174 THE KHOODBAH. 



liomedan law in the city of Khyrpoor. But real 

 or pretended fasters, or no tasters at all, the 

 countenances of the people betokened their 

 satisfaction at the termination of that season 

 of abstinence; and everybody saluted every- 

 body in the streets with '' Chand Jce mooharuclx;^'' 

 '-'- the compliments of the moon to you." 



The Meer arrived early on the following morn- 

 ing, in high spirits at having the preceding 

 day shot an enormous tiger ; and after having 

 bathed and dressed, proceeded on horseback, 

 accompanied by three of his sons and a numer- 

 ous retinue, to the Eedgah, east of the city ; 

 where a large tent-fly had been pitched to shelter 

 the princes from the sun, whilst the usual 

 prayers and the Khoodbah were read. Royal 

 salutes were fired on the Meer's arrival and 

 departure ; and when all was over His Highness 

 and sons got into his phaeton, and proceeded 

 to his favourite garden, the dolagha, which I 

 have already described, where all the notables 

 of Khyrpoor, both Mahomedan and Hindoo, 

 assembled to pay their respects to the sovereign, 

 who conferred presents on his visitors and 

 attendants. Amongst the number was a little 

 Sindhi, much addicted to stimulants, who had 



