1879.] W. Irvine — Tlie Bangash Nawdbs of FarruMdbdd. 147 



might have his separate assembly. Dancing girls from far and near were 

 gathered together, so that dancing might go on at all the different tents at 

 once. At night all the nobles were invited, and each was conducted to a 

 separate tent. To each were told off two chelas to attend on them and 

 cany out their wishes. Nawab Ahmad Khan sat in his own hall, with 

 some of the greater nobles, such as Nasir Khan, ex-Subahdar of Kabul, 

 Nawab Shah Jiu, son of Kamr-ud-din Khan Wazir, Nawab 'Itikad-ud- 

 daula, son of the Emperor Ahmad Shah's maternal a\mt, and Nawab Manav- 

 var Khan, brother of lioshan-ud-daula. The night passed in amusements? 

 in looking on at dancing and buffoons' performances, or in listening to 

 singing. These festivities went on for a month. 



For illuminating the city, bamboo screens were put up along both sides 

 of the road, from the gate of the fort to the gate of Khudabandah Khan's 

 house. They adorned these screens with shades of mica and of coloured 

 glass (kanwal) and with glass shades. Platforms adorned with brocade, 

 cloth of gold and satin were prepared to carry the dancing women. This 

 work was made over to Haji Sarfaraz Khan and Namdar Khan the elder. 

 The fireworks were under Nasir Khan. Shafi Khan, daroglia of the elephant 

 stables, was ordered to prepare haudahs and bangla (covered howdahs) and 

 amdra (Jwwdalis high at the sides) adorned with gold and silver. The 

 elephants were to be in attendance at the gate of the fort. Bakhshi Fakhr- 

 ud-daula and Diwan Mihrban Khan were told that when the bridegroom 

 mounted his elephant (megdambar) the nobles of Delhi were to be escorted 

 to their elephants. The commanders of regiments and the jama'dars at- 

 tended in their best raiment, accompanied by their relations. 



When the procession was formed, the illuminations were lit in one 

 blaze from the fort gate to Khudabandah Khan's. They were formed of 

 mica shades (kanwal) and round globes {kwinkwina) placed on the left and 

 right of the roadway. In front there were lustres with five or six branches 

 each, making a total of fifty or sixty thousand lights. Then followed the 

 thrones on which the dancing girls performed. Thus, with splendour and 

 display, the bridegroom's party advanced step by step. Fireworks were let 

 off at intervals. From both sides gold and silver flowers were flung on the 

 bridegroom for good luck. At length they reached the bride's door. The 

 Nawab and the bridegroom and the nobles entered, while the other leaders 

 attended outside. Dancing and singing then began, and the whole night 

 was thus passed. At day-break the bridegroom was taken into the women's 

 apartments for the ceremonies usual there. Then coming out the bride 

 was put into a cliandol (a sort of sedan chair), which was covered with cloth 

 of gold. All that Khudabandah Khan possessed in the way of goods and 

 chattels, he sent with his daughter as her marriage present. Then the 



