about
the rajah, a certain Andre Cochut by name, originally a barber, who was
my father's great enemy, and is now in high favour at court. I must be
prepared for every obstruction he can throw in my way; but as he is not
acquainted with the name I bear, he will not suspect who I am. You must
appear as the person of chief importance, while you represent me as a
friend whom you have brought for the sake of companionship. This will
throw Cochut off his guard. And if we manage to play our cards well, we
may gain the confidence of the rajah; when I hope that he may then be
induced to deliver up my father's property, and the casket containing
the valuable deeds I am in search of."

Captain Burnett agreed to the wisdom of Reginald's plan, and, in order
to assume as much importance as possible, sent in to the rajah to
announce their arrival, and to request that they might be permitted to
pay their respects. The plan succeeded even better than they had
expected. The next morning, as they were preparing to move, a suwarree,
or retinue of elephants and horses, was seen approaching, headed by one
of the rajah's principal officers. The train of elephants was
splendidly equipped with silver howdahs, and accompanied by suwarrs, or
horsemen, in red and yellow, followed by an irregular though picturesque
body of infantry, armed with swords, long matchlock guns, and shields.
Some had enormously long spears covered over with silver; while amid
them were carried large triangular green banners. The silver howdahs,
the flowing dresses, the glowing colours, and the majestic size of the
animals which formed the most prominent part of the group, had
altogether a wonderfully picturesque and scenic appearance. The
strangers were invited to mount the elephants, and in a few minutes they
found themselves forming part of the curious procession they had before
been admiring. Thus they entered the gates of the ancient city. The
houses they passed were closely packed and built of clay, the lanes
dirty in the extreme, and so narrow that they frequently had to proceed
in single file. Beggars swarmed at every angle, and on the steps of
every door, while the whole population appeared armed either with
matchlock gun or pistols. Some carried a short bent sword called a
tulwar, with shield on shoulder. The traders walked about with tulwars
by their sides, while the idlers carried both the pistol and the shield.
The latter is of buffalo-hide, ge