1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH. 453
2 Mahardjé passed to an inner tent. Chairs were provided in this further
3 tent for the sardars of the Mahardjd’s staff and his officers. He took care
4 to call out the name of each of his sardars himself, and did not enter the
5 tent until all had gone in and taken their seats on the chairs provided for
6 them. The Governor-General and the Mahardjé then took their seats on
7 State chairs, placed side by side. The whole presented a most picturesque ap-
8 pearance. Not only were the Sikh sardars dressed 10 basanti, the colour of
9 spring, but their highly-polished armour was worn with scarfs, also of this
10 colour, and this, combined with the diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other
11 precious stones that decorated their heads, breasts and arms, rendered the
12 scene a truly grand one. After a friendly conversation between the
13 Governor-General and the Mahardj4, presents for the Mahardjé and his
14 suite were brought and exhibited inthe darbdr. These consisted of fifty-
15 one trays, in which were arranged a variety of fine manufactured stuffs
16 from Calcutta, Dhdk& and Benares, jewels of value, pearl necklaces, saz-
17 peches set with diamonds, a tuft or ringlet, armlets,a jewelled sword and
18 a handsome matchlock. ‘To these were added a fine Burmese elephant and
19 two horses from the Hissdr stud, which were passed in review before the
20 Mahardjé. Twenty-one trays with rich stuffs and jewels were laid out for
21 the heir-apparent, besides a horse richly equipped with gold and silver
22 ornaments. Dresses of honour were also laid out for the sardars. His
23 Highness carefully examined each article of his own presents, and present-
24 ed the tray-bearers and the bandsmen in attendance with a purse of two
25 thousand rupees. The meeting then broke up,and the Mahardjé returned to
26 his own camp at about noon, apparently highly pleased with the meeting.
27 As he passed through the street of British troops, he renewed his enquiries
28 regarding the formation and equipment of various corps, stopping where-
29 ever he saw anything to attract or interest him. He did not, however,
30 leave the British camp before talking with the Governor-General, even in
31 this ceremonial visit, on that most favourite subject, his horses, and causing
32 them to be paraded before His Excellency at the door of the reception tent.
33 On arriving at his camp, the Mahardjé sent three kalamddns, or pen-cases,
34 of Kdshmir manufacture, and richly decorated with precious stones, to the
35 Governor-General, through his confidential minister, Fakir Az{z-ud-din. One
36 of these was intended for His Lordship, the other for his lady, and the third
37 for his Chief Secretary.
38 His Excellency the Governor-General paid a return visit to the Mahardjé
39 on the following day. Grand preparations were made in the Mahardja’s
40 camp for his reception. Tents of embroidered Kashmir work were pitched
41 at the place fixed for the interview, and from here to the banks of the
42 river, facing the Governor-General’s camp, a double row of troops was
43 formed. When all was complete, the heir-apparent, Prince Kharak
44 Singh, and Prince Sher Singh, crossed the river, to conduct His Lordship to
45 the Sikh camp. His Lordship crossed the river escorted by the lancers, a
46 body of mounted bandsmen preceding the cavalcade. He was met at
47 the bridge-of-boats by the Mahardjé himself, and, after an exchange of
48 compliments, seated on the Mahardjd’s howdé&h. When both the chiefs had
49 seated themselves, the artillery in attendance thundered forth a royal salute,
50 and the troops presented arms, His Lordship and the Mahardjé proceeded
51 ~slowly in the direction of the darbdr tents, which had been tastefully
52 laid out. The ‘Mahardj& was much struck with the appearance of the
53 British troops, particularly of the band, which preceded them, and which he
54 heard play with great interest and pleasure on the river bank, during the
55 interval in which the suite was passing over the bridge. In the Sikh
56 The Darbar,
57 Presents from the
58 Governor-General.
59 Presentation of
60 kalamdins to the
61 Governor-General.
62 The return visit.
63 The magnificence of
64 the Maharwia’s camp.
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