From Dalhousie into Chamba 103 



this went a very short way towards sustaining a 

 conversation. The Ranee knew no English, and sat 

 speechless. I began, therefore, to admire her jewels, 

 which were wonderful. 



She wore a nose-ring with a gigantic emerald in 

 it, as big as my finger-nail, and set round with 

 brilliants ; a buckle with a great ruby in the centre, 

 surrounded with smaller rubies and diamonds. Her 

 wrists and arms were loaded with dazzling bracelets 

 and bangles of emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, strung 

 together and set in lavish profusion. She had on every 

 finger several beautiful rings ; the largest of all was 

 on her thumb. Ropes of great pearls and necklaces 

 of precious stones lay round her neck and hung down 

 to her waist. She wore a diamond and emerald 

 tiara, and a magnificent diamond star hung down 

 upon the middle of her forehead. Immense earrings, 

 of a multitude of various stones, bunches of them, 

 hung in and round either ear. Her hair was parted 

 and oiled, polished and black as jet ; partly covering 

 her head she wore a marvellous, gold-embroidered 

 shawl ; from her waist two strips, almost like stoles, 

 hung down to her feet, wonderfully worked with a 

 bold and striking design ; her entire robes were 

 encrusted with gold lace and smaller jewels. Her 

 slippers alone were curiosities, turning up at the toes 

 into a sharp point, pale blue edged with scarlet and 

 shining with gold work. 



Anything more Oriental, more childish, than such 

 a display upon a single mortal I have never seen. 



