File:Indika. The country and the people of India and Ceylon (1891) (14747144786).jpg

Identifier: indikacountrypeo00hursuoft (find matches)
Title: Indika. The country and the people of India and Ceylon
Year: 1891 (1890s)
Authors: Hurst, J. F. (John Fletcher), 1834-1903
Subjects: Sri Lanka India
Publisher: New York, Harper
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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. Having gone through Borne build-ings connected wTith the palace, but shielding it largely frompublic view, we came into a large court, which Beemed to bbeen used for soldiers, both horse and foot, and the retainers ofthe prince. At the farther end of the court we came to a stair-case, and entered the main rooms of the vast palace. Eere v.spacious halls, covered with carpets and rugs of many ancand curious designs. The furniture was richly carved. Some ofit was of dark old Indian woods, but a portion was of Europand later origin. I was struck by the odd contrivances to amthe members of the princely household living here. Bclocks of fantastic workmanship, and at every convenientthere were automata of the quaintest possible construction. Allwere in motion, and so contrived as to amuse by doing Ul 190 INDIKA. pected things. For example, I saw the figure of a grenadier,whose sole business it was to swallow miniature fish. Therewere instruments for performing musical freaks. Stuffed birds
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Vm. MIR ALAM LAKE. could be seen everywhere, grouped into all possible combinations,so as to make the scene as nearly lifelike as possible. I visited QOLCONDA.—AN ELEPHANT RIDE 191 many other palaces in India afterwards, and Learned that itan ancient usage of the kings and noblemen of Hindustan to em-ploy the most accomplished artists in curious mechanism, \\isole business it was to contrive and construcl odd and unhean devices of this kind to please the ladies of the Indian courts. Inthe old days their time hung heavily. There were many womento be pleased, and they had their jealousies, and could beappeased by having their fancy charmed by tin- sight and soundof these curious devices. Having finished the halls of the palace, we ascended a stair-case, and came out upon a beautiful and fragranl garden. Myfirst thought was that the rooms which we bad just left vimmediately below us, and that the garden we were now in wason the roof of the palace. In other words, I supposed myself tobe

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