maller ones for the escort. He had engaged at Calcutta a
good cook, and this man at once began to light fires, and prepare a
meal from the stores Harry had brought with him.

The tent was handsomely furnished. A large carpet covered the
ground. There was a bed, four large chairs, and a table; while
between the outer and inner walls of the tent was a bath. As soon
as they halted, one of the troopers rode into the village and
purchased fowls, rice, ghee, and condiments for the use of the
escort, who were all Mahommedans.

Harry found, to his satisfaction, that another set of waggons had
started that morning for the next halting place; and that he would
find everything ready for him there. This was a great satisfaction,
for he had feared that the work of taking down and packing the
tents would delay his start in the morning, and that at the end of
the day's ride he would have to wait some hours before the tents
came up; whereas by the system of double carriage, he would not be
delayed.

The head man told him that his party would start in the morning, as
soon as the cart could be packed; that fresh bullocks would be
hired at the village where he would halt, and would travel all
night, so as to be in readiness for him when he had accomplished
another stage; and that this process would be continued until they
reached Nagpore.

Chapter 9: A Popular Tumult.

The journey was performed without incident. Harry enjoyed it much,
for this luxurious method of travelling was quite new to him and,
three weeks after leaving the coast, they arrived at Nagpore. On
the previous day the native officer had been sent on, beforehand,
to inform the rajah of the arrival of a high officer of the
Governor General's; and had taken on a letter from Lord Mornington,
accrediting Harry to act in his name. Accordingly, when the party
arrived within a mile of the town, they were met by two officers of
the rajah; who welcomed him in his name, and said that a residence
had been prepared for his use and that of the escort. They were
surprised at Harry's perfect knowledge of their language for,
hitherto, British agents who had come to Nagpore had had but very
slight acquaintance with it, and had had to carry on their
conversation by means of an interpreter.

The town was large and straggling and composed, for the most part,
of native huts built of mud. There were, however, a few brick
houses, the property of flourishing traders. The palace was