THE ALI SURICARS. 137 



but at tlie same time witliout a shadow of dis- 

 respect. The ladies of the family also pay and 

 receive visits at about the same time, passing 

 from garden to garden in covered camel litters, ' 

 the curtains of which, being of scarlet cloth, 

 have a very handsome effect. The Meer's 

 wives and daughters, and those of his sons, 

 never leave home to accompany His Highness, 

 but he always has an establishment of ladies 

 in his train. Three sisters, who are styled the 

 '' Ali Surkars," have been for some years the 

 principal favom-ites, but the elder one is said 

 to have fallen into disgrace in consequence of 

 some prejudicial rumours having reached the 

 Meer during his absence in England. I was 

 informed by Mrs Gholaum, who visited them 

 frequently when at Khyrpoor, that neither of 

 the three is particularly well looking, but they 

 all appeared very good-natm^ed. The Meer, 

 amongst his presents for these ladies, took out 

 one or two rich silk dresses, which were the 

 first articles of the kind that they had ever be- 

 held, and on His Highness desiring to see the 

 favourite Ali Surkar equipped therein, Mrs 

 Gholaum was summoned to aiford aid and 

 advice in the matter. Fortunately the dress 



