  garden  party,  to  which  the  Viceroy  had  in- 
vited some  two  thousand  guests  ;  and  in  the 
evening  His   Majesty  held   a  levee  at  Govern- 

233 


THE  TORCHLIGHT  TATTOO 

Jan.  3.  ment  House,  at  which  there  was  a  very   large 
attendance. 

On  the  3rd  the  King  drove  to  the  polo-ground 
to  witness  the  final  match  of  the  Calcutta 
Coronation  Polo  Tournament  between  the  Tenth 
Hussars  and  the  Scouts,  and  at  the  conclusion 
handed  the  cup,  which  was  his  gift,  to  the  Scouts 
who  were  the  winning  team.  In  the  afternoon 
Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  Calcutta  Races,  the 
fourth  race  being  for  a  cup  presented  by  the 
King- Emperor,  which  was  won  by  Mr.  J.  C. 
Galstaun's  horse.  Brogue,  and  placed  in  the 
owner's  hands  by  His  Majesty.  In  the  evening 
after  dinner  Their  Majesties  witnessed  a  torch- 
light tattoo  in  the  Maidan  from  a  pavilion  erected 
near  the  southern  entrance  to  Government  House. 
First,  the  Sixteenth  Cavalry  executed  a 
musical  ride,  carrying  torches  at  the  end  of  their 
lances,  and  ended  a  very  good  performance  by  a 
wild  charge  down  to  the  Royal  pavilion,  where 
they  halted  sharply,  saluted  and  retired.  Next 
men  of  the  Black  Watch  danced  a  sword-dance, 
and  men  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Punjabis  some 
description  of  war-dance  round  a  huge  fire. 
The  infantry,  about  two  thousand  strong,  then 
advanced,  all  dressed  in  white,  and  after  a  number 
of  intricate  manoeuvres,  both  at  the  quick  step 
and  at  the  double,  formed  battalion  before  the 
Royal  pavilion,  and  saluted.  Their  movements 
were  executed  principally  in  single  file,  which  is 
the  right  formation  for  a  tattoo,  so  that  they 
covered   the    plain    with    winding    fiery    lines  ; 

234 


THE  TORCHLIGHT  TATTOO 

while  the  illumination  of  the  trees,  as  usual  in  Jan.  3. 
admirable  taste,  made  a  fine  background  of 
fixed  beacons.  Altogether  this  tattoo  was  ex- 
tremely well  managed  and  a  very  beautiful  sight. 
Even  the  fireworks,  with  which  the  display 
ended,  could  not  outshine  it.  But  perhaps  the 
most  remarkable  spectacle  of  all  was  the  crowd. 
Natives  of  India  love  nothing  better  than 
illuminations  and  fireworks,  and  they  were 
present  literally  in  hundreds  of  thousands.  A 
great  length  of  stands  had  been  erected  along  the 
Maidan  for  spectators  who  had  paid  sufficient  sums 
for  a  seat  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  space,  so 
far  as  I  could  see,  was  silently  appropriated  by 
the  populace  before  the  ticket- holders  arrived. 
The  roads  of  approach  were  more  hopelessly 
blocked  than  any  that  I  have  ever  seen  even 
in  London  on  the  greatest  occasions  ;  and  the 
police — perhaps  they  could  hardly  be  blamed 
— completely  lost  control  of  the  traffic,  at  any 
rate  for  some  time.  Yet  the  crowd  was  most 
orderly,  civil  and  good-tempered,  and  there  was 
no  trouble  of  any  kind,  though  many  carriages 
were  unable  to  come  near  the  ground  at  all,  and 
many  that  did  reach  it  can  hardly  have  been 
released  before  dawn. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th  the  King-Emperor 
drove  in  a  motor  to  the  site  of  the  Victoria 
Memorial  Building,  and  later  proceeded  to  the 
Calcutta  Museum,  where  the  treasures  designed 
for  exhibition  in  the  Memorial  Hall  are 
temporarily  displayed.     The  Queen-Empress  also 

235 


PESH  KASH  FROM  BENGAL 

Jan.  4-5.  visited  the  Museum  in  the  course  of  the  morning, 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Percy  Brown,  and 
was  particularly  interested  in  the  exquisite 
drawings  by  native  artists,  and  in  the  portraits  of 
the  so-called  "  Patna  School,"  who  were  native 
artists  under  the  influence  of  English  miniaturists. 
In  the  afternoon  Their  Majesties  went  to  a  horse- 
show  and  jumping  competition  at  the  Tollygunge 
Club,  at  the  close  of  which  the  Queen  distributed 
the  prizes  to  the  successful  competitors,  one  of 
whom  was  the  Commander-in-Chief.  In  the 
evening,  after  the  King  had  held  an  investiture. 
Their  Majesties  held  a  court  in  the  Throne-room 
at  Government  House. 

On  the  5th  the  King  and  Queen  went  down  the 
Hugli  to  visit  the  jute  factories  of  Sir  David  Yule, 
who  had  been  knighted  on  the  previous  day  ;  and, 
enlightened  by  his  explanations,  inspected  with 
the  greatest  interest  everything  that  was  to  be  seen 
of  this  important  Indian  industry.  In  the  after- 
noon Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  Maidan  to  wit- 
ness a  pageant  which  had  been  organised  for  the 
occasion.  On  arriving  at  the  pavilion  set  apart 
for  them  they  were  received  by  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Bengal,  the  Nawab  of  Murshidabad, 
the  Maharajadhiraja  of  Burdwan  and  other 
members  of  the  committee  ;  and  then  followed 
an  interesting  ceremony.  The  Maharaja  of 
Gidhour  handed  a  purse  of  one  hundred  and  one 
gold  mohurs  to  the  Nawab,  who  presented  it  as 
Pesh  Kash  to  His  Majesty  from  the  people  of 
Bengal,   Orissa  and   Behar,  Eastern    Bengal   and 

236 


THE  PAGEANT  AT  CALCUTTA 

Assam.      The  Nawab  was  of  course  attired   in  Jan.  5. 
rich  native  dress,  and  wore  on  his  right  arm  an 
enormous  flat   engraved  emerald,  more  than  an 
inch  square — an  historic  jewel  and  talisman  which 
attracted  many  covetous  female  eyes. 

The  pageant  itself  came  next,  and  consisted  of 
two  processions,  first  the  Nawroz  or  New  Year's 
Day  procession  of  Murshidabad,  and  secondly  the 
Dasehara.  The  festival  of  Nawroz  itself  goes 
back  to  very  remote  times  in  Persia  ;  but  the 
processions  were  first  instituted  by  Akbar,  the 
contemporary  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  adopted 
by  the  Nawabs  of  Murshidabad  in  the  time  of 
our  Queen  Anne,  since  which  date  they  have 
been  regularly  kept  up.  The  Dasehara  traces 
its  origin  far  back  to  the  mythological  traditions 
of  the  Hindus,  having  been  established  to  com- 
memorate the  final  triumph  of  Rama  the  King 
of  Oudh,  in  whom  the  god  Vishnu  for  the  good 
of  men  took  incarnate  shape,  over  Ravana,  the 
King  of  an  island,  now  submerged,  in  the  south 
of  India.  Both  processions  in  the  Maidan 
strictly  followed  former  precedents,  and  the 
equipment  of  "  properties,"  if  the  term  may  be 
permitted,  was  furnished  by  the  generosity  of 
some  of  the  greatest  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs.  The 
pageant  displayed  a  train  of  elephants,  camels  and 
horses,  all  in  sumptuous  housings  and  trappings,, 
interspersed  with  small  parties  of  men  armed 
with  every  description  of  weapon  ;  and  in  the 
case  of  the  Dasehara  a  special  feature  was. 
furnished  by  two  gorgeous  gilded  cars,  drawn  by 

237 


THE  PAGEANT  AT  CALCUTTA 

Jan.  5.  elephants,  the  one  containing  court  poets  and 
literary  men,  and  the  other  personations  of  the 
Indian  King  and  his  courtiers.  Otherwise  the 
pageant  was  simply  a  defile  of  much  the  same 
interesting  and  picturesque  figures  as  the  Maha- 
raja of  Jaipur  had  stationed  along  the  road  for 
the  reception  of  the  Queen,  and  depended  not 
a  little  for  its  effect  upon  schemes  of  colour. 

As  such  it  was  certainly  successful.  Elephants 
are  so  staid  and  wise  that  it  is  always  a  pleasure 
to  see  them  in  numbers  ;  and  their  stately  carriage 
makes  them  worthy  bearers  of  huge  cloths  that 
are  one  sheet  of  gold  thread  and  of  howdahs  that 
gleam  with  the  precious  metals.  Camels  also,  if 
well  groomed  and  of  good  breed,  can  wear  fine 
raiment  with  dignity,  though  no  camel  can  share 
in  the  doings  of  man  without  evincing,  at  any 
rate  outwardly,  intense  and  unconquerable  bore- 
dom. Arab  stallions  can  also  carry  off  the 
splendour  of  sumptuous  trappings  ;  and  dancing 
horses,  especially  when  they  dance  past  for  a 
hundred  yards  on  their  hind  legs,  are  at  least  a 
surprise.  Scatter  these  broadcast  among  troops 
of  horsemen  and  of  footmen,  each  troop  in 
flowing  robes  of  green  and  blue,  or  red  and 
yellow,  no  two  being  of  the  same  shade  ;  let 
the  whole  file  past  in  not  very  regular  order  ; 
and  there,  roughly  speaking,  is  the  pageant.  If 
there  be  a  criticism  which  might  justly  be 
passed  upon  it,  it  is  that  the  clothes  of  the  actors 
were  rather  too  new,  and  in  many  cases  suggested 
aniline  dyes. 

238 


THE  PAGEANT  AT  CALCUTTA 

As  an  interlude  there  was  a  war-dance  of  j^ 
Paiks,  a  relic  of  ancient  warriors  of  Orissa, 
whose  duties  are  now  practically  those  of 
Palace  -  guards  to  the  native  princes  of  that 
province.  Half  of  them  were  stained  grey  with 
ashes  and  dressed  in  scanty  garments  of  blue,  and 
the  other  half  stained  with  yellow  and  arrayed 
in  pink,  so  that  the  contrast  of  colour  should  be 
complete.  Lastly,  it  must  be  mentioned  that 
the  entire  pageant  went  forward  to  the  accom- 
paniment of  music  by  living  Indian  composers, 
arranged  for  performers  whose  instruments  had 
been  carefully  copied  from  ancient  models — a 
new  and  interesting  experiment  upon  which  only 
a  well -trained  musician  could  pronounce  an 
opinion.  To  the  inexpert  ear  the  music  seemed 
to  bear  very  strong  traces  of  European  influence. 
Perhaps  the  most  striking  moment  of  the  whole 
display  came  after  all  the  actors  had  defiled  past 
the  King,  when,  having  formed  an  irregular  line 
a  thousand  yards  in  length  across  the  Maidan, 
they  made  a  general  advance  in  review  order,  to 
use  a  military  phrase,  towards  Their  Majesties. 

So  much  must  be  said  for  the  pageant  itself, 
but  an  even  more  wonderful  scene  was  to  follow. 
An  immense  crowd  had  assembled  to  witness  the 
show,  the  great  bulk  of  which  was  gathered 
in  a  huge  semicircle  behind  the  stage,  so  to  speak, 
and  in  face  of  Their  Majesties  and  of  the  stands 
erected  for  privileged  spectators.  At  the  close 
of  the  entertainment  the  King  and  Queen  entered 
their  carriage  and  drove  very  slowly  along  the 

239 


THE  BENGALIS'  HOMAGE 

Jan.  5.  whole  length  of  this  great  ring  and  within  a 
couple  of  yards  of  it,  so  that  all  could  see  them. 
It  was  a  happy  inspiration.  The  people — and 
these  really  were  the  people  —  received  them 
with  deep  reverence  and  joyful  acclaim  ;  the 
men  bowed  to  the  ground,  and  the  women 
uttered  the  peculiar  guttural  sound  which  is 
reserved  for  the  religious  service  of  the  temple 
only.  There  was  nothing  to  restrain  them,  or 
prevent  them  from  swarming  over  the  carriage, 
but  they  made  no  attempt  to  do  so,  well  content 
to  have  looked  upon  the  face  of  their  King. 
Only  when  the  Royal  procession  had  at  last 
moved  off  did  they  break  loose,  and  then  with 
one  impulse  they  flew  across  the  open  sward  to 
the  King's  pavilion,  pierced  through  the  guard 
of  soldiers  as  if  it  had  been  made  of  paper,  and, 
catching  up  the  earth  which  had  been  trodden  by 
the  King's  feet,  pressed  it  in  lowly  homage  to 
their  brows.  To  our  cold  Western  notions  such 
an  action  may  seem  to  be  extravagant ;  but  the 
multitude  which  shouted  "  Life  and  Victory  to 
Charles  Augustus,  crowned  by  God,  the  peace- 
giving  Emperor,"  round  the  basilica  of  St.  Peter 
on  Christmas  Day  of  the  year  800,  would  have 
understood  it.  The  Bengalis  in  the  past  have 
been  a  patient  but  never  a  combatant  people. 
They  did  not  struggle  desperately  like  the 
Rajputs,  and  fall  back  into  the  desert  sooner 
than  yield  their  independence.  They  remained 
upon  their  rich  lands,  and  bowed  their  heads  in 
submission  to  each  succeeding  wave  of  conquest ; 

240 


"<. 


VISITS  TO  HOSPITALS 

and  the  testimony  to  the  keenness  of  their  pro-  Jan. 
longed  suffering  is  their  adoration  of  the  peace- 
giving  Emperor,  through  whose  authority  the 
poor  man  may  sow  in  full  confidence  that  he 
will  also  reap.  It  may  be  that  in  the  West 
also  coming  years  will  see  political  differences 
decided  by  the  primitive  method  of  force,  and  a 
weary  people  prostrating  themselves  before  some 
soldier,  as  did  the  French  before  Napoleon  in 
1799,  because  he  has  restored  order  and  enabled 
inoffensive  citizens  once  more  to  do  their  daily 
work  in  quietness. 

During  the  drive  home  the  people  again 
burst  the  barriers  and  swarmed  all  round  the 
Royal  carriage  with  an  enthusiasm  such  as  not 
only  had  never  been  seen,  but  had  never  even  been 
dreamed  of.  The  evening  of  the  5th  closed  with 
a  ball  at  Government  House,  to  which  a  select 
number  of  guests  were  invited  by  the  Viceroy 
and  Lady  Hardinge  to  meet  Their  Majesties. 
At  half-past  eight  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th  the  King  was  on  his  horse,  riding  out  to 
visit  the  camps  of  the  troops.  In  the  forenoon 
His  Majesty  received  a  deputation  from  the 
University  of  Calcutta,  while  the  Queen  visited 
a  number  of  philanthropic  institutes  and  hospitals. 
Their  Majesties  could  not  even  make  their  way 
to  PoUygunge  steeplechase  in  the  afternoon 
without  taking  two  hospitals  on  their  way.  In 
the  evening  the  King  and  Queen  honoured  the 
Governor  -  General  and  Lady  Hardinge  with 
their  presence  at  a  dinner-party,  after  which  they 

241  R 


DEPARTURE  FROM  CALCUTTA 

Jan.  7-8.  ascended  to  the  roof  to  see  the  illumination  of 
Calcutta,  a  most  wonderful  and  beautiful  sight  ; 
for,  as  I  have  said  before,  the  humblest  native  of 
India  seems  instinctively  to  possess  the  secret  of 
artistic  illumination  ;  and  these  were  the  finest 
ever  known  in  Calcutta.  It  is  a  pity  that  those 
who  are  responsible  for  such  decorations  in 
London  do  not  pay  the  East  a  visit  in  order  to 
learn  their  business.  The  crowds  in  the  street 
were  gigantic  ;  and  it  was  curious  to  see  the  tall 
Pathan  sentries  watching  the  endless  flow  of 
sleek,  white-robed,  bare-headed  Bengalis  with  a 
hungry  look,  as  of  a  captive  fox  that  eyes 
chickens  playing  just  beyond  the  length  of  his 
chain. 

On  Sunday  morning  Their  Majesties  were 
present  at  Divine  Service  in  the  Cathedral,  and 
in  the  afternoon  went  down  by  river  to  Barrack- 
pur,  attended  by  the  Viceroy  and  Lady  Hardinge 
and  a  number  of  their  suite,  to  enjoy  a  few  hours 
of  peace  in  the  beautiful  gardens.  On  the 
morning  of  the  8th  half  of  the  suite  left  for 
Bombay  betimes  ;  at  half-past  ten  the  principal 
officials  assembled  at  Government  House  to  take 
leave  of  Their  Majesties  ;  and  a  few  minutes 
later  the  King  and  Queen  drove  away  with  the 
like  escort  as  upon  their  arrival  to  Prinsep's  Ghat. 
The  people  had  assembled  in  vast  crowds  to  see 
them  pass,  and  received  them  with  unexampled 
enthusiasm.  At  the  Ghat  representatives  of 
the  principal  local  bodies  and  associations  were 
gathered  together  to  meet  them,  and  an  address 

242 


A  MELANCHOLY  PARTING 

was  presented  by  the  Legislative  Council  of  Jan. 
Bengal,  to  which  the  King  read  a  reply.  Their 
Majesties  then  crossed  the  river  in  the  steamship 
Howrah^  under  a  salute  from  the  British  warships, 
to  the  station  ;  and  here  the  King-Emperor  bade 
farewell  to  the  three  Indian  Princes  of  his 
personal  staff,  the  Maharajas  of  Gwalior  and 
Bikanir,  and  Sir  Pratap  Singh.  The  parting 
was  a  very  melancholy  one,  for  the  Maharaja 
Scindia,  an  honoured  friend  of  the  King,  could 
not  repress  his  tears,  and  the  gallant  veteran  Sir 
Pratap  could  only  stammer  out  that  he  was 
growing  an  old  man  before  he  broke  down 
completely.  At  noon  the  Royal  train  steamed 
away  under  a  final  salute  of  one  hundred  and  one 
guns  from  the  ramparts  of  Fort  William. 

At  noon  on  the  loth  Their  Majesties  arrived 
at  the  Victoria  Terminus,  Bombay,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  Governor- General,  who 
had  preceded  them,  and  drove  in  procession  at  a 
slow  pace  to  the  Apollo  Bandar.  The  demon- 
stration as  they  passed  through  the  streets 
showed  the  impression  that  they  had  made 
during  their  visit,  for  the  Indians  threw  off  all 
reserve,  shouting  and  waving  with  unrestrained 
enthusiasm.  Upon  arrival  at  the  appointed 
place  the  King  and  Queen  alighted  opposite  the 
amphitheatre,  which  was  once  again  crowded 
with  spectators,  and  a  procession  was  formed  to 
the  pavilion  at  the  edge  of  the  landing-steps. 
Here  Their  Majesties  took  their  seats  upon  their 
thrones,  and  the  Vice-President  of  the  Legislative 

243 


THE  KING'S  LAST  SPEECH 

Jan.  lo.  Council  of  Bombay  presented  a  happily-worded 
address  of  farewell.  The  King  then  read  his 
reply  slowly  and  clearly,  as  is  his  wont  ;  and  it  is 
worth  while  to  reproduce  here  the  concluding 
sentences  :  "  It  is  a  matter  of  intense  satisfaction 
to  me  to  realise  how  all  classes  and  creeds  have 
joined  together  in  true-hearted  welcome  which 
has  been  so  universally  accorded  us.  Is  it  not 
possible  that  the  same  unity  and  concord  may 
for  the  future  govern  the  daily  relations  of  their 
public  and  private  lives  ?  The  attainment  of 
this  would  indeed  be  a  happy  outcome  of  our 
visit  to  India.  To  you,  the  representatives  of 
Bombay,  who  have  greeted  us  so  warmly  on  our 
arrival  and  departure,  I  deliver  this  our  loving 
message  of  farewell  to  the  Indian  Empire." 

Here  the  King's  voice  broke,  and  for  some 
seconds  he  was  unable  to  speak  further.  Then 
collecting  himself,  he  read  on  :  "  May  the 
Almighty  ever  assist  me  and  my  successors  to 
promote  its  welfare  and  to  secure  to  it  the 
blessings  of  prosperity  and  peace." 

The  members  of  the  Legislative  Council 
were  then  presented  to  Their  Majesties,  next 
several  of  the  leading  officials,  civil  and  military, 
and  lastly  the  Indian  Chiefs,  conspicuous  among 
whom  were  the  Maharaja  of  Kolhapur,the  Begum 
of  Bhopal  and  the  Maharao  of  Bundi.  With 
many  of  these  high  personages  Their  Majesties 
shook  hands  on  taking  leave,  and  with  none  more 
warmly  than  with  the  Begum  and  the  Maharao, 
the  courtly  host  of  the  Queen   at  Bundi.     All 

244 


THEIR  MAJESTIES'  LAST  FAREWELL 

farewells  had    been   said,  and    all    present  were  Jan.  lo. 
expecting   the   King    and  Queen   to   enter    their 
launch,    when,     by    a    sudden    impulse,    Their 
Majesties  walked    forward   quite    alone   towards 
the  amphitheatre.     The  King  was  in   the  plain 
white  uniform  of  the  Army  in  the  tropics,  the 
Queen  was  dressed  in  a  dress  of  cream-colour  shot 
with  gold  ;  there  were  not  even  the  Indian  attend- 
ants by  them  with  umbrella  and  shade,  and  they 
stood  at  the  edge  of  the  sunlight,  two  white  figures 
on  the  red  carpet,  the  King  with  his  hand  to  his 
helmet  and  the  Queen  as  quietly  bowing,  to  pay 
their  farewell  greeting  to   the  last   assembly  of 
their   Indian   subjects.     The   movement  was    so 
evidently     unpremeditated,    so    simple     and    so 
natural,  that   for   a   moment   the   two   or  three 
thousand    spectators    hardly    realised    what    was 
going  forward  ;    and  then  they  leaped  to  their 
feet  with  one  accord,  not  a  few  with  the  tears 
streaming  down  their  cheeks,  and  answered  the 
salute  of  the  King  and  Queen  with  a  storm  of 
cheers.     Slowly  and  reluctantly  Their  Majesties 
turned   round,  walked  back  to  the  launch  that 
was  awaiting  them,  and  embarked.     The  Viceroy 
followed  them,  remaining  to   luncheon    on    the 
Medina^  a  meal  to  which  the  King  had  invited  a 
large  party  of  guests,  including  the  Governor  of 
Bengal    and  Lady  Clarke,  and   the  Aga  Khan. 
After    luncheon    His    Majesty   presented    Delhi 
Coronation  medals  to  a  number  of  officers  and 
men  of  the  Royal  Navy,  first,  however,  investing 
the  Maharao  of  Bundi  with  the  Grand  Cross  of 

245 


HOMEWARD  BOUND 

Jan.  lo.  the  Victorian  Order.  Then  followed  more  fare- 
wells, never  very  pleasant  things,  and  doubly 
unhappy  when  they  involve  parting  from  such 
unselfish  friends  as  the  officers  of  the  King's 
Indian  staff  had  been  to  all  of  us.  How  great 
and  endless  were  the  labours,  anxieties  and 
worries  of  Brigadier  Sir  Rollo  Grimston,  Major 
Stockley,  Major  Money,  Captain  Hogg,  Captain 
Amir  Ahmad,  and  their  coadjutors  during  the 
Royal  visit,  only  they  can  know  ;  but  I  may  at 
least  bear  grateful  testimony  to  their  inexhaust- 
ible courtesy,  patience  and  good  temper.  Last 
of  all  the  Viceroy  took  leave  of  Their  Majesties  ; 
and  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  great  white 
ship  and  her  four  escorting  cruisers  spun  round, 
so  to  speak,  on  their  heels,  and  steamed  away  in 
single  line  ahead. 


XIV 

Of  the  homeward  voyage  there  is  little  to 
be  said.  We  had  beautiful  calm  warm  weather 
until  we  reached  Port  Sudan  on  the  17th, 
where,  as  Lord  Kitchener  had  warned  us,  the 
temperature  suddenly  cooled.  The  Med'ma  came 
alongside  the  wharf  early,  and  immediately  the 
foreshore  was  crowded  with  people.  Pipers  and 
drummers  presently  set  to  work  at  their  instru- 
ments with  frantic  energy,  and  in  a  very  few 
minutes  black  warriors  with  long  woolly  locks 
were  bounding  about   like  long   slips  of  india- 

246 


■^ 


PORT  SUDAN  AND  SINKAT 

rubber,  with  terrific  brandishing  of  sword  and  Jan-  17- 
spear.  At  eight  o'clock  Their  Majesties  disem- 
barked, and  were  received  by  Lord  Kitchener,  Sir 
Reginald  and  Lady  Wingate,  Sir  Rudolph  Slatin 
Pasha  and  other  gentlemen.  An  address  of  wel- 
come was  read,  and  answered  by  the  King  ;  and 
then  a  number  of  Sheikhs  in  red  robes  em- 
broidered with  gold  were  presented  to  His 
Majesty,  who  gave  them  decorations  and  gifts. 
It  was  strange  to  see  them.  Many  of  them  had 
fought  against  us  ;  one  had  been  reader  of  the 
Koran  to  the  Khalifa  ;  another  had  been  the 
right-hand  man  of  Osman  Digna.  There  they 
were,  all  peaceful  and  friendly,  wearing  dresses  of 
honour  given  by  the  Government  of  the  Soudan, 
and  excessively  proud  of  them. 

After  half  an  hour  the  King  and  Queen 
returned  on  board  for  breakfast  ;  and  at  about 
ten  started  with  their  suite  by  train  for  Sinkat, 
a  name  well  known  in  1884  and  1885  as  the 
centre  of  Osman  Digna's  operations.  The 
journey  occupied  close  upon  five  hours,  the 
climb  being  long  and  steep  from  the  sea  to 
the  lofty  plateau  of  Sinkat.  Shortly  before 
two  o'clock  a  great  crowd  of  men  and  camels, 
between  two  and  three  thousand  according  to 
one  account,  were  seen  alongside  the  railway, 
and  presently  the  train  stopped  at  a  small  station, 
opposite  to  which  was  a  line  of  troops  of  all 
arms,  chiefly  Soudanese,  drawn  up  on  parade. 
Here  Their  Majesties  alighted,  and  taking  their 
place  in  a  tent,  saw  the  troops  march  past,  very 

247 


REVIEW  AT  SINKAT 

Jan.  17.  Steadily  and  well,  cavalry,  camel  corps,  artillery 
and  infantry,  to  the  music  of  Soudanese  military 
bands,  which  played  native  march-tunes  with  a 
magnificent  swagger  of  drummers.  The  cavalry 
and  camels  then  trotted  past,  and  the  infantry 
came  by  again  at  the  double,  one  of  them — a 
newly  raised  corps  of  wild  Arabs — with  a  lightness 
and  spring  delightful  to  see.  We  heard  without 
surprise  that  they  were  astonishing  marchers. 
Then  the  camel- men  marched  past  in  irregular 
array,  tribe  by  tribe,  with  their  chiefs  at  the 
head,  and  returned  again  at  a  more  rapid  pace. 
The  programme  promised  us  a  gallop  past  of 
these  wild  levies  ;  but  not  above  half  a  dozen 
galloped,  and  only  one  camel  whirled  by  at  the 
top  of  his  speed.  It  was  interesting  to  see  the 
British  soldiers  of  the  Nineteenth  Yorkshire 
Regiment  quite  as  much  at  home  upon  their 
camels  as  any  of  the  Arabs.  Then  there  was  a 
war-dance  of  Dinkas,  a  wild  jet-black  tribe  from 
the  south  of  Fashoda,  the  performers  wearing  a 
little  clothing  for  this  occasion  only  ;  there  was 
a  sham  fight  of  other  tribesmen,  who  threw 
stones  at  each  other  with  great  accuracy  and 
parried  them  very  skilfully  with  their  shields  ; 
and  there  was  yet  another  dance  of  woolly  heads 
such  as  we  had  seen  in  the  morning.  Altogether 
it  was  a  very  remarkable  scene,  and  it  became 
the  more  so  when  we  learned  that  many  of 
the  tribes  had,  not  many  years  before,  fought 
desperately  against  us  ;  that  some  had  travelled 
hundreds  of  miles  to  see  the  King  ;  and  that  the 

248 


KING  GEORGE'S  DAY 

greater  part  had  never  seen  nor  hardly  heard  Jan.  17. 
of  each  other  before.  However,  having  met 
upon  this  occasion,  they  decided  that  it  would 
be  well  to  meet  again  ;  and  so  they  have 
arranged  to  assemble  every  year  at  Khartoum 
upon  the  17th  of  January  to  celebrate  King 
George's  Day. 

At  the  close  of  the  review  Their  Majesties 
motored  into  Sinkat  to  see  the  wells,  their 
equerries,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of 
the  British  monarchy,  attending  them  on 
camels ;  and  at  four  o'clock  Their  Majesties 
re-entered  the  train  for  Port  Sudan,  the  tribes- 
men running  and  galloping  by  hundreds  along- 
side the  train  until  it  distanced  even  the  fleetest 
horses  and  camels.  Upon  our  journey  we  had 
the  advantage  of  travelling  with  some  of  the 
leading  officials  of  the  Soudan,  governors  of 
districts  and  so  forth,  all  without  exception 
military  men,  though  many  were  holding  civil 
office.  Few  people  realise  that  the  Soudan 
means  roughly  one  million  of  square  miles, 
and  that  under  this  little  knot  of  Englishmen 
it  is  making  very  remarkable  progress.  I  am 
afraid  that  I  could  not  help  contrasting  the  modest 
and  manly  simplicity  of  these  gentlemen  with  the 
very  different  demeanour  of  civil  officials  in  other 
parts  of  the  Empire.  The  truth  is  that,  as  I  have 
already  hinted,  the  British  officer  in  command 
of  native  troops  has  this  great  advantage  over 
the  civilian,  that  he  is  in  constant  touch  with 
the   native   mind    through    the   medium   of  his 

249 


ARRIVAL  AT  MALTA 

[an.  20-   native  officers  and  men,  and  thus  learns  how  to 
^+'       handle  the  inhabitants  with  tact  and  ease. 

