al personages called to pay their
respects and finally, the Earl of Northbrook, Viceroy and
Governor-General. Amidst the thunder of artillery from fleet and forts
His Royal Highness then landed and was welcomed by a great multitude of
people, luxuriously seated in tiers of seats ranged beside two pavilions
draped in scarlet, the canopies of which were upheld by gold pillars
wreathed with flowers. Beyond was a massive arch of triumph and the
platform and landing stage was carpeted with red cloth. In the
surrounding crowd was the whole central machinery of government amongst
three hundred millions of people and Rajahs, Chiefs and authorities
innumerable. The procession through the "City of Palaces" was marked by
the same splendour, the same crowds, the same curious contrasts as had
impressed the observer at Bombay. But the absence of the night effect
and its wierd illumination and the presence of certain indefinable
elements made it more dignified; while the greater number of English
people gave a certain leaven of western enthusiasm which had been
wanting elsewhere. In the evening a magnificent banquet was given by
the Viceroy and the city was a blaze of light and the scene of general
festivity.

The day before Christmas saw a state reception more remarkable than any
yet held. The first native prince to be received was the Maharajah of
Puttiala--a melancholy-faced man who died soon afterwards. Then followed
the Maharajah Holkar of Indore who was said to have L5,000,000 in gold
stored away; the Maharajah of Jodhpore, who wore an indescribable
glittering mass of gems; the Maharajahs of Jeypore, Cashmere, Gwalior;
the Sultana Jehan, Begum of Bhopal, of whom little more than a shawl and
a silk hood could be seen; and the Maharajah of Rewah, a dignified
personage who was said by some writers to be suffering from leprosy. A
Levee was then held and the Prince, for two hours, with the Duke of
Sutherland on one side of him and Lieutenant-Governor Sir Richard Temple
on the other, stood in full uniform bowing to a steady stream of people.
Another state banquet in the evening, and then attendance at an
entertainment some miles out of town gotten up by Native gentlemen,
brought this Christmas Eve to a close. On the following day the Prince
attended service at the Cathedral accompanied by Lord Northbrook and
listened to a powerful sermon from Bishop Milman--who died of a fever
caught on his Episcopal tour a few weeks later. He then dr