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Procession of the Emperor Bahadur Shah to celebrate the feast of the Eid, 1843
From 'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi’, an album consisting of 89 folios containing approximately 130 paintings of views of the Mughal and pre-Mughal monuments of Delhi, as well as other contemporary material, with an accompanying manuscript text written by Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe (1795-1853), the Governor-General’s Agent at the imperial court.
 | 1 [Elephants and horses with standards. Camel outriders letting off fireworks. Hounds and their keeper.] | 2 [More camel outriders with spears. Elephants carrying the imperial standards.] | 3 [The pigeon basket on an elephant. The royal litters borne on men's shoulders. A cannon, horse and state elephant accompanied by guards.] | 4 [The Emperor Bahadur Shah (r.1837-58), in a howdah on an elephant, followed by two other elephants with empty howdahs. The heir-apparent is also in an elephant howdah.] | 5 [The Resident, staff and Commandant of the Escort in howdahs, with further elephants and horses. | 6 [A curtained ‘amari on an elephant. A curtained rath. Cavalry.] |
| 1 Inscribed: His Majesty the King of Dehli proceeding in full State to the Eed-Gah or place of Sacrifice to celebrate the Festival of the Eed ool Koorban or the Chief Sacrificial Festival. It is in commemoration of the intended sacrifice by Abraham of his son Isaac [i.e. Ishmael]. | 2 Inscribed: The Umbrella and several Insignia of Sovereignty. | 3 Inscribed: The Pigeon House borne by an Elephant. The Flying of Pigeons constitutes a Royal pastime. The Royal Nalkee or covered conveyance carried by men. Royal Guards. | 4 Inscribed: The Emperor. Heir Apparent Sons & Relatives. | 5 Inscribed: The Resident, Assistant & Commandant of Escort. | 6 Inscribed: The Queen Consort. The Queen Mother. Resident’s Escort from Skinner’s Horse. |
| 5 This part of the procession is similar to 'The British Resident riding in procession of Akbar II', c.1820 (Add.Or.888), which shows the Resident Charles Metcalfe. In this view, Charles has been replaced by Thomas Metcalfe, who was not the Resident but agent to the Governor General at Delhi, even though the inscription still says Resident. Behind Metcalfe, the Nawab of Ferozpur and the other British officers in both views appear to be the same.] | |||||
A panorama in 12 folds showing the procession of the Emperor Bahadur Shah to celebrate the feast of the 'Id. f. 59v-E, British Library
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19th century Indian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers
