DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3462#0071
44 THE DURBAR
felt the impressiveness of the moment. Every eye
was strained for the first sight of the glittering
throng. Every one was waiting for the first notes
of the National Anthem. Slowly the blazing
procession came into view, unwinding itself and
presenting a wholly new scheme of colour every
moment. It was never the same. It was as
hopeless to follow each effect in detail as to catch
every flash in the swimming skirts of Miss Loie
Fuller. Each instant produced its own glory.
I shall not attempt to describe that scene as
I saw it. I have neither the power nor the pre-
sumption for such a herculean task. It would
only end in failure, in a dry catalogue of an artist's
colourman. All I can do is to mention roughly
the various sections as they passed. First came
the Dragoon Guards and the Horse Artillery;
then the heralds, picturesque figures, with their
silver trumpets and mediaeval dress ; the Viceroy's
bodyguard on fine bay walers; and the Cadet
Corps, handsome slim young figures in their
gorgeous blue-and-white uniforms, headed by the
dashing Sir Pratap Singh. It was the elephants
we had come so many thousands of miles to see;
and we held our breath until they appeared,
swaying and irresistible — a gleaming, glittering,
felt the impressiveness of the moment. Every eye
was strained for the first sight of the glittering
throng. Every one was waiting for the first notes
of the National Anthem. Slowly the blazing
procession came into view, unwinding itself and
presenting a wholly new scheme of colour every
moment. It was never the same. It was as
hopeless to follow each effect in detail as to catch
every flash in the swimming skirts of Miss Loie
Fuller. Each instant produced its own glory.
I shall not attempt to describe that scene as
I saw it. I have neither the power nor the pre-
sumption for such a herculean task. It would
only end in failure, in a dry catalogue of an artist's
colourman. All I can do is to mention roughly
the various sections as they passed. First came
the Dragoon Guards and the Horse Artillery;
then the heralds, picturesque figures, with their
silver trumpets and mediaeval dress ; the Viceroy's
bodyguard on fine bay walers; and the Cadet
Corps, handsome slim young figures in their
gorgeous blue-and-white uniforms, headed by the
dashing Sir Pratap Singh. It was the elephants
we had come so many thousands of miles to see;
and we held our breath until they appeared,
swaying and irresistible — a gleaming, glittering,