148 STALKS ABROAD 



three days' train journey from Tuticorin, about which 

 the less said the better, and a few days later left for 

 Rajputana. Udaipur was our first stop. In one of 

 the best books on travel ever written, Sir Frederick 

 Treves has given a very vivid description of this 

 wonderful place. It lies in the centre of a plain, 

 circled about by watchful hills. On a ridge above 

 the town, unchanged amid the changes of a changing 

 world rises a great white palace, the crystallised 

 embodiment of an Eastern dream. The cool green 

 waters of a lake, on whose bosom float little islands 

 supporting carved and fretted edifices of marble, 

 reflect its towering walls and domes, and the shady 

 orange groves which surround them. Out, near the 

 farther shore, rises a small tower. Years ago, the 

 legend runs, a troupe of dancers and acrobats famed 

 for their feats upon the tight-rope came to Udaipur. 

 One young girl in particular was renowned for her 

 coolness and daring. Could she but walk across the 

 lake on a rope stretched from the palace walls, the 

 reigning Maharana swore to give her all she desired, 

 even to the half of his kingdom. 



The day came and she started on her perilous 

 journey. When two- thirds of the distance were 

 safely accomplished, a courtier, fearing lest she should 

 succeed, drew his sword and severed the rope. So 

 she perished in the waters beneath, and the tower 

 marks where she fell. 



It is the proud boast of the rulers of Meywar 

 that never has a princess of their line gone to swell 



