in directing flic preparations for the ensuing festival, hoped that we would
and give him our company on the following morning at
the great temple of Shoemadoo, to view the amusements oft he first day;
an inV'ipil&'B^»that -i.gladly accepted from motives o f curiosity, as well as of
respect. .
At eight-oulock -in the morning Baba-Sheen arrived, in'Nprder tb Otari
duct Us 'to the 'temple.; be brought with him three small horses, equipped
with saddles and bridles, resembling those used by the higher ranks of the
inhabitants o f flindostan. After breakfast, Mr. Wood, Doctor Buchanan,
and myself, mounted, and attended by Baba*Sheen, and an Ackedoo, an
officer belonging to the Maywoon’s household, also oa horseback, set out
to view the ceremony. We entered the new town by -the nearest, gate,
and proceeded upwards of a quarter 'of a mile through theqjrincipal .-Street
till We came to where It was crossed at right angles by another, which
led from the Maywoon’s residence to the temple: here our progress was
stopped by a great1 concourse of people, and we perceived on each side of
the way, troops marching by single files in slow time, towards the temple.
By the advice of Baba-Sheen, we occupied a convenient , spot- to; view :the
procession.. The troops that we saw, were the Maywoon’s guard:; .five or
six hundred men passed us in this manner, wretchedly armed, and equipped;
many had muskets that appeared in a very unserviceable state,
with accoutrements not in a more respectable condition; some were provided
with spears, others with sabres; whilst their dress was as motley as
their weapons. Several were naked to the middle, having only a Kummer-
band, or waistcloth, rolled round their waist, and passed between their
legs; some were dressed in old velvet, or cloth coats, which they put on
regardless of .size .or fashion, although it scarce covered their nakedness.
I Ml 'VM | i) , \ v. 169
m trailed on tliOfgrijund. *ms a^hnetq »and din< if in afi^shape
Sonic vvolcsDutcBJbioadr bpm i t s " w r\\§
crownsjil luts, wllliottf'any bum at ■ilb.'^ilfeifflli'u.'r^luhis^i r f i^ k in d ,:
uho'-ueic loi die most part'C.bnsri.m^i5^H‘iin tb o i,l?^itil^uc/c^a'fH'eisfi)iV;i
exhibited ajsvu) giotesque appear me«.’ 1 hef fnsttipcison t * sink»*tli if
pS^sed^Pwei^ih^^ehildEen of't&^Mayvit8oii^|i^Ssnc''astn(le'i^^R^ineii s
shoulders; theiddest/'a ho'y abop&cigli&.^Hs ol age; ilift.
not more than lises; the l.u tu oniy-w is'kgifimatcyboing.thc la.sf/Uoin (5§
hist present-, wiffei;? the two elder^ef'c;tlie‘^llsprihgs<dfi!c5h'ciiln'rics.. Ihe-
Majwoou followed at a short distuicbfhuoiSmul oh£tl)$-nerltf?ol i \cfy?
line'clfcphun&pv hichriiS^uided'himsills-’His'dress svas^kantlsomc' and*BdS
?§,ojuing.ifhe hafdb©hsl4 dark velvet* rode witfiul6ngiH‘ltx.ves,'. tnmmwl w itlr
-broad gold tlabe, and on Ins head luywoic a cotficalj^ap$oJ»fillc same
material; iM^pSnbraidered: a •huitther':'Mlparad^,^ ^h a fi;s; ■ in' -tawdry-
lfonsings h»iughtiup tlic leai. As wd* 1 ludbi^ityrtoii forrrtallv mtiddacdl}
he pissed by,'»wi;thOut'’hoiio<i!iriBg43tis wit|||raytpoUcM'* P^ocSLCrling.'teethe
fobt .ofiJrheptdpSiiiaflead- toJhe.-,pa|orta>tdKi?el^Kmit*kiidt tlowrotb>s\ifldS
him to"1’alight-. rWhiFst-he’ was in th e pci;fcirm5ntcJol this**acfk,,?B0gp trade*
elephants knelt also, and thmciowd that followed squatted omthcrtftkllsP
JUaving asceaded-the ffighrioftfepSphetput off-his ’ shoeS^i'andiVaFk'^difce
round 'the temple, without* his umbrella, which'Wasj. lafd|i’asM'e?tdtftj'.of
reverence to the sanctity«! the place. When he had finished this r tr em o t^
he proceeded to the scene of amusement, a sort toftbeatre? ejected a trail angle1
of the area of the temple. Two saloons, or open halls, separate from the
great building, formed two sides of the theatre',* which} w^aoout'fift^feeltf
square, covered by an1 awning of'griss,‘ Spread on ‘a flai?^b®feiS|feI'ei®ler
canesp Stqjported by bamboo poksliS Beneatl^iathel’jjEojec'tin^’vergel^lihff
Z