INDIA. 



401 



The Prince of Wales continued his journey 

 through ludia during the first part of the year, 

 ivt iirning homo in March. On New-Year's- 

 day In.' In-Ill a grand chapter of the Order of 

 tin- Star of India, at which a large number of 

 native princes were present. The general ar- 

 r.iiiirrinnits were similar to those when the 

 1 )nki- of Edinburgh held the first grand chapter. 

 A vast inclosure of canvas was prepared, run- 

 ning southeast and northwest on an open plain 

 about a mile from Government House. The 

 rajahs' tents were ranged on the longest side 

 of a parallelogram opening on the inclosure at 

 one end, on the Maidan on the other. At the 

 northeastern extremity of the inclosure was a 

 dais, with silver pillars and a canopy of blue 

 silk and satin, the color of the order. On 

 the dais were two chairs. The one for the 

 Viceroy was of silver and blue, with a crown 

 behind, and golden lions at the side. The foot- 



stool was the same, with golden lion*. On the 

 right of the Viceroy was a similar chair with 

 ili'- Prince of Wales's plumes at the back and 

 silver arms, with a footstool of blue and silver. 

 Before the dais was a scarlet carpet and a 

 cloth-of-gold tent, carpeted with scarlet and the 

 royal arms in the centre. Behind the dais and 

 on each side rows of seats were arranged. 

 The front rows were for members of the order. 

 Behind were eight compartments for native 

 chiefs, European ladies and gentlemen. Out- 

 side the chapter-tent, which is used by the 

 Viceroy for durbars, were seats rising in tiers. 

 At the approach to the grand entrance were 

 lines of marines and sailors. On the left, look- 

 ing toward the tent, were drawn up infantry 

 in light order as a guard of honor. A large 

 flag-staff with the Union Jack stood in front, 

 where a military band was placed. The prince 

 then continued on his journey, arriving at 



BANIAN TREE. 





Hankipoor on the 4th, at Lncknow on the 5th, 

 at Ca'vnpoor on the 10th, and at Delhi on the 

 11th, being everywhere received with great 

 enthusiasm. At Delhi the prince reviewed the 

 troops stationed there, attended by the Rajahs 

 of Scindia and Bhurtpoor. On January 20th 

 he arrived at Lahore, and was received at the 

 station by the Lieutenant-Governor, the judges, 

 jind other high officials. On the plateau facing 

 the fort were a number a feudatory chiefs 

 mounted on elephants, and attended by their 

 sirdars, retinues, and followers, forming a most 

 picturesque spectacle. Among the chiefs pres- 

 ent were the Rajahs Kuper, Tulla. Nabha, 

 Muiidi, Faridkote, Chamba, Luket, Kalsia, and 

 the Nawabs of Bahwalpoor, Malerkatta, Pa- 

 tondi, Lonara, and Dupina. From Lahore 

 the prince went on to Djnmma, the capital 

 of Cashmere. The maharajah had ridden out 

 VOL. xvi. 26 A 



to meet him outside the city, and in the 

 evening of the 20th the procession arrived 

 in the capital. In the streets the troops of 

 the maharajah were drawn up in lines, pre- 

 senting a magnificent appearance in their new 

 uniforms. A large camp had been placed at 

 the disposal of the prince, near the new palace 

 which had been built expressly for him, and 

 which had cost500,000. On the 22d the prince 

 took part in a chase, and in the evening was the 

 guest of the maharajah in his own palace. After 

 supper he received the valuable presents of the 

 maharajah, consisting of magnificent shawls 

 expressly made for him, and valuable jewels. 

 On the 28th the prince was in Agra, this being 

 the ninth and most important day of the 

 Muharra'n, the Mohammedan New-Year's fes- 

 tival, lasting ten days. On this day the sub- 

 ordinate princes generally appeared before the 



