THE CHANDNI CHOWK 151 



with the exceptional character of the King's 

 Durbar had been so lavish that it seemed hardly 

 considerate to call on Native States for a repeti- 

 tion thereof. However, Durbar number two was 

 decided upon to the greater glory of "all and 

 sundry," and every effort was made to ensure 

 success. 



Delhi is a town of broad streets where English 

 houses are concerned, but not so in most of the 

 Indian quarters, and owing to its peculiar character 

 the Chandni Chowk, where the outrage occurred, 

 is exceptionally narrow so far as the roadway is 

 concerned. There is a locality in London which 

 may be said to be almost a replica of the Chandni 

 Chowk, and that is the Royal Avenue, Chelsea. 

 Although the complete thoroughfare is very 

 spacious, practically the whole of it is occupied 

 by a gravelled centre space bordered by trees and 

 with a narrow road on each side thereof. 



The roads are on one side lined by a continuous 

 row of houses in both Delhi and Chelsea, the 

 difference being in the character of the houses in 

 the two places. 



In Chelsea the houses are of the ordinary London 

 kind. In Delhi most of the houses are Indian 

 with the usual covered balcony on each floor, 

 the street floors being shops. 



It will be evident that any elephant "pro- 

 cessioners " perambulating along the narrow 

 ' border " street of the Chandni Chowk would be 

 almost on a level with the first-floor balconies 

 and immediately beneath the balconies of all the 

 higher storeys. 



Ceremonial processions in all countries involve 



