Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/191

received at a Darbár. There is a reception also for the Maráthá ladies, sent by the famous Baiza Bái, Sindhia's wife, as a deputation to Lady Amherst, who describes the amusing scene as follows:—

'I had promised that no man should be present. A back entrance was the spot destined for their entrance, guarded by a kirnaut—a sort of wall of cloth, the same as round our tents, and so well managed that their palanquins came in without the possibility of their being seen. A female Darbár, never having taken place before in India, excited much curiosity.... I invited all the principal ladies of the station, twelve in number; they were ranged round the room on chairs. I as closely imitated Lord Amherst's Darbár Courts as I could in everything relating to their reception. Mrs. Saunders our kind hostess, Mrs. Stewart, Sarah and Miss Payne were deputed to meet them on the steps of the door and conduct them to me. The name of the first and favourite wife was Lakshmi, and the second Parbati. I sat upon the gold chair of state, and rose as they entered and met them halfway. Their principal lady who directed everything, and even answered every question for them, is a wife of a Brahman called Almaram. After saluting on both sides of the face the two wives of Hindu Raáo, I conducted them to their seats, and through a female interpreter we had much conversation. They said they were much alarmed at the state of health Sindhia was in, and praying to God for his recovery, and making offerings in their temple. They told me that they rode on horseback daily like men astride, with Maráthá shawls, which are enormously large, wrapped round them; this and a thick veil over their faces completely conceals them. Parbati did not venture one word, did not even sit down but when ordered by her superior, Lakshmí, to do so. They remained till 12 o'clock