15 



uncourfly manners in some degree reconciled us to a succession of 

 windy explosions from the royal musnud, or elevated cushions on 

 which he was seated; we wondered in silence at such an extraor- 

 dinary dereliction from every idea of delicacy and decorum: the 

 nabobs of Surat and Cambay publicly expressed their abhorrence 

 of such unprincely conduct. 



In a Mogul durbar outward manners and etiquette are carried 

 to the greatest extent of ceremonious refinement. Orme says " that 

 persons of distinction have been known, through a sense of shame, 

 to make away w T ith themselves after having committed an involun- 

 tary indecorum in the presence of their superiors. There the prince 

 is seated in the center of two rows of courtiers, ranged according to 

 their respective degrees of station or favour: all is attention to his 

 countenance; if he ask a question, it is answered with the turn 

 that will please him; if he asserts, all applaud the truth; does he 

 contradict, all tremble. A multitude of domestics appear in wait- 

 ing, as silent and immoveable as statues. That tribute of obedience 

 which a man pays to his superior, he naturally exacts from his in- 

 ferior; and where every man is obliged to pay, and expects to receive 

 this obedience, it is natural that a check should be put to all out- 

 ward indecorum." 



Such refinements are not expected in a Mahratta durbar, al- 

 though their public visits and political councils are always con- 

 ducted with ceremony and politeness. The indecorous behaviour 

 of Ragonauth Row was a prerogative peculiar to himself. 



We found very few of Ragobalr's troops at Cambay, but were 

 informed his army was in the Bisnagar province, about eighty miles 

 from thence, and that the confederate forces were encamped twenty 



