420 



ways an epitome of the imperial arrangements at Agra and Delhi. 

 These state insignia seem to be absolutely necessary among people 

 so much attracted by outward appearance; and is equally un- 

 avoidable, in some degree, wherever an Englishman resides in a 

 public character, vested with a delegated authority, whether he is 

 entitled a governor, a chief, a judge, or a collector. The people 

 in general do not enter into those distinctions, they consider him 

 as intrusted with the executive power, and the more enlightened 

 view him as the representative of the British nation. Humble, 

 as was my own situation in the Company's service, on the general 

 system at Bombay; and, as collector of Dhuboy, subordinate to 

 the chief and council at Baioche; yet, being the only English- 

 man intrusted with civil authority in the Dhuboy purgunnas, I 

 lived in the durbar, the residence of their ancient rajahs, pundits, 

 and governors; and, as far as the inhabitants could judge, was 

 possessed of supreme power and influence. I was, therefore, 

 often gently reprimanded by the zemindars and native officers, for 

 leaving the suwarree, or state attendants, at the outer gate of the 

 cit\ r , when I took my evening excursion, and preferred a walk in 

 the fields, followed by a single peon and a faithful dog, to being 

 smothered in dusty roads by an ostentatious cavalcade. It would 

 have been as imprudent to have waved the ceremony of official 

 insignia within the precincts of the Dhuboy durbar, as it would 

 have been irksome to parade with such incumbrances on a rural 

 recreation. 



At this time, when surrounded by ten times more Asiatic 

 pomp than I had any reason to expect would fall to my lot, how 

 often have I wished, and in familiar letters to my English friends 



