THE EMPRESS. 51 
by a hat richly decorated with jewels. The 
Empress was more tastefully attired in a sim- 
ple black riding-dress, embroidered with gold. 
When she had taken her place in the temple, 
his Majesty assumed the command of the troops 
and paraded them before her. As soon as 
his powerful voice was heard, the thunder of 
the cannon again burst forth; the Turks, In- 
dians, and above-mentioned Popinjays, blew 
their trumpets, while the shout from the people 
of ‘* Viva l Emperador” was loudest amidst the 
uproar. The columns of the military having 
several times defiled before the Empress, the 
parade terminated, and the Imperial family and 
their court repaired to the theatre. I had been 
seated in my box a few minutes before they en- 
tered the building, which was  suffocatingly 
full, and I was surprised to find it as good in 
its architecture and arrangements as the gene- 
rality of European theatres. The boxes were 
occupied by whites only, and many female faces 
were there to be seen as fair as those of Northern 
Europe; the tender red of the youthful cheek, 
the bright, black eye and jetty hair increased 
the attraction of these brilliant complexions ; 
D2 
