OF THE OLD WORLD. 1 1 1 



lids, regaining their standing position without having 

 moved their feet. 



Various kinds of fruit and sweetmeats were 

 handed round to us, the latter having been ex- 

 pressly prepared for us by the begum herself, as 

 her factotum informed us. As they were realiy 

 famous in their way, I broke out in a rhapsody, 

 in which I declared "that the Nawab with the 

 lump on his face was indeed born under a lucky 

 star, and was much to be envied, in spite of the 

 misfortune with which Allah had afflicted him. Was 

 he not to get into his harem the same day a young- 

 wife, beautiful as a peri, and a mother-in-law who 

 must have made her studies of the cuisine in heaven. 

 The only thing that astonished me was that the cho- 

 badar or gatekeeper ever allowed her to leave the 

 abode of the blessed." 



The begum, her daughter, and female attendants, 

 could hear everything I said, they being seated on 

 the raised verandah just behind our sedan, a fine mat 

 screen preventing them from being seen ; and the 

 old lady took the whole of the compliment to her- 

 self, and warmly reproved her followers for tittering 

 at my speech, assuring them all in a very grave 

 manner, " that the Mogli sirdar (Mogul officer) with 

 the long black beard (meaning myself) was a very 

 respectable man, and knew what was what ; and 

 that when a man was hungry, a group of peris from 

 heaven would be but a poor exchange for one good 

 cook." 



