Edward+S

Arrived at Jaipur a about 11 o'clock [Indian time], [12:30 in united states of america ]. I find the men and women to have a red spot on their forheads as a sine of religios beliefs.Cook’s at Bombay who fixed us up are Brahmans [old religin a 1000 yeard and still used]. The Taj Mahal [resitly found old abanded city] at Bombay.

It was built and is owned and run by Parsees. The Hindoos never believe in killing anything and the apes in Abu are sacred, also the chipmunks. I broke the law in Abu, killed a bed bug. Smelt just as they used to in Texas. The women wear huge rings in their noses, or sometimes a big piece in one side of nose. In going through the country on the way here we passed thousands of pieces of irrigated land and water lifts that people and cattle were raising to put in the ditches. There were miles of cactus fence and other miles of cut briar or thorn bush hedges. Some of these fields so surrounded were filled with goats and they are very large size. The bullocks [oxen] were smaller than in China and Japan and the camels are much larger than those at Aden and less motheaten. We arrived at hotel here about 11 o’clock and went, after lunch, to the Royal Palace. The main streets are 110 feet wide, the next 54 and the smallest 27. The city was laid out by the great Maharaja Singh II and he was the greatest Astronomer of his day. There are acres of land covered with all kinds of astronomical instruments all made of enormous size of stone. They have all been checked up by a great English Astronomer and found correct. This is a city of about 175,000 people and the town was originally white. The last Maharaja changed each street to a different color, one green, one yellow, etc., etc., and the present one had all changed to a strawberry pink and it is known as the Pink City. It is run by a Maharaja. He has his own coinage [currency], two palaces and probably lots more of them. The finest park in India, a zoo with man-eating tigers captured in his dominion. We saw them and the attendant who has lost one arm by them already. The streets are full of people. The Raja has regined [reigned] 50 years – supports two colleges, an art school and has done much more than most Rajas for the people. The great specialties and what is taught in the art school is gold, silver, enamel work, brass, etc. There are mines of jade, ruby, garnet, topaz, white sapphire and the people are experts in metal work, and their enamel goes all over the world. They have their special pottery – a blue and white, I did not care much for it – too gaudy. We went in A.M. yesterday to see the Palace where the Maharaja lives in the winter and through the audience halls and the places where the festivities are held. The building was very fine. He has 150 wives and when he dies they all have to spend the last of their days in a big fort [Jaigarh Fort] on top of the mountain. He is 84 years old.

We bought some shawls for 300 rupees, some brass 50 rupees, some cut stones for 25 ruppes, two necklaces 315 rupees and one string of jade beads 30 rupees. Rupees bring 28¢ each.

Jan. 5th – (Thursday) Kaiser I, Hind Hotel – Jaipur:

In A.M. went to Amer Palace 7 miles by carriage and one-half mile by elephant. He had to kneel to enable us to get on his back by a stepladder. . The elephant riding is a little inclined to move all the body and give one an internal massage. We rode up to the palace gate – the Palace was built in 1592, added to by Raja Man Singh the First in 1625 – in 1666 it was added to and beautified. It is used by the Raja only in summertime, when it is cooler that the town Palace. It is guarded by its traditionary custodian, the Meen as the aborigines [native peoples] of the district are noted for their loyalty. The Jaigarh Fort is on top of the mountain nearby and that is where the Maharaja’s wives stay after his death. On entering, one comes to a small temple, said to be very old with the usual outlandishlooking god, or rather goddess, for she is the Goddess of Blood Sacrifice – every day there is a pig, a goat or a sheep killed before the altar. We saw where one had been killed that day. Our guide says they eat the animal after the sacrifice. There are doves everywhere and many peacocks.

In this amazing and lushus trip. I have seen alot, but there is more to know than i have found. My goul before i leave is to find these missing places and until then i am forced to say goodbye.

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