MEER KHAN MAHOMED. 217 



erected, wherein to hold a durbar. A large 

 carpet was spread throug-hout the Landee, and 

 at the upper end was placed a charpoy or couch, 

 which in Sindh does duty for a throne. 



This was my first introduction into Sindhian 

 society, and I was almost stunned with affection- 

 ate inquiries after my "health," ''happiness," 

 ''perfect happiness,'' "contentment," "entire 

 contentment," &c. ; the said inquiries being prof- 

 fered in a tone of such intense interest that one 

 could almost imagine them to be sincere ! Of 

 course, too, I had to reply in kind, and I was not 

 sorry for interruption, in the arrival, at a sharp 

 gallop, of Meer Khan Mahomed, His Highness' 

 youngest son, an extraordinarily "fat boy" of 

 fifteen, who announced that his father was close 

 at hand ; and the Meer, who had been out hunt- 

 ing, almost immediately rode into the garden, 

 looking exceedingly well. His Highness, as I 

 have before said, is a large man, of most noble 

 presence, which he is quite aware of, and aims 

 at effect. He rides gracefully, quite in the 

 English style, and was tastefully dressed in a 

 tightly fitting tunic of green velvet, with gold 

 filigree buttons, and a small coronet-shaped 

 cap. On dismounting, he shook hands with us 



