VISIT TO MAHOMED UNIS. 135 



conducted us to our ponies in the outside yard. 

 This time the great gates were opened for our 

 egress. 



When we got outside, Mahomed Unis asked if 

 we would do him the great honour of a visit. 

 We said nothing would give us greater pleasure ; 

 and also told the Kashmiri Aksakal that we would 

 visit him if he 'would permit us, which seemed to 

 please him, and he went off to get his place ready 

 for our reception. 



We found Mahomed Unis's dwelling very nice 

 and comfortable. Like most of the better-class 

 houses of this neighbourhood, it had two or three 

 good-sized, fairly lofty rooms opening on a square 

 yard, enclosed by a high wall and entered by a 

 big gate. The larger the gate the more import- 

 ance it gives the dwelling. This idea is, I fancy, 

 borrowed from the Chinese. On nearing the 

 house, Mahomed Unis asked leave to go on to 

 prepare for our reception ; and when we rode up 

 he came out and conducted us through, taking my 

 pony by the bridle. This is a point of etiquette 

 with the Turkis. You then dismount, and are 

 led into the house. In a very roomy apartment, 

 well carpeted with mundas, a dusterkhan was laid 

 out on a low table before the fireplace. It con- 