Soon  after  dusk  the  Medina  resumed  her 
journey,  Lord  Kitchener  by  the  King's  invitation 
taking  a  passage  on  board  as  far  as  Port  Said, 
which  was  reached  on  the  20th.  Here  once 
again  His  Highness  the  Khedive  came  on  board 
to  greet  the  King,  and  the  ceremonies  of  His 
Majesty's  first  visit  in  November  were  in  great 
measure  repeated.  Two  of  the  cruising 
squadron,  which  had  been  detached  at  Aden 
to  coal,  rejoined  us,  and  five  hundred  tons  of 
coal  were  put  on  board  the  Medina  herself  in 
an  hour.  At  noon  on  Sunday  the  21st  we 
sailed  again,  and  on  the  24th  at  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  entered  Malta  Harbour.  Five 
French  ships,  the  Danton^  yustice,  Verite,  Cara- 
binier  and  Lansquenet  were  lying  in  the  harbour, 
under  the  flags  of  Admiral  Boue  de  Lapeyrere 
and  Rear- Admiral  Moreau  ;  and  the  roar  of 
salutes  from  them  as  well  as  from  the  British 
ships  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron,^  as  the 
Medina  entered  into  that  narrow,  echoing  inlet 
was  deafening.  Unfortunately,  after  picking  up 
her  mooring  the  Medina^s  hawser  parted,  and 
she  was  obliged  to  go  astern,  with  the  result 
that  the  cable  of  a  mooring  aft  became  entangled 

1  Exmouth,  flagship  of  Admiral  Sir  E.  Poe,  Capt.  Stuart  Nicholson  ; 
Duncan,  flagship  of  Rear-Ad.  Jerram,  Capt.  F.  L,  Field  ;  Triumph,  Capt. 
Waymouth  ;  S^ftsure,  Capt.  Tower  ;  Cornivallis,  Capt.  Anstruther ; 
Russell,  Capt.  R.  H.  Anstruther  ;  Bacchante,  flagship  of  Rear-Ad.  Sir 
Douglas  Gamble,  Capt.  Tyrwhitt  ;  Hampshire,  Capt.  Hunter  ;  Lancaster, 
Capt.  Tothill  ;  Barham,  Capt.  Cotton  ;  Medea,  Commander  Keane  ; 
Hussar,  Commander  Diggle. 

250 


THE  FRENCH  BLUEJACKETS 

round  the  shaft  of  her  starboard  screw.      Divers  Jan.  24. 
were  at  once  sent  down   to  cut  the  cable  away  ; 
and  meanwhile  the  Governor,  Sir  Leslie  Rundle, 
and  several  naval  officers  came  on  board  to  wait 
upon  the  King  and  Queen. 

Shortly  before  noon  Their  Majesties  landed 
and  went  to  the  Governor's  palace,  where  the 
leading  civil  and  ecclesiastical  dignitaries  were 
presented  to  them  ;  after  which  they  witnessed 
a  defile  of  the  troops  of  the  garrison.  For  the 
first  time  since  the  island  has  been  in  British 
hands  an  armed  force  of  French  bluejackets 
was  landed — sturdy  active  men,  who  marched 
past  the  King  with  the  light  jaunty  step  for 
which  the  French  are  famous.  A  British  naval 
brigade  numbering  over  twenty -five  hundred 
from  the  Duncan^  Triumph^  Exmouthy  Hampshire 
and  Bacchante,  had  also  been  disembarked,  and 
these  went  past  with  a  swing  which  left  the 
soldiers  far  behind.  In  due  time  followed  the 
Old  Fourteenth  West  Yorks,  to  the  music  of  Qa 
ira,  which  they  have  played  ever  since  their 
colonel  at  Famars  in    1793   bade  them  beat  the 

French  Republicans  "  to  their  own  d d  tune  "  ; 

the  Forty -eighth  Northamptons,  a  very  fine 
battalion,  the  Ninetieth  Scottish  Rifles,  and  the 
Argyll  and  Sutherland  Highlanders.  But  a  defile 
past  in  column  of  fours  is  an  over-lengthy  process. 

Their  Majesties  lunched  at  the  palace  with 
the  Governor,  the  King  subsequently  visiting 
Admiral  Boue  de  Lapeyrere  on  the  Danton.  In 
the  evening  Their  Majesties  dined  with  Admiral 

251 


ST.  JOHN'S  CATHEDRAL 

Jan.  25.  Sir  Edmund  and  Lady  Poe  at  their  house  in 
Valetta,  after  which  they  attended  a  gala  per- 
formance at  the  Opera. 

On  the  25th  the  Queen  went  to  St.  John's 
Cathedral  to  see  the  celebrated  Flemish  tapestries, 
made  after  designs  of  Rubens,  which  were  given 
to  it  by  the  Grand  Master  in  1707.  The 
Archbishop  and  all  the  principal  ecclesiastical 
dignitaries  were  present  to  receive  Her  Majesty, 
and  Canon  Alfredo  Mifsud,  Librarian  of  the 
Public  Library,  acted  as  guide  and  interpreter. 
The  Canon's  great  historical  knowledge  and 
enthusiasm  for  the  romance  of  the  Knights  of 
Malta  made  the  visit  of  no  ordinary  interest  ; 
and  he  pointed  out  with  quiet  humour  to  one  ot 
the  suite  the  effigy,  on  the  roof,  of  his  ancestor, 
an  English  knight  who  had  been  beheaded  in 
the  sixteenth  century  by  one  of  His  Majesty's 
ancestors  on  the  throne  of  England.  In  the 
afternoon  the  Queen  was  present,  together  with 
the  King,  at  a  gymkhana  at  Messa ;  and  in 
the  evening  Their  Majesties  dined  with  the 
Governor  at  the  palace,  and  held  a  levee  after- 
wards. The  palace  at  Malta,  I  may  remark,  is 
incomparably  the  finest  and  most  interesting 
Government  House  in  the  British  dominions,  as 
is  perhaps  natural,  seeing  that  it  was  built  in  the 
sixteenth  century  for  the  Grand  Master  of  the 
Knights  of  Malta. 

On  the  26th  the  Medina  was  brought  early 
in  the  morning  into  dry  dock,  where  the  slight 
damage  done  on  the   24th  was  made  good  in  a 

252 


THE  HYPOGiEUM 

few  hours,  enabling  the  ship  to  return  to  her  Jan.  26. 
moorings  before  dark.  The  King  this  morning 
visited  the  three  flagships  Kxmoutli^  Duncan  and 
Bacchante^  proceeding  afterwards  in  company 
with  the  Queen  to  the  Naval  Hospital,  which 
Their  Majesties  inspected  very  thoroughly. 
Early  in  the  forenoon  the  Queen  also  made  a  dash 
into  the  country  to  see  a  subterranean  temple 
known  as  the  Hypogsum,  which  was  acci- 
dentally discovered  a  year  or  two  ago.  Seemingly 
unique  of  its  kind,  both  in  design  and  decoration, 
and  reckoned  to  be  at  least  three  thousand  years 
old,  this  Hypogasum  is  of  extraordinary  interest ; 
nor  did  Her  Majesty  leave  it  until,  under  the 
guidance  of  Professor  Zamit,  she  had  explored 
every  corner,  and  heard  all  that  was  to  be  told 
concerning  it.  Then  in  the  afternoon  the  King 
and  Queen  motored  out  some  nine  miles  to  the 
Governor's  summer  residence  at  Verdala,  return- 
ing in  time  to  drink  tea  at  the  mess  of  the  Royal 
Artillery  and  Engineers  in  another  palace  at 
Valetta.  The  people  assembled  in  thousands 
to  see  them  pass,  and  received  them  with  an 
enthusiastic  welcome;  in  fact  it  was  not  easy  for 
the  motors  to  make  their  way  through  the  press 
in  the  villages.  This  unfortunately  left  the  Queen 
little  time  for  the  pastime  which  she  enjoys  most 
keenly.  The  Museum  at  Malta  contains  very 
much  that  is  of  the  greatest  interest  ;  the  Library 
possesses  some  beautiful  illuminated  manuscripts 
and  some  remarkably  fine  old  bindings  ;  and  the 
walls    of    the     main     guard    are    covered    with 

253 


MOURNFUL  NEWS 

Jan.  27-  perhaps  the  most  striking  collection  of  military 
^9-  caricatures,  painted  by  generations  of  British 
officers,  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  Empire.  Her 
Majesty  contrived  to  see  at  least  something  of  all 
three  of  these  institutions,  lamenting  greatly  that 
there  was  no  time  to  go  through  them  more 
thoroughly.  Malta  at  large,  in  fact,  offers  a 
great  field,  both  to  historian  and  antiquarian  ;  and 
its  old  fortifications,  apart  from  their  stupendous 
magnitude  and  remarkable  comeliness,  contain 
the  graves  of  more  than  one  modern  hero,  the 
greatest  of  whom  are  Thomas  Maitland,  once 
famous  as  King  Tom  of  the  Ionian  Islands,  and 
gentle  old  Sir  Ralph  Abercromby. 

On  the  27th  the  Medina  sailed  from  Malta, 
and  on  the  28th  ran  into  cold,  rough,  unpleasant 
weather.  On  the  evening  of  the  29th  the  King 
received  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  the  Duke 
of  Fife  at  Khartoum.  Few  had  realised  that,  at 
the  height  of  the  festivities  at  Delhi,  Their 
Majesties  had  been  kept  for  some  hours  in 
anxious  suspense  as  to  the  fate  of  the  Princess 
Royal,  the  Duke,  and  the  two  Princesses  their 
daughters,  after  the  wreck  of  the  steamer  Delhi 
on  the  13th  of  December.  Not  indeed  until  the 
morning  of  the  15th  had  the  King  at  last 
received  a  reassuring  telegram  from  the  Princess 
Royal  to  say  that,  after  passing  through  great 
peril,  she  and  all  of  her  family  were  safe.  But 
it  now  appeared  too  evidently  that  shock  and 
exposure  had  left  a  fatal  mark  upon  the  Duke 
of   Fife  ;  and    the   mournful    intelligence    came 

254 


ARRIVAL  AT  GIBRALTAR 

with  the  greater  bitterness  to  the  King,  inasmuch  Jan.  30. 
as  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  go  to  the  Princess 
Royal,  upon  whom  this  sorrow  had  come  when 
she  was  far  away  from  home  and  from  all  relations 
and  friends.  At  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th  the  Medina  went  alongside  the  dockyard 
quay  at  Gibraltar,  in  dismally  wet  and  windy 
weather.  The  Venerable,  Captain  Chapman,  and 
Ctitnberland,  Captain  Boyle,  were  lying  in 
harbour,  the  latter  filled  with  naval  cadets. 
The  Governor,  Sir  Archibald  Hunter,  the 
captains  of  the  two  cruisers  above  mentioned. 
Sir  Reginald  Lister  from  Tangier,  Sir  Maurice 
de  Bunsen  from  Madrid  and  other  high  officers 
presently  came  on  board  to  wait  upon  the  King  ; 
but  in  consequence  of  the  sad  news  of  the 
previous  day  most  of  the  arrangements  had  to  be 
cancelled.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the 
King  received  addresses  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Gibraltar,  the  Roman  Catholic  priests,  the 
Jews  and  the  Moorish  mission,  the  last  named 
to  the  number  of  eight  or  ten  attending  in 
their  graceful  white  robes.  They  read  their 
address  in  their  native  tongue,  an  interpreter 
being  present  to  translate  it  and  to  render  into 
Moorish  His  Majesty's  reply.  In  the  afternoon 
Their  Majesties  went  ashore  and  inspected  first 
the  Colonial  Hospital,  and  next  the  huge  tanks 
recently  made  to  store  water  for  the  fortress, 
afterwards  drinking  tea  with  the  Governor  and 
returning  to  the  ship  to  dine  quietly  on  board. 
Early    on    the    morning    of    the    31st    three 

255 


AN  HISTORIC  OCCASION 

Jan.  31.  Spanish  men-of-war  were  seen  steaming  over 
from  Alge9iras,  forming  the  escort  of  the  Infante 
Don  Carlos  of  Spain,  who  was  come  to  bid  the 
King  welcome  in  the  name  of  His  Most  Catholic 
Majesty.  This  was  said,  probably  with  truth, 
to  be  the  first  time  since  1704  that  a  Spanish 
Prince  and  a  Spanish  man-of  war  had  come  to 
Gibraltar  except  with  hostile  intent  ;  and  there 
was  no  want  of  salutes  to  do  honour  to  the 
occasion.  His  Royal  Highness  presently  came  on 
board  with  his  suite,  attended  further  by  the 
Admiral  of  the  Spanish  squadron  and  his  staff. 
The  King  a  little  later  returned  the  visit  on  board 
the  Spanish  flagship  Cataluna^  whereupon  the 
saluting  was  renewed  ;  and  it  may  be  said  that 
first  and  last  the  guns  were  not  silent  until  nearly 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  Spanish 
squadron  returned  to  Alge9iras. 

Meanwhile,  after  paying  the  return  visit,  the 
King  went  ashore  with  the  Queen  to  the 
Alameda,  which  I  suppose  may  be  described  as 
the  Hyde  Park  of  Gibraltar.  His  Majesty 
having  promised  to  present  new  colours  to 
the  first  battalion  of  the  South  Stafix^rdshire 
Regiment,  better  known,  perhaps,  as  the  old 
Thirty-eighth,  the  whole  of  the  garrison  was 
drawn  up  on  this  small  space,  the  Thirty-eighth 
being  formed  up  in  line  opposite  to  the  saluting 
point,  and  the  remainder  massed  on  both  flanks. 
The  parade  was  an  extremely  pretty  one,  and 
the  occasion  was  worthy  of  it  ;  for  the  Thirty- 
eighth,  albeit  a  corps  of  which  newspapers,  and  as 

256 


THE  OLD  THIRTY-EIGHTH 

a  natural  consequence  the  public,  knows  nothing,  Jan.  31 
has  one  of  the  most  remarkable  records  of  service 
to  be  found  in  the  Army.  The  regiment  has  been 
in  existence  two  hundred  and  ten  years,  of  which 
it  has  spent  one  hundred  and  sixty  abroad,  fifty- 
eight  of  them  consecutively  in  the  West  Indies, 
and  has  missed  very  few  campaigns  during  the 
last  century  and  a  half  "  North  America, 
Central  America,  South  America,"  said  His 
Majesty  in  his  address  to  them,  "  North  Africa 
and  South  Africa,  Northern  Europe  and  Southern 
Europe,  the  plains  of  India  and  the  mountains  of 
India — nothing  has  come  amiss  to  you  ;  and  you 
have  served  in  all  these  countries  with  honour." 
One  could  not  help  reflecting  that  if  this 
regiment  wore  the  kilt  the  whole  British 
Empire  would  ring  with  its  fame.  However,  it 
matters  not.  They  can  uphold  their  great  name 
without  the  help  of  newspapers,  these  sturdy, 
solid,  old  English  battalions  of  the  Line. 

The  ceremony  of  presentation  over,  the 
garrison  marched  past  the  King.  Owing  to  the 
straitness  of  the  space,  the  troops  could  not  be 
passed  from  one  end  of  the  ground  to  the  other 
without  some  extremely  clever  manoeuvring  of 
the  old-fashioned  kind,  which  gave  one  some 
idea  of  what  must  have  happened  when 
Wellington  formed  his  lines  of  battle.  More- 
over, as  they  all  started  for  the  march  down  a 
considerable  decline,  they  swung  past  with  such 
a  stride  as  I  have  rarely  witnessed.  There  was 
a    large    crowd    to    see    this    parade,    and    the 

257  s 


DEPARTURE  FROM  GIBRALTAR 

Jan.  31.  inhabitants  did  not  fail  to  give  the  King  an 
enthusiastic  welcome  ;  but  it  was  very  hard 
upon  all  in  Gibraltar  that,  after  twice  making 
every  preparation  for  the  reception  and  entertain- 
ment of  Their  Majesties,  Fate  should  have 
interfered  on  both  occasions  at  the  last  moment 
to  disappoint  them.  In  the  afternoon  Their 
Majesties  drove  round  Gibraltar,  and  after  visiting 
the  Naval  and  Military  Hospitals,  drank  tea 
with  Admiral  and  Mrs.  Pelham,  who  together 
with  the  Governor  and  Lady  Hunter  and  Bishop 
Corfe  were  Their  Majesties'  guests  at  dinner  in 
the  evening. 

At  six  P.M.  on  the  31st  of  January  the  Medina 
steamed  away  from  Gibraltar  for  Spithead.  A 
melancholy  reminder  of  the  loss  that  had  befallen 
the  King  came  before  us  next  morning  as  we 
sighted  the  masts  and  funnel  of  the  ill-fated 
steamer  Delhi  \  but  it  was  pleasant  to  hear  the 
deep  sympathy  with  which  every  naval  officer,  past 
and  present,  from  the  highest  downwards,  spoke 
of  her  most  unlucky  commander.  At  night  we 
became  aware  that  the  southerly  wind,  under 
which  we  had  started,  had  shifted  to  south- 
westward  and  was  freshening  rapidly.  By  the 
morning  of  the  2nd  it  was  blowing  a  full  gale, 
and  in  fact  we  were  repeating  our  experience  of 
the  outward  voyage  in  the  Atlantic,  only  with 
the  wind  more  or  less  abaft  instead  of  straight 
ahead.  We  made  good  way,  therefore,  in  spite 
of  a  heavy  sea,  though  nearly  every  ship  that 
we   passed  was  comfortably  lying  to  ;    and  the 

258 


A  HOMEWARD  GALE 

casualties  from  sea-sickness  were  considerably  Feb.  1-3. 
fewer  than  in  November.  Nevertheless,  it  was  so 
long  since  we  had  experienced  any  bad  weather 
that  few,  if  any  of  us,  had  taken  any  precautions 
against  it.  The  result  was  that  on  the  first  night 
we  were  roused  by  a  succession  of  crashes,  and 
jumped  out  of  bed  to  find  the  floors  of  our  cabins 
a  chaos  of  loose  articles,  which  were  rolling 
joyously  to  and  fro.  Fortunately  we  were  all 
too  much  occupied  in  securing  them,  and  in 
maintaining  our  equilibrium  meanwhile,  to 
listen  to  each  other's  language,  which,  I  fancy, 
must  have  amused  the  sentries  in  the  passages 
considerably. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  3rd  we  entered  the 
Channel,  by  which  time  the  wind  had  shifted 
to  the  north-east,  blowing  bitterly  cold  with 
occasional  savage  snowstorms — by  no  means  a 
pleasant  thing  for  the  Admiral  in  a  water-way 
crowded  with  traffic.  In  the  night  these  storms 
became  so  blinding  that  it  was  impossible  to  see 
a  hundred  yards  ahead,  and  Sir  Colin  signalled 
the  squadron  to  reduce  speed  from  sixteen  to 
eight  knots.  Wild  whooping  of  the  siren 
proclaimed  this  fact  to  us  more  fortunate  mortals 
as  we  lay  snug  and  warm  in  our  beds  ;  but  the 
Admiral  and  his  officers  on  the  bridge  spent  a 
very  comfortless  and  anxious  night.  Fortunately 
the  squalls  diminished  in  severity,  and  before 
daylight  the  Medina  and  her  escort  were 
anchored  at  Spithead. 

On    the    morning    of    Sunday    the    4th     of 

259 


LAST  DAY  ON  BOARD 

Feb.  4.  February  therefore,  we  woke  to  see,  through 
falHng  snow,  the  Home  Fleet  of  battleships  on 
one  side,  and  the  shore  of  England  on  the  other. 
There  was  no  mistaking  the  fact  that  we  were 
at  home  and  not  in  India,  for  it  was  freezing  at 
sea,  and  there  were  eighteen  degrees  of  frost 
ashore,  with  a  bitter  wind  to  make  matters  more 
pleasant.  The  Medina^  being  intended  for 
voyages  in  hot  latitudes,  was  not  well-equipped 
for  such  a  visitation  ;  and  after  seeking  in  vain 
for  some  warm  spot  outside  the  engine-room,  we 
were  fain  to  huddle  on  greatcoats,  and  live 
generally  as  if  we  were  making  a  cold  journey 
by  railway.  As  soon  as  Divine  Service  was  over 
Their  Majesties  entered  upon  a  task,  which  few 
excepting  themselves  would  have  thought  of 
undertaking,  that  of  giving  to  every  soul  in  the 
ship  with  their  own  hands  a  memento  of  the 
voyage  to  India  in  the  Medina  ;  the  more 
highly  privileged  being  summoned  to  the  King's 
cabin,  while  the  ship's  company,  marines  and 
servants  filed  past  the  King  and  Queen  in  the 
saloon.  Then  came  the  last  dinner,  at  which 
Lord  Durham  asked  permission  to  propose  in  a 
few  words  the  health  of  Their  Majesties,  and  to 
offer  them  the  congratulations  of  the  suite  upon 
the  splendid  success  of  their  visit  to  India  ;  and 
the  King  with  equal  brevity  but  much  feeling 
replied.  There  were  few,  I  think,  among  the 
suite  who  did  not  regret  the  breaking  up  of  a 
party  in  which  it  may  truly  be  said  that  not  an 
unpleasant  word  had  passed  from  the  beginning 

260 


THE  RETURN  TO  LONDON 

to  end  of  the  journey.  It  still  remained  for  Feb. 
us  to  take  leave  of  our  friends  in  the  wardroom, 
to  which  we  repaired  as  soon  as  Their  Majesties 
had  retired.  Our  stay  there  was  protracted 
until  late  ;  and  the  evening  in  such  good  com- 
pany was  of  the  cheerfulest. 

Early  next  morning  Queen  Alexandra,  the 
Prince  of  Wales  and  Princess  Victoria,  who  had 
slept  on  the  Royal  yacht  on  the  previous  night, 
came  on  board  ;  and  soon  after  ten  the  Royal  train 
started  in  bitter  cold  for  London.  As  it  whirled 
past  Arundel  Castle  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  with 
stately  courtesy  dipped  his  flag,  which  was  flying 
on  the  tower — the  last  flag  of  many  hundreds  to 
salute  the  King  on  his  progress  to  India  and  back. 
On  arriving  at  Victoria  the  Ministers  and  other 
officials  were  present  to  receive  Their  Majesties. 

Their  Majesties  and  the  Prince  of  Wales  then 
drove  in  procession  to  Buckingham  Palace  by 
way  of  Victoria  Street,  Whitehall  and  the  Mall, 
followed  by  the  suite  in  six  carriages  ;  and,  in 
spite  of  a  savage  north  -  east  wind,  large  and 
enthusiastic  crowds  were  assembled  in  the  streets 
to  welcome  them.  At  the  Palace  the  suite  took 
leave  of  the  King  and  Queen,  assembling  again 
for  the  last  time  on  the  morrow  at  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral,  whither  Their  Majesties  drove  in  pro- 
cession to  attend  a  special  service  of  thanksgiving 
to  God  for  His  mercies  vouchsafed  to  them.  The 
noble  chorale.  Nun  danket  alle  Gott,  sung  by  the 
massed  choirs  and  a  vast  congregation,  brought  to  a 
worthy  close  theepisode  of  theKing's  visit  tolndia. 

261 


RESULTS  OF  THE  VISIT 


XV 

Will  the  results  of  the  visit  be  permanent  and 
lasting  for  good  ?  That  is  a  question  which 
many  have  asked  and  are  still  asking.  Beyond 
all  doubt  a  great  wave  of  emotion  swept  over 
India  during  the  King's  progress,  and  found  vent 
in  such  outward  manifestations  of  loyalty  as  aston- 
ished both  Indians  and  Europeans.  But  has  the 
wave  spent  its  force  in  these  demonstrations,  or  is 
it  itself  but  the  visible  forerunner  of  a  great  tide, 
"  too  full  for  sound  or  foam,"  which  will  bear 
India  steadily  on  her  course  of  peace  and  content- 
ment ?  If  we  are  to  believe  the  utterances, 
transparently  genuine  and  sincere,  of  thoughtful 
Indian  writers,  the  good  effects  of  the  King's 
visit  will  not  be  transient,  but  enduring.  Of 
course  we  cannot  look  for  all  evil  to  vanish  and 
for  the  golden  age  to  return  forthwith.  We 
cannot  expect  all  difficulties  to  be  smoothed 
away,  and  future,  or  even  present,  mistakes  to 
recur  no  more.  Endeavour  as  we  may,  neither  we 
nor  the  people  of  India  can  hope  to  escape  from 
the  decrees  of  Fate  or  from  the  consequences  of 
our  own  faults.  The  task  which  men  set  them- 
selves, who  strive  to  live  together  in  peace,  is 
beset  by  many  and  great  dangers ;  and  by  reason 
of  our  frailty  we  cannot  always  stand  upright. 
We  seem  to  have  found  our  footing  and  to  be 
walking    cautiously    indeed,    but    stably  ;    when 

262 


THE  INDIAN  PRINCES'  MESSAGE 

some  gust  of  passion,  or  prejudice,  or  intolerance, 
or  it  may  be  of  sheer  folly  only,  sweeps  down  upon 
us,  and  in  a  moment  we  are  overthrown.  How 
long  and  painful  is  the  effort  of  recovery,  and 
how  deep  the  humiliation  through  which  it  is 
at  last  accomplished,  is  written  large  for  those 
who  will  read  in  the  pages  of  history. 

To  occasional  falls  and  failures,  then,  both 
English  and  Indian,  being  human,  must  look 
forward  ;  yet  not  without  cheerfulness  and  good 
courage.  Very  full  of  hope  and  comfort  is  the 
message  sent  by  the  Princes  and  people  of  India 
to  the  Prime  Minister  upon  the  day  of  the  King's 
return  to  England: — 

"  The  Princes  and  people  of  India  desire  to 
take  the  opportunity  afforded  by  the  conclusion 
of  the  Royal  visit,  to  convey  to  the  great  English 
nation  an  expression  of  their  cordial  good-will 
and  fellowship  ;  also  an  assurance  of  their  warm 
attachment  to  the  world-wide  Empire  of  which 
they  form  a  part,  and  with  which  their  destinies 
are  now  indissolubly  linked.  Their  Imperial 
Majesties'  visit  to  India,  so  happily  conceived 
and  successfully  completed,  has  produced  a  pro- 
found and  ineffaceable  impression  throughout 
the  country. 

"  Their  Imperial  Majesties,  by  their  gracious 
demeanour,  their  unfailing  sympathy,  and  their 
deep  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  all  classes,  have 
drawn  closer  the  bonds  that  unite  England  and 
India,  and  have  deepened  and  intensified  the 
traditional  feeling  of  loyalty  and  devotion  to  the 

263 


INDIAN  OPINION 

Throne  and  person  of  the  Sovereign,  which  has 
always  characterised  the  Indian  people. 

"  Conscious  of  the  many  blessings  which 
India  has  derived  from  the  connection  with 
England,  the  Princes  and  people  rejoiced  to 
tender  in  person  their  loyal  and  loving  homage 
to  their  Imperial  Majesties.  They  are  confident 
that  the  great  and  historic  event  marks  the 
beginning  of  a  new  era,  ensuring  greater  happiness, 
prosperity  and  progress  to  the  people  of  India 
under  the  aegis  of  the  Crown." 

The  British  press,  with  few  exceptions,  failed 
altogether  to  appreciate  the  profound  interest  and 
significance  of  this  message.  Never  before  has 
any  body  of  men  attempted  to  speak  with  one 
voice  on  behalf  of  an  united  and  one- minded 
India  ;  and  never  before  has  it  been  possible  that 
such  an  attempt  should  be  made.  Yet  here 
the  one  voice  cries  aloud,  resonant,  sincere  and 
spontaneous,  finding  utterance  for  many  peoples, 
nations  and  languages  in  the  Imperial  tongue.  I 
say  the  Imperial  and  not  the  English  tongue, 
because  no  Englishman  was  concerned  with  this 
message.  It  sprang  straight  from  the  hearts  of 
the  Indian  Princes  and  peoples,  and  sped  on  its 
way  untouched  by  any  British  pen,  untaught  by 
any  British  inspiration. 

And  the  language  of  the  message  has  found 
both  anticipation  and  echo  among  thoughtful 
contributors  to  the  Indian  periodical  press.  "  We 
are  on  the  threshold  of  a  new  era,"  says  a  writer 
in  the  Indian  magazine  East  and  West,  "  with  the 

264 


HOPE  FOR  THE  FUTURE 

King's  message  of  hope  still  ringing  in  our  ears  ; 
and  we  shall  strive  for  greater  unity  in  our 
endeavours  for  the  common  good,  and  tread  the 
path  of  progress  w^ith  a  larger  hope  in  our  hearts 
and  a  firmer  faith  in  our  destiny."  In  other 
words,  India  is  proud  of  her  place  in  the  British 
Empire  ;  and  to  prove  herself  worthy  of  it 
she  will  try  to  quench  old  internal  animosities, 
and  to  co-operate  heartily  with  England  in 
working  out  her  future.  And  England  on 
her  side,  who  has  long  worked  honestly  accord- 
ing to  her  lights  for  India,  will  try  to  work 
more  and  more  with  India.  For  a  long  time 
she  must  lead,  and  India  will  be  content  to 
allow  her  to  lead,  provided  that  she  will  also 
learn.  What  is  needed  in  both  parties  is 
sympathy  and  patience.  It  is  patience,  as  the 
great  Marlborough  said,  "  which  conquers  all 
things  " — patience,  not  faith  in  education,  nor  in 
representative  institutions,  nor  in  heroic  phrases, 
nor  even  in  heroic  measures.  Englishmen  are 
too  fond  of  proclaiming  that  Parliamentary 
institutions  have  made  them  a  great  nation  ; 
whereas  it  is  really  because  they  are  a  great 
nation,  very  peculiarly  situated,  that  they  have 
been  able  for  two  hundred  years  to  make  of 
Parliamentary  institutions  a  comparatively  success- 
ful form  of  government.  When  India,  after  long 
and  patient  search  and  many  inevitable  errors, 
has  found  for  herself  a  path  of  true  progress, 
which  she  can  follow  with  faith  and  with  hope, 
then  she  may,  if  she  will,  make  trial  of  repre- 

265 


THE  ROAD  TO  UNITY 

sentative  institutions  ;  but  let  her  not  suppose 
that  by  snatching  at  them  prematurely  she  will 
abridge  that  search  or  diminish  the  number  of 
those  errors.  Rather  let  both  England  and  India 
remember  that  though  for  countless  centuries 
men  have  put  forth  their  petty  remedies  for  the 
evils  of  this  vv^orld,  there  is  one  reform  and  one 
only  that  has  ever  availed  them — the  inw^ard  and 
spiritual  reform  which  bids  every  man  seek  first 
to  abate  the  evil  that  is  in  himself.  So  shall  we 
strive,  not  in  vain,  for  greater  unity  in  our 
endeavours  for  the  common  good. 


