This ceremony is peculiar to Hydra-bad. Its origin is embodied in " legend which has come down from ancient times, More than 400 years ago, it is said, a large party of nobles escorted a royal prince of Hydrabsd bunting iv the famous forests, which in there days extended to within an hour's ride of the Onpital. When the party was ready to retarn, it was discovered that the young prince was missing, and no success attended their search. In much trepidstion the news was carried to the loud were the cries of grief and many parties were sent out in vai Then and there the queen-mother vowed that if the heir was recovered and restored in safety, she would present a golden lunger (leg-chain) to the great elephant that stood tethered at certain shrine.
Ins few days the young prince, who hed missed his way in the jungles, regained the safety of his home. In gratitude and in fulfilment of the vow, the Indies of the palace presented their gold to be made into a mighty lunger to fasten to its picket the jardin of the shrine. The Court sil the noble, and all their retainers turned out to see the lunger presented. The procession has been an annual event ever since, and though shorn of much of its splendour, and partaking it-yet as standard bearers floated the massy folds of the Nizam's and the Minister's standards. Other elephants appeared almost unadorned, their riders seated ona pad, which as often as not was covered by ® honey-comb quilt of Manchester mannfactare! The procer-sion took three and a half hours to pose the Minister's house, The great eqnare was cleared, and the long galleries overlooking it were reserved for the the guests of the Minister. The Resident aleo was Fresent; both were seated and together received the salaams of the various leaders, For more than two mounted police, boar the irregular trope pose by: house ho!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.