he
howdah.

The golden howdah was presented by the Queen and Empress of India, and
glitters with diamonds and other precious stones. The two domes make it
look like two pavilions, and in the forward one sits the Guicowar in solemn
dignity. He wears a tunic of scarlet velvet, which is covered with gold and
diamonds. In fact, he seems to have diamonds enough to freight a schooner.
Either he or one of his predecessors purchased a brilliant for which he
paid the bagatelle of four hundred thousand dollars. Under the rear
pavilion, and behind him, is the king's prime minister.

One of the officials at his side is the king's herald, who unfolds a flag
of cloth-of-gold, and flourishes it before the people, and there are not
less than a hundred thousand of them in the streets. As he does so he
announces in good Hindustanee and in a loud voice a proclamation:
"_Srimunt Sircar! Khunderao Guicowar! Sena Khas Khel! Shamshar
Bahadoor!_"

"Exactly so," said Felix in a low tone.

"I suppose it is not given to outsiders to know what all that means?" added
Louis.

"Certainly it is," replied Sir Modava. "It means, 'Behold the King of
Kings, Khunderao Guicowar, whose army is invincible, whose courage is
indomitable.'"

"Is that in a Pickwickian sense?" asked Scott.

"Not at all, for the Guicowar is as brave a man as ever put a foot into
shoe-leather, or went barefooted," replied Lord Tremlyn, "though there is a
little exaggeration common to the Orient in the proclamation."

As his Majesty came in front of the veranda the party rose and saluted him
with low bows, and the waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies. He responded
with a kingly smile and a graceful wave of the hand. The procession passed
on, and shortly afterwards the booming cannon announced that the moment of
the solemn benediction had come. The attentive officials of the court
presently appeared with the carriages, and an invitation to the whole
company to dine with the Guicowar again at his table.

They had to wait an hour for the king, but they found enough to interest
them in observing the coming of numerous other guests. In an ante-room the
floor was almost covered with shoes, many of them of the richest material,
even with precious stones upon them. Sir Modava explained that Eastern
etiquette required that the visitors going into the presence of the
Maharajah should remove their shoes, but that Europeans and Americans were
exempt from this requirement.

When the