266 


APPENDIX  A 

November  1 1,  191 2. 
THE   ASSEMBLAGE   AT   VICTORIA. 

Prince  and  Princess  Christian  of  Schlesvvig-Holstein,  with  Princess 
Marie  Louise  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Princess  Louise  (Duchess  of  Argyll) 
and  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  Princess  Beatrice  (Princess  Henry  of  Battenberg), 
with  Prince  Alexander,  Prince  Leopold,  and  Prince  Maurice  of  Battenberg, 
the  Duchess  of  Albany,  the  Grand  Duke  Michael  Michailovitch  of  Russia, 
the  Duchess  of  Teck,  the  Countess  Feodora  Gleichen,  the  Lady  Valda 
Machell,  and  the  Duke  of  Fife  took  leave  of  Their  Majesties  at  Victoria 
Station. 

The  following  Members  of  the  Government  in  the  Cabinet  were 
present  : — 

The  Rt.  Hon.  H.  H.  Asquith,  M.P.  (Prime  Minister  and  First  Lord 
of  the  Treasury)  and  Mrs.  Asquith,  the  Viscount  Morley  of  Blackburn 
(Lord  President  of  the  Council),  the  Earl  Carrington  (Lord  Privy  Seal)  and 
the  Countess  Carrington,  the  Viscount  Haldane  (Secretary  of  State  tor 
War),  the  Rt.  Hon.  R.  McKenna,  M.P.  (Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home 
Department)  and  Mrs.  McKenna,  and  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Edward  Grey, 
Bt.,  M.P.  (Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs). 

Members  of  the  Corps  Diplomatique  : — 

Their  Excellencies  the  German  Ambassador  (Count  Paul  Wolff- 
Metternich),  the  Russian  Ambassador  (Count  Benckendorff),  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  Ambassador  (Count  Mensdorff-Pouilly-Dietrichstein),  the 
United  States  Ambassador  and  Mrs.  Whitelaw  Reid,  the  Spanish 
Ambassador  (Seiior  Don  Wenceslao  de  Villa  Urrutia),  the  Turkish 
Ambassador  (His  Highness  Tewfik  Pasha),  the  Italian  Ambassador  and 
the  Marchesa  Imperiali,  the  Swiss  Minister  (Monsieur  Gaston  Carlin),  the 
Belgian  Minister  and  the  Countess  de  Lalaing,  the  Swedish  Minister  and 
the  Countess  Wrangel,  the  Danish  Minister  (Monsieur  Constantino 
Brun),  the  Uruguayan  Minister  (Seiior  Don  Federico  R.  Vidiella),  the 
Colombian  Minister  and  Madame  Perez  Triana,  the  Norwegian  Minister 
and  Madame  Vogt,  the  Liberian  Minister  (Mr.  J.  P.  Crommelin),  the 
Argentine  Minister  and  Madame  de  Dominguez,  the  Chilian  Minister 
and  Madame  Edwards,  the  Siamese  Minister  (Phya  Akharaj  Vardthara), 

267 


APPENDIX  A 

the  Persian  Minister  (Mirza  Mehdi  Khan  Mushir-ul-Mulk),  the  Mexican 
Minister  (Seftor  Don  Miguel  de  Beistegui),  the  Portuguese  Minister  (Senhor 
M.  Teixeira  Gomes),  the  Haytian  Minister-Resident  and  Madame  Heraux, 
and  the  Peruvian  Charge  d'Affaires  and  Madame  de  Lembcke,  the 
Bolivian  Charge  d'Affaires  and  Madame  Saurez,  the  Servian  Charge 
d'AfFaires  and  Madame  Grouitch,  the  Netherlands  Charge  d'AfFaires  and 
Madame  van  der  Goes,  the  Japanese  Charge  d'AfFaires  and  Mrs.  Yamaza, 
and  the  Roumanian  Charge  d'AfFaires  (Prince  Antoine  Bibesco). 

There  were  also  present  : — 

The  Archbishop  oF  Canterbury,  the  Marchioness  oF  Salisbury,  the 
Marchioness  oF  Crewe,  the  Marquis  de  Several,  the  Viscount  Esher,  the 
Lord  Strathcona  and  Mount  Royal  (High  Commissioner  For  the  Dominion 
oF  Canada)  and  the  Lady  Strathcona  and  Mount  Royal,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir 
George  Reid  (High  Commissioner  For  the  Commonwealth  oF  Australia), 
the  Rt.  Hon,  Sir  Thomas  Crosby  (Lord  Mayor  oF  London)  and  the  Lady 
Mayoress,  Field-Marshal  Sir  W.  G.  Nicholson  (ChieF  oF  the  Imperial 
General  StafF  and  First  Military  Member  oF  the  Army  Council),  the  Hon. 
Sir  Richard  Solomon  (High  Commissioner  For  the  Union  oF  South  AFrica), 
Lieut. -General  Sir  A.  Paget  (General  Officer  Commanding  in  ChieF, 
Eastern  Command),  the  Hon.  Sir  William  Hall- Jones  (High  Commissioner 
For  the  Dominion  oF  New  Zealand),  Major-General  Sir  A.  E.  Codrington 
(General  Officer  Commanding  the  London  District),  and  Major  Sir 
Frederick  Wodehouse  (Acting  Commissioner  oF  Police). 

ARRIVAL   AT    PORTSMOUTH. 

Their  Majesties  were  received  on  arrival  at  Portsmouth  by — 
The  Duke  oF  Wellington  (Acting  Lord  Lieutenant  oF  the  County  oF 
Hampshire),  the  Rt.  Hon.  Winston  Spencer-Churchill,  M.P.  (First  Lord 
oF  the  Admiralty),  Admiral  oF  the  Fleet  Sir  Arthur  K.  Wilson  (First 
Lord  Commissioner  oF  the  Admiralty),  Admiral  the  Lord  Charles  BeresFord 
(M.P.  For  Portsmouth),  the  Mayor  oF  Portsmouth,  and  by  Admiral  Sir 
Arthur  Moore  (Commander-in-ChieF  at  Portsmouth),  General  Sir  C.  W. 
H.  Douglas  (General  Officer  Commanding  in  ChieF,  Southern  Command), 
Rear-Admiral  A.  G.  Tate  (Superintendent  oF  Portsmouth  Dockyard), 
Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  and  Major-General  W.  E.  Blewitt 
(General  Officer  Commanding  Southern  Coast  DeFences),  and  the  respective 
StafFs. 

THEIR   MAJESTIES'   LUNCHEON-PARTY. 

Their  Majesties'  luncheon  party  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina  included  : — 
Queen  Alexandra,  the  Queen  oF  Norway,  the  Prince  oF  Wales,  the 
Princess  Mary,  the  Princess  Victoria,  Prince  Arthur  oF  Connaught,  the 
Duke  oF  Teck,  the  Duke  oF  Devonshire,  the  Duke  oF  Wellington,  the 
Hon.  Lady  Keppel,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Winston  Spencer-Churchill,  M.P., 
Mrs.  Winston  Spencer-Churchill,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  CorFe,  D.D.,  Sir 
Walter  Lawrence,  Bt.,  Admiral  oF  the  Fleet  Sir  Arthur  K.  Wilson, 
Admiral  the  Lord  Charles  BeresFord,  Sir  Thomas  Sutherland,  Admiral  Sir 
Arthur  Moore,  General  Sir  C.  W.  H.  Douglas,  Sir  Richmond  Ritchie, 

268 


APPENDIX  A 

Rear-Admiral  A.  G.  Tate,  Major-General  W.  E.  Blewitt,  Lieut. -Colonel 
Sir  Charles  Frederick,  the  Hon.  Charlotte  Knollys,  Colonel  Sir  Arthur 
Davidson,  the  Hon.  John  Ward  and  the  Suite  in  attendance  upon  the 
King  and  Queen. 


November  1 5. 
GIBRALTAR. 

This  morning  Their  Majesties  received  the  Governor  (General  Sir  A. 
Hunter),  the  Governor  of  Alge9iras,  the  Governor  of  Cadiz,  the  Captain  of 
the  Spanish  cruiser  Reina  Regente,  the  Captain  of  the  Portuguese  cruiser 
Adamaster,  Vice-Admiral  Sir  John  Jellicoe,  Vice-Admiral  Commanding 
the  Atlantic  Fleet,  and  the  Captains  of  the  ships  of  the  Atlantic  Fleet,  and 
Rear-Admiral  Frederick  Pelham,  Admiral-Superintendent  and  in  charge 
of  all  Naval  Establishment  at  Gibraltar. 


November  20. 
PORT   SAID. 

The  following,  with  the  Duke  of  Teck  and  the  Ladies  and  Gentlemen 
in  Attendance,  had  the  honour  of  dining  with  Their  Majesties  : — Field- 
Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener,  Lieut.-General  Sir  F.  Reginald  Wingate, 
Major-General  Sir  John  Maxwell,  and  Captain  Michael  Culme-Seymour, 
R.N.,  H.M.S.  Argyll. 


November  21. 
PORT   SAID. 

The  King  this  morning  received  a  visit  from  His  Highness  the 
Khedive  and  also  from  his  Imperial  Highness  Prince  Zia-ed-Din,  who  had 
been  deputed  by  the  Sultan  to  greet  Their  Majesties  and  to  deliver  to  the 
King  a  letter  from  His  Imperial  Majesty. 

His  Highness  the  Khedive  was  attended  by  His  Excellency  Said 
Zoulificar  Pasha  (Grand  Master  of  Ceremonies)  and  His  Excellency  Lewa 
Ramzi  Tahir  Pasha,  Chief  A.D.C. 

His  Imperial  Highness  Prince  Zia-ed-Din  was  attended  by  His  Excellency 
Djenani  Bey,  Grand  Master  of  Ceremonies  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  the 
Sultan,  Colagarhi  Ahmed  Bey,  A.D.C,  and  Murtaza  Bey,  Private  Secretary. 

His  Majesty  then  received  a  visit  from  His  Highness  Prince  Mohamed 
Ali. 

After  the  Khedive's  visit  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being  presented 
to  the  King  by  Field-Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener  : — His  Highness 
Kiamel  Pasha,  ex-Grand  Vizier  ;  His  Excellency  Mohateed  Said  Pasha, 
President  of  the  Council  of  Ministers  ;  His  Excellency  Hussein  Rushdi 
Pasha,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  ;  Sir  Paul  Harvey,  British  Adviser  for 

269 


APPENDIX  A 

Finance  ;  Mr.  Ronald  Graham,  British  Adviser  for  Interior  ;  and  the 
French  Minister,  Monsieur  De  France,  who  presented  Monsieur  Ribot 
(Secretary),  Monsieur  Charles  Roux,  Director  of  the  Suez  Canal  ;  and  the 
three  principal  Officials  of  the  Suez  Canal,  Count  De  Serionne  (Agent 
Superieur),  Monsieur  Perier  (Ingenieur  en  Chef),  Monsieur  Coullant 
(Chef  du  Transit). 

Field  -  Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener  also  presented  Mahomed 
Mahmud  Bey,  Governor  of  the  Suez  Canal ;  and  Mr.  E.  C.  Blech,  British 
Consul-General  at  Port  Said. 

Later  His  Majesty  visited  His  Highness  the  Khedive  on  board  His 
Highness's  yacht  Mahroussa,  attended  by  Field  -  Marshal  the  Viscount 
Kitchener,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  Commander  Sir 
Charles  Cust,  Bt.,  R.N.,  and  Captain  B.  Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  visit  His  Majesty  landed  and  inspected  the 
Guards  of  Honour  of  the  ist  Batt.  Scots  Guards,  under  the  Command  of 
Major  Carpenter  Garnier,  and  of  the  3rd  Batt.  Egyptian  Army,  under  the 
Command  of  Captain  Ali  Effendi  Fahmi. 

The  King  and  Queen  gave  a  luncheon-party  on  board  the  Medina  in 
honour  of  the  Khedive  and  Prince  Zia-ed-Din.  Prince  Mohamed  Ali 
was  present,  and  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  : — His 
Highness  Kiamel  Pasha,  His  Excellency  Mohamed  Said  Pasha,  His 
Excellency  Djenani  Bey,  Monsieur  De  France,  Field-Marshal  the  Viscount 
Kitchener,  His  Excellency  Hussein  Rushdi  Pasha,  Major-General  Sir  John 
Maxwell,  Sir  Paul  Harvey,  Lieut.-General  Sir  Reginald  Wingate,  Mr. 
Ronald  Graham,  His  Excellency  Said  Zoulificar  Pasha,  His  Excellency  Lewa 
Ramzi  Tahir  Pasha,  Mohamed  Mahmud  Bey,  Monsieur  Charles  Roux, 
Mr.  E.  C.  Blech,  and  Mr.  R.  H.  Greg  (Diplomatic  Secretary  to  Field- 
Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener). 

This  evening  Field-Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener,  Major-General  Sir 
John  Maxwell,  Lieut.-General  Sir  R.  Wingate,  El  Lewa  Watson  Pasha, 
Rear-Admiral  Sir  Douglas  Gamble  (H.M.S.  Bacchante),  Captain  Tyrwhitt, 
R.N.  (H.M.S.  Bacchante),  Captain  Tothill,  R.N.  (H.M.S.  Lancaster),  and 
Captain  Moubray,  R.N.  (H.M.S.  Suffolk),  were  included  in  Their  Majesties* 
dinner-party. 


December  2. 

BOMBAY. 

Walking  Procession  from  the  Landing  Pavilion  to  the  Dais. 

Staff  of  Governor  of  Bombay. 

Staff  of  Governor-General. 

King-Emperor's  Indian  Staff. 

The  Hon.  J.  Fortescue.       Sir  R.  H.  Charles.       Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas. 

Capt.  B.  Godfrey-Faussett.        Comr.  Sir  C.  Cust.        Hon.  Sir  D.  Keppel. 
Sir  J.  Dunlop-Smith.  Rear-Admiral  Sir  C.  Keppel. 

Sir  Edward  Henry.  Lieut. -Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien. 

The  Lord  Stamfordham.  The  Lord-in-Waiting. 

270 


APPENDIX  A 

The  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  The  Lord  Hig^h  Steward. 

Queen-Empress. 

THE   2UEEN-EMPRESS.  THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

The  Governor  of  Bombay.  The  Governor-General. 

The  Duke  of  Teck.        Mistress  of  the  Robes.    The  Marquis  of  Crewe. 
The  Hon.  V.  Baring.  Lady  Clarke.  The  Countess  of 

Shaftesbury. 
The  Military  Secretary.  Major-Gen.  Sir  S.  Beatson. 

Major  Clive  Wigram.  Major  the  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice. 

The  Procession  through  the  Citv. 

First  Carriage. 
THE   KING-EMPEROR.  THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Governor-General,  The  Marquis  of  Crewe. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the 
Lord-in-Waiting,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen. 

Fourth  Carriage. — The  Governor  of  Bombay,  Lady  Clarke,  the  Lord 
Stamfordham,  Lieut.-General  Sir  Horace  Smith-Dorrien. 

Fifth  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord  High  Steward,  Sir 
Edward  Henry,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Sixth  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  James 
Dunlop-Smith,  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust,  the  Hon.  Sir  Derek 
Keppel. 

Se'venth  Carriage. — Captain  B.  Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.,  Sir  Richard  Have- 
lock  Charles,  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas,  the  Hon.  John  Fortescue. 

The  following  Equerries  were  in  attendance  on  horseback  : — Major- 
General  Sir  Stuart  Beatson,  Major  the  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice,  Major 
Clive  Wigram. 

The  route  of  the  procession  was  by  Apollo  Bandar  Road,  Esplanade 
Road,  Hornby  Road,  Cruickshank  Road,  Kalbadevie  Road,  Pare!  Road, 
Sandhurst  Road  to  Sandhurst  Bridge,  Queen's  Road,  Church  Gate  Street, 
Mayo  Road,  and  thence  to  the  Apollo  Bandar.  The  Escort  was  furnished 
by  the  Y  Battery  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  7th  Dragoon  Guards,  26th 
Cavalry,  the  Bombay  Light  Horse,  and  the  Governor's  Bodyguard. 

The  King-Emperor  and  the  Queen-Empress  gave  a  dinner-party  on 
board  the  Medina  at  night,  to  which  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being 
invited  : — The  Governor-General,  the  Military  Secretary  to  the  Governor- 
General,  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  the  East 
Indies  and  Lady  Slade,  the  Hon.  Mr.  M.  B.  Chaubal,  the  Hon.  Sir  Narayen 
G.  Chandavarkar  and  Lady  Chandavarkar,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  D.  D. 
Davar,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  J.  J.  Heaton  and  Mrs.  Heaton,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Justice  N.  C.  Macleod  and  Mrs.  Macleod,  the  Hon.  Sir  Sassoon  J.  David, 
the  Hon.  Sir  Vithaldas  Thakersey,  the  Hon.  Mr.  C.  H.  Armstrong  and 
Mrs.  Armstrong,  the  Hon.  Mr.  W.  H.  Lucas,  the  General  Officer  Com- 
manding the  6th  (Poona)  Division  and  Mrs.  Anderson,  the  Roman  Catholic 

271 


APPENDIX  A 

Archbishop,  the  Consul-General  for  Portugal,  Mr.  Ratan  Tata  and  Mrs. 
Tata,  and  Colonel  R.  W.  L.  Dunlop  and  the  Captains  of  H.M.S.  Argyll, 
H.M.S.  Cochrane,  H.M.S.  Natal,  and  H.M.S.  Defence. 


December  3. 

BOMBAY. 

Their  Majesties  guests  at  dinner  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina  included  the 
following  : — The  Governor  of  Bombay  and  Lady  Clarke,  the  Hon.  Sir 
Basil  Scott,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Bombay,  the  Hon.  Mr.  W.  T.  Morison, 
the  Hon.  Mr.  R.  A.  Lamb  and  Mrs.  Lamb,  the  Aga  Khan,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Justice  L.  P.  Russell  and  Mrs.  Russell,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  S.  L.  Batchelor 
and  Mrs.  Batchelor,  the  General  Officer  Commanding  the  Bombay  Brigade, 
the  Hon.  Sir  Henry  Procter,  the  Director  Royal  Indian  Marine  and  Mrs. 
Lumsden,  Sir  Jamsetji  Jeejeebhoy,  Mr.  C.  A.  Kincaid  and  Mrs.  Kincaid, 
Mr.  P.  R.  Cadell,  Mr.  Shapurji  Burjorji  Broacha.  The  Captain  of  H.M.S. 
Fox  and  the  Captain  of  H.M.S.  Highflyer  had  the  honour  of  dining  with 
the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina  this 
evening.  Lady  Jeejeebhoy  had  the  honour  of  being  invited,  but  was 
unavoidably  prevented  from  obeying  Their  Imperial  Majesties'  commands. 


December  4. 

BOMBAY. 

A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  127th  Baluchis  was  mounted  at  the  Apollo 
Bandar.  ^ 

Procession  to  the  Children's  Fete. 

First  Carriage. 

THE   KING-EMPEROR.  THE   ^UEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  The  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the 
Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen-Empress,  the  Lord-in-Waiting. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  Lieut.- 
General  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Fourth  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Lord  High  Steward, 
Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  J.  Dunlop-Smith,  Captain  B.  Godfrey- Faussett,  R.N. 

An  escort  was  furnished  by  the  7th  Dragoon  Guards  and  the  20th 
Cavalry. 

The  route  was  by  the  Mayo  Road  and  Esplanade  Road. 

Guards  of  Honour  of  the  Bombay  Volunteer  Rifles  and  Cadets  for  the 
same  Corps  were  mounted  at  the  entrance  and  within  the  arena. 


December  5. 
BOMBAY. 

This  afternoon  the  King-Emperor  and  the  Queen-Empress,  attended  by 
the  members  of  their  Household,  visited  the  Caves  of  Elephanta. 

272 


APPENDIX  A 

At  10  P.M.  Their  Imperial  Majesties,  attended  by  the  Mistress  of  the 
Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Lord  High  Steward, 
and  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  left  H.M.S.  Medina.  The  remainder 
of  the  Suite,  having  previously  landed  at  2.25,  were  in  attendance  at  the 
Apollo  Bandar,  where  a  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  104th  Wellesley's  Rifles 
was  mounted. 

The  King-Emperor  and  the  Queen-Empress  then  drove  to  the  Victoria 
Terminus  Station,  a  procession  being  formed  in  the  following  order  : — 

First  Carriage. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR.  THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Secoiui   Carriage. — The    Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe, 
Brigadier-General  R.  E.  Grimston  and  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust. 

Third  Carriage. — The    Countess    of  Shaftesbury,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the 
Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen-Empress,  and  Lord  Stamfordham. 

Fourth  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Lord  High  Steward,  and 

Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel.     Major  CHve  Wigram  (Equerry-in- 

Waiting),  and  Major  L.  O.  Graeme  and  Captain  B.  S.  Grissell  (Extra 

Aides-de-Camp)  were  in  attendance  on  horseback. 

An  Escort  was  furnished   by  the   7th  Dragoon   Guards  and  the   26th 

Cavalry. 

On  arrival  at  the  station  Their  Imperial  Majesties  were  received  by  the 
Governor  of  Bombay,  Lady  Clarke,  the  Chief  Justice,  the  Bishop  of 
Bombay,  the  Members  of  the  Executive  Council,  the  General  Officer 
Commanding  the  Bombay  Brigade  with  the  Brigade  Staff,  the  Inspector- 
General  of  Police,  the  Municipal  Commissioner,  the  Commissioner  of 
Police,  the  Executive  Engineer  to  the  Presidency,  the  Under-Secretary  to 
the  Government  (Political  Department),  and  the  Deputy  Inspector-General 
of  Police  (Southern  Range).  A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  96th  Berar 
Infantry  was  mounted  on  the  platform,  and  was  inspected  by  His  Imperial 
Majesty. 

At  10.45  ^•^-  ^^^  Royal  train  left  for  Delhi. 


December  7. 

DELHI. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  alighted  at  Selimgarh  Station  at  10  a.m. 
Guard  of  Honour  at  the  station  :  Royal  Berkshire  Regiment.  Guard  of 
Honour  before  the  Reception-Tent  :   i6th  Rajputs. 

The  Royal  Procession  Mounted. 

Captain  Raban.  Captain  H.  Hill. 

Capt.  L.  F.  Ashburner.     Capt.  R.  E.  T.  Hogg.  Major  the  Hon. 

W.  G.  S.  Cadogan. 

Major  H.  R   Stockley.           Hon.  Col.  Hafiz  Major  E.  D.  Money. 
Muhammad  Abdullah 
Khan. 

273  T 


Hon.  Col.  Sir 
Muhammad  Aslam 

Khan. 
Col.  H.  E.  Stanton. 

Br.-Gen.  Birdwood. 

The  Hon.  Sir  Derek 

Keppel. 
Sir  Edward  Henry. 

Sir  Henry  McMahon. 

H.H.  The  Maharaja 

of  Bikaner. 


APPENDIX  A 

Col.  Viscount  Hardinge. 


Col.  F.  Goodwin. 


Br.-Gen.  H.  D'U. 

Keary. 

Capt.  B.  G.  Godfrey- 

Faussett. 

Br.-Gen.  R.  E. 

Grimston. 

Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow. 

The  Lord-in-Waiting. 


Br.-Gen.  C.  J.  Melliss. 

H.H.  Prince  George 

of  Battenberg. 

Commander  Sir  C. 

Cust. 

Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith- 

Dorrien. 

Lord  Stamfordham. 

H.H.  The  Maharaja 

of  Gwalior. 


Bodyguard. 
Household  Cavalry  Orderlies. 

H.E.  The  Commander-in-Chief  H.H.  The  Duke  of  Teck. 

Major  C.  Wigram.  Major  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

O.C.  Escort. 
The  Marquis  of  Crewe.  H.E.  The  Governor-General. 

THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS 
(in  a  carriage  with  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  and  the  Earl  of  Durham). 

The  O.C.  Bodyguard  riding  on  the   right  of  the  carriage  ;   Major- 
Gen.  Sir  Pratap  Singh  on  the  left. 
Lt.-Col.  Watson,  Major-Gen.  Sir  Stuart  Beatson  (on  horseback). 

Second  Carriage. — Lady  Hardinge,  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  and  A. D.C. -in- 
Waiting. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Hon.  Venetia  Baring, 
Mr.  J.  H.  Du  Boulay. 

Fourth    Carriage. — Mr.   F.   H.    Lucas,    Sir    James   Dunlop-Smith,    Rear- 
Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Fifth  Carriage. — Lieut.-Colonel  Bird,  the  Hon.  J.  Fortescue,  Sir  R.  Have- 
lock  Charles. 

The  route  of  the  procession  was  by — 

Delhi  Gate  of  the  Fort. 
Khas  Road. 

Round  the  Jumma  Musjid. 
Esplanade  Road. 
Chandni  Chowk. 
Fattehpur  Bazar. 
Queen's  Road. 
DufFerin  Bridge. 
Mori  Gate. 
Boulevard  Road. 
274 


APPENDIX  A 

Rajpur  Road. 

Chouburja  Road. 

Through  the  pavilion  on  the  ridge. 

A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  Royal  Navy,  Royal  Marines,  the  Royal 
Fusiliers,  and  the  130th  Baluchis,  was  mounted  in  front  of  the  Royal  Tents 
in  the  King-Emperor's  Camp. 

In  the  afternoon  the  King-Emperor  held  a  reception  of  the  Ruling 
Chiefs  in  the  Reception-Tent.  Their  Highnesses  were  conducted  to  the 
Audience  Chamber,  and  were  in  turn  received  in  audience  by  His 
Imperial  Majesty. 

The  following  had  the  honour  of  being  received  : — The  Nizam  of 
Hyderabad,  the  Gaekwar  of  Baroda,  the  Maharaja  of  Mysore,  the 
Maharana  of  Udaipur,  the  Maharaja  of  Jaipur,  the  Maharaja  of  Jodhpur, 
the  Maharao  Raja  of  Bundi,  the  Maharaja  of  Bikaner,  the  Maharao  of 
Kota,  the  Maharaja  of  Kishengarh,  the  Maharaja  of  Bharatpur,  the 
Maharawal  of  Jaisalmer,  the  Maharaja  of  Alwar,  the  Maharaj  Rana  of 
Dholpur,  the  Maharao  of  Sarohi,  the  Maharawal  of  Dungarpur,  the 
Maharaja  of  Kollahpur,  the  Rao  of  Kutch,  the  Maharaja  of  Idar,  the  Mir 
of  Khairpur. 

During  the  ceremony  a  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  Royal  Berkshire 
Regiment  and  the  i6th  Rajputs  was  mounted  in  front  of  the  Reception- 
Tent. 


December  8. 

DELHI. 

This  morning  the  King-Emperor  held  a  reception  of  the  Ruling  Chiefs. 

Their  Highnesses  were  conducted  to  the  Audience  Chamber,  and  were 
received  in  turn  by  His  Imperial  Majesty. 

The  following  had  the  honour  of  being  received  : — The  Maharaja  of 
Travancore,  the  Raja  of  Cochin,  the  Maharaja  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir, 
the  Maharaja  of  Gwalior,  the  Maharaja  of  Indore,  the  Begum  of  Bhopal, 
the  Maharaja  of  Rewa,  the  Maharaja  of  Orchha,  the  Raja  of  Dhar.  the 
Raja  of  Dewas  (senior  branch),  the  Raja  of  Dewas  (junior  branch),  the 
Maharaja  of  Patiala,  the  Nawab  of  Bahawalpur,  the  Raja  of  Nabha,  the 
Maharaja  of  Bhutan,  the  Maharaja  of  Sikkim,  the  Khan  of  Kalat. 

A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps  and  the  King's 
Own  Sappers  and  Miners  was  mounted  in  front  of  the  Reception-Tent 
during  the  ceremony. 

Procession  to  the  site  of  the  King  Edward  Memorial. 

¥irU  Carriage. 

THEIR  IMPERIAL  MAJESTIES. 

Second  Carriage. — The    Duchess    of  Devonshire,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe, 
the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen-Empress,  the  Lord-in-Waiting. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the 
Lord  Stamfordham,  Sir  John  Hewett. 

275 


APPENDIX  A 

Fourth  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Lord  High  Steward,  Sir 
H.  Smith-Dorrien,  Sir  Edward  Henry. 

Fifth  Carriage. — The  Commander-in-Chief,  General  Sir  Edward  Barrow, 
Sir  Stuart  Beatson,  Colonel  J.  Dunlop-Smith. 

An  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  loth  (Prince  of  Wales's  Own  Royal) 
Hussars  and  the  iith  King  Edward's  Own  Lancers. 

The  route  was  by  the  Alipur  Road,  Kashmir  Gate  and  Elgin  Road, 
and  was  lined  throughout  by  troops. 

Guards  of  Honour  of  the  Royal  Navy,  Royal  Marine  Artillery,  the 
Gordon  Highlanders,  and  the  2nd  Batt.  2nd  King  Edward's  Own  Gurkha 
RiBes,  were  mounted  within  the  enclosure,  and  detachments  of  the  follow- 
ing regiments  (of  which  the  late  King-Emperor  was  Colonel-in-Chief)  with 
standards  and  colours  were  grouped  around  the  base  of  the  memorial  -. — 
loth  Royal  Hussars,  Royal  Regiment  of  Artillery,  King's  Own  Royal 
Lancashire  Regiment,  Norfolk  Regiment,  Gordon  Highlanders,  6th  King 
Edward's  Own  Cavalry,  iith  King  Edward's  Own  Lancers,  102nd  King 
Edward's  Own  Grenadiers,  2nd  King  Edward's  Own  Gurkha  Rifles,  the 
33rd  Queen's  Own  Light  Cavalry,  the  Queen's  Own  Corps  of  Guides,  the 
2nd  Queen's  Own  Sappers  and  Miners,  2nd  Queen's  Own  Rajput  Light 
Infantry. 

