1 478 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
2 for the first time. His face was covered with the wreath, or veil, before-
3 mentioned, made of strings of large pearls and diamonds. The religious
4 part of the ceremony now commenced, and was finished at 9 o’clock; the
5 hour declared to be propitious by the Brahmins. The ceremony being over,
6 there was a grand display of fireworks, followed by a dance, which lasted
7 the whole night. The Mahardja was seated on a chair of State, surrounded
8 by his ministers and favourites, his knees resting on a highly embroidered
9 gold stool. The Commander-in-Chief took his place on his right, on a
10 spacious chair of gold. Ranjit’s breast shone with rows of great pearls, as
11 before mentioned, and his arm with the Kohinwy, his great diamond, which
12 The night'sente- he wore on State occasions. Ranjit Singh now ordered his favourite in-
13 peinaiente toxicating liquor to be served, so liberally each time, and with such rapidity,
14 that it astonished his English guests. He took particular care to see that
15 the General really drank, and always looked into the glass himself, to see
16 that this was done. The liquor he used was so fiery that even a very small
17 quantity brought tears into the eyes of his English guests; but the Maharajd
18 himself drank several small glasses, filled to the brim, without any visible
19 effect. His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief freely took part in the
20 festivities of the evening until a late hour, to the great satisfaction of the
21 Maharaja and the whole assembly.
22 The great * Bard,” On the morning of the 8th, the great “ Bard,” or enclosure with a
23 circumference of five miles, was formed to distribute money among the poor.
24 The entire circle was surrounded with troops, and had eighty gate-ways,
25 guarded by mounted soldiers, to allow nobody to go out without receiving
26 his reward, and to let no one in whenhe had once got out. The entire
27 arrangements rested with Miser Beli Ram and Kour Kharak Singh. At
28 each of the outlets was stationed an officer, who, as each individual was
29 presented before himself by the gate-keepers, gave him a rupee, as a mark of
30 the liberality of the Mahardj4. The number thus paid exceeded a million.
31 Exhibition of the The dowry was then exhibited by the bride’s father. It consisted of 101
32 a horses, richly caparisoned with gold and silver trappings, 101 cows, 101
33 she- buffaloes, 10 camels, 11 elephants, gold and silver ornaments valued at
34 many thousands of rupees, gold and silver utensils, precious stones, rich stuffs,
35 consisting of silks of Multdén and golden and scarlet kimkhab of Benares, and
36 500 pairs of shawls. These last were the most beautiful, being the products
37 of the unrivalled looms of Kashmir, while many of the jewels’ were very
38 handsome and of great intrinsic value. The female attire alone covered a
39 space of not less than anacre, There was also a complete set of dinner
40 and washing utensils, all of silver, most beautifully carved. During the night
41 there was another display of fireworks, which surpassed in magnificence even
42 that of the preceding night. The whole night was spent in rejoicing and
43 festivities. The meeting closed with the presentation of rich khilats from
44 the bride’s father to the Mahardajd, the Commander-in-Chief, the Princes
45 Royal and the principal sardars. The khilats for the Mahardja, the Com-
46 mander-in-Chief and the Princes consisted of jewels, rich stuffs and an
47 elephant each, with trappings.
48 . Entertainment in the On the night of 12th March His Excellency the General and staff were
49 "entertained by the Mahardjd in the Shaldmdr Garden of Léhore, which was
50 grscoationsin the tastefully decorated for the occasion. The whole garden was brilliantly
51 , illuminated with rows of oil lamps, arranged at proper intervals on the ,
52 copings of walls, the ridges of roofs, and along the sides of the walks
53 and fountains, reflecting their light in the waters below, to the intense
54 pleasure of the wondering spectators. At every ten or twelve yards, beauti-
55 Sri Satgttu Jagmsstfghiffergpargelors were placaduraptlibkay@eRabacon the trees