136 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



with his black face. The " man of the world " always sticks 

 to his knickerbockers and putties, but dons his gala coat — 

 the cast-off red tunic of an English soldier. He and the 

 other shikaris shoulder Alan's rifles, and hang themselves 

 with every hunting-knife, telescope, field-glass and other 

 shooting appliance we possess. Followed by this escort 

 and the chuprassies, we make cpiite an imposing little 

 show. 



The palace is the dearest old building possible ! 

 Hexagonal towers at each corner enclose a high, over- 

 hanging timber roof, with a row of little windows just 

 underneath. The larger windows are filled with carved 

 wooden lattices. Two, at the end, are strikingly cpiaint. 

 In part oriel, they project more than in Gothic architecture, 

 and are supported by a base shaped like a lotus flower. 



The approach is up a long flight of steps with high 

 walls on either side, then across a courtyard, at the opposite 

 end of which is a small entrance door. This opens into a 

 little dark room, whence a narrow stone staircase in the 

 solid wall leads to the upper and living floors. A woman 

 was waiting for me, dressed all in white, with several 

 accordion-pleated linen skirts one over the other, which 

 gave her the appearance of wearing a crinoline. She 

 literally led me up the almost perpendicular staircase, for 

 it was quite dark and unlighted, and each stone step some 

 two feet high. I believe in the old days of war and anarchy 