Procession  to  the  Shamiana. 
Governor-General's  Staff. 

Sir  Hafiz  Mohamed.  Sir  Aslam  Khan. 

Major  Wigram.  Major  the  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice. 

Capt.  Godfrey-Faussett.  Sir  D.  Keppel.  Commander  Sir  C.  Cust. 

Sir  J.  Dunlop-Smith.  Gen.  Sir  Edmund  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien. 

Barrow. 
Sir  Edward  Henry.  The  Lord-in-Waiting. 

Sir  J.  Hewett.  The  Lord  Stamfordham. 

The  Lord  Chamberlain  The  Lord  High 

to  the  Queen-Empress.  Steward. 

THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS,  THE  KING-EMPEROR. 

The  Marquis  of  Crewe.  The  Governor-General. 

The  Duchess  of  Devonshire.  The  Duke  of  Teck. 

The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring.  The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury. 

Hon.  Col.  H.H.  the  H.H.  the  Maharana  H.H.  the  Maharaja 

Maharaja  Sir  Pratap  of  Udaipur.  Scindia  of  Gwalior. 

Singh. 
H.H.  the  Maharaja  of  Bikaner.  Hon.  Col.  H.H.  the  Nawab  of 

Rampur. 
Brigadier-General  R.  E.  Grimston.         H.E.  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

On  returning  to  the  Camp  His  Imperial  Majesty  inspected  the  Guards 
of  Honour  of  the  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps  and  King  George's  Own 
Sappers  and  Miners,  which  were  mounted  in  front  of  the  Royal  Tents. 

Their  Majesties'  Dinner-Party. 

The  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge,  Sir  Arthur  Lawley  and 
Lady  Lawley,  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Sefton,  Lord  Alington,  the  Jam 

276 


APPENDIX  A 

Saheb  of  Nawanagar,  the  Raja  Saheb  of  Dhrangadra,  the  Raja  of  Rajpipla, 
the  Nawab  of  Radhanpur,  the  Thakur  Saheb  and  Thakurani  of  Gondal, 
the  Nawab  of  Jangira,  Sir  Mohamed  Ali  Muhammed  Khan  of 
Mahmudabad,  the  Hon.  Mr.  M.  Mazarul  Haque,  the  Hon.  Maung  Bah 
Too  and  Mrs.  Bah  Too,  the  Hon.  Mr.  M.  B.  Dadabhoy  and  Mrs. 
Dadabhoy,  the  Hon.  Mr.  G.  M.  Chitnavis,  the  Hon.  Sir  Vithaldas 
Damodar  Thackersey,  the  Hon.  Mr.  G.  K.  Gokhale,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Mohammad  Ali  Jinnah,  the  Hon.  Nawab  Abdul  Majid,  the  Hon.  Mr.  F. 
C.  Gates  and  Mrs.  Gates,  the  Hon.  Mr.  F.  A.  ff.  Phillips  and  Mrs.  Phillips, 
the  Hon.  Sir  Sassoon  David,  the  Hon.  Sir  Trevredyn  Wynne,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
J.  S.  Meston  and  Mrs.  Meston,  the  Hon.  Mr.  J.  B.  Brunyate  and  Mrs. 
Brunyate,  the  Hon.  Mr.  C.  Stewart-Wilson  and  Mrs.  Stewart-Wilson,  the 
Hon.  Rao  Bahadur  R.  N.  Mudholkar,  the  Hon.  Mr.  B.  Robertson  and  Mrs. 
Robertson,  the  Hon.  Mr.  L.  C.  Porter,  the  Hon.  Major-General  M.  H.  S. 
Grover  and  Mrs.  Grover,  the  Hon.  Mr.  C.  H.  Armstrong  and  Mrs. 
Armsti'ong,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ghulam  Muhammad  Khan,  walad  Khan 
Bahadur  Wall  Muhammad  Bhurgri,  the  Hon.  Mr.  W.  H.  Vincent  and 
Mrs.  Vincent,  the  Right  Rev.  Eyre  Chatterton,  D.D.  (Bishop  of  Nagpur), 
and  Mrs.  Chatterton,  the  Right  Rev.  R.  S.  Fyffe  (Bishop  of  Rangoon), 
the  Right  Rev.  G.  H.  Wescott  (Bishop  of  Lucknow),  Mr.  W.  H.  Wood 
and  Mfrs.  Wood,  Mr.  S.  Finney,  CLE.,  and  Mrs.  Finney,  Mr.  G.  W. 
Shaw,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  H.  S.  HartnoU  and  Mrs.  HartnoU,  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Justice  E.  W.  Ormond  and  Mrs.  Ormond,  Mr.  W.  W.  Drew  and 
Mrs.  Drew,  Sir  John  Benton  and  Lady  Benton,  Surgeon-General  F.  W. 
Trevor  and  Mrs.  Trevor,  Major-General  B.  T.  Mahon,  Major-General  Sir 
A.  A.  Barrett  and  Lady  Barrett,  Mr.  Claude  Hill  and  Mrs.  Hill,  the 
Hon.  Mr.  D.  C.  Baillie,  the  Hon.  Mr.  G.  A.  Tweedy,  Colonel  P.  Z.  Cox 
and  Mrs.  Cox,  the  Raj  of  Chhota  Udaipur,  the  Raja  of  Baria,  the  Raja 
Saheb  of  Wankaner,  the  Nawab  of  Cochin,  the  Thakur  Saheb  of  Limbri, 
the  Thakur  Saheb  of  Rajkot,  Brigadier-General  W.  E.  Peyton,  D.S.O., 
and  Mrs.  Peyton,  Brigadier-General  H.  V.  Cox  and  Mrs.  Cox,  Lieut. - 
Colonel  F.  A.  Maxwell  and  Mrs.  Maxwell,  the  Aides-de-Camp-in-Waiting 
to  His  Excellency  the  Governor-General,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of 
Their  Imperial  Majesties'  Household  in  attendance — the  Duke  of  Teck, 
the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the  Lord  High  Steward,  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes, 
the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord-in-Waiting, 
Lord  Stamfordham,  the  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  Lieutenant-General  Sir  H.  L. 
Smith-Dorrien,  Sir  E.  R.  Henry,  Prince  George  of  Battenberg,  the  Hon. 
J.  W.  Fortescue,  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust,  and  Rear -Admiral  Sir 
Colin  Keppel  (Ecjuerries-in-Waiting). 


December  9. 
DELHI. 

The  King-Emperor  this  morning  held  a  further  reception  of  the  Ruling 
Chiefs,  when  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being  received  in  turn  by 
His  Imperial  Majesty  in  the  Audience  Chamber  : — 

Bombay  Chiefs. — The  Nawab  of  Palanpur,  the  Jam  of  Navanagar,  the 
Maharaja   of  Bhavanagar,    the    Raj    Saheb   of  Dhrangadra,   the    Raja   of 

277 


APPENDIX  A 

Rajpipla,  the  Nawab  of  Cambey,  the  Nawab  of  Radhanpur,  the  Thakur 
Saheb  of  Gondal,  the  Nawab  of  Janpira,  the  Sultan  of  Lahej,  the  Sultan 
of  Sherer  and  Mokalla,  the  Fadhli  Sultan,  the  Raja  of  Dharampur,  the 
Raja  of  Bansda,  the  Raja  of  Chhota  Udepur,  the  Maharawal  of  Bariya, 
the  Nawab  of  Sachin,  the  Rao  Saheb  of  Wankaner,  the  Thakur  Saheb 
of  Palitana,  the  Thakur  Saheb  of  Limbdi  (Limri),  the  Thakur  Saheb  of 
Rajkot,  the  Chief  of  Bhor,  the  Chief  of  Mudhol. 

Rajputana. — The  Maharaja  Rana  of  Jhalawar. 

Central  India. — The  Maharaja  of  Samthar,  the  Nawab  of  Jaora,  the 
Raja  of  Rutlam,  the  Maharaja  of  Panna,  the  Maharaja  of  Charkhari,  the 
Maharaja  of  Bijawar,  the  Maharaja  of  Chhatarpur,  the  Raja  of  Sitamau, 
the  Raja  of  Sailana,  the  Raja  of  Rajgarh,  the  Raja  of  Narsinghgarh,  the 
Rana  of  Barwani,  the  Raja  of  Alirajpur. 

Bengal. — The  Maharaja  of  Cooch  Behar,  the  Raja  of  Karond. 

United  Provinces. — The  Nawab  of  Rampur,  the  Maharaja  of  Benares, 
the  Raja  of  Tehr  (Garhwal). 

Panjab. — The  Raja  of  Jhind,  the  Raja  of  Kapurthala,  the  Raja  of 
Mandi,  the  Raja  of  Sirmur  (Nahan),  the  Raja  of  Bilaspur  (Kohlra),  the 
Nawab  of  Kotla,  the  Raja  of  Faridkot,  the  Raja  of  Chamba,  the  Raja  of 
Suket,  the  Nawab  of  Loharu. 

Madras. — -The  Raja  of  Pudukota. 

Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam. — The  Raja  of  Hill  Tippera,  the  Raja  of 
Manipur. 

Burma. — The  Sawbwa  of  Kengtung,  the  Sawbwa  of  Yanghur,  the 
Sawbwa  of  Hsipaw. 

Baluchistan. — The  Jam  of  Las  Bela. 

After  the  reception  the  King-Emperor  inspected  the  Guards  of  Honour 
of  the  I  St  Batt.  Northumberland  Fusiliers  and  the  istBatt.  King  George's 
Own  Gurkha  Rifles,  which  were  mounted  in  front  of  the  Reception- 
Tent. 

Procession  to  the  Polo-Ground. 

First  Carriage. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR.  THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second    Carriage. —  The    Duke    of    Teck,    the    Duchess   of    Devonshire, 
Captain  G.  Godfrey-Faussett. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the  Lord  High  Steward,  Major 
the  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  13th  Hussars  and  3rd  Skinner's 
Horse. 


December  10. 

DELHL 

Procession  to  the  Church  Parade  Ground. 

First  Carriage. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR.  THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

278 


APPENDIX  A 

SeconJ  Carriage. — The  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  the  Lord  High  Steward, 
the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  and  Lord  Shaftesbury. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the 

Lord-in-Waiting,  and  Lord  Stamfordham. 
Major  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice  and  Major  Clive  Wigram  were  in  attendance 

on  horseback. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  6th  Inniskilling  Dragoons  and  the  gtli 
Hodson's  Horse.  The  route  of  the  procession,  which  was  by  the  Kings- 
way  and  the  Military  Road,  was  lined  throughout  by  British  and  Indian 
Infantry  and  the  Imperial  Service  Troops. 

The  return  route  was  by  the  Military  Road,  Parade  Road,  and  Prince's 
Road. 


December  1 1 . 
DELHI. 

Mounted  Procession  to  Parade  Ground  for  Presentation 
OF  Colours. 

First  Division  of  Escort. 

Orderly.  Orderly. 

Orderly  with  Royal  Standard. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

The  Duke  of  Teck.  The  Gov. -General. 

Major  C.  Wigram.  Sir  Charles  Fitzmaurice. 

The  Maharaja  of     The  Nawab  of  Maj.-Gen.         The  Maharaja  of 

Bikaner.  Rampur.  Sir  Pratap  Singh.  Gwalior. 

Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow.  Lord  Annaly.  The  Commander-in- 

Chief 
Maj.-Gen.  Sir  S.  Beatson.  Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith-       Lord  Stamfordham. 

Dorrien. 

Colonel  Maxwell.  Br.-Gen.  Grimston. 

Royal  Groom.  Royal  Groom. 

THE   ^UEEN-EMPRESS 

(in  a  carriage  with  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes  and  the  Lord  High 
Steward). 

Captain  Hill.  Lt.-Colonel  Watson. 

LADY    HARDINGE 
(in  a  carriage  with  the  Marquis  of  Crewe  and  Capt.  P.  Burn). 

Second  Division  of  Escort. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  13th  Hussars  and  36th  Jacob's  Horse. 

Guards  of  Honour  at  the  King-Emperor's  Camp  were  furnished  by  the 
2nd  Batt.  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps  and  2nd  Batt.  King  Edward's  Own 
Gurkha  Rifles. 

279 


APPENDIX  A 

December  i  2. 

DELHI. 

Programme  of  the  Ceremonies  to  be  observed  on  the  Occasion 
OF  the  Coronation  Durbar,  December  12,  191 1. 

The  Members  of  the  Household,  including  the  Minister  in  Attendance, 
will  leave  the  King-Emperor's  Camp  at  10.45  A-*^-  ^"^  ^i^^  proceed  by  the 
Kingsway  to  the  Durbar  Amphitheatre,  where  they  will  be  conducted  to 
their  places. 

2.  Their  Excellencies  the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge  will 
leave  the  King-Emperor's  Camp  at  11. 10  a.m.  with  an  escort  of  one 
regiment  of  British  Cavalry  and  one  regiment  of  Indian  Cavalry. 

On  approaching  the  Amphitheatre,  their  carriage  will  pass  to  the  right 
along  the  front  of  the  Spectators'  Mound,  turn  down  the  Centre  Road 
and  proceed  to  the  left  by  the  Circular  Road  to  the  Durbar  Shamiana, 
where  they  will  be  received  by  the  Governor-General's  Staff  and  conducted 
to  their  seats. 

On  arrival  in  the  Amphitheatre  they  will  be  received  with  salutes  by  the 
troops  massed  in  the  arena  and  by  the  Guards  of  Honour.  All  present  will 
rise  and  remain  standing  until  Their  Excellencies  have  alighted  and  taken 
their  seats. 

3.  Their  Imperial  Majesties  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen- 
Empress  will  drive  from  the  Camp  at  11.30  a.m.  attended  by  two 
equerries-in-waiting  on  horseback  and  with  an  escort  of  one  regiment  of 
British  Cavalry  (loth  Hussars),  a  Battery  of  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  the 
Bodyguard,  the  Imperial  Cadet  Corps,  and  one  regiment  of  Indian 
Cavalry  (i8th  Lancers). 

The  cortege  will  proceed  to  the  Durbar  Shamiana  by  the  route 
described  above. 

The  Imperial  Cadet  Corps  and  the  Bodyguard  will  remain  in  the  pro- 
cession throughout,  but  the  remainder  of  the  escort  will  leave  the  proces- 
sion as  it  is  about  to  enter  the  Circular  Road  to  pass  in  front  of  the 
Amphitheatre  and  will  form  up  outside  the  arena. 

4.  As  Their  Imperial  Majesties  enter  the  Amphitheatre  a  salute  ^ 
of  loi  guns  will  be  fired,  and  when  they  reach  the  Durbar  Shamiana  the 
Royal  Standard  will  be  hoisted,  a  Royal  Salute  will  be  given  by  the 
Guards  of  Honour  and  all  the  troops  present,  and  the  Massed  Bands  will 
play  the  National  Anthem. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  will  be  received  by  His  Excellency  the 
Governor-General  as  they  alight  from  their  carriage,  and  conducted  to 
their  Thrones. 

All  present  will  rise  as  Their  Imperial  Majesties  enter  the  arena 
and  will  remain  standing  until  they  have  taken  their  seats. 

^  The  salute  will  be  timed  so  as  to  terminate  as  Their  Imperial  Majesties  enter 
the  Durbar  Shamiana. 

280 


APPENDIX  A 


5.  On  the  conclusion  of  the  salute   the  Master  of  the  Ceremonies  will 
obtain  the  King-Empkkor's  command  to  open  the  Durbar. 

The  opening  of  the  Durbar  will  be  signalised  by  a  flourish  of  trumpets 
and  roll  of  drums  from  the  Massed  Bands  in  the  arena. 

The   King-Emperor   has  announced   his  gracious  intention   of  then 
addressing  the  assemblage. 

6.  After  this,  the  Governor-General,  the  High  Oflicials  and  the  Ruling 
Chiefs  will  do  Homage  in  the  following  order  : — 

(i)   His  Excellency  the  Governor-General. 

(2)  His  Excellency  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  the  Ordinary 
Members  of  the  Governor-General's  Executive  Council. 

(3)  The  Ruling  Chiefs  in  political  relations  with  the  Government  ot 
India,  and  the  Agents  to  the  Governor-General  and  Residents,^  in  the 
following  territorial  order,  i.e. — 

Hyderabad. 

Baroda. 

Mysore. 

Kashmir. 

Rajputana. 

Central  India. 

Baluchistan. 

Sikkim  and  Bhutan. 

4)  The  Chief  Justice  and  Puisne  Judges  of  the  High  Court,  Bengal. 

5)  The  Governor-General's  Legislative  Council. 

6)  His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Madras. 

7)  The  Governor's  Executive  Council. 
Ruling  Chiefs  in  political  relations  with  the  Government  of  Madras. 
Provincial  Representatives  of  Madras. 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Bombay. 
The  Governor's  Executive  Council. 
Ruling  Chiefs  in  political  relations  with  the  Government  of  Bombay. 

3)  Provincial  Representatives  of  Bombay. 

4)  His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal. 

5)  The  Lieutenant-Governor's  Executive  Council. 

6)  Ruling  Chiefs  of  Bengal. 

7)  Provincial  Representatives  of  Bengal. 

8)  His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  United  Provinces. 

9)  Ruling  Chiefs  of  the  United  Provinces. 
20)  Provincial  Representatives  of  the  United  Provinces. 

His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Panjab. 
Ruling  Chiefs  of  the  Panjab. 
Provincial  Representatives  of  the  Panjab. 
24)   His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Burma. 
Ruling  Chiefs  of  Burma. 

26)  Provincial  Representatives  of  Burma. 

27)  His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam. 
Ruling  Chiefs  of  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam. 


^  The  Agents  to  the  Governor-General  and   Resiiients  will  each  precede  their 
Chiefs  and  remain  until  the  last  of  these  has  done  Homage. 

281 


APPENDIX  A 

(29)  Provincial  Representatives  of  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam. 

(30)  The  Hon.  the  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  Central  Provinces. 

(31)  Representatives  of  the  Central  Provinces. 

(32)  Representatives  of  Baluchistan. 

(33)  The  Hon.  the  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  North-West  Frontier 
Province. 

(34)  Representatives  of  the  North-West  Frontier  Province. 

7.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony,  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen- 
Empress  will  move  in  procession  from  the  Durbar  Shamiana  to  the 
Royal  Pavilion. 

They  will  advance  hand-in-hand,  their  robes  being  held  by  Pages  and 
the  golden  umbrellas  held  over  their  heads. 

Then  will  follow  Their  Excellencies  the  Governor-General  and  Lady 
Hardinge,  the  Minister  in  Attendance,  His  Highness  the  Duke  of  Teck, 
the  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  and  at  a  suitable  interval  the  remainder  of  the 
suite  in  attendance. 

All  will  rise  as  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  leave  the 
Thrones  in  the  Durbar  Shamiana  and  will  remain  standing  until  Their 
Imperial  Majesties  are  seated  in  the  Royal  Pavilion. 

Their  Excellencies  the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge,  the 
Minister  in  Attendance  and  His  Highness  the  Duke  of  Teck  with  the 
Duchess  of  Devonshire,  the  Countess  of  Shaftesbury  and  the  Hon. 
Venetia  Baring  will  stand  on  the  second  tier  of  the  Royal  Pavilion  ;  His 
Excellency  and  Lady  Hardinge  on  the  right  and  the  others  above  named 
on  the  left  of  the  Thrones,  round  which  the  Pages  will  be  grouped. 

The  Staffs  will  stand  on  the  next  lower  platform. 

8.  The  Bands  within  the  arena  will  then  sound  a  summons  to  the 
Heralds. 

The  Heralds  with  the  Trumpeters,  who  will  be  posted  outside,  will 
reply  with  a  flourish  of  trumpets  and  will  ride  up  to  the  Amphitheatre. 
They  will  halt  at  the  entrance  to  the  Centre  Road  beyond  the  Spec- 
tators' Mound  and  sound  another  flourish  of  trumpets.  They  will  then 
ride  to  the  front  of  the  Royal  Pavilion,  form  up  and  sound  a  third  flourish. 

The  Herald  will  then  be  commanded  to  read  in  English  the  Royal 
Proclamation  announcing  the  Solemnity  of  His  Imperial  Majesty's 
Coronation  in  London  on  the  22nd  June  191 1,  after  which  it  will  be  read 
in  Urdu  by  the  Assistant  Herald. 

When  the  Proclamation  has  thus  been  read,  the  Trumpeters  will  sound 
another  flourish. 

As  this  flourish  concludes,  the  Massed  Bands  will  play  the  National 
Anthem,  and  the  Guards  of  Honour  and  troops  massed  in  the  arena  will 
present  arms.  All  the  spectators  will  rise  from  their  seats  and  remain 
standing  while  the  National  Anthem  is  being  played.  On  its  completion 
a  salute  of  loi  guns  by  salvos  of  batteries  will  be  fired,  and  the  troops 
outside  the  arena  will  fire  ^.feu  dejoie. 

9.  When  the  Royal  Salute  has  been  fired,  the  Herald  and  Trumpeters 
will  sound  a  prolonged  flourish,  after  which  His  Excellency  the  Governor- 
General  will  make  such  announcement  as  His  Imperial  Majesty  may 
command. 

282 


APPENDIX  A 

Tlie  Herald  and  Trumpeters  will  then  sound  another  flourish,  and  the 
Herald,  raising  his  helmet,  will  call  for  three  cheers  first  for  the  King- 
Emperor  and  then  for  the  Queen-Empress,  which  will  be  joined  m  by 
all  the  spectators  and  the  troops  inside  the  Amphitheatre.  As  soon  as 
these  cheers  have  subsided,  the  General  Officer  Commanding  the  Troops 
outside  the  arena  will  similarly  call  for  cheers  from  them. 

10.  Their  Imperial  Majesties  will  then  return  to  the  Durbar 
Shamiana  in  procession  i  as  before,  and,  when  they  are  again  seated,  the 
Trumpeters  will  sound  another  flourish,  after  which  the  Herald  and 
Trumpeters  will  retire  from  the  arena. 

The  Master  of  the  Ceremonies  will  next  request  the  King-Emperor  s 
permission  to  close  the  Durbar,  whereupon  the  Massed  Bands  will  play  the 
National  Anthem,  which  will  be  sung  by  the  whole  assembly. 

11.  Their  Imperial  Majesties  will  then  depart  in  the  same  manner 
and  with  the  same  ceremonies  as  when  they  came.  All  present  will 
remain  standing  until  they  have  left  the  arena. 

The  procession  will  pass  to  the  Centre  Road  by  the  Circular  Road  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Durbar  Shamiana  to  that  by  which  it  arrived  and 
when  it  reaches  the  end  of  the  Centre  Road,  will  turn  to  the  left  and 
proceed  below  the  Spectators"  Mound  to  the  Prince's  Road  and  thence  by 
that  route  to  the  King-Emperor's  Camp. 

The  first  gun  of  the  salute  will  be  fired  as  the  procession  leaves  the 
arena  by  the  Prince's  Road.  . 

After  the  departure  of  the  Royal  cortege.  Their  Excellencies  the 
Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge  will  leave  the  Durbar  in  the  same 
way  and  with  the  same  honours  as  on  their  arrival,  the  spectators  rising  as 
they  enter  their  carriage.  .    ,      „        ,  ^^         i    u      -n 

After  the  Governor-General,  the  members  of  the  Royal  Household  will 

depart.  ,    . 

High   Officials   and   Ruling   Chiefs   will    then   be   conducted    to    their 


carriages. 


irriageb.  -i     i        u         u 

All  others  are  requested  to  remain  in  their  places  until  the  above  have 
left,  and  they  will  then  leave  in  the  same  manner  as  on  arrival. 

Full  dress  2  will   be  worn.     Gentlemen    not  entitled  to  wear    uniform 
will  appear  in  Court  or  Morning  Dress. 

Collar  Day.  ^     ,t    .*  ivt 

A.  H.  McMahon. 

Durbar  Procession  from  the  Shamiana  to  the  Pavilion. 

Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Lord  High  Steward. 

Queen-Empress. 

THE  2UEEN-EMPRESS.  THE   KING-EMPEROR. 

Pages.— The  Thakur  Saheb  Pages.  — The     Maharaja    of 

of    Palitana,    Rajkumar    Ram-  Bharatpur,    Maharaja     Kumar 

Chandra      Singh      of      Sailana,  Himmat    Singh    of    Idar,    Ver 


1  The  Massed  Bands  will  play  a  March  during  the  procession. 

2  With  trousers  and  not  knee-breeches. 

283 


APPENDIX  A 


Maharaja  KunwarGulab  Singh 
of  Rewa,  Maharaja  Mandhata 
Singh  of  Sailana. 


Singh  (grandson  of  the  Maha- 
raja of  Orchha),  the  Maharaja 
of  Jodhpur,  Maharaja  Kunwar 
Sadul  Singh  of  Bikaner,  Sahib- 
zada  Muhammad  Wahid-uz- 
Zafar  Khan  of  Bhopal. 


Lady  Hardinge. 
The  Duke  of  Teck. 

The  Hon.  Venetia 

Baring. 

Sir  Pratap  Singh. 

The  Maharaja  of  Bikaner. 

Sir  John  Hewett. 

Sir  Edward  Henry. 


Attendants. 

The  Duchess  of 
Devonshire. 


The  Governor-General. 
The  Marquis  of  Crewe. 


Maharana  of  Udaipur. 

The  Lord  Annaly. 
Sir  H.  McMahon. 


Lt.-Col. 
Sir  J.  Dunlop-Smith. 

Major 

Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice. 

Lt.-Col. 

H.  D.  Watson. 

Col.  Lord  Harris. 

Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 

Major  Stockley. 


Sir  C.  Keppel. 


The  Countess  of 

Shaftesbury'. 

Maharaja  of  Gwalior. 

The  Nawab  of  Rampur. 

The  Lord  Stamfordham. 

Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H. 

Smith-Dorrien. 

Sir  Stuart  Beatson.   Br.-Gen.  Grimston. 


Hon. 

Sir  D.  Keppel. 

H.H.  Prince 

George  of 

Battenberg. 

Br.-Gen. 

H.  D'U.  Keary. 

Col.  Goodwin. 

Hon.  Col. 
Nawab  Sir  Hafiz 

Mohamad 

Abdullah  Khan. 

Hon.  J.  Fortescue. 

Capt.  Ashburner. 


Commander 

Sir  C.  Cust. 

Major  Wigram. 


Capt.  B.  G. 
Godfrey-Faussett. 
Sir  R.  H.  Charles. 


Br.-Gen. 

Birdwood. 

Col.  Viscount 

Hardinge. 

Hon.  Col. 

Nawab  Sir  Mohamad 

Aslam  Khan. 


Br.-Gen. 
C.  J.  Melliss. 
Col.  Stanton. 

Major  Money. 


Lt.-Col.  Bird.         Hon.  J.  Fortescue.  Mr.  Lucas.  Captain  Hogg. 

Captain  Raban.        Capt.  Ashburner.       Major  Cadogan.  Captain  Hill. 

Governor-General's  Staff  (8). 

Gentlemen-at-Arms. 

Royal  Archer. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  gave  a  State  banquet  this 
evening,  to  which  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  : — The 
Governor-General  of  India  and  the  Lady  Hardinge  of  Penshurst,  the 
Governor  of  Bombay  and  Lady  Clarke,  the  Governor  of  Madras  and  Lady 
Carmichael,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Panjab  and  Lady  Dane,  the 
Governor  of  Ceylon  and  Lady  McCallum,  the  Governor  of  the  Straits 
Settlements  and  Lady  Young. 

The  Nizam  of  Hyderabad,  the  Gaekwar  of  Baroda,  the  Maharaja  of 
Kolhapur,  the  Commander-in-Chief  in  India  and  Lady  Creagh,  Sir  John 
Hewett  (President  Coronation  Durbar  Committee)  and  Lady  Hewett,  the 

284 


APPENDIX  A 

Lieutenant-Governor  of  Burma  and  Lady  Adamson,  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam  and  Lady  Bayley,  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  United  Provinces,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal  and 
Mrs.  Duke,  the  Chief  Justice  of  Bengal  and  Lady  Jenkins,  Sir  Guy  Fleet- 
wood Wilson  (Ordinary  Member  of  the  Council  of  His  Excellency  the 
Governor-General),  Mr.  J.  L.  Jenkins  (Ordinary  Member  of  the  Council 
of  the  Governor-General)  and  Mrs.  Jenkins. 

Mr.  R.  W.  Carlyle  (Ordinary  Member  of  the  Council  of  the  Governor- 
General)  and  Mrs.  Carlyle,  Mr.  S.  H.  Butler  (Ordinary  Member  of  the 
Council  of  the  Governor-General)  and  Mrs.  Butler,  Mr.  Syed  AH  Imam 
(Ordinary  Member  of  the  Council  of  the  Governor-General),  Mr.  W.  H. 
Clark  (Ordinary  Member  of  the  Council  of  the  Governor-General)  and 
Mrs.  Clark,  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of  Simla. 

The  Earl  and  the  Countess  of  Mar  and  Kellie,  Lord  Charles  Montagu, 
Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  H.  and  Lady  Meux,  Major-General  the  Maharaja  of 
Gwalior  (Hon.  A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor),  the  Maharaja  of  Indore, 
Major-General  the  Maharaja  Sir  Pratap  Singh  Bahadur,  Regent  of  Jodhpur 
(Hon.  A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor),  Colonel  the  Maharaja  of  Bikaner 
(Hon.  A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor),  the  Maharaja  of  Patiala,  the  Maha- 
raja of  Bhutan,  the  Raja  of  Behar,  the  Raja  of  Dewas  (senior  branch),  the 
Raja  of  Dewas  (junior  branch),  the  Maharaja  of  Keshangarh,  the  Maha- 
raja of  Alwar,  the  Maharaja  of  Sikkim,  the  Maharaja  Rana  of  Dholpur, 
the  Maharawal  of  Dungarpur,  the  Maharaja  of  Idar,  Colonel  the  Nawab 
of  Rampur  (Hon.  A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor),  the  Nawab  of  Jaora,  the 
Raja  of  Hill  Tippera,  the  Aga  Khan. 

