DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0074
CHAP. II.
AUDIENCE OF LEAVE.
41
sterling portioned, with a partial hand, among the
members of his family, the gifts that did not exceed
the value of a few hundred pounds. His mean-
ness may be imagined, when he privately deputed
his Vizier to beg that I would exchange the
clock and candlesticks for some articles among the
presents, which I doubtless had for other chiefs, as
they formed no part of the furniture of a Sindian
palace. I told the Vizier that the presents which I
had brought were intended to display the manufac-
tures of Europe, and it was not customary to give
the property of one person to another. This denial
produced a second message; and, as a similar
occurrence happened, in 1809, to a mission at this
court, we gather from the coincidence how little
delicacy of feeling actuates the cabinet of Hydrabad.
Some score of trays, loaded with fruit and sweet-
meats adorned with gold-leaf, and sent by the dif-
ferent members of the family, closed the day.
Early in the morning, we were conducted to
the durbar by Meer Ismaeel Shah, one of the
Viziers, and our mihmandar: on the road the Vizier
took occasion to assure me how much I would
please the Ameer by changing the clock. There
was more order and regularity in our second
interview, which was altogether very satisfactory;
for the Ameer gave a ready assent to the wishes of
Government when they were communicated to him.
The conversation which ensued was of the most
friendly description. His Highness asked parti-
cularly for my brother, looked attentively at our
dress, and was much amused with the shape and
AUDIENCE OF LEAVE.
41
sterling portioned, with a partial hand, among the
members of his family, the gifts that did not exceed
the value of a few hundred pounds. His mean-
ness may be imagined, when he privately deputed
his Vizier to beg that I would exchange the
clock and candlesticks for some articles among the
presents, which I doubtless had for other chiefs, as
they formed no part of the furniture of a Sindian
palace. I told the Vizier that the presents which I
had brought were intended to display the manufac-
tures of Europe, and it was not customary to give
the property of one person to another. This denial
produced a second message; and, as a similar
occurrence happened, in 1809, to a mission at this
court, we gather from the coincidence how little
delicacy of feeling actuates the cabinet of Hydrabad.
Some score of trays, loaded with fruit and sweet-
meats adorned with gold-leaf, and sent by the dif-
ferent members of the family, closed the day.
Early in the morning, we were conducted to
the durbar by Meer Ismaeel Shah, one of the
Viziers, and our mihmandar: on the road the Vizier
took occasion to assure me how much I would
please the Ameer by changing the clock. There
was more order and regularity in our second
interview, which was altogether very satisfactory;
for the Ameer gave a ready assent to the wishes of
Government when they were communicated to him.
The conversation which ensued was of the most
friendly description. His Highness asked parti-
cularly for my brother, looked attentively at our
dress, and was much amused with the shape and