1 INTRODUCTION. 49
2 bdief that the gendemen of the embtMy im bom in lodb tfioiii^
3 of En^idi-pannts. At length the Chaoiis Bauahee cmme to lis : he
4 hod been lobburing hoid at o liat of our nuam, and gare it up with
5 the fqipearanGe of estipetne vexation* in' deqiair of maatering audk a
6 collection of stm^ words. He now ezpkined the ceremoniea to
7 be obaerved, in a Tery ooniteoua manner, and then entreated us
8 aeFOvaUy to whisper our names tohim» when he should touch ua»
9 He then oondacted us up a sloping passage, and through a gate, after
10 which we passed behind a sort ot" screen, and suddenly issued into a
11 hrrre court, at the upper end of which we ww the King in an elevated
12 building.
13 The court was oblong, and liaci high walls, painted witli the figures
14 of cyprpssps. In the middle was a pond fuid fountains. The walls
15 on each side were lined with the King's guards three deep, and at
16 various places in the court, stood the officers of state, at difterent dis-
17 tances tVom the Kin^, iiccoi ding to their degree. At the end of the
18 court was a high buiidmg, llie lower story of whicli was a solid v. all,
19 ornamented with ^se arches, but without doors or windows ; ovei
20 this mm anothw story, the roof of which was supported^ by pillars
21 and Moorish ardies, highly ornamented. ' In the eentve ardi sat the
22 Kin^ on a rBty large thnme of goAd or gilding. His iqppearanoe'waa
23 magnifioent and rojral : his crown and all his drew were one Uace of
24 jewiia. He was denoted above the heada of the eunndia who snr*
25 nmnded his throne, and who were the onlj persons in the krge hafl
26 where he sat : all waa silant snd motioniesB. On oondng in aiglit of
27 the King* we all pulled off our hats, and made alow bowt we then
28 held up our hands towards heaven, as if praying for the King, and
29 afterwarda advanced to the fimntatn, where the Chaous Banshee re-^
30 peated our names, without any tide or addition of respect, ending
31 " They have come from Eiux>pe as ambassadors to Your Mqeslrjr.
32 " May your misfortunes lie turned upon meV* The King answered
33 * Some fowo of prayer lifa thh ii ahfayi mad on addiwring the King^ ItcoR«|Mnda •
34 tothe **Okii^Hvefacva>,'*€fdieaticM»tBeniBiii.
35 H
36 Digitized by Google