The  Commander-in-Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Naval  Forces  in  the  East 
Indies  and  Lady  Slade,  Lieut. -Colonel  Sir  Henry  McMahon  (Master  of 
Ceremonies)  and  Lady  McMahon,  Sir  Charles  Arnold  White  (Chief 
Justice  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Madras)  and  Lady  White,  Sir 
Basil  Scott  (Chief  Justice  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Bombay), 
Mr.  H.  G.  Richards  (Chief  Justice  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  for  the 
North-Western  Provinces)  and  Mrs.  Richards,  the  Bishop  of  Madras  and 
Mrs.  Whitehead,  the  Bishop  of  Bombay,  Sir  Murray  Hammick  (Ordinary 
Member  of  Council,  Madras)  and  Lady  Hammick,  Mr.  M.  B.  Chaubal 
(Ordinary  Member  of  Council,  Bombay),  Mr.  W.  T.  Morison  (Ordinary 
Member  of  Council,  Bombay),  Mr.  R.  A.  Lamb  (Ordinary  Member  of 
Council,  Bombay)  and  Mrs.  Lamb. 

Mr.  Krishnaswami  Aiyer  (Ordinary  Member  of  Council,  Madras),  the 
General  Officer  Commanding  the  Southern  Army  and  Lady  Barrow,  the 
Chief  of  the  General  Staff  and  the  Hon.  Lady  Haig,  the  General  Officer 
Commanding  the  Northern  Army  and  Lady  Willcocks,  the  Agent  to  the 
Governor-General  in  Rajputana  and  Mrs.  Colvin,  the  Resident  in  Kashmir 
and  Mrs.  Eraser,  the  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  Central  Provinces  and 
Mrs.  Craddock,  the  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  North-West  Frontier 
Provinces,  the  Resident  in  Mysore  and  Mrs.  Daly,  Mr.  F.  A.  Slacke 
(Member  of  the  Executive  Council  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal) 
and  Mrs.  Slacke,  Rai  Kisori  Lall  Goswami  Bahadur  (Member  of  the 
Executive  Council  of  His  Honour  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal),  the 
Agent  to  the  Governor -General  of  Baluchistan  and  Mrs.  Ramsay,  the 
Agent  to  the  Governor-General  in  Central  India  and  Mrs.  O'Dwyer,  the 

285 


APPENDIX  A 

Resident  in  Hyderabad  and  Mrs.  Pinhey,  Mr.  R.  F.  Greer  (Member  of  the 
Executive  Council  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal)  and  Mrs.  Greer. 

Justice  Sir  G.  H.  Knox  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature 
for  the  North -Western  Provinces)  and  Lady  Knox,  Mr.  Justice  P.  C. 
Banerjee  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  for  the  North- 
Western  Provinces),  Justice  Sir  Ralph  Benson  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High 
Court  of  Judicature  at  Madras)  and  Lady  Benson,  Justice  Sir  Richard 
Harington,  Bart.  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Fort 
William,  in  Bengal)  and  Mrs.  Harington,  Mr.  Justice  C.  N.  W.  Brett 
(Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Fort  William,  in  Bengal) 
and  Mrs.  Brett,  Mr.  Justice  H.  L.  Stephen  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High 
Court  of  Judicature  at  Fort  William,  in  Bengal)  and  Mrs.  Stephen,  Mr. 
Justice  J.  E.  P.  Wallis  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at 
Madras)  and  Mrs.  Wallis,  Mr.  Justice  C.  Sankaran  Nair  (Puisne  Judge  of 
the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Madras)  and  Mrs.  Sankaran  Nair,  Mr. 
Justice  H.  D.  Griffin  (Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  for 
the  North-Western  Provinces)  and  Mrs.  Griffin,  Mr.  Justice  Abdur  Rahim 
(Puisne  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Judicature  at  Madras),  Sir  Charles 
Fox  (Chief  Justice  of  the  Chief  Court  of  Burma)  and  Lady  Fox,  Sir 
Arthur  Reid  (Chief  Judge  of  the  Chief  Court,  Panjab)  and  Lady  Reid,  the 
Lieutenant-General  Commanding  the  ist  (Peshawar)  Division  and  Lady 
Nixon,  Lieut.-General  Sir  A.  R.  Martin  (commanding  the  2nd  (Rawalpindi) 
Division),  the  Lieutenant-General  Commanding  the  7th  (Meerut)  Division 
and  Lady  Lake,  the  Lieutenant-General  Commanding  the  3rd  (Lahore) 
Division  and  Lady  Pearson,  Lieut.-General  Sir  J.  B.  Moon  (commanding 
the  9th  (Secunderabad)  Division),  the  Lieutenant-General  Commanding  the 
4th  (Quetta)  Division  and  Mrs.  Sclater,  the  Bishop  of  Lahore,  Mr.  J.  B. 
Wood  (additional  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in  the  Foreign 
Department)  and  Mrs.  Wood,  Brigadier-General  R.  E.  Grimston  (Military 
Secretary  to  the  King-Emperor),  Mr.  H.  V.  Cobb  (Resident  at  Baroda), 
Major  F.  W.  Wodehouse  (Political  Agent,  Kolhapur),  Mr.  C.  A.  Bell 
(Political  Officer,  Sikkim),  the  Private  Secretary  to  the  Governor-General 
and  Mrs.  Du  Boulay,  Captain  the  Hon.  E.  Hardinge  (Aide-de-Camp-in- 
Waiting  to  the  Governor-General). 

Ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  Household  in  attendance  : — The  Duke  of 
Teck  (Silver  Stick  and  personal  A.D.C.  to  the  King- Emperor),  the 
Marquis  of  Crewe  (Minister  in  Attendance),  the  Earl  of  Durham  (Lord 
High  Steward),  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  (Mistress  of  the  Robes),  the 
Earl  of  Shaftesbury  (Lord-in- Waiting),  the  Lord  Annaly  (Lord  in-Waiting), 
the  Lord  Stamfordham  (Private  Secretary  to  the  King-Emperor),  the  Hon. 
Venetia  Baring  (Maid  of  Honour),  Lieut.-General  Sir  H.  L.  Smith-Dorrien 
(Aide-de-Camp),  General  Sir  E.  R.  Henry  (Extra  Equerry  to  the  King- 
Emperor),  Major-General  Sir  S.  B.  Beatson  (Private  Secretary  to  the 
Queen-Empress),  Rear-Admiral  Sir  C.  R.  Keppel  (Extra  Equerry  to  the 
King-Emperor),  Lieut. -Colonel  Sir  J.  R.  Dunlop-Smith  (Political  A.D.C. 
to  the  Secretary  of  State),  Commander  Sir  C.  L.  Cust,  Bart.  (Equerry-in- 
Waiting  to  the  King-Emperor),  Lieut.-Colonel  the  Hon.  Sir  D.  W.  G. 
Keppel  (Master  of  the  Household),  Captain  B.  G.  Godfrey  -  Faussett 
(Equerry  to  the  King -Emperor),  Lord  Charles  G.  F.  P.  Fitzmaurice 
(Equerry  to  the  King-Emperor),  Major  Clive  Wigram  (Assistant  Private 

286 


APPENDIX  A 

Secretary  and  Equerry  to  the  King-Emperor),  Prince  George  of  Battenberg, 
Lieut. -Colonel  Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles  (Sergeant-Surgeon  to  the  King- 
Emperor),  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas  (Private  Secretary  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
India),  the  Hon.  J.  W.  Fortescue  (Official  Historian  to  the  King-Emperor), 
Mr.  Jacomb  Hood  (Official  Artist  to  the  King-Emperor). 

The  Nawab  of  Tonck  also  had  the  honour  of  being  invited,  but  was 
unavoidably  prevented  from  obeying  His  Majesty's  commands. 


December  i  3. 
DELHI. 

The  King-Emperor  left  camp  by  motor  at  8  a.m.  this  morning,  attended 
by  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  Lord  Annaly,  General 
Sir  E.  Barrow,  Lieut. -General  Sir  H.  L.  Smith-Dorrien,  Brigadier-General 
R.  E.  Grimston,  Major  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice,  Major  Clive  Wigram. 

On  arrival  at  the  camp  of  the  Naval  Contingent,  His  Imperial  Majesty 
mounted  his  charger  and  rode  through  the  camps  of  the  Naval  Contingent, 
the  19th  Infantry  Brigade,  the  20th  Infantry  Brigade,  the  21st  Infantry 
Brigade,  the  9th  Brigade,  the  8th  Brigade,  the  7th  Infantry  Brigade,  the 
I  St  Composite  Infantry  Brigade. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  returned  to  camp  by  motor  by  the  Kingsway. 

Procession  to  the  Shamiana. 

Presentation  of  Volunteer  Officers,  Indian  Officers,  and  Officers  of  the 
hnperial  Ser--vice  Troops. 

Brigadier-General  Grimston.  Two  Equerries-in-Waiting. 

THE   KING-EMPEROR. 

The  Duke  of      The  Commander-     The  Governor-  The  Marquis  of 

Teck.                      in-Chief.                   General.  Crewe. 

Nawab  of  Rampur.      Maharaja  Sir            Maharaja  of  Maharaja  of 

Pratap  Singh.              Gwalior.  Bikaner. 

Sir  E.  Henry.               Gen.  Sir                       Lord  Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H. 

E.  Barrow.             Stamfordham.  Smith-Dorrien. 
Lord  Harris.               The  Hon.  D.  Keppel.        Br.-Gen.  Birdwood. 

Col.  Goodwin.      Br.-Gen.  Melliss.     Br.-Gen.  Keary.  Col.  Viscount 

Hardinge. 

Col.  Stanton.        Nawab  Sir  Hafiz      Col.  Sir  Aslam  Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 
Muhammad                  Khan. 
AbduUa  Khan. 

Governor-General's  Staff. 

The  Volunteer  officers  first  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  the 
King-Emperor.  The  Indian  officers  and  Imperial  Service  officers  then  had 
the  honour  of  being  presented. 

The  Governor  -  General's  Bodyguard,  the  Governor's  Bodyguard 
(Madras),  the  Governor's  Bodyguard  (Bombay),  the  Escort  to  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Burma. 

287 


APPENDIX  A 

3rd  Skinner's  Horse,  8th  Cavalry,  9th  Hodson's  Horse,  nth  Lancers, 
30th  Lancers,  36th  Horse. 

31st  Mountain  Battery,  32nd  Mountain  Battery,  ist  Sappers  and 
Miners,  2nd  Sappers  and  Miners,  25th  and  26th  Railway  Companies* 
Sappers  and  Miners,  31st,  32nd  and  33rd  Delhi  Signal  Companies. 

16th  Rajputs,  1 8th  Infantry,  25th  Panjabis,  23rd  Pioneers,  28th  Pan- 
jabis,  33rd  Panjabis,  34th  Pioneers,  36th  Sikhs,  i-39th  Garhwal  Rifles, 
2-39th  Garhwal  Rifles,  41st  Dogras,  45th  Sikhs,  47th  Sikhs,  48th 
Pioneers,  53rd  Sikhs,  57th  Rifles,  74th  Panjabis. 

90th  Panjabis,  107th  Pioneers,  11 6th  Maharattas,  126th  Pioneers,  130th 
Baluchis,  i-ist  Gurkha  Rifles,  2-ist  Gurkha  Rifles,  2-2nd  Gurkha  Rifles, 
I -3rd  Gurkha  Rifles,  2-3rd  Gurkha  Rifles,  2-4th  Gurkha  Rifles,  2-9th 
Gurkha  Rifles,  2-ioth  Gurkha  Rifles. 

ist  Lancers,  6th  Cavalry,  26th  Cavalry,  38th  Horse,  39th  Horse,  104th 
Rifles,  6ist  Pioneers,  102nd  Grenadiers,  i-2nd  Gurkha  Rifles,  33rd  Cavalry, 
the  Corps  of  Guides,  2nd  Infantry,  Malay  States  Guides,  14th  Lancers,  3rd 
Sappers  and  Miners,  31st  Lancers,  2nd  Lancers,  12th  Cavalry,  7th  Rajputs, 
60th  Panjabis. 

Indian  Aides-de-Camp  to  the  Governor -General,  the  Commander-in 
Chief,  the  General  Officer  Commanding  Northern  Army,  the  General 
Oflfiicer  Commanding  Southern  Army. 

Medical  Department,  Transport  units. 

Imperial  Service  Troops. — Alwar  Lancers,  Bhavnagar  Lancers,  Bhopal 
Lancers,  Gwalior  Lancers,  Hyderabad  Lancers,  Jodhpur  Lancers,  Kashmir 
Lancers,  Mysore  Lancers,  Navanagar  Lancers,  Patiala  Lancers,  Rampur 
Lancers,  Kashmir  Artillery,  Faridkote  Sappers,  Malar  Kotla  Sappers, 
Sirmur  Sappers,  Tehri  Garhwal  Sappers,  Bhawalpur  Camel  Corps, 
Bikaner  Camel  Corps,  Khairpur  Camel  Corps,  Alwar  Infantry, 
Bharatpur  Infantry,  Bikaner  Infantry,  Gwalior  Infantry,  Jind  Infantry, 
Kapurthala  Infantry,  Kashmir  Infantry,  Nabha  Infantry,  Patiala  Infantry, 
Rampur  Infantry,  Gwalior  Transport  Corps,  Indore  Transport  Corps, 
Jaipur  Transport  Corps. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  presentation  His  Imperial  Majesty  inspected 
the  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  1st  Batt.  Connaught  Rangers,  ist  King 
George's  Own  Sappers  and  Miners. 

Before  the  presentation  of  the  above  officers  took  place  the  King- 
Emperor  presented  Albert  Medals  to  the  following  officers,  warrant  and 
non-commissioned  officers  of  the  Indian  Ordnance  Department,  which 
were  conferred  on  them  for  their  gallantry  in  saving  life  on  the  occasion  of 
the  explosion  of  cordite  at  Hyderabad  (Sind)  and  Ferozepur  in  1906. 

Albert  Medal  of  the  First  Class. — Captain  G.  C.  Donovan  and  Sub- 
Conductor  A.  E.  Purkis. 

Albert  Medal  of  the  Second  Class. — Major-General  C.  A.  Anderson, 
Major  M.  S.  Clarke  Campbell,  Captain  H.  Clarke,  Assistant  Commission- 
ary  and  Hon.  Lieutenant  F.  Hensely,  Conductor  H.  Pargiter,  Sergeant  A. 
J.  Robinson,  Sergeant  G.  Smith,  and  Sergeant  D.  Daw. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  gave  a  dinner-party  this  evening,  to  which  the 
following  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  : — The  Governor-General  of 
India  and  Lady  Hardinge  of  Penshurst,  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of 
Agra,  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of  Madras,  the  Raja  of  Jhind,  the 

288 


APPENDIX  A 

Raja   of  Kapurthala,  the    Raja   of  Pudukottai,  the    Maharaja    Rana   of 
Jhalawar,  the  Nawab  Bahadur  of  Murshidabad. 

Additional  Members  of  the  Council  of  the  Governor-General. — The 
Hon.  Mr.  C.  W.  N.  Graham  (President  Bengfal  Chamber  of  Commerce), 
the  Maharaja  Adhiraja  Bahadur  of  Burdwan,  the  Hon.  Raja  of  Dighapatia, 
the  Hon.  Maulvi  Syed  Shamsul  Huda,  the  Hon.  the  Raja  of  Kurupam, 
the  Hon.  Nawab  Saiyid  Muhammad  Sahib  Bahadur,  the  Hon.  Babu 
Bhupendra  Nath  Basu,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Sachchidananda  Sinha. 

The  Commissioner  (Fyzabad  Division)  and  Mrs.  Holmes,  the  Hon. 
Khan  Zulfikar  Ali  Khan  of  Maier  Kotla,  the  Hon.  Malik  Umar  Hayat 
Khan,  Tiwana,  the  Hon.  Mr.  J.  M.  Macpherson,  the  Director-General 
of  the  Indian  Medical  Service  and  Mrs.  Lukis,  the  Director-General  of 
Telegraphs  in  India  and  Mrs.  Dempster,  the  Inspector-General  of  Excise 
and  Salt  and  Mrs.  Todhunter,  the  Hon.  Mr.  G.  H.  B.  Kenrick  (Advocate- 
General,  Bengal),  the  Hon.  Mr.  C.  H.  Kesteven,  the  Hon.  Kour  Sir 
Ranbir  Singh  of  Patiala,  the  Hon.  Sir  Ghulam  Muhammad  Ali  Khan 
Bahadur,  K.C.I.E.,  Prince  of  Arcot. 

The  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in  the  Home  Department, 
the  Hon.  Mr.  E.  D.  MacLagan  (Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in 
the  Department  of  Revenue  and  Agriculture),  the  Hon.  Mr.  H.  Sharp 
(Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in  the  Department  of  Education), 
the  Hon.  Mr.  W.  B.  Gordon  (Secretary  to  the  Government  of  India  in 
the  Public  Works  Department),  the  Financial  Commissioner  of  Panjab 
and  Mrs.  Meredith,  the  Hon.  Mr.  P.  C.  Lyon  (Member  of  the  Board  of 
Revenue,  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam)  and  Mrs.  Lyon,  the  Hon.  Mr.  R.  C. 
C.  Carr,  I.C.S.  (Member  of  the  Board  of  Revenue,  Madras),  the  Com- 
missioner of  Northern  India  Salt  and  Revenue  and  Mrs.  Arthur. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  F.  A.  Robertson  (a  Judge  of  the  Chief  Court, 
Panjab)  and  Mrs.  Robertson,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Justice  A.  Kensington  (a 
Judge  of  the  Chief  Court,  Panjab)  and  Mrs.  Kensington,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Justice  D.  C.  Johnstone  (a  Judge  of  the  Chief  Court,  Panjab)  and  Mrs. 
Johnstone,  the  Chief  Secretary  to  the  Government  of  Madras  and  Member 
of  the  Madras  Legislative  Council  and  Lady  Stuart,  the  Director  of 
Supplies  and  Transport  and  Mrs.  Mansfield. 

Major -General  W.  Du  G.  Gray  (Inspector-General  of  Volunteers  in 
India),  the  General  Officer  Commanding  the  5th  (Mhow)  Division  and 
Mrs.  Blomfield,  Major-General  T.  D.  Pilcher  (commanding  the  Sirhind 
Brigade),  Major-General  G.  C.  Kitson  (Quartermaster-General  in  India). 

The  Hon.  Mr.  A.  K.  L.  Stuart  (Senior  Member  of  Board  of  Revenue, 
Madras,  and  a  Member  of  the  Madras  Legislative  Council),  the  Hon.  Mr. 
J.  McC.  Douie  (First  Financial  Commissioner,  Panjab,  and  a  Member  of 
the  Panjab  Legislative  Council)  and  Mrs.  Douie. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  P.  G.  Melitus  (Member  of  Board  of  Revenue,  Eastern 
Bengal  and  Assam,  and  a  Member  of  the  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam 
Legislative  Council)  and  Mrs.  Melitus,  the  Hon.  Mr.  A.  H.  Diack 
(Second  Financial  Commissioner,  Panjab,  and  a  Member  of  the  Panjab 
Legislative  Council)  and  Mrs.  Diack,  Surgeon-General  W.  B.  Bannerman 
and  Miss  Bannerman,  the  Hon.  Mr.  D.  J.  Macpherson  (Member  of  Board 
of  Revenue,  Bengal,  and  Member  of  the  Bengal  Legislative  Council)  and 
Mrs.  Macpherson. 

289  U 


APPENDIX  A 

The  Rev.  J.  C.  R.  Ewing  (Vice-Chancellor  of  the  Panjab  University), 
the  Commissioner  of  Delhi  Division  and  Mrs.  Dallas,  the  Political  Agent 
of  the  Phulkian  States  and  Bhawalpur  and  Mrs.  Atkins,  Colonel 
Viscount  Hardinge  (C.B.,  A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor)  and  Viscountess 
Hardinge,  Colonel  Nawab  Sir  Muhammad  Aslam  Khan,  Sardar  Bahadur 
(A.D.C.  to  the  King-Emperor),  Raja  Sir  Harnam  Singh  of  Kapurthala 
and  Rani  Lady  Harnam  Singh. 

The  Inspector-General  of  Police  ot  the  Panjab  and  Mrs.  Lee-French, 
the  Raja  Dhiraj  of  Shahpura,  the  Maharaja  of  Moharbhanj,  the  Nawab  of 
Bhanganapalle,  the  Raja  of  Sarangarh,  the  Surgeon  to  the  Governor- 
General  of  India  and  Mrs.  O'Kinealy,  the  Comptroller  of  the  Governor- 
General's  Household  and  Mrs.  Mackenzie,  Captains  Burn  and  Todd 
(Aides-de-Camp-in-Waiting  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor-General). 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Household. — Duke  of  Teck  (Silver  Stick 
and  personal  Aide-de-Camp),  the  Right  Hon.  the  Marquis  of  Crewe 
(Minister  in  Attendance),  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Durham  (Lord  High 
Steward),  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  (Mistress  of  the  Robes),  the  Earl  of 
Shaftesbury  (Lord  Chamberlain  to  Her  Imperial  Majesty),  the  Countess 
of  Shaftesbury  (Lady-in- Waiting),  the  Lord  Annaly  (Lord-in-Waiting), 
the  Lord  Stamfordham  (Private  Secretary  to  His  Imperial  Majesty),  the 
Hon.  Venetia  Baring  (Maid  of  Honour),  Major-General  Sir  S.  S.  Beatson 
(Private  Secretary  to  Her  Imperial  Majesty),  Lieut. -Colonel  Sir  J.  R. 
Dunlop-Smith  (Political  A.D.C.  to  the  Secretary  of  State),  Lieut. -Colonel 
the  Hon.  Sir  D.  W.  G.  Keppel  (Master  of  the  Household),  Lieut.- 
Colonel  Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles  (Sergeant -Surgeon  to  His  Imperial 
Majesty),  Captain  B.  Godfrey-Faussett,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  C.  Keppel. 


December  14. 

DELHI. 

Mounted  Procession  to  the  Review  Ground. 

The  Governor-General's  Personal  Staff. 


Capt.  R.  Raban. 
Major  H.  R.  Stockley. 


Hon.  Col.  Sir 

Muhammad  Aslam 

Khan. 

Col.  Goodwin. 

Br.-Gen.  Birdwood. 

Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  L. 

Smith-Dorrien. 
Lord  Stamfordham. 


Capt.  R.  E.  T.  Hogg. 

Hon.  Col.  Nawab  Sir 

Hafiz  Muhammad 

Abdulla  Khan. 

Col.  Viscount  Hardinge. 


Br.-Gen.  H.D'U.Keary. 
Sir  E.  Henry. 


Major  Hon.  W. 

Cadogan. 

Major  E.  D.  Money. 


Col.  Stanton. 


Br.-Gen.  C.  J.  Melliss. 

Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 

Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow. 

The  Lord-in-Waiting. 


Bodyguard. 
Household  Cavalry  Orderlies  with  Standard. 
290 


APPENDIX  A 


Adjutant,  Bodyguard. 

The  Duke  of  Teck. 

Major  Lord  C. 

Fitzmaurice. 

The  Maharaja  of  Bikaner 

Royal  Groom. 


THE  KING-EMPEROR. 

Commandant,  Bodyguanl. 

The  Governor-General. 

Col.  Maxwell. 


Br. -Gen.  Grimston. 


The  Maharaja  of  Gwalior. 
Royal  Groom. 


THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS 
(in  a  carriage  with  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes  and  the  Lord  High  Steward). 
Commandant,   Imperial  Cadet  Corps.         Major-Gen.  Sir  Pratap   Singh. 
Lt.-Col.  H.  D.  Watson.  Major-Gen.  Sir  Stuart  Beatson. 

Capt.  K.  Hill.  Capt.  L.  F.  Ashburner. 

Second  Carriage. — Lady  Hardinge,  Marquis  of  Crewe,  Lord  Chamberlain 
to  the  Queen-Empress,  Aide-de-Camp. 

Imperial  Cadet  Corps. 

Order  of  March,  Royal  Review. 
His  Imperial  Majesty  the  King-Emperor's  Procession. 

Army  Headquarters  Staff. 

Foreign  General  Officers  and  Military  Attaches. 

The  Commander-in-Chief's  Personal  Staff. 

The  Governor-General's  Personal  Staff. 


Capt.  Raban. 
Major  Stockley. 


Hon.  Col.  Muhammad 

Aslam  Khan. 

Col.  Goodwin. 

Br. -Gen.  Birdwood. 

Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  L. 

Smith-Dorrien. 
Lord  Stamfordham. 


Capt.  Hogg. 

Hon.  Col.  Hafiz 

Muhammad  Abdulla 

Khan. 

Col.  Viscount  Hardinge. 

Br.-Gen.  Keary. 
Sir  E.   Henry. 


Major  Cadogan. 
Major  Money. 

Col.  Stanton. 

Br.-Gen.  Melliss. 

Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 

Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow. 

The  Lord-in-Waiting. 


First  Division  Bodyguard. 

Household  Cavalry  Orderlies  with  Standard. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR. 


Adjutant,  Bodyguard. 

The  Duke  of  Teck. 

Major  Lord  C. 

Fitzmaurice. 

The  Maharaja  of 

Bikaner. 

Royal  Groom. 


Commandant,  Bodyguard. 
The  Governor-General. 
Br.-Gen.  Grimston.  Col.  Maxwell. 


Second  Division  Bodyguard. 
291 


The  Maharaja  of 

Gwalior. 

Royal  Groom. 


APPENDIX  A 

Her  Imperial  Majesty  the  Queen-Empress's  Procession. 

First  Division,  Imperial  Cadet  Corps. 

THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS 
(in  a  carriage  with  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes  and  the  Lord  High  Steward). 
Commandant,  Imperial  Cadet  Corps.    Hon.  Major-Gen.  Sir  Pratap  Singh. 
Lt.-Col.  H.  D.  Watson.  Major-Gen.  Sir  Stuart  Beatson. 

Capt.  H.  Hill.  Capt.  Ashburner. 

Second  Carriage. — Lady  Hardinge,  Marquis  of  Crewe,  Lord  Chamberlain 
to  the  Queen-Empress,  Aide-de-Camp. 

Second  Division,  Imperial  Cadet  Corps. 
Guards  of  Honour  were  furnished  : — 

At  the  Saluting  Point  by  Royal  Navy  and  Royal  Marine  Artillery. 
At  the  Imperial  Camp  by  the   ist  Batt.   Seaforth   Highlanders  and 
45th  Sikhs. 

THE   INVESTITURE. 

Procession  to  the  Dais. 

Delhi  Herald,  Major  Stockley,  Captain  Hogg,  Major  Money,  Lieut.- 
Colonel  Bird,  Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  H.  Charles,  Prince  George  of  Battenberg, 
Major  C.  Wigram,  Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  D.  Keppel,  Major  Lord  C.  Fitz- 
maurice.  Captain  Godfrey-Faussett,  Commander  Sir  C.  Cust,  Sir  James 
Dunlop-Smith,  Major-General  Sir  Stuart  Beatson,  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  Sir 
Edward  Henry,  Lieut. -General  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien,  Sir  J.  Hewett,  the 
Lord-in-Waiting,  the  Lord  Stamfordham,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the 
Queen-Empress,  the  Lord  High  Steward. 

THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS.  THE  KING-EMPEROR. 

Pages. — Maharaja  Kishen  Singh  of  Bharatpur,  Maharaja  Sumer  Singh 
of  Jodhpur,  Maharaja  Kunwar  Sadul  Singh  of  Bikaner,  Vir  Singh 
(grandson  of  the  Maharaja  of  Orchha),  Maharaja  Kumar  Kimmatsinghji 
of  Idar,  Sahibzada  Muhammad  Wahidaz  Zafar  Khan  of  Bhopal,  the 
Thakur  Saheb  of  Palitana,  Raja  Kumar  Chandra  Singh  of  Sailana, 
Maharaja  Kumar  Gulab  Singh  of  Rewa,  Maharaja  Mandhata  Singh  of 
Sailana. 

The  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Mistress  of  the 
Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  Sir  H.  McMahon,  the  Assistant  Herald. 

The  Guard  of  Honour  mounted  outside  the  Investiture  Tent  was 
furnished  by  the  ist  Batt.  Seaforth  Highlanders  and  the  5th  Sikhs. 


December  i  5, 

DELHI. 

Procession  to  lay  Foundation-Stone  of  New  Delhi. 

First  Carriage. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR.  THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

292 


APPENDIX  A 

Second  Carnage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the 
Lord  High  Steward,  and  the  Duke  of  Teck. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Sliaftesbury,  the  Hon.  Venetia  Baring, 
the    Lord    Chamberlain    to    the    Queen  -  Empress,   and    the    Lord 
Stamfordham. 
Brigadier-General    Sir  R.    Grimston  and  Major   Lord  C.   Fitzmaurice 

were  in  attendance  on  horseback. 

Procession  to  the  Review  of  Police. 

First  Division  of  Escort. 

Orderly.  Orderly. 

Orderly  with  Royal  Standard. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR. 
The  Duke  of  Teck.  The  Governor-General. 

Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice.  General  Sir  R.  Grimston. 

The  Maharaja  of     The  Nawab  of       Major-Gen.  Sir    The  Maharaja  of 
Bikaner.  Rampur.  Pratap  Singh.  Gwalior. 

Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow.  Lord  Annaly.  The  Commander-in- 

Chief. 
Major-Gen.  Sir  Lt.-Gen.  Sir  E.  Smith-       Lord  Stamfordham. 

S.  Beatson.  Dorrien. 

Colonel  Maxwell.  A.D.C.  to  Governor-General. 

Royal  Groom.  Royal  Groom. 

THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS 

(in  a  carriage  with  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes  and  the  Lord  High  Steward). 

Captain  Hill.  Lt.-Col.  Watson. 

