THE meer's occupations. 123 



judgment ; the said Ramzan quoting poetry 

 in support of his opinion as follows : — 

 ^' Sindee Saut — With a Sindhec," 

 ^' PhyleyLaut — Kick him first," 

 '' Peechee Bat — Order him afterwards." 

 Monstrous as this must ajopear, it is no un- 

 common thing for even official personages at 

 native courts to receive a drubbing ; the pre- 

 sent Mooktyar Kar to His Highness Meer AH 

 Moorad '' has eaten the slipper " on two occa- 

 sions, and I have no doubt he Avell deserved 

 it ! AVhen at Dejce the Meer goes out with 

 his retinue and shoots till nine or ten o'clock, 

 then returns to breakfast ; after which he holds 

 a durbar in tlie landcij, which having been 

 well sprinkled with water to lay the dust, a 

 large Sutrunjee, or cotton carpet, is spread, a 

 charpoy Avith a couple of cushions to give it 

 a tlu'one-like appearance being placed at the 

 upper end ; on this the Meer takes post, his 

 courtiers squat on the carpet, the more favoured 

 near His Highness, those held in less honour 

 at a distance. A petition or two is perhaps 

 presented ; if so, the Meer skims his eye over 

 half-a-dozen lines, tells the party that it shall 

 be afterwards looked to, and shoves it under 



