172 VIZIER'S 



Early in the morning his Highness l^ft his 

 Palace at Lucknow, with a number of noisy 

 instruments playing before him; as soon as 

 he was clear of the city and suburbs, a line 

 was formed with the Naivaub Vizier in the 

 centre, generally on an elephant elegantly 

 caparisoned, with two spare elephants, one 

 on each side of him. The one on his left 

 bore his state kowdah* empty; the other on 

 his right, carried his spare guns and ammuni- 

 tion also in a howdah, in which two men were 

 placed to load the guns, and give them to his 

 Highness when required, and to take back 

 others that had been discharged. Several 

 guns were kept ready loaded with ball and 



* This elephant was thought the finest auimal of the 

 kind in the country : he was a most majestic creature, 

 and although not the tallest I have seen, he was altogether 

 the largest, and in every respect perfect; he was so 

 great a favorite with the Vizier^ that he gave a conside- 

 rable estate of land for his maintenance, and his atten- 

 dants. 



