142 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



The only thing like state ceremony, and in which 

 the simple manners of the court were laid aside, oc- 

 curred when his majesty went to the mosque. On 

 these occasions there was a splendid military parade, 

 including infantry, cavalry, and officers of the palace. 

 The king rode a beautiful white charger, which no- 

 body else was permitted to mount. By his side were 

 the two princes, his sons, on horses richly caparison- 

 ed. Over his head, as a screen from the heat, was 

 borne a large parasol or canopy of green damask, 

 with a red fringe ornamented with gold tassels, and 

 surmounted by a globe of gilt silver. Immediately 

 before the royal person rode an officer carrying the 

 Koran in a bag of red cloth ; the sword-bearer rode 

 behind. During the march of this pageant, tambours, 

 timbrels, and hautboys, ceased not to play ; and, to 

 swell the train, they were joined by fifty led horses 

 and as many camels from the king's stables at Da- 

 mar, which had saddles, bridles, and housings, or- 

 namented with gold and silver, with a battleaxe sus- 

 pended on the one side, and a beautiful sabre on the 

 other. The heads of the camels were furnished with 

 tall plumes of black ostrich feathers. The place of 

 prayer was a pavilion or open tent, into which the 

 sovereign alone entered, the spectators performing their 

 devotions at the same time, and imitating the imam 

 in the various motions of the requisite ceremonies. 



The French deputies were astonished at contrast- 

 ing the size and elegance of the palace with the home- 

 liness of its furniture. The walls were merely hung 

 round with a piece of printed calico, five or six feet 

 in breadth ; and its only accommodation was a sofa 

 with plain cushions and carpets, which served the 

 purposes of chair, table, and bed. The plains in the 



