1 A display of the State
2 horses.
3 Presents for the
4 Governor-General.
5 Sports and feat of
6 horsemanship and
7 dexterity performed
8 by the Sikh Sardars,
9 Sports performed by
10 the Maharaj4.
11 Two artillery guns
12 presented to the
13 Maharaja,
14 The parting inter
15 454 “HISTORY OF THE PANSAB.
16 camp, the kanats, and shamidnas, of beautiful embroidered work, and tents
17 occupied a large space. The shamidénas were all lined with Kdshmir shawls,
18 tastefully and beautifully worked. That under which the Governor-General
19 and Mahardjd were seated, was inlaid with pearls and jewels. The floor
20 cloth was of embroidered silk, richly worked in gold and silver. On one
21 side was a bedstead, with curtains of exquisitely fine gold cloth, and fringes
22 decorated with pearls and rubies of great value. The Governor-General
23 was provided with a seat on a throne, worked with gold thread. The-
24 Maharaja sat on the right of the throne, ona golden chair. When all were
25 seated, the Mahardjd had his officers and sardars of State presented in
26 succession to the Governor-General, and each of these presented a nazar of a
27 gold mohur to both His Lordship and- the Mahardj4, which was touched
28 and remitted. These sardars were introduced by Captain, afterwards Sir,
29 Claude Wade, Assistant Political Agent at Ludhiand, who gave.a brief
30 account of each as he passed. The Mahardjd’s horses, magnificently equipped,
31 were then brought and passed in review, His Highness, as usual, telling
32 the names and merits of each. An hour was passed in lively conversation,
33 and dancers were then brought in. The presence of these dancing-girls, clad
34 in their holiday attire, added greatly to the picturesqueness and brilliancy of
35 thescene. When the time of departure approached, the presents intended for
36 the Governor-General and staff were brought forward. Those for His Lordship
37 were arranged in 101 trays, and consisted of rich stuffs from Kdshmir
38 and other parts of the Panjab, jewels and seven single diamonds of various
39 sizes, There were also ten matchlocks, a sword, two bows with arrows
40 and a shield, all set with precious stones, several gold and silver utensils
41 and a chapar khdt, or bedstead, with curtains of gold and silver cloth,
42 completely furnished. To these were added two fine horses, with superb
43 trappings, and an elephant with a silver howdéh. Presents of different
44 descriptions and values were also given to the officers of the Governor-
45 General’s staff, and, after atfar and pda had been served out to the
46 distinguished visitors, the party broke up, and His Lordship returned to
47 his camp, accompanied by Princes Kharak Singh and Sher Singh.
48 The following four days were occupied in evening entertainments and
49 reviews of troops. On ‘the 31st of October, some artillery practice with
50 grape and spherical case shot was witnessed by the Maharaja across the
51 river, An umbrella was shot at with one of the six-pounders, after which
52 the sardars in attendance on His Highness, exhibited feats of horse-
53 manship and dexterity. First of all, Rajé Dhian Singh, who was a good
54 sportsman, displayed his skill in horsemanship, shooting and sword exercise.
55 He was followed in succession by Rajés Suchet Singh and Goléb Singh,
56 Sardar Hari Singh, Nalwa, General Ilahi Bakhsh and Generals Ventura and
57 Allard, who each displayed great skill and activity in the military feats per-
58 formed by them. Last of all came the Maharajd himself, on horseback.
59 A brass vessel was laid on the maiddn, and three times did the Mahardja lift
60 it with the tip of his drawn sword, the horse going at full speed. He also
61 joined in the feats of horsemanship displayed by his own and Colonel Skin-
62 ners Horse. The feats performed by the Sikh sardars, and especially by the
63 Mahardja, excited the applause of the European spectators, The Governor-
64 General on this occasion presented the Mahardjé with two: five-pounder
65 horse artillery guns with horses and equipment complete.
66 The parting interview between the Governor-General and His Highness
67 took place in the evening of the same day (81st October) in His Lordship’s
68 camp. The Maharajdé was, on this occasion, presented by the Governor-
69 Sri satgun sajreh GAgreotplay en iron suspensinnibeiderpmad@ig arcade specially