182 SENSIBILITY OF THE QUEEN. . 
any kind of shoe hinders their walking. The 
young bride, a handsome girl, as I have before 
said, was very lightlyclad in a short striped shirt, 
without any covering on her head. The giant 
Yeris who formed the Court, mostly wore white 
shirts, and round straw hats with black ribbons. 
It was the first time, since the death of her 
consort, that the Queen had entered these pre- 
cincts, and a shower of tears fell from her eyes 
at the remembrance of the past. The whole 
court, as in duty bound, was also immediately 
dissolved in grief; but this sorrowful mood did 
not last long; their faces gradually cleared up 
—the Queen dried her tears, and greeted me 
kindly. The Master of the Ceremonies then 
conducted the Royal Family to the best mats, 
on which they sat down in the Asiatic fashion. 
One of my chairs was placed opposite the Royal 
Family, and I was invited to take my seat. In 
the mean time, the Master of the Ceremonies 
had vanished to prepare the repast. 
When the Queen, after surveying me from 
head to foot, had communicated her remarks 
and opinions to the company, I requested the 
interpreter to thank her, in my name, for my 
