To read the glowing, inspired speeches which fall at this time from Lord Curzon's lips, who could guess the long, harassing session through which His Excellency has lately passed, and the ill-health from which he has too often suffered? hero is no trace of disappointment or befiled ambition in the brave words of encouragement and hope that ring out in response to the many addresses at this time presented, and notably so during the present trip to Kashmir. The tour in this beautiful. land-locked kingdom was undertaken wi of conferring on the Mal State enhanced powers of administra tion; in fact, His Highness is now an abort their new enterprise in competing g; Amar Singh, to a with the Steam Watorbost Ca., Ld. for Resident tong The State Council, the supply of fresh water to shipping. which has for the last sixteen years ad-They are to start with at least two boats, aff I hear, and will doubtless be able to command the custom of more than their 0 own shipping; but as the old company i close of the first has contracts' far ahead, and regular Sikh war, when the Rejah of Jummu, god-clients, it does not soam likely that father of the present Maharajah, was called they can compete seriously with the from his smaller State to the much more old-established firm. Perhaps they do valuable possessions of Kashmir, the not intend to. The other Chinese ruler of that country has necessarily promotion that was talked of some boon under surveillance. Now, however, months ago seems to have come to the long period of probation is over, and nothing. The effect of these rumours, with heartfelt sincerity, which added is that the S. W. B. have much to the graciousness of his words, to Lord Curzon presented to His Highness 'a handsome sword of state, as a symbol made, without of the enhanced powers of administration ing from the profits as mach as might now conferred on the Maharajah. The have been taken, if the directors had not capital of Jummu was selected as thought it to hold good reserves the scene of the Durbar, which was held in in view of competition talked of. At the the palace; the provession from the Resi-fifth annual meeting on the 24th inst. doney was an impressive display of Oriental the Chairman pointed out that, as Hongkong had now the most tonnage of magnificence. Lady Curzon, who aocomthe world's ports, and, as the war was state in the Maharajal to strains of martial music and the boom-the ioo were rosy. might ing of guns. After the Durbar, the afternoon and evening were devoted to wit-even be room for all the competition that nessing military sports and the inevitable wanted to come, but in any case he did. fireworks and illuminations, which are not think that anyone could supply water cheaper than they did, and make a pro-always carried out with singular taste and brilliancy in every corner of the tie and moderate opinion, and believe 'As I have faith in that' very roasonin this far out-Lying sphere of influence. The taste for that when the prosont tightness of money fireworks, howe d the skill with is past these shares will climb buck to which most effective and brilliant their former place in the list, Imay point schemes are carried out, are said to date them out as offering " much better in-from the days of French supremacy in ducemomt than exchange can possibly do India, likewise the marvellous genius for small investors. of our cooks, and last but not least, the The Dsiry Farm Company unexpected and often most artistic efforts of the table-servants in producing had its meeting on the 23rd and I have table centres of vast intricacy of colour little to add. One shareholder was and design out of such unlikely jointed that he did not material og groand roo and chopped dividend, but he was a now investor and crotons. The smartest in aid not seem to understand why money the cetablishment "often. browne these should be set aside for future safety, a efforts in the event of a dinner party sore point with all temporary holders in }with menus written in wondrous jargon, which be explains with pride as being "one French language, misses not knowing, proper for parties Ancient Monuments, Not the least of the benefits which the Viceroy has conferred on Indis, is the passing of the bill for the preservation of ancient monuments, of which this country contains many of unexampled historic interest and great magnificence of archifecture. This bill has been in operation for about a year, and has already achieved great deal in the way of arresting destruotion of ancient buildings and repairing the ravages caused by wars and climate. In ance comes too late to notably is this the case with the tomb of the lovely Empress Nur Johan at Lahore, of which nothing is now to be but the old foundations and, a few broken walls which are used as a cattle shelter. Although it is sad indeed to think of the decay of this tomb, in which rests the last remains of the most beautiful and illustrious woman in Indian history, yet its present use does not imply desecration to the native mind, as osttle are holy, and on this pretext it frequently occurs that ancient tombs and temples no longer supported are used as cattle pon However, as the custom cannot be defen ed as ion, in the pro-sent instance the cattle are ordered out, the famous tomb is to be swept and garnished if not to its former grandeur, yet sacred enclosure preserved from profane uses.
The Seirnngam Temple, In the course of. his late tour, Lord Ampthill has visited, in Seirangam, shrine of unique interest in India, the lend of temples Situated on an island in the midst of the Cauvery river, these extensive buildings can be approached on both sides by a massive bridge, Seirungain is not properly speaking a temple alone, but consists of seven massively walled. closures; the outer one, consists of streets occupied, it ix said, by a population of 2,000 inh och at root devoted to o caste, but mostly devoted entirely to Brahmins, After this each enclosure becomes more sacred than the last, until the final shrine is reached, which is not opened to Europeans. The many tom.
within these walls are each dedicated separate in ird_god of the instance the temple a year for special ceremony. As an example of architecture, the hall of a thoneand pillars is totally lacking in any pretension to grace or beauty, and has been compared to a dirty old cellar! From the roof thereof @ very fair view can be obtained of the the whole of the temples, which also contain a sacred garden, filled only with plants of mystic meaning. The trustees of the temple on very special 0% display with pride the temple pi jewellery said to be worth many millions of rupees. The latter contains many articles of quaint design to be worn by the gods on festive occasions; these mostly are of uncut gems of bewildering size and profusion, but all in clumsy setting and looking little "otter then lumps of coloured gla: 1s loi make a brave chow and are of great size, Dut mostly discoloured from being kept locked up in dark safes. Among the temple curiosities must not be forgotten
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.