y brother was
waiting in the courtyard with several cameras. Her Majesty went to the
courtyard and examined each of them. She said: "How funny it is that you
can take a person's picture with a thing like that." After the method of
taking the photograph had been fully explained to her, she commanded one
of the eunuchs to stand in front of the camera so that she might
look through the focusing glass, to see what it was like. Her Majesty
exclaimed: "Why is it your head is upside down? Are you standing on your
head or feet?" So we explained when the photo was taken it would not
look that way. She was delighted with the result of her observations,
and said that it was marvellous. Finally she told me to go and stand
there, as she wanted to have a look at me through this glass also. She
then exchanged places with me, and desired that I should look through
the glass and see if I could make out what she was doing. She waved
her hand in front of the camera, and on my telling her of it, she was
pleased.

She then entered her chair, and ordered the bearers to proceed. My
brother took another photograph of Her Majesty in the procession as she
passed the camera. After she had passed the camera she turned and asked
my brother: "Did you take a picture?" and on my brother answering that
he had, Her Majesty said: "Why didn't you tell me? I was looking too
serious. Next time when you are going to take one, let me know so that I
may try and look pleasant."

I knew that Her Majesty was very much pleased. While we were at the back
of the screen during the audience, I noticed that she seemed anxious to
get it over, in order to have some more photographs taken. It only took
about twenty minutes to get that particular audience over, which was
very rare.

After the people had gone, we came from behind the screen and Her
Majesty said: "Let us go and have some more pictures taken while the
weather is fine." So she walked the courtyard of the Audience Hall,
where my brother had a camera ready, and had another photograph taken.
She said that she would like to have some taken sitting on her throne,
exactly as though she were holding an audience. It took us only a few
minutes to have everything prepared in the courtyard. The screen was
placed behind the throne, and her footstool was also placed ready for
her, and she ordered one of the Court ladies to go and bring several
gowns for her to select from. At the same time I went and brought some
of he