314 A Sportswoman in India 



and breadth of the Diwan-i-Khas, the ceiling which 

 once reflected the soft light of a hundred perfumed 

 hanging lamps. The gorgeous Peacock Throne, of 

 which I have spoken before, gleaming and flashing 

 with rubies, diamonds, and emeralds, a thing itself 

 which was beyond value, is now no more ; but these 

 were looted long ago by Nadir Shah, who, the reader 

 will recollect, carried off money amounting at the lowest 

 conception to eight or nine millions sterling, other spoil 

 which amounted to several millions more, and above 

 and beyond all, jewels of which no man can tell the 

 value. But even now the empty courts, with their 

 wonderful painted marble walls, and their beautiful 

 pillars and ceilings, carved and coloured with an 

 imperious grace, richly decorated, and yet with the 

 detail lost in the whole quiet effect, are striking to a 

 degree. An unobtrusive splendour exceeds all other 

 splendour. 



Perhaps because they live in a land of sun and 

 of glare, the Oriental management of light is almost 

 instinctive. Open to the fresh air and with its many 

 colonnades and arches, there was yet a sense of rest 

 throughout the palace, owed in great degree to the 

 arrangement of the quiet light, which is thrown off 

 the sheeny surface of marble, polished and mellowed 

 to a pale ivory with age. 



After dinner that evening we repaired again to 

 the native quarter of the city ; it is hardly ever 

 devoid of interest. A festival of sorts was going on, 

 I forget now what, but processions of natives were 



