THE IMPERIAL DURBAR 121 



creamy marble glows suffused with magic life. 

 This was the Daylight Garden; while beyond, 

 seen through its central gateway, lay the Moon- 

 light Court — dark trees, and a white night 

 garden fuU of perfumes. 



The Mahtab Bagh has vanished ; only half the 

 Hyat Bakhsh Bagh remains. Looking across 

 the garden from the river terrace a range of 

 hideous barracks forms the background, towering 

 over the exquisite little Bhadon and Sawan 

 pavilions, and barrack buildings cover the Moon- 

 light Court. The whole effect of the reception 

 held here during the Imperial Durbar festivities 

 was spoilt till the kindly dusk shut out the iron 

 raihngs and the ugly red and yellow walls. Then 

 as the fire-fly lamps lit up the trees and the lights 

 of the two pavilions gleamed under the faUing 

 spray, the old palace garden seemed once more a 

 fitting place for an Indian king to greet his 

 people. 



In other parts of the fort the garden courts 

 have, unfortunately, lost all their original char- 

 acter ; and the fruit trees, parterres, and cypresses 

 have been replaced everywhere by turf and gravel 

 paths. Still, the first view of the Diwan-i-Khas 

 (Private HaU of Audience) seen across the vivid 



16 



