bold and Ms council, wearing the tzaloe, or chain of nobility, and arrayed
in th e ir robes and caps, of state, varied according to their respective ranks.
The Prince, borne on men’s shoulders,- in a very rich palanquin* but with*
out any canopy, followed ; he was screened from the sun by a large gilded
fan, supported by a nobleman, and on each side of his palanquin walked six
Cassay astrologers, of the Braminical sect, dressed in white gowns and
white caps, studded with stars of gold ? - close behind, his servants carried
his wafer-flaggon, and a gold beetle-box, of a size which appeared to be
no ineonsiderable load for ä man-. Several elephants and led horses with
rieh housings came after; some inferior officers, and' a body of spearmen,
with three companies of musqucteers, one clothed in blue, another in green,
and a third in red, concluded theprocession.
In every part of this ostentatious parade perfect- regularity was maintained,
whkh considerably increased the effect. All things seemed to have
been carefully predisposed and properly arranged. I f it was less splendid
than imperial Delhi, in the days of Mogul magnificence, it was far niore
decorous than any court of Hindostan at the present day* The rabble was
not tumultuous, the attendants and soldiery were silent, and every man
seemed to know his own {dace. No noisy heralds, as is the' custom in
India, ran before, vociferating titles, and overturning people in their
way. The display of this day was solemn and dignified, and I doubt
much whether, in any other capital, such multitudes eouM b e brought
together with so little confusion; as, besides the attendants and the military
there were many thousands of spectators.
Our delay in the rhoom had now been protracted to two hours, a circumstance
which, though it gratified our curiosity with ä novel and most
interesting spectacle, yet could not be considered as a mark of respect,
especiafty as we ;had.®ofafche companyof .any person of distinguished rank,
the junior W.©®ndack{exdeptecb'who staid with -»s hut a'very short tine.
The attendance ofi the .May woon ©ftPegugj.wasj -according .to the usage of
the teounthy, -on this occasion.our undoubted right; and the example o f
thesYdeeroy of Raanoo, who paid that compsfenont to the Chinese deputies,
planed the omission in a more striking point o f view, whilst the singular
character -of ,-the ploplejpufc-ifc puttof my power, -to attribute the neglect
to johatree,; or. to masuaLin^d-weBteh^p.’ v> >
A. few minutes after the Eqgy'Teekien, or'Prince Koyah had -entered,
ms received a isumm.QJis, tBll®OTpliqnce with which we procegdefi/roia
the- riaopn^ :f®bser»j®g,the same oj'dpr as before'; (the presents ^carried in
fo n t, and the the ^Chinese-embassy foIlowingnthefEnglish-dpr
potation. As -we proceeded, the Sandohgaan was exceedingly trouble-,
-risnie,' hy; reMling OB/US to make-frequent superfluous obeisances,-whilst
Ms manner o f requiring them was conspicuously uncivil. I checked his
insolence b y observing, through Baba Sheen, that if hp wished me to proceed,
:he must alter bis tone and demeanour. This reproof, however, had
enlyW-momentaty effect-; be sooniiesumOdbisiarisogant behaviour,- which
fee’repeated throughout the day, -whenever opportunity .e$e$ed. *
O n approaching the g&fce, .the greaterifja$r>pf.Qur attendants-were .stopped,
and not permitted to follow us; .and We were desired'to put -off our shoes,
with .whichwfi immediately leonttpheri.. 1
The .area we now ientered was spacious, and contained the Lptoo, -or
grand hall of consultation and of audience; where ■ .the' Woongees meet ,in
council, and where aflairs of-state are chcpu?s.ed-and determined. Within
this dnclosure :there is an inner epurt, separated fey raj brick wall, which
comprehend the palace, .and -all the 'buildings annexed -to-?the' royal resi-
3 A