Lady  Hardinge 

(in  a  carriage  with  the  Marquis  of  Crewe  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to 

the  Queen-Empress). 

Second  Division  of  Escort. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  13th  Hussars  and  the  17th  Cavalry. 

Procession  to  the  Military  Tournament. 

First  Carriage. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR.  THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the 
Duke  of  Teck,  and  the  Lord  High  Steward. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Hon.  Venetia  Baring, 
and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen-Empress. 

Major  Lord  C.  Fitzmaurice  and  Major  Wigram  were  in  attendance  on 
horseback. 

The  route  was  by  the  Kingsway,  Princess  Road,  and  the  Parade  Road. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  Volunteer  Light  Horse,  detachments 
of  the  1st  Lancers,  the  6th  Cavalry,  and  the  39th  Central  India  Horse. 

293 


APPENDIX  A 

December  i6. 

AGRA. 

Queen-Empress's  Camp. 

Guards  of  Honour  were  mounted  at  the  station  by  the   13th  Rajputs, 
and  at  the  Circuit  House  by  the  i8th  Royal  Irish  Regiment. 


December  17. 

King-Emperor's  Camp. 

The  King-Emperor's  train  stopped  at  Arrah  this  morning  and  His 
Imperial  Majesty,  attended  by  his  Suite,  was  present  at  Divine  Service  in 
Arrah  Church.  After  the  Service  the  King-Emperor  inspected  the  Behar 
Light  Horse  and  visited  Arrah  House  and  returned  to  the  train,  which 
left  for  Bikna  Thori. 

AGRA. 

Queen-Empress's  Camp. 

In  the  evening  Her  Imperial  Majesty  gave  a  dinner-party,  to  which  the 
following  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  : — The 
Bishop  of  Lucknow,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyle,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mardan,  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Downing,  Colonel  and  Mrs. 
Camilleri,  Major  and  Mrs.  Austin  Smith,  and  Major  and  Mrs.  Buchanan. 


December  19. 

JAIPUR. 

Queen-Empress's  Camp. 

Guard  of  Honour  at  Agra  :  Royal  Irish  Regiment. 

Escort  at  Agra  :   13th  Hussars. 

Guard  of  Honour  at  Jaipur  Station  :   30th  Rajputs. 

Guard  of  Honour  at  Jaipur  Residency  :  42nd  Deoli  Regiment. 

Her  Imperial  Majesty  gave  a  dinner-party  this  evening.  The  following 
ladies  and  gentlemen  had  the  honour  to  be  invited  : — Colonel  and  Mrs. 
Showers,  the  Hon.  Nawab  Sir  Faiyaz  Ali  Khan,  Major  Fisher,  Sir 
Swinton  and  Lady  Jacob,  Major  Shelley,  Mr.  Lanson,  Mr.  Berkeley,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Jameson,  and  Mrs.  Stothard. 


December  21. 

AJMER. 

Queen-Empress's  Camp. 

Guards   of  Honour   were   furnished    at    Ajmer   station    by   the   44th 

294 


APPENDIX  A 

Merwara  Infantry,  and  the  Bombay,  Baroda  and  Central  India  Railway 
Rifle  Volunteers. 

Her  Imperial  Majesty  proceeded  direct  from  the  station  to  the  Mayo 
College,  the  Escort  being  supplied  by  the  27th  Light  Cavalry. 

In  the  evening  Her  Imperial  Majesty  gave  a  dinner-party,  to  which  the 
following  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  the  honour  to  be  invited  : — Sir  Elliot 
and  Lady  Colvin  and  Miss  Colvin,  Colonel  Stratton,  Lieut.  -  Colonel 
Poingdestre,  Lieut. -Colonel  Deane,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waddington,  and  Mrs. 
Saunders. 

December  24. 

KASRA,   NIPAL. 
King-Emperor's  Camp. 

The  King-Emperor  arrived  at  Kasra  Camp  last  night. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  attended  Divine  Service  in  camp  this  morning. 
The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Godber. 

Sir  Henry  and  Lady  McMahon,  Miss  McMahon,  and  Lieut. -Colonel 
and  Mrs.  IVIanners-Smith  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  to  luncheon 
with  His  Imperial  Majesty. 

Christmas  Day. 

The  King-Emperor  attended  Divine  Service  in  camp  this  morning. 
His  Imperial  Majesty  was  attended  by  the  whole  of  his  Suite. 


December  26. 
KOTAH. 

Queen-Empress's  Camp. 

In  the  evening  Her  Imperial  Majesty  gave  a  dinner-party,  to  which  the 
following  ladies  and  gentlemen  had  the  honour  to  be  invited  : — Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Mathews,  Lieut. -Colonel  and  Mrs.  Carr  White,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robinson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devon,  and  Mr.  Sutton. 


December  28. 

NARKATIAGANJ. 

King-Emperor's  Camp. 

The  King-Emperor,  attended  by  the  whole  of  his  Suite,  left  Kasra 
Camp  this  morning. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  was  accompanied  to  Bikna  Thori  Station  by  His 
Excellency  the  Prime  Minister  of  Nipal.  After  His  Excellency  with  his 
sons  (General  Mohan  Shum  Shere  Jung  Rana  Bahadur,  Lieut. -General 
Baber  Shum  Shere  Jung  Rana  Bahadur,  and  Lieut.-General  Kishen  Shum 

295 


APPENDIX  A 

Shere  Jung  Rana  Bahadur)  had  taken  leave  of  His  Imperial  Majesty,  the 
Royal  special  train  left  Bikna  Thori  Station  at  6  p.m.  Lieut.-Colonel 
Manners-Smith  and  Mr.  H.  C.  Streatfield  were  in  attendance  on  the 
platform. 

December  30. 
CALCUTTA. 

Arrival  at  Howrah. 

Walking  Procession  from  Howrah  Station  to  the  Pontoon 
AND  from  the  Landing-Stage  AT  Prinsep's  Ghat  to  the  Pandal. 

H.E.  the  Governor-General's  Staff. 
Captain  Maclachlan.         Major  the  Hon.  W.  Captain  Holmes. 

Cadogan. 
Captain  Hogg.  Lt.-Col.  Bird. 

Hon.  J.  Fortescue.  Br.-Gen.  Mercer.  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas. 

Colonel  Stanton.  Br.-Gen.  Birdwood.  Br.-Gen.  Keary. 

Lt.-Col.  Sir  R.  Major  Lord  Charles  Major  C.  Wigram. 

Havelock  Charles.  Fitzmaurice. 

Captain  B.  G.  Godfrey-         Commander  Sir         The  Hon.  Sir  D.  Keppel. 
Faussett.  C.  Cust. 

Sir  James  Dunlop-         Major-Gen.  Sir  Stuart       Rear-Admiral  Sir  C. 
Smith.  Beatson.  Keppel. 

Sir  E.  Henry.  Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow.  Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  L. 

Smith-Dorrien. 
Lord  Stamfordham.  The  Lord-in-Waiting. 

The  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  The  Lord  High  Steward. 

Queen-Empress. 

THE    (JUEEN-EMPRESS.  THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

Attendants.  Attendants. 

H.E.  Lady  Hardinge.  H.E.  the  Governor-General. 

H.H.  the  Duke  of  Teck.      The  Mistress  of  the       The  Marquis  of  Crewe. 

Robes. 
The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring.  The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury. 

H.H.  the  Maharaja  of     H.H.  the  Maharaja  of     Hon.  Major-Gen.  Sir 
Bikaner.  Gwalior.  Pratap  Singh. 

Br.-Gen.  Sir  R.  Grimston.  Sir  Henry  McMahon. 

Mounted  Procession  from  Prinsep's  Ghat  to  Government 
House,  Calcutta. 

G.O.C.  8th  Lucknow  Division  and  Staff. 
Captain  Maclachlan.         Major  the  Hon.  W.  Captain  Holmes. 

Cadogan. 

Captain  Hogg.  Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 

Colonel  Stanton.  Br.-Gen.  Birdwood.  Br.-Gen.  Keary. 

Captain  B.  G.  Godfrey-  Commander  Sir  The  Hon.  Sir  D. 

Faussett.  C.  Cust.  Keppel. 

296 


APPENDIX  A 

Br.-Gen.  Sir  R.  Sir  E.  Henry.  Major-Gcn.  Sir  Stuart 

Grimston.  Beatson. 

Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien.  General  Sir  E.  Barrow. 

The  Master  of  The  Lord-in-Waiting.  The  Lord  Stamfordham. 

Ceremonies. 
The  Maharaja  of  The  Maharaja  of  Sir  Pratap  Singh. 

Bikaner.  Gwalior. 

Composite  Squadron  of  Light  Horse. 

Calcutta  Light  Horse. 

O.C.  Calcutta       THEIR  IMPERIAL  MAJESTIES        O.C.  O.C. 

Light  Horse.  (in  a  carriage).  Bodyguard.      Escort. 

The  Duke  of  Teck. 

Major  C.  Wigram.  Major  the  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice. 

Royal  Groom.  Royal  Groom. 

Carriage  Escort  of  2  N.C.O.'s  and  4  Sowars  of  the  Bodyguard. 

Second  Carriage. — The   Mistress   of  the   Robes,   the   Marquis  of  Crewe, 

Rear-Admiral  Sir  C.  Keppel. 
Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord  High  Steward, 

Lt.-Col.  Sir  J.  Dunlop-Smith,  Lt.-Col.  Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles. 
Fourth  Carriage. — The   Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to 

the  Queen-Empress,  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas. 
Fifth  Carriage. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Bird,  the  Hon.  J.  Fortescue. 
The  Bodyguard. 
Indian  Cavalry  Regiment. 

The  route,  which  was  lined  by  troops,  was  by  the  EUenborough  course 
south  of  Havildar's  Tank,  Red  Road,  Government  Place  East,  and  Old 
Court  House  Street,  entering  Government  House  by  the  north  gate. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  U  Battery  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  the  8th 
Hussars,  Calcutta  Light  Horse,  Light  Horse  Composite  Squadron,  the 
Governor-General's  Bodyguard,  4th  Cavalry  (one  squadron),  i6th  Cavalry. 

On  arrival  at  Government  House  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress 
were  received  by  the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge. 

The  following  were  also  assembled  at  Government  House  to  receive 
Their  Imperial  Majesties  : — The  Commander-in-Chief  with  his  Staff,  the 
heads  of  Local  Governments  and  Administrations,  the  Most  Rev.  the  Bishop 
of  Calcutta,  the  Metropolitan  of  India  and  Ceylon,  the  Members  of  the 
Governor-General's  Executive  Council,  the  Naval  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  East  Indies  with  his  Staff,  the  Chief  of  the  General  Staff,  the  President 
and  Members  of  the  Railway  Board,  the  Additional  Members  of  the 
Governor-General's  Legislative  Council,  the  Secretaries  and  Deputy  Secre- 
taries of  the  Government  of  India,  the  Headquarters  Staff  of  the  Army, 
the  heads  of  Civil  and  Military  Departments,  the  Hon.  the  Chief  Justice  of 
Bengal,  the  Puisne  Judges  of  the  High  Court. 

The  King-Emperor  inspected  the  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  East  York- 
shire Regiment  and  the  66th  Panjabis.  After  the  inspection  the  following 
had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  Their  Imperial  Majesties  by  the 
Governor-General :— The  Chief  Justice,  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  the  Members 
of  the  Executive  Council,  the  Naval  Commander-in-Chief,  the  Chief  of  the 
General   Staff,   the   President   and    Members  of   the   Railway   Board,  the 

297 


APPENDIX  A 

Additional  Members  of  the  Legislative  Council,  the  Secretaries  to  the 
Government  of  India,  after  which  the  senior  officers  of  the  Army  Head- 
quarters Staff  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  and  the  Puisne  Judges  by  the  Chief  Justice. 


December  31. 
GOVERNMENT   HOUSE,  CALCUTTA. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  attended  Divine  Service  at  the 
Cathedral  this  morning. 

The   procession   from   Government   House    to   the  Cathedral   was    as 
follows  : — 

First  Carriage. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR.  THE  gUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  and 
Captain  Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

Third  Carriage. — The  Marquis  of  Crewe,   the  Lord  High  Steward,  and 
Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

The  route  to  the  Cathedral  was  by  the  Red  Road,  Mayo  Road,  and 
Chowringhee. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  8th  Hussars. 


"January  2. 

CALCUTTA. 

Mounted  Procession  from  the  Dufferin  Statue  to 
THE  Review  Ground. 

Army  Headquarters  Staff. 
H.E.  the  Governor-General's  Staff. 
Captain  Maclachlan.  Captain  Holmes. 

Major  the  Hon.  Captain  Hogg.  Major  Graeme. 

W.  G.  S.  Cadogan. 

Major  Money.  Colonel  Stanton.  Br.-Gen.  Mercer. 

Br.-Gen.  Keary.  The  Hon.  Sir  Derek         Br.-Gen.  Birdwood. 

Keppel. 
Lieut. -Gen.  Sir  H.  Gen.  Sir  E.  Barrow. 

Smith-Dorrien. 
Lord  Stamfordham.  The  Lord-in-Waiting. 

First  Division  Bodyguard. 
N.C.O.,  8th  Hussars  with  Standard. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR. 

Commandant,  Bodyguard. 
H.E.  the  Commander-       H.E.  the  Governor-     H.H.  the  Duke  of  Teck. 
in-Chief.  General. 

Major  Lord  Charles         Br.-Gen.  Grimston.  Colonel  Maxwell. 


Fitzmaurice. 


298 


APPENDIX  A 

H.H.  the  Maharaja  of     H.H.  the  Maharaja  of         Sir  Pratap  Singh. 
Bikaner.  Gvvalior. 

Royal  Groom.  Royal  Groom. 

THE   QUEEN-EMPRESS 
(in  a  carriage  with  the  Mistress  of  the  Robes  and  the  Lord  High  Steward). 

Adjutant  of  the  Bodyguard. 
Major  H.  R.  Stockley.  Major  Gen.  Sir  Stuart 

Beatson. 

H.E.  Lady  Hardinge 

(in  a  carriage  with  the  Marquis  of  Crewe  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to 

the  Queen-Empress). 

Second  Division  Bodyguard. 


January  3. 

CALCUTTA. 

This  afternoon  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  honoured  the 
Calcutta  Races  with  their  presence. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  left  Government  House  at  2.30  P.M.,  and  a 
procession  of  carriages  was  formed  as  follows  : — 

First  Carriage. 

THE   KING-EMPEROR.  THE   QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the 

Duke  of  Teck. 
Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to 

the  Queen-Empress,  General  Sir  E.  Barrow. 
Fourth    Carriage. — The    Hon.   Venetia    Baring,    Lord    Stamfordham,    Sir 

Henry  McMahon. 
Fifth   Carriage. — Commander   Sir  C.  Cust,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  C.  Keppel 
(Equerries-in-Waiting). 
Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  and  Major  Wigram  were  in  attendance 
on  horseback. 

The  Escort,  under  the  command  of  Major  Keighley,  was  furnished  by 
the  Governor-General's  Bodyguard. 

The  route  of  the  procession  was  by  the  Red  Road,  the  Jail  Road,  and 
the  east  side  of  the  Racecourse  to  the  Grand  Stand. 


January  4. 
CALCUTTA. 

Last  night  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  honoured  with  their 
presence  a  military  tattoo,  and  also  witnessed  the  illuminations  and  a  display 
of  fireworks,  which  took  place  on  the  Maidan  between  Government  House 
and  the  fort. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  arrived  at  the  Lawrence  Statue  at  9.30,  and 

299 


APPENDIX  A 

were  conducted  to  their  seats  on  the  dais  by  the  Governor-General  and 
Lady  Hardinge.  The  following  gentlemen — members  of  the  Illuminations 
Committee — then  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  the  King-Emperor 
and  the  Queen-Empress  by  His  Excellency  : — 

Mr.  J.  G.  Apcar,  Raja  Kristo  Das  Law,  Mr.  Emerson,  Babu  Charu 
Chandar  Malik.  Colonel  Ward,  Captain  Brancker,  and  Risaldar  Chapal 
Singh,  organisers  of  the  torchlight  tattoo,  also  had  the  honour  of  being 
presented. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties*  Suite  in  attendance  were  assembled  below  to 
the  right  and  left  of  the  dais. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  display  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress 
returned  to  Government  House. 

The  King-Emperor  this  night  held  an  Investiture. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  entered  the  Throne-room  at  9  P.M.,  attended  by 
the  Governor-General,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the  Lord 
High  Steward,  and  the  Equerries-in-Waiting. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  then  severally  introduced  into  His 
Imperial  Majesty's  presence,  when  the  King-Emperor  conferred  upon  them 
the  honour  of  knighthood,  and  invested  them  with  the  insignia  of  the 
division  of  the  Order  into  which  they  had  been  admitted  : — 

To  be  Knights  Commander  of  the  Royal  Victorian  Order. — The  Nawab 
Bahadur  of  Murshidabad,  Major-General  B.  T.  Mahon,  Major-General 
Sir  A.  A.  Barrett,  Major-General  G.  C.  Kitson. 

To  be  Knights  Bachelor.— Mr.  D.  Yule,  the  Hon.  Mr.  F.  L.  Halliday. 

To  be  Commanders  of  the  Royal  Victorian  Order. — The  Hon.  Mr.  C.  J. 
Stevenson-Moore,  Mr.  C.  B.  Bayley. 

To  be  Companions  of  the  Order  of  the  Indian  Empire. — The  Hon. 
Mr.  W.  C.  Madge,  Colonel  B.  W.  Marlow,  Major  L.  Rogers,  Mahama- 
hopadhyaya  Hara  Prasad  Shastri,  Mr.  J.  H.  Kerr. 

To  be  Members  of  the  Fourth  Class  of  the  Royal  Victorian  Order. — 
Captain  G.  H.  Wills,  Lieut.-Colonel  R.  Bird,  Major  the  Hon.  H.  J.  Eraser, 
Captain  the  Hon.  A.  O.  W.  Weld-Forester,  Captain  V.  A.  S.  Keighley. 

To  be  Members  of  the  Fifth  Class  of  the  Royal  Victorian  Order. — 
Mr.  C.  Stead,  Mr.  F.  C.  T.  Halliday,  Mr.  C.  A.  Tegart,  Mr.  H.  S.  H. 
Pilkington,  Mr.  Amir  Ahmad. 

To  be  Companions  of  the  Imperial  Service  Order. — Mr.  H.  L.  French, 
Shaikh  Shadi,  Babu  Upendra  Nath  Chatterji,  Rai  Bahadur  Rala  Ram,  Mr. 
T.  W.  Payne,  Babu  Narayan  Kishen  Sen,  Mr.  T.  O.  Drake,  Mr  C.  W. 
Caston,  Mr.  J.  E.  Lacey,  Mr.  Ahsan-ud-Din  Ahmad,  Mr.  G.  W.  Marshall. 

The  Kahar-i-Hind  Medal  of  the  First  Class.— Mr.  J.  T.  Stark,  Rai  Hari 
Mohan  Chandra  Bahadur,  Mr.  E.  G.  Barton. 

After  the  Investiture  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  held  a 
Court. 

"January  5. 

CALCUTTA. 

Procession  to  the  Pageant. 

First  Carriage. 

THE   KING-EMPEROR.  THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

300 


APPENDIX  A 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the 
Duke  of  Teck,  the  Lord  High  Steward. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to 
the  Queen-Empress,  Lord  Stamfordham,  Commander  Sir  C.  Cust. 

Fourth    Carriage. — The    Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  and  Major  Wigram  were  in  attend- 
ance on  horseback. 

The  remainder  of  the  suite  were  in  attendance  in  the  panJal,  in  front 
of  which  a  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  Middlesex  Regiment  and  the  27th 
Panjabis  was  mounted.  On  arrival  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen- 
Empress  were  received  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal,  the 
Nawab  of  Murshidabad,  the  Maharajadhiraja  of  Burdwan  (President  of 
the  Imperial  Reception  Executive  Committee),  Hon.  Sir  Cecil  Graham 
and  Dr.  Rash  Behari  Ghose  (Vice-President),  the  Maharaja  of  Darbhanga 
(President  of  the  Pageant  Sub-Committee),  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Norman 
MacLeod,  and  were  conducted  to  the  front  of  the  pavilion,  where  Their 
Imperial  Majesties  were  received  by  the  Governor-General  and  Lady 
Hardinge  and  conducted  to  their  seats  on  the  dais. 

The  Maharaja  of  Gidhour  then  handed  a  Pesh  Kash  of  loi  gold  mohurs 
on  a  tahli  to  the  Nawab  of  Murshidabad,  who  on  behalf  of  the  people  of 
Bengal,  Behar,  and  Orissa  and  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam,  handed  it  to 
the  King-Emperor. 

The  following  then  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  Their 
Imperial  Majesties  by  the  Nawab  of  Murshidabad  : — 

The  Maharajadhiraja  of  Burdwan,  Prince  Amir  Adr  Mirja  Abid  Ali, 
the  Maharaja  of  Gidhour,  the  Maharaja  of  Darbhanga,  the  Hon. 
Maharaja  of  Dinajpur,  Maharaja  Sir  Prodyot  Coomar  Tagore,  the 
Maharaja  of  Chota  Nagpur,  the  Maharaja  of  Surang,  the  Maharaja  of 
Nattore,  the  Hon.  Maharaja  of  Cassimbazar,  Maharaja  of  Narsingpur,  the 
Maharaja  of  Krishnagar,  Raja  Bahadur  Benod  Krishna  Deb,  Raja  Peary 
Mohun  Mookerjee,  the  Hon.  Raja  of  Dighapatiya,  Nawab  Shamsh-ul- 
ulama,  Saiyed  Imdad  Imam,  the  Maharaja  Kumar  of  Hathwa,  Sir 
Alexander  Apcar,  Sir  Rajendra  Nath  Mookerjee,  the  Hon.  Sir  Cecil 
Graham,  Major-General  Drummond,  Dr.  Rash  Behary  Ghose,  the  Hon. 
Mr.  F.  H.  Stewart,  the  Hon.  Babu  Bhupendra  Nath  Basu,  Mr.  R.  H.  A. 
Gresson,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Norman  MacLeod,  the  Hon.  Mr.  J.  G.  Apcar, 
the  Hon.  Babu  Deva  Prasad  Sarvadicary,  Mr.  E.  O.  Emerson,  Sir  Jyoti 
Singh,  Sir  Jyoti  Singh  of  Pachote. 

The  Maharajadhiraja  of  Burdwan  presented  the  programmes  to  Their 
Imperial  Majesties,  and  the  Pageant,  which  consisted  of  the  Nawroz 
Procession  and  the  Dasehara  Procession  and  the  dance  of  the  Orissa  Paiks, 
then  commenced. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Pageant  the  following  had  the  honour  of 
being  presented  to  their  Imperial  Majesties  : — 

Dr.  Dennison  Ross,  Mr.  Lascelles,  Captain  Meadows,  Mr.  Thornton. 

After  taking  tea  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  left  the 
dais  and  were  conducted  to  their  carriage,  attended  by  the  Maharaja  Sir 
Prodyot  Coomar  Tagore  and  the  Maharaja  of  Nattore,  who  held  the  State 

301 


APPENDIX  A 

umbrellas,  and  also  by  the  Maharaja  Kumar  of  Mourbhang  and  the 
Mirza  of  Murshidabad,  pages  to  the  Queen-Empress.  Their  Imperial 
Majesties  then  drove  in  procession,  making  a  circuit  of  the  grounds  on 
which  the  Pageant  took  place,  and  returned  to  the  Government  House  by 
the  Red  Road. 

The  Escort,  under  the  command  of  Major  McClellan,  was  furnished 
by  the  8th  Hussars  and  4th  Cavalry. 


January  6. 

CALCUTTA. 

This  morning  at  8.30  the  King-Emperor  mounted  his  charger  and  left 
Government  House,  attended  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  Duke  of 
Teck,  General  Sir  E.  Barrow,  Major-General  Sir  G.  C.  Kitson,  Major- 
General  Sir  B.  T.  Mahon,  Brigadier-General  Sir  R.  Grimston,  Major 
Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice,  and  Major  Wigram  (Equerries-in-Waiting). 

The  King-Emperor  inspected  the  following  military  camps  on  the 
Maidan  : — U  Battery  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  74th  Battery  Royal  Field 
Artillery,  8th  Hussars,  No.  70  Company  Royal  Garrison  Artillery,  2nd 
Batt.  East  Yorkshire  Regiment,  2nd  Batt.  the  Black  Watch,  3rd  Batt. 
Middlesex  Regiment,  a  wing  of  the  1st  Batt.  Middlesex  Regiment,  the  66th 
Panjabis,  the  2nd  Batt.  loth  Gurkha  Rides. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  then  rode  to  Kidderpur  and  Allpur,  and  inspected 
the  camps  of  the  detachment  of  the  2nd  Lancers,  the  4th  Cavalry,  the  i6th 
Cavalry,  and  the  27th  Panjabis. 

The  King-Emperor  returned  from  Alipur  to  Fort  William,  where  the 
2nd  Rifle  Brigade  and  the  88th  Carnatic  Infantry  were  drawn  up  in  line 
on  their  parade  grounds. 

His  Imperial  Majesty  returned  from  the  Fort  to  Government  House  by 
motor. 

In  the  forenoon  the  King-Emperor  received  a  deputation  from  the 
University  of  Calcutta.  His  Imperial  Majesty  entered  the  Throne-room 
at  10.30,  attended  by  the  Governor-General,  the  Lord  Steward,  the  Duke 
of  Teck,  Lord  Stamfordham,  Lieut. -General  Sir  H.  L.  Smith-Dorrien, 
Brigadier-General  W.  R.  Birdwood,  Brigadier-General  H.  D'U.  Keary, 
Colonel  Stanton,  Brigadier-General  Mercer,  the  Maharaja  of  Gwalior,  the 
Hon.  Major-General  Sir  Pratap  Singh,  the  Maharaja  of  Bikaner,  Captain 
Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.,  Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  (Equerries-in- 
Waiting). 

Dr.  Ashutosh  Mukerjee  (Vice-Chancellor)  then,  on  behalf  of  the 
University,  presented  an  Address  to  the  King-Emperor,  to  which  His 
Imperial  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  read  a  reply. 

Before  entering  the  Throne-room  the  King-Emperor  was  graciously 
pleased  to  present  to  Dr.  Ashutosh  Mukerjee  portraits  of  Their  Imperial 
Majesties  to  be  preserved  by  the  University  as  mementoes  of  the  King- 
Emperor's  visit  to  Calcutta. 

This  morning  the  (^ueen  -  Empress  visited  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  the  Presidency  General  Hospital,  the  Dufferin 
Hospital,  and  the  Medical  College  Hospital. 

302 


APPENDIX  A 

Her  Imperial  Majesty  left  Government  House  by  motor,  attended  by 
Lady  Hardinge,  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  Sir  Havelock  Charles,  and 
Colonel  O'Kinealy. 

On  arrival  at  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  the  Queen- 
Empress  was  received  by  Mrs.  Noel  Paton,  the  President. 

After  making  an  inspection  of  the  institute,  Her  Imperial  Majesty  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Presidency  General  Hospital,  where  the  Queen-Empress  was 
received  by  Surgeon-General  Sir  Charles  Lukis,  Colonel  Harris,  Colonel 
Pilgrim,  and  the  staff  of  the  hospital.  Her  Imperial  Majesty  visited  the 
various  wards  in  the  main  building  and  in  the  Woodburn  block,  and  then 
proceeded  to  the  Dufferin  Hospital.  The  Queen-Empress  was  received  by 
the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal  and  Miss  Platts  (the  surgeon-in-charge). 

After  inspecting  the  hospital  Her  Imperial  Majesty  visited  the  Medical 
College  Hospital,  on  arrival  at  which  the  Queen-Empress  was  received 
by  Colonel  Drury  and  the  staff  of  the  hospital.  Her  Imperial  Majesty 
inspected  the  Prince  of  Wales's  block  and  the  Eden  Hospital,  and  then 
returned  to  Government  House. 


January  7. 

CALCUTTA. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  attended  Divine  Service  at  the 
Cathedral  this  morning. 

The  procession  from  Government  House  to  the  Cathedral  was  as 
follows  : — 

First  Carriage. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR.  THE  QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  Captain 
Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

Third  Carriage. — The  Lord  High  Steward,  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust 
(Equerry-in-Waiting). 

Captain  Holmes  and  Captain  Maclachlan  (extra  Aides-de-Camp)  were 
in  attendance  on  horseback. 

The  route  to  the  Cathedral  was  by  the  Mayo  Road  and  Chowringee. 
The  Escort  was  furnished  by  the  8th  Hussars  and  i6th  Cavalry. 

January  8. 

CALCUTTA. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  proceeded  from  Government 
House  to  Prinsep's  Ghat  at  1 1  a.m.  this  morning. 

The   following   gentlemen  had  the  honour  of  taking  leave  of  Their 
Imperial  Majesties  at  Government  House  : — 
The  Commander-in-Chief  with  his  Staff. 
The  heads  of  Local  Governments  and  Administrations. 
The  Most  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  Metropolitan  of  India  and 
Ceylon. 

303 


APPENDIX  A 

The  Members  of  the  Governor-General's  Executive  Council. 

The  Naval  Commander-in-Chief  with  his  staff. 

The  President  and  Members  of  the  Railway  Board. 

Additional  Members  of  the  Governor-General's  Legislative  Council. 

The  Secretaries  and  Deputy  Secretaries  to  the  Government  of  India. 

The  Headquarters  Staff  of  the  Army. 

The  heads  of  Civil  and  Military  Departments. 

The  Chief  Justice  of  Bengal. 

The  Puisne  Judges  of  the  High  Court. 

Ruling  Chiefs. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  then  entered  their  carriage  and 
drove  from  Government  House  to  Prinsep's  Ghat. 
The  procession  was  in  the  following  order  : — 

Captain  Holmes.  Major  the  Hon.  W. 

Cadogan. 
Major  Graeme.  Brigadier-General 

Mercer. 
Colonel  H.  R.  Stanton.         Brigadier-General  Brigadier-General 

Birdwood.  Keary. 

General  Sir  E.  Barrow.  Sir  Henry  McMahon. 

