Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XVIII. An Indian Fête—The Prince of Burdwan—Indian Luxury—The Riches and Romantic Life of an Indian Prince—Poverty and Riches
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190,
Story of an Emigrant.
was crccted about a hundred yards from the road. The
tent was supported by forty pillars covered with silver tinsel
paj>er, and the canvas consisted of heavy linen woven in
many-colored squares, which \vere about three feet each way.
The sides of the tent were open, and between each of the
outer pillars was stationed a Hindoo soldier dressed in
shoes, gray stockings, black knee breeches, and a red coat,
one half of which was embroidered with gold and silver,
while the head was covered by a red turban richly adorned
with gold ornaments. These soldiers were gigantic, dark
figures, armed with curved sabres and long lances. They
stood immovable as statues, and only the rolling of their
flashing eye-balls showed that they were living men. At the
upper end of the tent was an elevated platform with a gilt
chair for the governor, and behind this, chairs for the
European ladies. From the platform to the entrance at the
opposite end was an aisle, 011 each side of which were four
rows of chairs for the guests, all numbered and placed
according to their rank. The aisle and the walk to the
country road were covered with expensive Persian rugs, and
chamberlains in dazzling costumes conducted the guests
from the carriages to the seats assigned to them in the tent.
The European officers were seated on the first row to the
right, and the Hindoo princes and noblemen 011 the first row
to the left, with the young maharajah next to the platform.
The other chairs were occupied bv Hindoo and
Mohammedan zemindars (proprietors of landed estates), scholars, and
dignitaries.
A most splendid display of costumes in satin and velvet in
all possible colors and fashions, all of them richly adorned
with gold and silver trimming and embroideries, besides
glittering necklaces and diamond rings, added brilliantly
to the scene. All the natives kept their headdresses on,
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