CEREMONIES OF THE " MULAKAT." 307 



unwieldly proportions of the oldest one would 

 permit. 



Mackenzie and his friends met them at the tent- 

 pegs, where hand-shaking took place, and moving 

 inquiries after the health of each respectively were 

 made on both sides. With an appearance of the 

 deepest interest, the old chief learnt that the health 

 of Mackenzie and his friends was in a generally 

 satisfactory state. 



Their anxiety on this head being relieved, and 

 their polite inquiries duly acknowledged, Mackenzie 

 took the hand of the senior, and thus conducting 

 him, squeezed the portly old fellow through the 

 door of the tent with some difficulty, and seated 

 him in the biggest chair ; a handkerchief-holder, or 

 private adviser, or some other functionary taking 

 his place behind it. In similar fashion, Norman 

 having seized the paw of the brother, and Hawkes 

 that of the son, conducted them to their seats on 

 the other side, and then took possession of their 

 own. 



This ceremony concluded, a solemn silence en- 

 sued, shortly broken, however, by an inquiry from 

 the visitors if the Sahibs had been successful in 

 sport. Hearing that they had been so, they expressed 

 their deep gratification at the circumstance. Another 

 pause then ensued. This was terminated by Mac- 