The  Maharaja  of  The  Maharaja  of       Hon.  Major -General  Sir 

Bikaner.  Gwalior.  Pratap  Singh. 

First  Carriage. 

THE  KING-EMPEROR.  THE  ^UEEN-EMPRESS. 

(On  Horseback)  (On  Horseback) 

Colonel  Apostolides.  Major  Keighley. 

Brigadier-General  Cookson. 
Major  Wigram.  Brigadier-General  Sir  R. 

Grimston. 

Second  Carriage. — The    Mistress  of  the  Robes,  The    Marquis  of  Crewe, 
Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Third   Carriage. — The    Duke   of    Teck,    the    Countess   of    Shaftesbury, 
Commander  Sir  C.  Cust,  Sir  Derek  Keppel. 

Fourth    Carriage. — Hon.    Venetia    Baring,    the   Lord    High    Steward,  Sir 
R.  Havelock  Charles. 

Fijth    Carriage. — The    Lord    Chamberlain    to    the   Queen-Empress,  Lord 
Stamfordham,  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas. 

As  Their  Imperial  Majesties  entered  their  carriage  the  National 
Anthem  was  played,  and  a  salute  of  loi  guns  was  fired  from  the  ramparts 
of  Fort  William. 

The  Escort,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Cookson,  was 
furnished  by — 

U  Battery  Royal  Horse  Artillery. 
8th  Hussars. 

The  Calcutta  Light  Horse. 
Composite  Squadron  Light  Horse. 


APPENDIX  A 

The  Governor-General's  Bodyguard. 
1 6th  Cavalry. 

On  arrival  at  the  Ghat  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  were 
received  by  the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge.  The  following 
were  also  present  : — 

The  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bengal  with  his  Staff. 
Members  of  the  Bengal  Executive  Council. 
The  Ruling  and  feudatory  Chiefs  of  Bengal. 
The  principal  nobles  of  Bengal. 
Members  of  the  Bengal  Legislative  Council. 
Representatives  of — 

The  Bengal  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

The  Commissioners  of  the  Port  of  Calcutta. 

The  British  Indian  Association. 

The  Trades  Association. 

The  Bengal  National  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

The  Bihar  Landholders'  Association. 

The  University  of  Calcutta. 

The  Commissioners  of  the  Calcutta  Corporation. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Slacke  (Vice-President)  then,  on  behalf  of  the  Legislative 
Council  of  Bengal,  presented  an  Address  to  Their  Imperial  Majesties,  to 
which  the  King-Emperor  was  graciously  pleased  to  read  a  reply. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  then  proceeded  on  board  the 
steamer  Hon.vrah,  where  Their  Imperial  Majesties  were  received  by  the 
Vice-Chairman  of  the  Port  Commissioners,  the  Port  Officer  of  Calcutta, 
and  the  Deputy  Conservator  of  the  Port  of  Calcutta. 

The  procession  from  the  Ghat  to  the  steamer  was  in  the  following 
order  : — 

The  Governor-General's  Staff. 
Captain  Holmes.  Major  Graeme.  Major  the  Hon.  W. 

Cadogan. 
Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas.  Colonel  Stanton.  Brigadier-General 

Mercer. 
Brigadier-General       Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles.       Brigadier-General 
Keary.  Bird  wood. 

Major  Wigram.  Sir  Derek  Keppel. 

Commander  Sir  C.  Cust.  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

General  Sir  A.  Barrow.  Lord  Stamfordham. 

The  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  The  Lord  High  Steward. 

Queen-Empress. 
THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS.  THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

Lady  Hardinge.  The  Governor-General. 

The  Duke  of  Teck.         The  Mistress  of  the  The  Marquis  of 

Robes.  Crewe. 

The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring.  The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury. 

The  Maharaja  of  The  Maharaja  of       Hon.  Major-General  Sir 

Bikaner.  Gwalior.  Pratap  Singh. 

Brigadier-General  Sir  R.  Grimston.  Sir  Henry  McMahon. 

305  X 


APPENDIX  A 

As  the  steamer  left  Prinsep's  Ghat  a  salute  of  loi  guns  was  fired  by 
H.M.S.  Highflyer. 

The  steamer,  escorted  by  six  ferry  boats  manned  by  the  Calcutta  Port 
Volunteers,  proceeded  up  the  Hugli  River  to  Howrah  landing-stage, 
where  Their  Imperial  Majesties  disembarked  and  were  received  by  the 
Commissioner  of  the  Burdwan  Division,  the  Magistrate  of  Howrah,  and 
the  Agent  of  the  Bengal-Nagpur  Railway. 

The  procession  was  then  re-formed,  and  the  King-Emperor  and  Queen- 
Empress  proceeded  to  Howrah  Station. 

The  Governor-General  and  Lady  Hardinge  then  had  the  honour  of 
taking  leave,  and  Their  Imperial  Majesties  entered  the  Royal  train,  which 
left  for  Bombay  at  12.15  p.m. 

The  National  Anthem  was  played,  and  a  salute  of  loi  guns  was  fired 
from  the  ramparts  of  Fort  William  as  the  train  left  Howrah  Station. 

Guards  of  Honour  of  the  3rd  Batt.  Middlesex  Regiment  and  the 
2nd  Batt.  loth  Gurkhas,  the  2nd  Rifle  Brigade  and  the  Eastern  Bengal  State 
Railway  Volunteers,  and  the  Bengal-Nagpur  Railway  Volunteer  Rifles, 
were  mounted  at  Government  House,  the  Prinsep's  Ghat,  and  Howrah 
Station  respectively. 


y^nuary  9. 
KING-EMPEROR'S   CAMP,   NAGPUR. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress,  with  their  Suite  in  attendance, 
arrived  at  Nagpur  at  2.15  p.m.  to-day,  and  on  alighting  from  the  train 
were  received  by  the  Chief  Commissioner,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Nagpur,  and 
the  General  Officer  Commanding  the  Jubbulpur  Brigade. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  paid  a  visit  to  the  Fort,  and  proceeded  again 
at  3.15  P.M.  by  special  train  for  Bombay. 


January  10. 
H.M.S.    MEDINA,    BOMBAY. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  arrived  at  Bombay  at  12 
noon. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  were  received  at  the  Victoria  terminus  by  the 
Governor-General,  the  Governor  of  Bombay  and  Lady  Clarke. 

A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  Great  Indian  Peninsula  Railway  Volunteers 
was  mounted  at  the  station. 

The  King-Emperor  having  inspected  the  Guard  of  Honour,  Their 
Imperial  Majesties  were  escorted  to  their  carriage  and  a  procession  was 
formed  as  follows  : — 

First  Carriage. 

THE    KING-EMPEROR.  THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS. 

Second  Carriage. — His  Excellency  the  Governor-General,  the  Marquis  of 
Crewe. 

306 


APPENDIX  A 

Third  Carriage. — The  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  His  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Teck,  Commander  Sir  C.  Cust,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel. 

Fourth  Carriage. — His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Bombay,  Lady  Clarke, 
Lord  Stamfordham. 

Fifth  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Lord  High  Steward, 
the  Hon.  Sir  Derek  Keppel. 

Sixth  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring,  the  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the 
Queen-Empress,  Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles. 

Major-General  Sir  R.  Grimston  and  Major  Clive  Wigram  were  in 
attendance  on  horseback. 

The  route  was  by  Hornby  Road,  Esplanade  Road,  and  Apollo  Bandar 
Road. 

The  Escort  was  furnished  by  Y  Battery  Royal  Horse  Artillerj',  7th 
Dragoon  Guards,  Bombay  Light  Horse,  26th  Cavalry,  and  the  Governor's 
Bodyguard. 

On  arrival  at  the  amphitheatre  Their  Imperial  Majesties  alighted  from 
their  carriage,  and  the  King-Emperor  having  inspected  the  Guard  ot 
Honour  of  the  Norfolk  Regiment,  a  procession  was  formed  to  the  pavilion 
in  the  following  order  : — 

Procession  at  the  Bandar,  Bombay. 

H.E.  The  Governor  of  Bombay's  Staft". 

H.E.  The  Governor-General's  Staff. 

Captain  Grissell.                 Captain  Hogg.  Major  Humphreys. 

Mr.  Jacomb  Hood.            Mr.  F.  H.  Lucas.  The  Hon.  J.  Fortescue. 

Sir  R.  Havelock  Charles.       Captain  Godfrey-  Major  Lord  C. 

Faussett.  Fitzmaurice. 

The  Hon.  Sir  Derek          Sir  James  Dunlop-  Commander  Sir  C. 

Keppel.                                Smith.  Cust. 

Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin       Sir  Edward  Henry.  Major-Gen.  Sir  Stuart 

Keppel.  Beatson. 

Gen.  Sir  H.  Smith-        The  Lord-in-Waiting.        Lord  Stamfordham. 

Dorrien. 
The  Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  The  Lord  High  Steward. 

Queen-Empress. 

THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS.  THE    KING-EMPEROR. 

H.H.  the  Duke  of  Teck.      H.E.  the  Gov.-Gen.      The  Marquis  of  Crewe. 
Lady  Clarke.  H.E.  the  Gov.  of  The  Mistress  of  the 

Bombay.  Robes. 

The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring.  The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury. 

Major  C.  Wigram.  Brig.-Gen.  Sir  R.  Grimston. 

Their  Imperial  Majesties  having  taken  their  seats  in  the  pavilion,  Sir 
R,  Lamb,  Vice-President  of  the  Bombay  Legislative  Council,  on  behalf  of 
the  Council,  read  an  Address  of  Farewell,  to  which  the  King-Emperor 
was  graciously  pleased  to  reply. 

The  following  gentlemen  then  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to 
Their  Imperial  Majesties  by  the  Governor  of  Bombay  : — The  Chief  Justice 

307  X2 


APPENDIX  A 

of  Bombay,  the  Bishop  of  Bombay,  the  Judges  of  the  High  Court,  the 
Additional  Members  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  His  Excellency  the 
Governor-General,  the  Commissioner  of  Customs,  the  General  Officer 
Commanding  the  6th  (Poona)  Division,  the  General  Officer  Commanding 
the  Bombay  Brigade,  the  Commissioner  (Northern  Division),  the  Foreign 
Consular  Officers,  the  Native  Chiefs  present,  and  the  Sheriff  of  Bombay. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress,  attended  by  the  Governor- 
General,  the  Governor  of  Bombay,  and  Lady  Clarke,  and  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  of  the  Suite  in  attendance,  then  embarked  and  left  the  Apollo 
Bandar  for  H.M.S.  Medina. 

The  King-Emperor  and  Queen-Empress  gave  a  luncheon-party  on 
board  H.M.S.  Medina,  to  which  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being 
invited  : — The  Governor- General,  the  Governor  of  Bombay  and  Lady 
Clarke,  His  Highness  the  Aga  Khan,  Captain  Lumsden,  Sir  Charles 
Cleveland,  Lieut.-Colonel  Maxwell,  Major  Greig,  Captain  Tod,  Captain 
Muir,  Major-General  Sir  R.  Grimston,  Major  Money,  Captain  Mac- 
lachlan.  Captain  Hogg,  Captain  Raben. 

After  luncheon  the  King-Emperor  invested  the  Maharao  Raja  of 
Bundi  with  the  insignia  of  a  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  Victorian  Order. 

His  Imperial  Majesty's  Indian  Suite  took  leave  of  the  King-Emperor 
and  Queen-Empress. 

At  6  P.M.,  the  Governor-General  having  taken  leave  of  their  Imperial 
Majesties,  H.M.S.  Medina  left  for  Port  Sudan. 


January  IJ. 
H.M.S.    ME  DIN  J,    PORT   SUDAN. 

The  King  and  Queen  arrived  at  Port  Sudan  at  7.15  A.M. 

This  morning  a  salute  of  2 1  guns  was  fired  from  the  saluting  battery  as 
H.M.S.  Medina  entered  the  harbour. 

At  7.30  A.M.  His  Majesty  received  Field  -  Marshal  the  Viscount 
Kitchener,  and  afterwards  the  King  received  the  Governor-General,  who 
was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  of  greeting  to  Their  Majesties  from  His 
Highness  the  Khedive. 

The  Governor  -  General  was  accompanied  by  Lewa  Ramzi  Taher 
Pasha,  chief  A.D.C.  to  the  Khedive. 

At  8  am.  the  King  and  Queen  disembarked,  attended  by  their  Suite, 
and  were  received  on  the  quay  by  Field-Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener, 
the  Governor-General  and  Lady  Wingate,  and  Major-General  Sir  R. 
Baron  von  Slatin,  with  their  respective  Staffs,  and  Mr.  Graham  Kerr 
(Governor  Red  Sea  Province). 

Guards  of  Honour  of  the  ist  Batt.  Alexandra  Princess  of  Wales's  Own 
Yorkshire  Regiment  and  the  8th  Batt.  Egyptian  Army  were  mounted 
opposite  the  pavilion  on  the  quay. 

Having  inspected  the  Guards  of  Honour,  His  Majesty  returned  to  the 
dais. 

The  Governor-General  then  read  an  Address  of  Welcome  to  the  King 
and  Queen,  to  which  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  reply. 

308 


APPENDIX  A 

Certain  Sheikhs  and  notables  then  had  the  honour  of  receiving  presents 
from  His  Majesty. 


JaJiuary  20. 
H.M.S.    MEDINA,  PORT   SAID. 

The  King  and  Queen  arrived  at  Port  Said  this  morning. 

At  1. 15  P.M.  the  King  received  a  visit  from  the  Khedive.  His 
Highness  remained  to  luncheon  with  Their  Majesties  on  board  H.M.S. 
Medina,  and  the  following  had  the  honour  of  being  invited  : — 

His  Highness  Kiamel  Pasha  (ex-Grand  Vizier),  Muzuffer  Bey  Kiamel, 
Major-General  Sir  John  Maxwell,  His  Excellency  Said  Zoulificar  Pasha 
(Grand  Master  of  the  Ceremonies),  El  Leja  Watson  Pasha,  Prince 
D'Arenberg  (President  Suez  Canal),  Mr.  H.  T.  Anstruther,  Mr.  R.  S. 
Donkin,  Count  de  Serionne,  Mahomed  Mahmund  Bey  (Governor  of 
Port  Said),  Councillor  M.  Cheetham,  Mr.  E.  C.  Blech  (British  Consul- 
General,  Port  Said),  Captain  O.  A.  G.  FitzGerald,  and  Captain  Darell 
(A.D.C.  to  the  General  Officer  Commanding  the  troops  in  Egypt). 

After  luncheon  the  Khedive  having  taken  leave  of  the  King,  His 
Majesty  disembarked  and  inspected  the  Guards  of  Honour  of  the  ist'Batt. 
Scots  Guards  under  the  command  of  Major  Carpenter-Garnier,  and  the 
3rd  Batt.  Egyptian  Army,  imder  the  command  of  El  Yusbashi  Mahom- 
med  Effendi  Bahgat. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Queen  received  a  deputation  of  ladies  from  Port 
Said,  and  Her  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  accept  a  bouquet, 
presented  by  Mrs.  Blech. 

The  following,  with  the  Suite  in  attendance,  had  the  honour  of  being 
included  in  Their  Majesties'  dinner-party  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina  this 
evening  : — 

Field-Marshal  the  Viscount  Kitchener  of  Khartoum,  Major-General 
Sir  John  Maxwell,  El  Lewa  Watson  Pasha,  Colonel  Macauley,  Councillor 
M.  Cheetham,  Captain  William  Goodenough,  R.N.,  Captain  Michael 
Culme-Seymour,  R.N.,  Captain  Henry  Bruce,  R.N.,  Captain  Clement 
Greatorex,  R.N.,  Flag-Captain  Alfred  Chatfield,  R.N.,  and  Commander 
George  Tomlin. 


January  24. 
H.M.S.    MEDINA,   MALTA. 

The  King  and  Queen  arrived  at  Malta  at  10  a.m.  this  morning. 

As  H.M.S.  Medina  entered  the  Grand  Harbour,  salutes  of  21  guns 
were  fired  from  Forts  Ricasoli  and  St.  Elmo,  from  His  Majesty's  ships,  and 
the  ships  of  the  French  Fleet  in  harbour,  and  from  the  saluting  battery. 

On  arrival  the  King  received  the  Governor  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina. 

His  Majesty  then  received  the  Naval  Commander-in-Chief,  by  whom 
the  Admirals  and  Captains  of  the  Mediterranean  Fleet  had  the  honour  of 
being  presented  to  His  Majesty.     Admiral  A.  E.  H.  Boue  de  Lapeyrire, 

309 


APPENDIX  A 

Rear-Admiral  F.  P.  Moreau,  and  the  Captains  of  the  ships  of  the  French 
Fleet  also  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  Their  Majesties  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief. 

Later  the  King  honoured  Admiral  A.  E.  H.  Boue  de  Lapeyr^re  with  a 
visit  on  board  the  French  flagship  Danton. 

This  evening  the  King  and  Queen  honoured  the  Naval  Commander-in- 
Chief  and  Lady  Poe  with  their  presence  at  a  dinner-party  at  Admiralty 
House,  and  afterwards  attended  a  gala  performance  at  the  Opera.  The 
Duchess  of  Devonshire,  the  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  the  Hon.  Venetia 
Baring,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  the  Marquis  of  Crewe,  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury, 
the  Lord  Annaly,  the  Lord  Stamfordham,  Lieut. -General  Sir  Horace 
Smith-Dorrien,  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Colin  Keppel,  Commander  Sir  Charles 
Cust,  and  Captain  B.  Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.,  were  in  attendance. 

Guards  of  Honour  of  the  Royal  Marine  Light  Infantry  and  the  2nd 
Batt.  King's  Own  Malta  Militia  were  mounted  at  Admiralty  House  and 
the  Opera  House  respectively. 


Jatiuary  30. 

H.M.S.   MEDINA,  GIBRALTAR. 

The  King  and  Queen  arrived  at  Gibraltar  at  lo  o'clock  this  morning. 

As  H.M.S.  Medina  entered  the  harbour  salutes  of  21  guns  were  fired 
from  the  Portuguese  men-of-war,  His  Majesty's  ships  in  harbour,  and  from 
the  saluting  battery. 

On  arrival  His  Majesty  received  the  Governor,  the  Colonial  Secretary, 
the  Captain  of  the  Portuguese  man-of-war,  Rear-Admiral  Pelham,  and  the 
Captains  of  His  Majesty's  ships  in  harbour. 

The  King  then  received  in  audience  Sir  Maurice  de  Bunsen,  British 
Ambassador,  Madrid. 

His  Majesty  also  received  Sir  Reginald  Lister,  British  Minister,  Tangier. 

Deputations  from  the  Exchange  Committee  and  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
the  Roman  Catholic  Community,  and  the  Hebrew  Community,  were  after- 
wards received  in  turn  by  Their  Majesties,  followed  by  a  Special  Mission 
sent  by  the  Sultan  of  Morocco. 

Si  Mohammed  el  Guebbas  (Commissioner  for  Foreign  Affairs),  the  Pasha 
of  Tangier,  and  the  Members  of  the  Mission  were  introduced  to  Their 
Majesties  by  Sir  Reginald  Lister. 

Si  Mohammed  el  Guebbas  then  read  an  Address  of  Welcome  from  the 
Sultan,  to  which  His  Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  reply. 

In  the  afternoon  the  King  and  Queen  drove  to  the  Colonial  Hospital, 
where  they  were  received  by  Dr.  W.  Turner  (Colonial  Surgeon),  Sir 
Frederick  Evans  (Chairman),  and  the  Members  of  the  Board  of  Hospital 
Commissioners. 

After  visiting  the  various  wards  Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  Water- 
works, where  they  were  received  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Copeland  (Engineer), 
Colonel  A.  Grant  (Chairman),  and  the  Members  of  the  Board  of  Sanitary 
Commissioners. 

The  Queen  then  opened  the  new  reservoir  works  by  firing  the  first  mine. 

310 


APPENDIX  A 

The  King  and  Queen  honoured  the  Governor  and  Lady  Hunter  with  a 
visit  at  Government  House,  where  they  remained  to  tea  and  then  returned 
on  board  H.M.S.  Medina. 


January  31. 
H.M.S.  MEDINA,  GIBRALTAR. 

This  morning  at  9  a.m.  the  Infante  Don  Carlos,  escorted  by  a  Spanish 
naval  squadron,  arrived  at  Gibraltar. 

Salutes  of  21  guns  were  fired  from  His  Majesty's  ships  in  harbour  and 
the  saluting  battery  as  the  squadron  entered  the  harbour. 

At  9.30  A.M.  the  Infante  visited  the  King  and  Queen  on  board  H.M.S. 
Medina,  where  he  was  received  by  the  Duke  of  Teck  and  the  Lord  High 
Steward. 

His  Royal  Highness  was  accompanied  by  the  Governor  of  Alge(;iras, 
and  attended  by  his  personal  Suite  and  the  Admiral  and  Captains  of  the 
ships  of  the  Spanish  squadron,  who  had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to 
Their  Majesties. 

The  King  afterwards  visited  the  Infante  on  board  the  Spanish  flagship. 

This  afternoon  Their  Majesties  drove  to  the  Military  Hospital. 

Firtt  Carriage. 

THE  KING,  THE  QUEEN,  and  THE  Governor. 

Second  Carriage. — Lady  Hunter,  the  Duke  of  Teck,  Lieut. -General  Sir  H. 
Smith-Dorrien,  and  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust. 

Third  Carriage. — The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury,  The  Marquis  of  Crewe, 
the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  and  Sir  Richard  Havelock  Charles. 

After  visiting  the  hospital  Their  Majesties  proceeded  to  the  Mount, 
where  they  honoured  the  Admiral-Superintendent  and  Mrs.  Pelham  with 
a  visit  and  remained  to  tea. 

After  tea  Their  Majesties  returned  on  board  H.M.S.  Medina. 


February  4. 

H.M.S.   MED  IN  J,  SPITHEAD. 

H.M.S.  Medina  arrived  at  Spithead  at  10  a.m.  this  morning. 

The  King  and  Queen  attended  Divine  Service  on  board  at  10.30  a.m., 
and  afterwards  Their  Majesties  received  the  Captains  of  the  cruisers  of  the 
Escort  : — 

Captain  Goodenough,  H.M.S.  Cochrane  ;  Captain  Michael  Culme- 
Seymour,  H.M.S.  Argyll ;  Captain  H.  H.  Bruce,  H.M.S.  Defence  ;  and 
Captain  Greatorex,  H.M.S.  Natal. 

3" 


APPENDIX  A 

February  5. 

ARRIVAL  AT   PORTSMOUTH. 

Previous  to  disembarking  this  morning  the  King  received  on  board 
H.M.S.  Medina  the  Rt.  Hon.  Winston  Spencer-Churchill,  M.P.  (First 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty),  and  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty, 
Admiral  Sir  Arthur  Moore  (Commander-in-Chief  at  Portsmouth),  Rear- 
Admiral  A.  G.  Tate  (Superintendent,  Portsmouth  Dockyard),  and  the 
Flag  Officers  with  their  personal  Staffs,  and  the  Captains  of  His  Majesty's 
ships  in  harbour  and  at  Spithead. 

Their  Majesties  disembarked  shortly  after  10  o'clock,  and  were  received 
on  the  jetty  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington  (Acting  Lord-Lieutenant  of  the 
County  of  Hampshire),  General  Sir  C.  W.  H.  Douglas  (General  Officer 
Commanding-in-Chief,  Southern  Command),  and  Major-General  W.  E. 
Blewitt  (General  Officer  Commanding  Southern  Coast  Defences). 

Royal  salutes  were  fired  from  His  Majesty's  ships  and  the  land  forts  at 
Portsmouth  at  9  o'clock,  and  Guards  of  Honour  of  the  Royal  Marine  Light 
Infantry  (under  the  command  of  Captain  Norman  O.  Burge)  and  of  the 
Royal  Marine  Artillery  (under  the  command  of  Captain  Lancelot  D. 
Briscoe)  were  mounted  at  the  South  Railway  Jetty. 

An  Address  was  presented  to  Their  Majesties  by  the  Mayor  of  Ports- 
mouth (Sir  Scott  Foster)  on  board  H.M.S.  MediJia  on  behalf  of  the 
Corporation  of  Portsmouth,  to  which  the  King  handed  a  reply. 

ARRIVAL  AT  VICTORIA. 

The  King  and  Queen  were  met  on  arrival  at  Victoria  Station  by  Prince 
and  Princess  Christian  of  Schleswig-Holstein  with  Princess  Victoria  and 
Princess  Marie  Louise  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Princess  Louise  (Duchess  of 
Argyll)  and  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  the  Duchess  of  Albany,  Princess  Louis 
of  Battenberg  and  Princess  Louise  of  Battenberg,  the  Countess  Feodore 
Gleichen  and  the  Countess  Helena  Glelchen. 

The  Members  of  the  Corps  Diplomatique  as  follows  were  present  : — 

Their  Excellencies  the  French  Ambassador,  the  German  Ambassador, 
the  Countess  Benckendorff,  the  Austro-Hungarian  Ambassador,  the  Spanish 
Ambassador,  the  Turkish  Ambassador,  the  Italian  Ambassador  and  the 
Marchesa  Imperial!,  the  Netherlands  Minister,  the  Countess  de  Lalaing, 
the  Brazilian  Minister,  the  Swedish  Minister  and  the  Countess  Wrangel, 
the  Danish  Minister,  the  Uruguayan  Minister,  the  Colombian  Minister, 
the  Norwegian  Minister  and  Madame  Vogt,  the  Liberlan  Minister  and 
Madame  Cromelin,  Madame  Gennadius,  the  Bulgarian  Minister  and 
Madame  Tzokow,  the  Argentine  Minister  and  Madame  de  Dominguez, 
the  Chilian  Minister  and  Madame  de  Edwards,  the  Siamese  Minister,  the 
Persian  Minister,  and  the  Mexican  Minister  and  Madame  de  Belstigui. 

The  Haytian  Minister-Resident,  the  Guatemalan  Charge  d'Affalres,  the 
Peruvian  Charg^  d'Affalres,  the  Cuban  Charge  d'Affalres,  the  Bolivian 
Charge  d'Affalres  and  Madame  Suarez,  the  Japanese  Charge  d'Affalres,  the 
Portuguese  Charge  d'Affalres,  the  United  States  Charge  d'Affalres,  the  Swiss 

312 


APPENDIX  A 

Charg-e  d'Affaires,  the  Servian  Charge  d'Affaires  and  Madame  Grouitch, 
and  Monsieur  Vouros  (Greek  Legation). 

Their  Excellencies  the  Russian  Ambassador,  the  Belgian  Minister,  the 
Greek  Minister,  the  Chinese  Minister,  the  Charges  d'AfFaires  for  Costa 
Rica  and  tor  Roumania,  Madame  de  Villa  Urrutia,  Madame  Regis  de 
Oliveira,  Madame  Perez  Triana,  and  Mrs.  Yamaza  were  unavoidably  pre- 
vented from  attending. 

The  following  members  of  the  Government  in  the  Cabinet  were  present 
at  Victoria  Station  upon  the  arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen  : 

The  Rt.  Hon.  H.  H.  Asquith,  M.P.  (Prime  Minister  and  First  Lord  of 
the  Treasury),  the  Earl  Carrington  (Lord  Privy  Seal)  and  the  Countess 
Carnngton,  the  Viscount  Haldane  (Secretary  of  State  for  War),  the  Rt. 
Hon.  R.  McKenna,  M.P.  (Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home  Department) 
and  Mrs.  McKenna,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Edward  Grey,  Bt.,  M.P.  (Secretary 
of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs),  the  Rt.  Hon.  L.  Harcourt,  M.P.  (Secretary  of 
State  for  the  Colonies)  and  Mrs.  Harcourt,  and  the  Rt.  Hon.  H  Samuel, 
M.P.  (Postmaster-General). 

There  were  also  present  :— 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  the  Marquis  and  Marchioness  of  Lansdowne,  the  Marchioness 
of  Crewe,  the  Marquis  de  Soveral,  Earl  of  Aberdeen,  the  Earl  and  Countess 
of  Bessborough,  the  Earl  and  Countess  Grey,  Field -Marshal  the  Earl 
Roberts,  the  Viscount  Esher,  General  the  Lord  William  Seymour,  the  Lord 
and  Lady  Sandhurst,  the  Lord  Revelstoke,  the  Lord  Strathcona  and  Mount 
Royal  (High  Commissioner  for  the  Dominion  of  Canada),  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir 
George  Reid  (High  Commissioner  for  the  Commonwealth  of  Australia), 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Ameer  Ali  (member  of  the  Judicial  Committee  of  the  Privy 
Council)  and  Mrs.  Ali,  Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Edmund  Fremantle  (Rear- 
Admiral  of  the  United  Kingdom),  Field-Marshal  Sir  W.  G.  Nicholson 
(Chief  of  the  Imperial  General  Staff),  the  Hon.  Sir  Richard  Solomon  (High 
Commissioner  for  the  Union  of  South  Africa),  Lieut.-General  Sir  Arthur 
Paget  (General  Officer  Commanding-in-Chief,  Eastern  Command),  Sir 
Richmond  Ritchie  (Permanent  Under-Secretary  of  State  for  India),  the 
Hon.  Sir  W.  Hall  Jones  (High  Commissioner  for  the  Dominion  of  New 
Zealand),  Sir  Theodore  Morison  and  the  Members  of  the  Council  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  for  India,  Rear-Ad miral  Sir  Adolphus  FitzGeorge, 
Colonel  Sir  Augustus  FitzGeorge,  Major-General  Sir  A.  E.  Codrington 
(General  Officer  Commanding  the  London  District),  Colonel  R.  Scott-Kerr 
(Commanding  Grenadier  Guards),  Colonel  the  Hon.  W.  Lambton  (Com- 
manding Coldstream  Guards),  Colonel  G.  J.  Cuthbert  (Commanding  Scots 
Guards),  and  Mr.  Edward  White  (Chairman  of  the  London  County 
Council). 

The  Lady  Gweneth  Ponsonby  had  the  honour  of  presenting  a  bouquet 
to  the  Queen. 

