1 tl4 THfi COURT OF THE 8IKH SOVEREIGNS*
2 unifomiity of his exterior than that presented
3 by a flowing white beard, the sagacious old man
4 came out in strong contrast with his richly clad
5 attendants and chieftains. On closing with thd
6 Governor -General, the Maharajah saluted his
7 Lordship, and received him into his howdah,
8 upon which the cannon again 'spoke to the
9 trumpet,' and the columns of elephants, now
10 united, proceeded to the Durbar tents. The
11 arrival at their destination was the signal for
12 another salute from the batteries of Runjeet's
13 horse artillery, while bands of music, uncom^
14 monly well trained, played our national anthe|U,
15 And loud clarions proclaimed the glory of the
16 Maharajah, The tents were enclosed within a
17 -vast area of crimson cloth walls, about nine feet
18 high, and decorated with yellow lace. Within
19 the enclosure, in well arranged ranks, forming
20 numerous allees and guards of honour, stood
21 some two or three thousand of the household
22 troops of the Maharajah, clad for the most part,
23 in crimson silk or elegant Kincaub, and armed
24 with highly polished matchlocks and shields.
25 The most perfect order, the most profound silence,
26 prevailed, broken only by the royal band (for-
27 merly in the service of the Begum Sumroo), and
28 the murmurs of approbation proceeding from
29 European lips. Alighting within this splendid
30 enclosure, the Maharajah conducted Lord Auck-