Lippincotts Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 22. October, 1878 | Page 8

It shows, besides, some
of the gemmed and enamelled work and parcel-gilt ware for which that
territory, hidden away among the Himalayas, is so celebrated.
Next, as we travel along the Galérie d'Iéna, is the Ceylonese building,
of the same ruddy brown, with gilded domes, and gay with dresses,
tissues and robes of fine woven stuff made in their primitive looms,
which would seem to be incapable of turning out such textures. The
addition of blocks of graphite, some curiously carved into the shape of
elephants, and the more prosaic agricultural productions, such as cotton,
cinnamon, matting and baskets, tone down the color and exhibit the
fact that the English possession has the mercantile side. Antlers of the
Ceylon deer, tusks of elephants and boars, contrast with the richness
and the sobriety of the other contents of the overflowing pavilion.

Another Indian kiosque, and we are at the end of the row. This is filled
by the Indian committee, which also exposes its collection in
twenty-nine glass cases arranged about the hall in the vicinity of the
pavilions.
[Illustration: THE CHINESE SECTION.]
The prince of Wales's collection of presents, received in his character
of heir-apparent of the empress of India, fills thirty-two glass cases,
besides six of textiles and robes. Any tolerably full account of them
would require a separate article. The interest of them culminates in the
arms. For variety, extent, gorgeousness and ethnological and artistic
value such a collection of Indian arms has never before been brought
together, not even in India; and it fairly defies description. No man was
so poor but that he could present the prince with a bow and arrow or
spear or sword or battle-axe, and in fact every one who was brought
before the prince gave him a weapon of some sort. The collection thus
represents the armorer's art in every province of India, from the rude
spears of the Nicobar Islanders to the costly damascened, chased and
jewelled daggers, swords, shields and matchlocks of Kashmir, Lahore,
Gujerat, Cutch, Hyderabad, Singapore and Ceylon. The highest interest
centres upon two swords, which are by no means the richest in their
finish and settings. One is the great sword of the famous Polygar
Katabomma Naik, who defeated the English early in the present
century. It has a plain iron hilt, and the etched blade has three holes
near the point. The other is a waved blade of splendid polish, its hilt
heavily damascened with gold and its guard closely set with diamonds
and rubies. It is the sword of Savaji, the founder of the Mahratta
dominion in India. It has been sacredly guarded at Kolhapur by two
men with drawn swords for a period of two hundred years, being a
family and national heirloom, and an object of superstitious reverence
as the emblem of sovereignty. The delivery of it to the prince of Wales
was regarded as a transfer of political dominion, an admission that the
latent hopes of the Bhonsla family were now merged in loyalty to the
crown of England.
The blades of the best weapons have been made for many ages of the

magnetic iron obtained twenty miles east of Nirmul, a few miles south
of the Shisla Hills, in a hornblende or schist formation. The magnetic
iron is melted with charcoal without any flux, and obtained at once in a
perfectly tough and malleable state. It is superior to any English or
Swedish iron. It is perhaps unnecessary to remind readers that the
famous blades of Damascus were forged from Indian steel. Some of the
blades are watered, others chased in half relief with
hunting-scenes--some serrated, others flamboyant. A very striking
object is a suit of armor of the horny scales of the Indian armadillo,
ornamented with encrusted gold, turquoises and garnets. Another suit is
of Kashmir chain-armor almost as fine as lace. Others have
damascened breastplates, the gold wire being inserted in undercut lines
engraved in the steel, and incorporated therewith by hammering. Five
cases are filled with the matchlocks of various tribes and nations--one
with its barrel superbly damascened in gold with a poppy-flower
pattern, another with a stock carved in ivory, with hunting-scenes in
cameo. Enamelled and jewelled mountings are seen, with all the
fanciful profusion of ornament with which the semi-barbarian will deck
his favorite weapon. The splendor of Indian arms is largely due to the
lavish use of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones,
mainly introduced for their effect in color, few of them being of great
value as gems. Stones with flaws, and others which are mere chips or
scales, are laid on like tinsel. Two cases are filled with gaudy trappings
and caparisons--horse and camel saddles with velvet and leather work,
gold embroidery and cut-cloth work (appliqué); an elephant howdah of
silver; chowries of