Rifle and spear with the Rajpoots: being the narrative of a winter's travel and sport in northern India . Ranee ; but she is over eighty andtoo old, or old-fashioned, to receive visitors. BeforeI left we went over the palace. Nearly all the roomshave one side open to the gallery, only screened off byquilted hangings, sometimes with a low door or rail infront, like a childrens nursery at home. Most of thewalls are painted vermilion, with bright lacquer looking-glasses the size of a small window-paneare let into the plaster here and there, and line theembrasures of the windows
Rifle and spear with the Rajpoots: being the narrative of a winter's travel and sport in northern India . Ranee ; but she is over eighty andtoo old, or old-fashioned, to receive visitors. BeforeI left we went over the palace. Nearly all the roomshave one side open to the gallery, only screened off byquilted hangings, sometimes with a low door or rail infront, like a childrens nursery at home. Most of thewalls are painted vermilion, with bright lacquer looking-glasses the size of a small window-paneare let into the plaster here and there, and line theembrasures of the windows. The pierced lattice-work of these cushioned recessespermits a free view of the world outside; and at thesame time perfectly conceals the observer within. Natur- IN THE OLD PALACE. 139 ally they are favourite resorts. As we pass through therooms, from each deep window-bay two or three laugh-ing or chattering girls or women flutter out. I didnot like to inquire too closely about the relationshipof these ladies to the late Maharaja. Their ages appar-ently varied from over eighty to under eighteen. But. THE OLD PALACE, CHAMBA. if they were all his wives, the youngest could only havebeen a few years old at the time of his death. This old palace is delightful—so evidently the typicaluntouched residence of the old-world Indian prince—butthere is an absence of repair, and a presence of rubbishand weeds in the outer courts, which also characterised 140 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. the ancient regime. No doubt the Zenana is sacredagainst the modernising influence of the present the ayah noticed the state of decay, for seeing theEanee look surprised, I inquired the cause : Menisahib,I only told her this old house will tumble down on herhead soon. Once the Ranee pointed to a painting on the wall,representing a Hindoo god stepping from his asked what she was saying. The ayah remarked withnonchalance, I have asked her to point you out her began heart
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecthunting, bookyear1895
