Part 24 (1/2)
The tourists had all they could do to see the strange things that were pointed out to them, and while thus employed the train stopped at the station. Looking out the windows again, they saw several elephants, all handsomely caparisoned, and with howdahs on their backs. A band of native musicians was playing near them, and the party wondered what this display could mean; but Sir Modava was unable to inform them. They got out of the carriages, and found themselves in a handsome square.
A company of cavalry was drawn up near the elephants, at the head of which, surrounded by a numerous staff of officers, sat on a prancing horse, caparisoned with exceeding richness, a person who could be no other than the maharajah. He was dressed in the most magnificent robes of India, covered with jewels in ornamental profusion.
”That is the Guicowar,” said the Hindu guide.
”He is doing us great honor in coming out in this manner to welcome us.”
As soon as he discovered the party, the ruler dismounted nimbly from his n.o.ble steed, and, attended by some high officers, advanced to meet them. A sort of procession was hastily formed with Lord Tremlyn at the head of it; for he was the most distinguished person, and in some sense the representative of the British home government. The Italian band of the general, as soon as the native band ceased, struck up ”Hail, to the chief!”
The party encountered the king, who rushed up to the viscount, and seized him by the hand, as not all kings are in the habit of doing. They talked together for a few moments, when his Highness happened to see Sir Modava, and rushed to him, seizing him in a semi-embrace, clasping the Hindu with his right hand while the left encircled his shoulder. The potentate was profuse in his congratulations to the two gentlemen on their escape from death in the s.h.i.+pwreck, and this afforded Lord Tremlyn an opportunity to present Captain Ringgold as the commander of the steamer that had saved them.
”He is my friend, then,” said the Maharajah, as he gave him no equivocal shake of the hand.
Then Louis and his mother were presented and described, and received an equally warm welcome. But the prince decided to receive the rest of the party at the palace, and they were requested to mount the elephants. The ladies were timid about it; but Louis told his mother that she must get up into the howdah as though she had been riding elephants all her life, and she did so, the others following her example. Louis a.s.sisted his mother first, and then Miss Blanche.
They were all seated on the huge beasts, and the procession started, the Italian band following the native, and playing when they ceased to do so.
CHAPTER XXV
FELIX MCGAVONTY BRINGS DOWN SOME SNAKES
”Well, what do you think of this?” asked Captain Ringgold, turning to Mrs.
Belgrave, as the elephant moved off.
”I don't feel quite at home up here,” she replied, holding on with both hands at the side of the howdah.
”I think it is nice,” added Miss Blanche. ”It seems very much like riding on a camel, only there is more motion.”
”It is a good place to see everything there is to be seen,” suggested Louis, as he looked about him. ”The king is taking us to his palace in high style. If he meant to astonish us, he has. .h.i.t the nail on the head.”
”But where are Lord Tremlyn and Sir Modava?” asked Miss Blanche.
”They are mounted on a couple of as handsome horses as I ever saw in my life,” replied the commander. ”One of them is on each side of the Guicowar, at the head of the cavalry troop. In England and America the escort goes ahead of the persons thus honored; but here, as a rule, the king cannot ride behind anybody. You remember that when we saw the Sultan going to the mosque in Constantinople he rode at the head of the procession, and all the great officers of state went behind him; and that seems to be the fas.h.i.+on here.”
”But is he much of a king?” Mrs. Belgrave inquired.
”They all call him a king, and I suppose he is one. He is a Maharajah, a word written with a capital, and composed of two words, _maha_, which means great, and _rajah_, a king. The definition is 'a Hindu sovereign prince,' and that makes a king of him. He rules over a large territory, and Lord Tremlyn says he is the most powerful of all the native princes. He is certainly treating us very handsomely.”
”I think I could get along without quite so much style,” said Mrs.
Belgrave, laughing; and she seemed to feel as though she was taking a part in a farce.
”All the style is in honor of the distinguished gentlemen we picked up in the Arabian Sea. But excuse me, Mrs. Belgrave, if I suggest that it is not wise and prudent to laugh in the midst of such a spectacle as this. The Hindus are very exclusive until you get acquainted with them, and have a great many prejudices which we cannot comprehend. They are very sensitive, and are very likely to misinterpret the expression and the actions of a stranger; your laugh might be offensive, leading them to believe you were sneering, or making fun of them, as we should call it.”
”Then I will be very circ.u.mspect,” replied the lady. ”But is the Guicowar really a king, when all this country belongs to the English? Victoria is the Empress of India.”
”He rules over a protected state; but his powers seem to be almost unlimited. A British officer is always at his court, and is called a 'resident,' who is the representative of the government. But he does not meddle with the affairs of the state unless occasion requires.”
The houses the tourists pa.s.sed were all of Indian style, and there were always towers and paG.o.das in sight. The region as they pa.s.sed out of the city was rural; and finally they came to the great gates of the palace, which they entered. The grounds were covered with great trees and gardens, in the midst of which was a palace, where they found the cavalry drawn up and presenting arms. The elephants were made to kneel down as when the party mounted them, and they descended by means of ladders.