of the Old World. 117 



rings, and the nails of both are stained a bright red 

 with " maindee," or the juice of the "henna." 



During the nautch several curious feats requiring 

 great suppleness of body were performed. For in- 

 stance, a row of girls stood fronting us, standing with 

 their feet about six inches apart, between which was 

 placed a rupee or a needle with the point upright ; 

 they then all bent backwards together, and intro- 

 ducing their hands between their feet, picked up the 

 money with their lips, or the needle with their eye- 

 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 expressly prepared 

 for us by the Begum herself, as her factotum informed 

 us. As they were really 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 harern 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 chobadar 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 



