living close by, it might be more convenient to walk.
My inquiry had reached the great man s ears, and
he seemed to have taken it as a trait of humility on
my part that I did not think myself worthy to come
mounted to his presence. He therefore sent me a
message to say he had heard I talked of walking to
the palace, but that he desired I would ride.
So I proceeded to make ready, and first put on
my cassock, that did duty when I went to the Court
of St. James’s. Over this I put on a gorgeous, gold-
embroidered waistcoat, adapted from a garment I
bought in Servia, as a specimen of a Servian gentleman’
s vest— grand enough for a general— and tied a
cincture at the bottom, with ends hanging at the side,
and over these I hung my scarlet hood. Fortunately,
perhaps, there was no mirror in the room, or my
heart might have failed m e ; but I next put round my
neck a Provincial Grand Chaplain’s collar of purple
and gold, and on this pinned three or four masonic
jewels, by way of medals, and slung at the bottom my
pocket B ib le ; after which my costume was completed
by a college cap ; and thus arrayed I mounted my
palfry and sallied forth. My two djiguitts went in
front, preceded by a whole bevy of officials, and the
two interpreters came after. O f course I looked at the
people as we passed through the streets. Need I say
that they looked still harder at me, doing my utmost,
as I was, to keep my countenance ? T he boys, not
content with a passing glance, ran before, and kept
turning round to look, and, in the bazaar, buyers and
sellers stopped their bargaining in order to gaze.
All went well, however, and we reached the citadel.
This is a large artificial mound, surrounded by high clay
walls, having an imposing gateway, with a chamber