As Soon As The
Last Of The Flags And Banners And Prancing Horses Had Gone Past, The
Maharajah Set Us The Example Of Rising, And Mounting His Grey Steed,
Cantered Off In State, Surrounded By The Crowd Of Dusky Parasites,
Arrayed In Gold And Jewels, Who Formed His Court.
His Highness appeared to be about thirty-eight years old, and was as
handsome a specimen of a native as I had ever seen.
He wore a short,
jet-black beard, and mustachios, turned up from the corners of his
mouth, and reaching, in two long twists, nearly to his eyes. He
appeared absent and thoughtful which, considering the low state of
his exchequer, was perhaps not to be wondered at.[7] His English
visitors spend a good deal of money every summer in his kingdom;
and for this reason alone, he is anxious enough to cultivate their
acquaintance, and gives naches, or native dances, and champagne
dinners periodically to amuse them. He presents, also, an offering to
each traveller that arrives, and we in due course received two sheep,
two fowls, and about fourteen little earthen dishes containing rice,
butter, spices, eggs, flour, fruit, honey, sugar, tea, &c., all of
which were laid at the door of our tent, with great pomp and ceremony,
by a host of attendants.
After the review, we took boat again and paddled down the stream to
look at the town, and a quainter and more picturesque-looking old
place it would be hard to conceive.
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