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taller plants, surrounding small canals and fountains playing with 

 delightful effect. The English gentlemen were seated at a table in 

 the upper part of the saloon, covered in the European manner. 

 The other guests, according to oriental custom, were placed in two 

 rows on the carpet, and the supper served between them on a small 

 elevation. The repast consisted of great variety, in pilaus, curries, 

 kebats, and other savoury dishes, composed of, or intended to be 

 mixed with rice, which is the principal grain eaten by the higher 

 ranks throughout Hindostan. Some of the pilaus appeared to me 

 extremely curious, and were the first I had seen at any oriental 

 entertainment. The vizier asked me to partake of venison, pea- 

 fowl, kid, poultry, and game. Not seeing any on the table, I hesi- 

 tated in my choice, and was then informed that the different dishes 

 of rice, in various colours, were flavoured with the gravy, or rather 

 essence of all those diversities. An antelope, two or three pea- 

 cocks, or a dozen partridges, were stewed down into a strong gravy, 

 to flavour as many dishes of rice, Avhich having sufficiently imbibed 

 the essence of the animals, were placed before the fire until every 

 grain was separate, and then served on the table. The liquors 

 ofTered to the guests were only water and a variety of sherbets. 

 Neither the Persians nor Moguls, in defiance of the precepts of the 

 koran, often object to wine or much stronger liquors in private. 



Cambay at this time contained several noble Persian families, 

 who left their country fifty years before, after Shah Hussein had 

 been murdered by Meer Mahmud, and the Afghans usurped the 

 sovereignty; of others who abandoned that unhappy kingdom some 

 years afterwards, when Nadir Shah seized the throne, and destroyed 

 the royal line of Seffies; and of several more who accompanied that 



