DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3462#0123
THE PROCESSION OF RETAINERS 81
attracted all eyes. There were twelve of them—
the first three of blazing gold, and the rest grad-
ing off to silver and copper, becoming paler and
paler until they reached a neutral gray.
It was odd to see amongst all this gorgeousness
a woman's covered litter pass; and I asked the
salmon gentleman why it was there, and what it
could be. He said that this was from the State ot
Bhopal, the only State in India ruled by a woman ;
and then began to talk to me about this woman
ruler. It appears that wherever she goes the pre-
parations for screening her from the vulgar gaze
are most elaborate. If she attends an evening
party a space is always cleared round about her;
and a native never dreams of passing the Zenana
save in a crouched position. Her husband has
no social standing at all: he is almost like the drone
in the bee-hive: even the sons are of more conse-
quence than he. The daughter, curiously enough,
occupies the same secondary position that a girl
would in any native State : she is never mentioned.
My informant was a most intelligent man, and as
the procession passed I asked him questions about
the wives of some of the native rulers. He
told me how strict the etiquette was, and how
careful one has to be in talking to men of their
6
attracted all eyes. There were twelve of them—
the first three of blazing gold, and the rest grad-
ing off to silver and copper, becoming paler and
paler until they reached a neutral gray.
It was odd to see amongst all this gorgeousness
a woman's covered litter pass; and I asked the
salmon gentleman why it was there, and what it
could be. He said that this was from the State ot
Bhopal, the only State in India ruled by a woman ;
and then began to talk to me about this woman
ruler. It appears that wherever she goes the pre-
parations for screening her from the vulgar gaze
are most elaborate. If she attends an evening
party a space is always cleared round about her;
and a native never dreams of passing the Zenana
save in a crouched position. Her husband has
no social standing at all: he is almost like the drone
in the bee-hive: even the sons are of more conse-
quence than he. The daughter, curiously enough,
occupies the same secondary position that a girl
would in any native State : she is never mentioned.
My informant was a most intelligent man, and as
the procession passed I asked him questions about
the wives of some of the native rulers. He
told me how strict the etiquette was, and how
careful one has to be in talking to men of their
6