A CHESS BOARD KING
The marriage procession of prince Jawan Bhakt left the Lahore gate of the Red fort at 2am. On the hot summer night of second April 1852. With a salute from the cannon station on the ranparts and an arc of fire works and rockets fired alot of from the illuminated turrets of the fort the two gets opposite the great through of the Chandini Chowk swung open . The first to emerge were the chodbars or mace Barrios. The people of Delhi have never much liked being restrained by barriers and were in the habit of breathing through the bamboo raining hung with lamb that illuminated the processional route. It was the job of the chodbars to clear a way through the excitable crowd before the imperial elephans always a little unpredictable in the presence of fire works appeared lumbering through the gates.
The two ministers of state on horseback beggen the procession poper. Shell ornaments were plaited in to the horse mans, the bells strung around their and feltlock and as they ride out the ministers were attended by servents with pukhans (fans) . Then came a troop of Mughal infantry, with
Polish black shields and curved sword and long lances and fluttering pennons of green and gold. The first six of imperials elephants followed caparisoned with gold and saffron headclothes embroidered with the Emperor coat of the arms. From the howdas official held out the dynastic insignia that had been used by the Mughals since they are arrival in India more than three centuries earlier. From the one of faced of a rayed sun. From another from golden fish suspended at each of a golden blow from the third the head of a lion like beast from the fourth a golden hand of Fathima. From the fifth a horse head from the last a chatri or imperial umbrella. All were made of gold and were raised on gilt stafs which trailed silken steamers.
There then emerged in turn a party a red tunicked palace servents carrying covered trays of food and gift for the bride family. As a squadron of camels with drums beating and guns firing in the air. A small regiment of British sepoys led by captain Douglas , commanted of the palace all tight fitting busbees and blue and saffron uniform and escorting two light cannon a troup of Skinnier in their yellow tunics and scarlet sashes topped by armoured breastplates and mediaeval looking helmet a group of bullock down wagons on which sat several bands of Mughal kettle drummers shanai players trumpeters and cymbals clashers and a European brougham carriage and painted kingfisher blue, containing party of senior princess their gift brocade flashing in the light of the exploding fire works.
More over the family situation of Metcalf and Zafar were in many ways surprisingly similar. If Zafar increasingly from himself the odds with the oldest. I trust you will alow the fine climate to have pair play with you and that you will eat and recollect that you have a father who loves you it's grived to witness your present state both of the body and mind that whatever annoyance he may have caused you proceeded from the sincere affection and a sense of duty . No father can do more.