312 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



performance of the ceremonious portion of the visit," 

 said Hawkes, after they had left. " Is it always 

 usual, that sort of thing r ( " 



" Yes," replied Norman ; ' the princes of some of 

 the petty independent states are exacting to a degree 

 in the due performance of all the recognised formali- 

 ties. When they are receiving a visit from any of 

 the big-wig political officers, or themselves paying 

 one, they are extremely particular in not advancing 

 a single step further than etiquette requires : and 

 rules on the subject are strictly laid down. As they 

 attach so much importance to this, our political 

 officers are also obliged to be very careful that the 

 proper amount of respect is paid to them, and that 

 there is no diminution in the authorised distance. 

 I remember hearing once that a newly appointed 

 political agent had, on one occasion, to go a certain 

 distance to meet the Kajali of the country, and 

 thence escort him to the residency, as the chief had 

 announced his intention of paying the officer a visit. 

 A certain corner of a street was the place assigned 

 as the usual point of meeting ; but the officer some- 

 how took it into his head that he was being imposed 

 upon, and induced to go further than the authorised 

 distance. However that may be, when he came near 

 the corner he resolutely refused to go even partly 

 round it, asserting that the chief should come right 



