Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/61

 MAHARAJAR OF BHURTPOOR. (353)

HE Photograph is an excellent illustration of a native independent chieftain of the highest class, in his durbar or court. The young prince sits in the centre on his guddee or royal seat, which is of velvet richly embroidered with gold, and the cushion behind him is of the same; across his turban is the sirpench or head ornament, which is probably of diamonds; with the jika or high feather ornament, also of diamonds, in the centre of it, and a tassel of pearls at the left side. His dress, probably of velvet or fine English cloth, is plain, except the gold lace with which it is trimmed, and his sword lies on his knees. Behind him are four servants, two of whom, outside, hold mirchuls of peacocks' feathers, and the chouree of yak's tail hair; another, possibly the prince's pan and spice box. Behind these is a gorgeous curtain, which forms an appropriate back ground, and two aftab-geers, each of different pattern, are held by attendants. In two rows on each side of the Rajab, the nobles and sirdars of the state are seated, who may be relatives, or officers in various departments of the state services. It would have been interesting to know who they are, but the official record gives no information whatever in regard to them.

In former notices of the Jats, the history of Bhurtpoor has been slightly sketched from the foundation of the state in the reign of the Emperor Aurungzeeb, to the political transactions with Lord Lake in 1805: the first siege of Bhurtpoor in that year, and the second and final attack on the 18th January, 1827, when the massive mud wails were breached by mines, and the place stormed and captured. Since then, the prestige of Bhurtpoor has passed away; its walls were thrown into the ditch, and the whole levelled, and instead of being a hotbed of rebellion and intrigue, the influence of which was once felt throughout India, the state is now orderly and loyal, and its military classes have, for the most part, literally turned their swords into plough shares; but the state keeps up enough troops to employ such as still adhere to a military profession. The Photograph appears to have been taken in 1862, when the Maharajah