The  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  Thomas  Crosby  (Lord  Mayor  of  London)  and  the 
Lady  Mayoress,  the  Sheriffs  of  London,  and  the  Lord  Mayors  of  Birming 
ham,_  Bristol,  Cardiff,    Dublin,   Liverpool,   Leeds,   Manchester,    Norwich, 
Sheffield,  and  York,  and  the  Lord  Provosts  of  Aberdeen,  Dundee,  Edin- 
burgh, Glasgow,  and  Perth  were  present. 

A  Guard  of  Honour  of  the  3rd  Batt.  Grenadier  Guards,  with  the  Colour 

313 


APPENDIX  A 

and  Band  of  the  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Captain  B.  N.  Brooke, 
was  mounted  at  the  station. 

PROCESSION   TO    THE    PALACE. 

The  King  having  inspected  the  Guard  of  Honour,  a  Royal  carriage 
procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order  : — 

First  Carriage. 

(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

HIS   MAJESTY   THE    KING. 

HER    MAJESTY   THE   QUEEN. 

His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

Second  Carriage. 

(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

The  Duchess  of  Devonshire  (Mistress  of  the  Robes),  the  Duke  of  Teck 
(Personal  Aide-de-Camp  to  the  King),  the  Earl  of  Durham  (Lord 
High  Steward),  Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust,  Bt.,  R.N.  (Equerry-in- 

Waiting). 

Third  Carriage. 

(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury  (Lady-in-Waiting),  the  Marquis  of  Crewe 
(Secretary  of  State  for  India),  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  (Lord  Chamber- 
Iain  to  the  Queen),  the  Lord  Annaly  (Lord-in- Waiting). 

Fourth  Carriage. 
(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring  (Maid  of  Honour),  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  William 
Carington  (Keeper  of  the  Privy  Purse),  the  Lord  Stamfordham  (Private 
Secretary),  the  Hon.  Sir  Derek  Keppel  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

Fifth  Carriage. 

(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

Lieut. -General  Sir  H.  Smith-Dorrien  (A.D.C.  General-in-Waiting),  Sir 
Edward  Henry  (Commissioner  of  Metropolitan  Police),  Major-General 
Sir  Stuart  Beatson  (extra  Equerry),  Captain  Bryan  Godfrey-Faussett, 
R.N.  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

Sixth  Carriage. 

(Plain  Road  Landau  and  Four  Bay  Horses.) 

Colonel  Sir  James  Dunlop-Smith  (Political  A.D.C.  to  the  Secretary  of  State 
for  India),  Sir  Richard  Havelock  Charles  (Sergeant-Surgeon),  Mr. 
F.  H.  Lucas  (Private  Secretaiy  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India),  the 
Hon.  John  Fortescue  (Librarian). 


APPENDIX  A 

Major  Lord  Charles  Fitzmaurice  and  Major  Clive  Wigram  (Equerrles- 
Jn-Waiting)  were  in  attendance  upon  horseback. 

Their  Majesties  were  escorted  from  Victoria  Station  to  the  Palace  by  a 
Captain's  Escort  of  the  Royal  Horse  Guards,  under  the  command  of  Major 
the  Viscount  Crichton. 

The  route  of  the  Royal  procession  was  by  Buckingham  Palace  Road, 
Victoria  Street,  Parliament  Square,  Parliament  Street,  Whitehall,  the 
Admiralty  Arch,  and  the  Mall. 

Princess  Mary,  Prince  George,  and  Prince  John  met  Their  Majesties 
at  the  Grand  Entrance  to  the  Palace. 

The  Earl  Spencer  (Lord  Chamberlain),  the  Master  ot  the  Household, 
the  Hon.  Sidney  Greville  (Paymaster  of  the  Household),  Sir  Walter 
Campbell,  Mr.  Harry  L.  Verney,  and  Captain  Philip  Hunloke  (Grooms- 
in-Waiting),  Sir  Francis  Laking,  Bt.,  the  Countess  of  Minto,  the  Lady 
Ampthill,  and  the  Lady  Desborough  (Ladies  in  Waiting),  the  Lady  Eva 
Dugdale  (Woman  of  the  Bedchamber  in  Waiting),  the  Hon.  Katharine 
Villiers  and  the  Hon.  Mabel  Gye  (Maids  of  Honour  in  Waiting),  the 
Hon.  A.  Nelson  Hood,  Mr.  E.  W.  Wallington,  and  Lieut.-Colonel  F. 
Dugdale  (Treasurer,  Private  Secretary,  and  Equerry  to  the  Queen),  Mile. 
Dussau  and  Mr.  H.  P.  Hansell,  were  in  attendance  at  the  Palace  upon  the 
arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen  ;  and  the  Earl  of  Granard  (Master  of  the 
Horse),  Colonel  Sir  Douglas  Dawson  (Comptroller  in  the  Lord  Chamber- 
lain's Department),  the  Hon.  Arthur  Walsh  (His  Majesty's  Master  of 
the  Ceremonies),  the  Hon.  Richard  Moreton  (Deputy -Master  of  the 
Ceremonies),  Captain  the  Hon.  Sir  Charles  Wentworth  FitzWilliam 
(Crown  Equerry),  Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  F.  Ponsonby  (Equerry  to  the  King), 
and  Colonel  G.  C.  Nugent  (Field  Officer  in  Brigade  Waiting)  were  in 
attendance  at  the  railway  station. 


February  6. 

BUCKINGHAM  PALACE. 

The  King  and  Queen  were  present  this  morning  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral 
at  a  Service  of  Thanksgiving  for  Their  Majesties'  safe  return  to  this 
country. 

Their  Majesties,  accompanied  by  the  Prince  of  Wales,  Princess  Mary 
and  Prince  George,  left  the  Palace  at  1 1.40  o'clock,  escorted  by  a  Captain's 
Escort  of  ist  Life  Guards,  under  the  command  of  Captain  the  Lord  Hugh 
Grosvenor,  a  State  Procession  having  been  formed  in  the  following  order  : — 

First  Carriage. 
THE  KING.  THE  QUEEN. 

The  Prince  of  Wales  and  Princess  Mary. 
The  following  were  in  attendance  on  horseback  : — 
Major-General  Sir  A.  E.  Codrington     Lt.-Gen.  Sir  H.  L.  Smith-Dorrien 
(General  Officer  Commanding  (Aide-de-Camp  General- 

the  London  District).  in-Waiting). 


APPENDIX  A 

Major  the  Lord  Charles     Major  Clive  Wigram  Capt.  the  Hon. 

Fitzmaurlce  (Equerry-in-Waiting).  Sir  Charles 

(Equerry-in-Waiting).  Wentworth  Fitzwilliam 

(Crown  Equerry). 
Colonel  G.  C.  Nugent  Lieut. -Colonel  the  Duke  of  Teck 

(Field  Officer  in  Brigade  Waiting).  (Silver-Stick-in-Waiting). 

Capt.  the  Hon.  J.  F.  Forbes  Trefusis  Captain  G.  E.  M.  Mundy 

(Adjutant  in  Brigade  Waiting).  (Silver  Stick  Adjutant). 

Second  Carriage. — Prince  George,  the  Duchess  of  Devonshire  (Mistress  of 
the  Robes),  the  Countess  of  Shaftesbury  (Lady-in-Waiting),  the 
Earl  of  Granard  (Master  of  the  Horse). 

Third  Carriage. — The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring  (Maid  of  Honour  in  Waiting), 
the  Earl  of  Durham  (Lord  High  Steward),  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury 
(Lord  Chamberlain  to  the  Queen). 

Fourth  Carriage. — The  Lord  Annaly  (Lord-in-Waiting),  Lieut. -Colonel 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  W.  Carington  (Keeper  of  the  Privy  Purse),  Lieut.- 
Colonel  the  Lord  Stamfordham  (Private  Secretary),  Captain  Philip 
Hunloke  (Groom-in- Waiting). 

Fifth  Carriage. — Commander  Sir  Charles  Cust,  Bt.,  R.N.,  Equerry-in- 
Waiting),  the  Hon.  Sir  Derek  Keppel  (Equerry-in-Waiting),  Lieut. - 
Colonel  Sir  Frederick  Ponsonby  (Equerry-in-Waiting),  Captain  B. 
Godfrey-Faussett,  R.N.  (Equerry-in-Waiting). 

The  King's  Guard  of  the  ist  Batt.  Grenadier  Guards,  with  the  Colour 
and  Band  of  the  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Captain  L.  V.  Colby, 
was  mounted  in  the  Quadrangle  of  the  Palace. 

The  route  of  the  Royal  Procession  was  by  the  Mall,  Marlborough  Gate, 
Pall  Mall,  Trafalgar  Square,  the  Strand,  Fleet  Street,  and  Ludgate  Hill  to 
St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

The  Procession  halted  at  Trafalgar  Square,  and  the  King  received  a 
deputation  from  the  Westminster  City  Council,  headed  by  the  Mayor, 
who  presented  an  Address  of  Welcome  to  the  King  and  Queen,  to  which 
His  Majesty  handed  a  reply. 

The  King  and  Queen  were  received  at  Temple  Bar  by  the  Lord  Mayor, 
the  Sheriffs,  and  members  of  the  Court  of  Aldermen  and  Common 
Council. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  in  accordance  with  ancient  custom,  surrendered  the 
City  Sword  to  the  King,  which  His  Majesty  returned. 

The  King  and  Queen  afterwards  proceeded  to  the  Cathedral,  where  a 
Guard  of  Honour  of  the  ist  Batt.  Coldstream  Guards,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  W.  A.  Fuller-Maitland,  was  mounted. 

A  Detachment  of  the  London  Diocesan  Church  Lads'  Brigade  lined  the 
steps  leading  to  the  West  Door  of  the  Cathedral. 

Queen  Alexandra,  accompanied  by  the  Princess  Victoria,  attended  by 
Her  Majesty's  Suite,  and  escorted  by  a  Captain's  Escort  of  ist  Life  Guards 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  L.  H.  Hardy,  had  proceeded  before- 
hand to  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

316 


APPENDIX  A 


Prince  and  Princess  Christian  of  Schlesvvig-Holstein,  Princesses  Victoria 
and  Marie  Louise  of  Schleswig-Holstein,  Princess  Louise  (Duchess  of 
Argyll)  and  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  the  Duchess  of  Albany,  Prince  Arthur 
of  Connaught,  Princess  Louis  of  Battenberg,  with  Prince  George  and 
Princess  Louise  of  Battenberg,  the  Duchess  of  Teck  and  Prince  George 
of  Teck,  and  the  Countesses  Feodore  and  Helena  Gleichen  had  previously 
arrived  and  taken  their  appointed  places. 

Their  Majesties  were  received  at  the  Cathedral  by  the  Dean  and 
Chapter,  together  with  the  Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs. 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbur)%  the  Archbishop  of  York,  and  Bishop 
Boyd  Carpenter  (Clerk  of  the  Closet)  were  present. 

The  King,  the  Queen,  and  Queen  Alexandra  were  conducted  to  their 
scats,  a  procession  being  formed  in  the  following  order  : — 

Minor  Canons. 

Prebendaries. 

Bishops. 

Clerk  of  the  Closet. 

Archbishop  of  York. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

Canons  Residentiary. 

Sheriffs. 

The  Lord  Mayor  (bearing  the  Pearl  Sword). 

THE  KING.         Dean  of  St.  Paul's. 


Senior  Canon.  THE  gUEEN 

Prince  of  Wales. 
The  Princess  Victoria.  Prince  George 

The  Earl  of  Durham  (Lord  High 


Steward). 

The  Countess  of  Shaftesbury  (Lady 
of  the  Bedchamber  to  the  Queen). 
Admiral  Sir  M.  Culme-Seymour,  Bt. 
(Vice-Admiral  of  the  United  Kingdom) 

The  Earl  Howe 

(Lord  Chamberlain 

to  Queen  Alexandra). 

The  Hon.  Venetia  Baring 

(Maid  of  Honour  to  the 

Queen). 


The  Earl  of  Gosford 

(Vice-Chamberlain 
to  Queen  Alexandra). 


Capt.  B.  Godfrey- 

Faussett 

(Equerry  to  the  King). 


The  Lord  Annaly 
(Lord-in-Waiting 

to  the  King). 

The  Countess  of 

Gosford  (Lady  of  the 

Bedchamber  to  Queen 

Alexandra). 

Lieut. -Colonel 

the  Rt.  Hon. 

Sir  William  Carington 

(Keeper  of  the  Privy 

Purse). 

Commander  Sir  Charles 

Cust,  Bt.,  R.N. 
(Equerry  to  the  King). 


Queen  Alexandra. 

Princess  Mary. 
The  Earl  of  Granard  (Master  of 
the  Horse). 

The  Duchess  of  Devonshire 
(Mistress  of  the  Robes  to  the  Queen). 
Field-Marshal  the  Lord  Grenfell 
(Gold-Stick-in- Waiting). 

The  Earl  of  Shaftesbury 
(Lord  Chamberlain 

to  the  Queen). 
The  Hon.  Charlotte 

KnoUys  (Woman 

of  the  Bedchamber  to 

Queen  Alexandra). 

The  Lord  Stamfordham 

(Private  Secretary 

to  the  King). 


The  Hon.  Sir  Derek 

Keppel 
(Equerry  to  the  King). 


APPENDIX  A 

Lt.-Col.  Sir  Frederick  Capt.  the  Lt. -Gen.  Sir  Major-Gen.  Sir 

Ponsonby  (Equerry     Hon.  Sir  Charles  H.  L.  Smith-  A.  E.  Codrington 

to  the  King).  Fitzwilliam  Dorrien  (Aide-de-      (General  Officer 

(Crown  Equerry).     Camp  General-in-     Commanding  the 
Waiting).  London  District). 

Major  the  Lord  Charles     Captain  Philip  Hunloke        Major  Clive  Wigram 
Fitzmaurice  (Groom-in-Waiting  (Equerry-in- Waiting 

(Equerry-in-Waiting  to  to  the  King).  to  the  King), 

the  King). 

Colonel  Henry  Streatfeild  Colonel  Sir  Arthur  Davidson 

(Equerry-in-Waiting  to  Queen  (Equerry-in-Waiting  to  Queen 

Alexandra).  Alexandra). 

Colonel  G.  C.  Nugent  (Field  Lieut.-Colonel  the  Duke  of  Teck 

Officer  in  Brigade  Waiting).  (Silver-Stick-in-Waiting). 

The  National  Anthem  was  then  sung,  being  followed  by  the  special 
form  of  service  appointed  for  the  occasion. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  the  Recessional  Hymn  was  sung,  during 
which  Their  Majesties  were  conducted  by  the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Clerk  of 
the  Closet,  and  the  Dean  and  Chapter  to  the  West  Door  of  the  Cathedral, 
where  the  Royal  Procession  was  re-formed  and  proceeded  by  way  of 
Ludgate  Hill,  New  Bridge  Street,  the  Embankment,  Northumberland 
Avenue,  Admiralty  Arch,  and  the  Mall  to  Buckingham  Palace. 

In  addition  to  Their  Majesties'  Suites,  the  following  were  on  duty  in 
the  Cathedral  : — 

Colonel  Sir  Douglas  Dawson  (Comptroller  of  the  Lord  Chamberlain's 
Department),  the  Hon.  Arthur  Walsh  (Master  of  the  Ceremonies),  the 
Hon.  Richard  Moreton  (Marshal  of  the  Ceremonies),  the  Rt.  Hon.  Sir  S. 
Ponsonby-Fane,  Mr.  Lionel  Cust,  Sir  David  Erskine,  Mr.  Arnold  Royle, 
Major-General  Sir  John  Slade,  Mr.  Horace  West,  Mr.  Percy  Armytage,  Vice- 
Admiral  Charles  Windham,  Mr.  Thomas  Kingscote,  Captain  Gerald  Ellis, 
Colonel  H.  Fludyer,  Mr.  Montague  Eliot,  and  Colonel  Lord  William  Cecil 
(Gentlemen  Ushers),  and  Mr.R.  F.Synge  (Deputy-Marshal  of  the  Ceremonies). 
Major  J.  C.  Brinton  (late  2nd  Life  Guards),  Captain  Phillips  and 
Lieutenant  A.  Leigh  Bennet  (Coldstream  Guards),  Major  McCalmont  and 
Lieutenant  Lord  Arthur  Hay  (Irish  Guards),  and  the  gentlemen  of  the 
Lord  Chamberlain's  Department  were  also  on  duty  in  the  Cathedral. 
Amongst  those  present  at  the  Service  were  : — 

Their  Excellencies  the  Ambassadors,  Foreign  Ministers  and  Chefs  de 
Mission,  the  Cabinet  Ministers  and  other  Members  of  the  Government,  ex- 
Cabinet  Ministers,  the  Speaker,  Members  of  the  Houses  of  Parliament,  the 
Lord  Mayors  and  Lord  Provosts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  the  Mayors  of 
the  Metropolitan  boroughs,  the  Chairman  and  Members  of  the  London 
County  Council,  the  Permanent  Officials  of  the  various  departments  of  the 
State,  the  Council  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India,  officers  of  the  Army 
and  Navy,  a  detachment  of  officers  and  men  from  H.M.S.  Medina,  His 
Majesty's  Judges,  the  Aldermen  and  Common  Councilmen  of  the  City  of 
London,  representatives  of  the  City  Companies,  the  Households  of  the  King 
and  Queen,  Queen  Alexandra  and  the  Royal  Family,  officials  and  visitors 
from  India  and  the  Colonies. 

The  route  to  and  from  Buckingham  Palace  and  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  was 
lined  with  troops. 

.-.18 


APPENDIX    B 

THE   KING-EMPEROR'S  STAFF   IN   INDIA. 

Permanent  Staff. 

Brigadier-General  R.  E.  Grimston,  Militarj'  Secretary. 

Major  E.  D.  Money  (ist  Gurkha  Rifles),  Assistant  Military  Secretary. 

Major  A.  R.  Stockley  (ist  Sappers  and  Miners),  Assistant  Military 

Secretary. 
Captain  R.  E.  T.  Hogg  (38th  Central  India  Horse),  Assistant  Military 

Secretary. 
Lieut. -Colonel  R.  Bird  (Indian  Medical  Service),  Surgeon. 

EXTRA  STAFF  AT   DELHI. 

Attached. 

Sir  John  Hewett,  President  Durbar  Committee. 

Colonel  Sir  Henry  McMahon,  Master  of  the  Ceremonies. 

The  King's  Honorary  Aides-de-Camp. 

Hon.  Major-General  the  Maharaja  of  Gwalior. 
Hon.  Major-General  Sir  Pratap  Singh. 
Hon.  Colonel  Nawab  Sir  Aslam  Khan. 
Hon.  Colonel  the  Maharaja  of  Bikaner. 
Hon.  Colonel  the  Nawab  of  Rampur. 
Hon.  Colonel  Nawab  Sir  Hafiz  Khan. 

Extra  Equerry. 
Lieut. -Colonel  H.  D.  Watson  (9th  Gurkha  Rifles). 

The  King's  Aides-de-Camp. 

Brigadier-General  W.  R.  Birdwood. 
Brigadier-General  H.  D'U.  Keary. 
Brigadier-General  C.  J.  Melliss. 


APPENDIX  B 

Colonel  H.  E.  Stanton. 
Colonel  Viscount  Hardinge. 
Colonel  F.  Goodwin. 

Extra  Aides-de-Camp. 

Major  the  Hon.  W.  G.  S.  Cadogan  (loth  Hussars), 
Captain  L.  F.  Ashburner  (Royal  Fusiliers). 
Captain  H.  Hill  (Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers). 
Captain  R.  Raban  (ist  Skinner's  Horse). 

British  Officers  from  Indian  Regiments. 

Captain  G.  Craster  (6th  Cavalry). 

Captain  J.  K.  Gatacre  (nth  Lancers). 

Major  E.  C.  Corbyn  (i8th  Lancers). 

Captain  E.  L.  Pophani  (26th  Cavalry). 

Captain  A.  B.  Eckford  (39th  Central  India  Horse). 

Captain  F.  E.  G.  Talbot  (14th  Sikhs). 

Captain  B.  E.  A.  Manson  (6ist  Pioneers). 

Captain  T.  Oakes  (102nd  Grenadiers). 

Captain  N.  R.  Anderson  (130th  Baluchis). 

Major  F.  G.  C.  Ross  (2nd  Battalion  2nd  Gurkha  Rifles). 

Lieut.-Colonel  H.  L.  Roberts  (16th  Cavalry). 

Indian  Officers  from  Indian  Regiments. 
Cwvalry. 

Risaldar  Ismail  Khan  (ist  Lancers,  Skinner's  Horse). 

Risaldar  Ramjas  (6th  Cavalry). 

Ressaidar  Anup  Singh  (nth  Lancers). 

Risaldar  Gul  Nawaz  Khan  (i8th  Lancers). 

Risaldar  Saiyid  Abdullah  (26th  Cavalry). 

Risaldar  Lall  Khan  (38th  Central  India  Horse). 

Risaldar  Mumtaz  Ali  Khan  (39th  Central  India  Horse). 

Infantry. 

Subadar  Gulab  Singh  (14th  Sikhs). 

Subadar  Ram  Das  (6 ist  Pioneers). 

Subadar  Sahib  Din  (102nd  Grenadiers). 

Subadar  Sultan  Mir  (130th  Baluchis). 

Subadar  Jangbir  Thapa  (ist  Batt.  ist  Gurkha  Rifles). 

Subadar  Rudrnarain  Nagarkoti  (2nd  Batt.  ist  Gurkha  Rifles). 

Subadar  Jangbir  Thapa  (ist  Batt.  2nd  Gurkha  Rifles). 

Subadar  Sital  Singh  Lama  (2nd  Batt.  2nd  Gurkha  Rifles). 

Subadar  Mihr  Din  (ist  Sappers  and  Miners). 

STAFF   IN    NIPAL. 

Brigadier-General  R.  E.  Grimston. 

Captain  R.  E.  T.  Hogg  (38th  Central  India  Horse). 

Lieut.-Colonel  H.  D.  Watson  (9th  Gurkha  Rifles). 


APPENDIX  B 

STAFF   FOR    THE    QUEEN-EMPRESS'S    RAJPUTANA   TOUR. 

Lieut. -Colonel  A.  D.  G.  Bannerman. 
Major  E.  D.  Money  (ist  Gurkha  Rifles). 
Captain  H.  Hill  (Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers). 
Lieut. -Colonel  R.  Bird,  Surgeon. 

EXTRA   STAFF   AT   CALCUTTA. 
The  King's  Honorary  Aides-de-Camp. 

Extra  Aides-de-Camp. 

Major  Hon.  W.  G.  S.  Cadogan  (loth  Hussars). 
Captain  A.  F.  C.  Maclachlan  (King's  Royal  Rifles). 
Major  L.  O.  Graeme  (Cameron  Highlanders). 
Captain  H.  Holmes  (Royal  Irish  Fusiliers). 

EXTRA    STAFF    AT   BOMBAY. 
Extra  Aides-de-Camp  on  Arrival. 

Captain  B.  S.  Grissell  (Norfolk  Regiment). 

Major  L.  O.  Graeme  (Cameron  Highlanders). 

Captain  L.  F.  Ashburner  (Royal  Fusiliers). 

Major  G.  G.  P.  Humphreys  (127th  Baluch  Lifantry). 

Extra  Aides-de-Camp  on  Departure. 

Major  G.  G.  P.  Humphreys  (127th  Baluch  Infantry). 
Captain  R.  Raban  (ist  Lancers). 
Captain  A.  F.  C.  Maclachlan  (King's  Royal  Rifles). 
Captain  B.  S.  Grissell  (Norfolk  Regiment). 


321 


APPENDIX   C 


REGIMENTS  IN  INDIA  WITH  WHICH  THE  KING 
IS  ASSOCIATED  AS  COLONEL-IN-CHIEF. 

British  Service. 

loth  Prince  of  Wales's  Own  Royal  Hussars. 

Royal  Artillery. 

Royal  Engineers. 

The  Royal  Fusiliers. 

The  Norfolk  Regiment. 

The  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers. 

The  King's  Royal  Rifle  Corps. 

The  Queen's  Own  Cameron  Highlanders. 

Princess  Victoria's  (Royal  Irish  Fusiliers). 

Indian  Service. 

ist  Duke  of  York's  Own  Lancers  (Skinner's  Horse). 

6th  King  Edward's  Own  CavalrJ^ 

nth  King  Edward's  Own  Lancers  (Probyn's  Horse). 

102nd  King  Edward's  Own  Grenadiers. 

2nd  King  Edward's  Own  Gurkha  Rifles  (the  Sirmoor  Rifles). 

1 8th  King  George's  Own  Lancers. 

26th  King  George's  Own  Light  Cavalry. 

38th  King  George's  Own  Central  India  Horse. 

39th  King  George's  Own  Central  India  Horse. 

I  St  King  George's  Own  Sappers  and  Miners. 

14th  King  George's  Own  Ferozepur  Sikhs. 

61st  King  George's  Own  Pioneers. 

130th  King  George's  Own  Baluchis  (Jacob's  Rifles). 

I  St  King  George's  Own  Gurkha  Rifles  (The  Malaun  Regiment). 

REGIMENT  WITH  WHICH  THE  QUEEN  IS  ASSOCIATED. 
127th  Queen  Mary's  Own  Baluch  Light  Infantry. 


322 


APPENDIX  D 

THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  SIKHS  ON  THE 
13th  of  DECEMBER. 

SRI  WAHGURU  JI  KI  FATAH  ! 

Having  first  remembered  the  Sword  meditate  on  Guru  Nanak  ; 

Then  on  Guru  Angad,  Amar  Das,  and  Ram  Das  ;  may  they  assist  us  ! 

Remember  Arjan,  Har  Gobind,  and  the  holy  Hari  Rai  ; 

Meditate  on  the  holy  Hari  Krishan,  a  sight  of  whom  dispelled  all 
sorrow. 

Remember  Teg  Bahadar,  and  the  nine  treasures  shall  come  hastening 
to  your  homes. 

Ye  holy  Gurus,  everywhere  assist  us  ! 

May  the  tenth  King,  the  holy  GURU  GOVIND  SINGH,  everywhere 
assist  us. 

God  Himself  knoweth,  He  Himself  acteth  ;  it  is  He  who  adjusteth. 

Standing  in  His  presence,  NANAK,  make  supplication. 

Sikhs  of  the  true  Immortal  God,  turn  your  thoughts  to  the  teachings  of 
the  Granth  Sahib  and  the  deeds  of  the  Khalsa  ;  utter  Wahguru  ! 

Meditating  on  the  Deathless  One,  endowed  with  all  power,  compassion- 
ate, and  just,  utter  Wahguru  ! 

Meditating  on  the  deeds  of  those  who  worshipped  the  Name,  plied  the 
sword,  ate  and  distributed  their  food  in  companionship  and  overlooked 
others'  faults,  O  Khalsa,  utter  Wahguru  ! 

O  Deathless  Creator,  illimitable,  this  creature  forgetting  Thy  name  is  so 
attached  to  worldly  goods,  that  he  hath  forgotten  the  Real  Thing.  With- 
out Thy  Supreme  mercy  how  shall  we  cross  the  ocean  of  the  world  ?  O 
great  King,  lust,  wrath,  greed,  worldly  love,  jealousy,  and  other  evil 
passions  greatly  trouble  our  minds,  but  on  coming  towards  Thee  worldly 
maladies  and  afflictions  are  healed  and  dispelled.  Show  us  such  favour 
that  we  may  by  word  and  deed  be  Thine,  and  that  in  all  things  we  may 
obtain  Thine  assistance  and  support. 

Grant  to  thy  Sikhs  the  gift  ot  Sikhism,  the  gift  of  the  Guru's  instruction, 
the  gift  of  faith,  the  gift  of  confidence  in  Thee,  and  the  gift  of  reading  and 
understanding  the  holy  Granth  Sahib. 

May  the  Sikh  choirs,  mansions,  and  banners  ever  abide  !     Victory  to 

323 


APPENDIX  D 

the  faith  ;  May  the  minds  of  the  Sikhs  be  humble  but  their  intellects 
exalted  !     Utter  Wahguru  !     Wahguru  !  !     Wahaguru  !  ! ! 

O  Primal  Father,  Everlasting  Creator,  we  Thy  humble  worshippers  are 
to-day  assembled  at  the  spot  where  our  Messenger  of  salvation,  the  true 
Guru  Teg  Bahadar,  seeing  the  people  of  India  the  victims  of  an  oppressive 
and  unjust  Government,  made  the  following  prophecy  in  1675  ^■^■ 

"I  behold  coming  from  across  the  ocean  a  race  of  men  who  will  spread 
peace  and  dispense  justice  and  root  out  tyranny  and  oppression."  By  Thy 
mercy,  O  God,  his  words  have  proved  true,  for  the  British  Government, 
which  confers  happiness  on  its  subjects,  has  been  firmly  established  in  India. 
We  Sikhs  of  the  Gurus  in  the  midst  of  our  happiness  and  rejoicing  to-day 
specially  render  Thee  our  humble  gratitude  and  thanks  that  our  beloved 
Emperor  has  come  to  the  City  where  our  holy  Guru  the  Bestower  of 
salvation  uttered  the  above  fateful  prophecy,  in  order  to  place  the  Crown 
of  the  realm  of  many  lands  on  his  head. 

O  Eternal  God,  may  this  peaceful  and  just  sovereignty  ever  endure  and 
may  the  Emperor  George  and  his  gracious  consort  Queen  Mary  with  their 
family  abide  in  happiness,  and  may  their  Empire  extend  and  prosper  ! 

Beloved  Sikh  brethren,  let  us  of  one  mind  thank  the  Cherisher  of  the 
world  through  Whose  favour  we  have  beheld  this  magnificent  coronation 
ceremony,  and  let  us  conclude  the  great  event  with  three  cheers  of  Sat  Sir: 
Akal  for  the  safekeeping  and  prosperity  of  Their  Majesties  and  the  Royal 
Family. 


THE    END 


Printed  by  R.  &  R.  Clark,  Limited,  Edinhirgk. 


DURBAR. 
DELHI,    12th   DECEMBER.  1911. 


n 


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