Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/257

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fatigue; we were on elephants, and exposed to the sun throughout the whole day.

23rd.—Mr. M—— invited us to quit our tents, and come into the Residency, giving us the apartments vacated by the Governor-general, which are delightful; and here we are installed with some most agreeable people. First and foremost, our kind host the Resident; Mr. G——, the Resident of Nagpore; Mr. H——, the Resident of Delhi; and Col. Gardner, a most charming old gentleman;—but he will require pages to himself, he is one of many thousand.

But I can write no more—my aide-de-camp, a young Bhopaul Chieftain, is in attendance, to invite me to ride with the Resident. This little native chief is a fine intelligent boy about fourteen years of age; he rides well, on a small horse covered with silver ornaments; and his own dress, with two and sometimes three swords at his waist, is so curious, I should like to have his picture taken. The young chief, with his followers, often attends me on horseback to do my bidding.

The king has a charming park near Lucnow, called Dil-Kushā, or "Heart's Delight," filled with game; deer, nil-gā'ī, antelopes, bears, tigers, peacocks, and game of all sorts; the drive through it is most agreeable, the road being kept constantly watered: the house is good, and very convenient. His Majesty visits the place often for shooting.

Just beyond the park is a second park called Beebeepore, formerly the residence of Mr. Cherry, who was murdered at Benares.

24th.—I took a steam bath in true oriental style, which was very delightful; when the pleasing fatigue was over, I joined a party, and proceeded to Daulut Khāna, a palace built by Ussuf-ood-Dowla, but now uninhabited, except by some of the ladies and attendants of the old king's zenāna.

We went there to see a picture painted in oil by Zoffani, an Italian artist, of a match of cocks, between the Nāwabb?] Ussuf-ood-Dowla and the Resident, Colonel Mordaunt; the whole of the figures are portraits; the picture excellent, but fast falling into decay.