DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1310#0045
34 THE GREAT EXHIBITION ,
curious models of agricultural tools and implements, which, appear to be precisely of
the same form and description as were in use among the ancient Egyptians, as is evident
from drawings and manuscripts that are still in existence. Hydraulic machines, on
which tropical cultivation so greatly depends, were also exhibited, of various and original
construction. The mode of manufacturing sugar was likewise exemplified, and a rude
process it was—two grooved rollers of wood, placed face to face, were turned by two
men with handspikes, while two or three sugar canes were thrust between them; this
imperfect force serves to extract but a small quantity of juice, and yet we receive a good
quantity of sugar from our East Indian possessions.
To turn from these peaceful occupations to the business of " grim-visaged war," we
will now direct the attention of our readers to the " pride, pomp, and circumstance" of
military operations, as carried on among the dusky tribes of our Eastern colonies.
In one of the bays of the East Indian department the counters on each side were
entirely occupied with a splendid assortment of arms and military equipments, com-
prising magnificent matchlocks (inlaid in silver or mounted with gold), blunderbuss-like
guns, used by our fierce enemies the Sikhs; and brass-swivels, used by Malay prahus,
with mortars from Lahore, and cannons from Mysore, swords and sabres, and spears, of
all shapes and sorts—all keen, glittering, and sharp weapons—used by the Sciudians and
the Sikhs, the Mahrattas and the Burmese; some with blades of dark steel, and others
with light, inlaid with gold; some with hilts entwined with pearls, or exquisitely enamel-
led, or otherwise beautifully decorated. Nor was it only the weapons of modern warfare
that were here, but those also which illustrate the mediaeval history of India, and which
may have been wielded by the chivalry of the East amidst the gleaming battle-hosts of
Nadir Shah or Genghis Khan. Here, in short, were to be seen the armouries alike of
Tippoo and Tamerlane. Here hung the glittering scimitar and tapering lance. Here
we found the small circular shields suited to a former age of warfare; and here
were suspended the fine chain-worked coats of armour, almost as flexible and light
and yielding to the form as the beautiful coats of linen or silk of similar shape,
exhibited in the cross avenue of the compartment opposite, reminding one of the chain
armour of our ancient Norman chivalry. Here, again, were the bows and arrows, and
the javelin (also recalling the ideas of our own early military history), arranged tastefully
in circles, presenting all around a terrible close array of keen-looking points. Here
likewise was the battle-axe—most beautifully inlaid—and a superb suit of steel armour
inlaid with gold, together with a shield of deer-skin, transparent, and with enamelled
bosses. And lastly, here were some curions specimens of most murderous ingenuity:
such as a shield, with gold bosses, every boss concealing a pistol; a double sword
dividing at pleasure into two longitudinal or lateral sections, each constituting a
complete weapon; and strange conical caps, having round them sharp-edged discs
of brass, hurled most dexterously and dangerously by some tribes as weapons of offence—
little knives and daggers being very engagingly stuck all round, and giving an appearance
to the whole far less graceful than grim.
Many specimens of bows, those most ancient of weapons, were also exhibited in this
department, some of extraordinary length, and rude enough, in comparison with the
more modern implement; others were short, carved, and curiously ornamented, probably
the real Scythian bow which has for many long ages been in use among the Asiatic
tribes, a bow of singular construction, deriving its chief elasticity from animal tendons,
bound tightly npon the wood.
As we shall probably again hare occasion to refer to the " East India compartment/*
we shall close our notices of it for the present; not, however, without paying our respects
"to its great Hon, the Koh-i-Noor. And in order to give it u honour due/' and to
curious models of agricultural tools and implements, which, appear to be precisely of
the same form and description as were in use among the ancient Egyptians, as is evident
from drawings and manuscripts that are still in existence. Hydraulic machines, on
which tropical cultivation so greatly depends, were also exhibited, of various and original
construction. The mode of manufacturing sugar was likewise exemplified, and a rude
process it was—two grooved rollers of wood, placed face to face, were turned by two
men with handspikes, while two or three sugar canes were thrust between them; this
imperfect force serves to extract but a small quantity of juice, and yet we receive a good
quantity of sugar from our East Indian possessions.
To turn from these peaceful occupations to the business of " grim-visaged war," we
will now direct the attention of our readers to the " pride, pomp, and circumstance" of
military operations, as carried on among the dusky tribes of our Eastern colonies.
In one of the bays of the East Indian department the counters on each side were
entirely occupied with a splendid assortment of arms and military equipments, com-
prising magnificent matchlocks (inlaid in silver or mounted with gold), blunderbuss-like
guns, used by our fierce enemies the Sikhs; and brass-swivels, used by Malay prahus,
with mortars from Lahore, and cannons from Mysore, swords and sabres, and spears, of
all shapes and sorts—all keen, glittering, and sharp weapons—used by the Sciudians and
the Sikhs, the Mahrattas and the Burmese; some with blades of dark steel, and others
with light, inlaid with gold; some with hilts entwined with pearls, or exquisitely enamel-
led, or otherwise beautifully decorated. Nor was it only the weapons of modern warfare
that were here, but those also which illustrate the mediaeval history of India, and which
may have been wielded by the chivalry of the East amidst the gleaming battle-hosts of
Nadir Shah or Genghis Khan. Here, in short, were to be seen the armouries alike of
Tippoo and Tamerlane. Here hung the glittering scimitar and tapering lance. Here
we found the small circular shields suited to a former age of warfare; and here
were suspended the fine chain-worked coats of armour, almost as flexible and light
and yielding to the form as the beautiful coats of linen or silk of similar shape,
exhibited in the cross avenue of the compartment opposite, reminding one of the chain
armour of our ancient Norman chivalry. Here, again, were the bows and arrows, and
the javelin (also recalling the ideas of our own early military history), arranged tastefully
in circles, presenting all around a terrible close array of keen-looking points. Here
likewise was the battle-axe—most beautifully inlaid—and a superb suit of steel armour
inlaid with gold, together with a shield of deer-skin, transparent, and with enamelled
bosses. And lastly, here were some curions specimens of most murderous ingenuity:
such as a shield, with gold bosses, every boss concealing a pistol; a double sword
dividing at pleasure into two longitudinal or lateral sections, each constituting a
complete weapon; and strange conical caps, having round them sharp-edged discs
of brass, hurled most dexterously and dangerously by some tribes as weapons of offence—
little knives and daggers being very engagingly stuck all round, and giving an appearance
to the whole far less graceful than grim.
Many specimens of bows, those most ancient of weapons, were also exhibited in this
department, some of extraordinary length, and rude enough, in comparison with the
more modern implement; others were short, carved, and curiously ornamented, probably
the real Scythian bow which has for many long ages been in use among the Asiatic
tribes, a bow of singular construction, deriving its chief elasticity from animal tendons,
bound tightly npon the wood.
As we shall probably again hare occasion to refer to the " East India compartment/*
we shall close our notices of it for the present; not, however, without paying our respects
"to its great Hon, the Koh-i-Noor. And in order to give it u honour due/' and to