AsI write, the Darbar is in full progress, and is now drawing near its close. It has been a splendid success and everything has taken place according to the programme without a hitch. It is described as having been one of the most gorgeous ceremonials that has ever been seen, and as yet there has not been heard a single note of dissatisfaction. The two great incidents at the Proclamation on the 1st January were the procession of the Mutiny veterans led by Col. Mackenzie and the filing past of the Indian ruling chiefs. The former, consisting of some 50 old men, one of them blind, all of great age and decked with medals, drawn from various classes, formed a most pathetic spectacle. They were cheered to the echo, and as they passed to the strain of "Auld Long Syne" many present broke into tears. One man is said to have got up and declaimed in a loud voice the splendid refrain of Kipling's Reces sional Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, causes that led to the break-up of his Lest we forget, lest we forget Empire after his death.
Lord Carzon's Triumph.
The Needs of Mahomedanism.
"The long line of Indian princes, covered During the Delhi festivities another imwith jewels of inestimable value, and tant function has been held in the dressed in the most gorgeous raiment of imperial city, but one of less gorgeous cloth of gold brocade and flowing white muslin, each in turn bowing before the character. he Mahomedan Educational Conference has held a sitting under the Viceroy and the Duke of Connaught and Presidency of H. H. the Aga Khan, the offering his congratulations, was a most leading Mahomedan nobleman of the impressive sight, and brought home to all Bombay Presidency. The principal Ma-Present a sense of the enormous extent home dan reformer in the matter of educa-and capabilities of our Indian Empire. tion was the late Sir Syed Ahmed, K.C.S.L, Lord Curzon has certainly achieved an-who established a College at Alighar, con: other brilliant triumph, and this time ducted on modern principles, which has one of peace, and to his indomitable proved to be a very great success. Sir energy and constant supervision the Syed Ahmed's work has, since his death, great part of the credit is due. The been taken up by others, notably by the other great functions were the Investiture, Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, formerly one of a solemn and stately ceremony, accompany the principal officials in Hyderabad. Taken ied by the traditional ritual of European as a whole, Mahomedan education in India medisvalism, and therefore calculated to imis in a terribly backward state. Since press Oriental magnates more than their they were replaced im supreme power by accustomed barbaric seuiot and irthe British they have scarcely made an regularity; the State Ball in the old Royal effort to raise themselves by modern Halls, a most splendid function; the fire-education; the consequence is that in the works and illuminations; the procession in race for appointments the quick-witted the great amphitheatre of the irregular Hindoos have left the Mahomedans fur troops of the native states, with elephants, away behind, and they themselves, whilst chain armour, and the costumes of former bewailing their loss of power and influence, days, which have all followed each other in continue in a state of stagnation. Of Into rapid succession, until one becomes wearied years a vigorous movement has been made with the unvarying panegyrics in which to remedy this defect; although it can the different correspondents indulge. To scarcely be said that it has met with the tell the truth, the general feeling now out-encouragement which it deserves. This side of Delhi is one of anti-climax, and year the Annual Conference was very after the Proclamation Durbar itself the wisely held at Delhi, and naturally the excitement has begun to fade.
Chairman had a large and distinguished January.
Some Crumpled Roseleaves audio In his address the—Chairman spoke very candidly of the in connection with the festivities may be causes which have led to Muhomedan mentioned, such as the intense cold in the degeneration all over the world. This camp, which has carried off or laid low degeneration he attributes to m general many of the Durbar guests. The Prince apathy which pervades every walk of life, of Arcot, the representative of the old Carnatic family, has died of acute pneuand which is the sign of a moral that permeates the whole of Maha monia, and many other chiefs have fallen society. He attributes this disease mainly victims; others again have been taker to four causes; the first cause being the ten-seriously ill and have been sent back to dency to withdraw from the affairs of the their homes. No less than three of our world which can be traced back to the days Hyderabad representatives have been thus of Imar. A large proportion of the best stricken down, and one Nawab has been Mahomedans spend their energies in prayers ie borrowed a lakh and a half of rupees to peculiarly unfortunate. Already in debt, and pilgrimage and so selfishly give up to religion what should have been devoted meet his expenses as one of the Nizan's principal followers. His first piece of bul luck appealed, therefore to pious Mahomedans to the well-being of their people. Ho was the destruction of his brand new state for their ce-operation and assistance and carriage, especially built for the occasion, bogged them to come forward and take and resplendent with gilt trappings, paint their legitimate place in the advancement and varnish. A spark from the engine set the tarpaulin which covered it on fre and of their ce-religionists and the moral and religious education of their brethren it was totally destroyed. Then a portion and children. of his camp was burnt down and, finally, he He gives a second cause as the himself was attacked by pneutnonia and seclusion of women. He—shows had tocome back, a waif and stray, who that there is absolutely nothing in had sacrificed much and got little in return.
Islam or the Khoran or the example The aftermath of the great Durbar will be of the first two centuries to justify a'somewhat bitter one to many of those this terrible and cancerous growth that who have made so brave a show, has for nearly a thousand years eaten There was some difficulty experienced by into the very vitals of Asiatic society. many of the guests in getting to Delhi, but How can we expect progress, he exclaims, this is nothing compared to the difficulty from the children of mothers who ha in getting away. No less than six hundred never shared or even seen the free social special trains have been ordered, and there intercourse of modern mankind. The is said to bea perfect mountain of undamed Purdah as now known did not exist till baggage blocking up the Delhi platform. long after the Prophet's death and is no Details of this kind will give some idea of part of Islam. In the early days of Mahomethe enormous nature of the function and dan religion modest women mixed with of the hugo strain there is upon all depart-the men and devoted their lives to. such ments in supplying a camp with some objects as nursing the wounded and educat-100,000 occupants. When one sees all ing the children; now in modern times the these difficulties arise, even with modern women remain shut up in their Zenanas facilities of conveyance, it becomes almost steepedin ignorance and superstition. Many impossible to understand how 200 years of the Mahomedan wives are drawn from ago the Emperor Aurangzebe could have classes of dubious morality and as the carried about with him for nearly 20 years children are in their early life entirely a camp containing 200,000 men, constantly subject to their influence it follows that moving from place to place, devastating they grow up with a want of manly prineithe country as it moved slowly onwards, ple and moral qualifications. "Another and leaving behind the track of famine, Ytent cause is fatalism. He points out desolation, and ruin. And yet this un-that the Khoran insists upon freedom doubtedly was the case in the Deccan of will and individual responsibility. during the last twenty years of the great It is due principally tothe influence of Emperor's life, and was probably one of the Abul Hassan himself, s pious and learned
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.