1 in Europe), and wt directed our steps towards tlic large yard,
2 which we had to cross, in order to get betimes to a convenient
3 place close- to the funeral pile. This was erected between the
4 walls and the fortress, in a small garden, the conflux of the
5 people haring been so enormous in the fortress. In the large
6 yard, we observed one of the four ranees (queens) corning out of
7 the harem on foot and unveiled, for the first time in her life.
8 She was slowly proceeding towards the place where the royal
9 body was lying, and she was surrounded by about one hun¬
10 dred persons, who kept themselves at some distance, while accom¬
11 panying her. Close to her side there was a .nan carrying a
12 small box, containing the remainder of her jewels (as sin had
13 already distributed some), which she made presents of, handing
14 them one. by one. to the people on her right and left. Two or
15 three steps in front of her, there was n man moving in a back¬
16 ward direction, his face turned towards her, and holding a look¬
17 ing-glass, that she might convince herself that her features were
18 unaltered, and no fear visible on them. At the distribution of
19 the jewels. Col. Steinbach made the observation that, had we
20 stretched out our hands to receive a present, it certainly would
21 not have been denied ; but we thought proper to leave it to
22 the poorer people, because we occupied lucrative posts. It is
23 curious, indeed, that this was the very ranee whom liunjeet Sing
24 married in the first year of iny residence in that country, ten
25 years having passed since I witnessed the nuptials at Natloun.
26 She was, as I mentioned before, a daughter of Surisarchund, and
27 she had a younger sister, whom the maharajah at the same time
28 took also for a wife, and conveyed them both to Lahore s the
29 latter, I am told, had died of consumption during my absence.
30 As for the former, although f was present at her wedding, I
31 nevertheless had never seen her before, and it w r as only on her
32 last fatal walk, which she took to her funeral pile, that I could
33 behold her. The funeral train, accompanied by many thousands
34 of spectators, was now proceeding; all were on foot, tiieii
35 abode in the fortress not being far distant from the place of
36 the ceremony. The four ranees only were carried, in open