'Russia and India in 1903' [‎21r] (43/68)

INDIAN PRINCES AND THE EMPIRE.
37
twenty-seven to eleven. Woe betide the author of any
mistake! Gun by gun the salute is counted until the
complement is complete.
As the salute, so the Guard of Honour at the station,
so the Guard at the Chiefs camp, and so the escort on
going out. A like rule also regulated the number of
followers to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). . Twenty-one guns gave a
right to 500 followers, other than servants, and so
down to 100, in the case of chiefs not entitled to salutes,
Titular Chiefs and gentlemen. The number was, how
ever, invariably exceeded, so great was the pressure
exercised by every individual, attached in any capacity to
the Court of a Native State, to get taken to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). .
Some idea will be formed of the infinite difficulty of
arranging all the details connected therewith, when the
slightest deviation from the most precise etiquette
would have given the greatest offence.
The preparations commenced on March 19th, 1902,
when the Viceroy addressed a letter to “ My Esteemed
Friend,” each of the Chiefs, stating that “In instructing
me to hold this Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). His Majesty has desired it
to be made known that he is anxious to afford to all
the Princes and Chiefs of India the opportunity of
testifying their loyalty to his Throne and Person,
and that attendance thereat will be regarded by His
Majesty as equivalent to presence at his Coronation
in England.”
Some attempt has been made to insinuate that the
Ruling Chiefs were much hurt at not receiving from
the Viceroy formal visits, which they would have had
to return. There is not the slightest foundation for
such a statement. Each chief was officially informed,
so long ago as August 11th, 1902, that visits from
the Viceroy to the Chiefs and from the Chiefs to the
Viceroy would be dispensed with. The slightest
reflection showed that no other arrangement would
have been possible. The camps covered an area of
nearly 100 square miles, some being a great distance