100 BENARES. 
Khanah, waiting our approach. It is a small room, elevated a few 
feet from the ground, open on three sides, and supported by 
pillars; on the fourth a purdah* was stretched across, behind 
which was seated his mother. He advanced to the head of the 
steps, followed by his three sons. He there embraced me three 
times, and taking hold of my left hand, led me to a small couch 
close to the purdah, and seated me on his right hand, in fact, be- 
tween his mother and himself, though she was invisible. I in- 
stantly presented to her a nazur of nineteen gold mohurs, in a 
white handkerchief. I handed them through a hole in the pnrdah, 
which being tolerably large, I contrived to get a peep at the old 
lady, who was little, and rather fair : her hands were very delicate. 
I should have preferred the view of some of the owners of fine black 
eyes, that I saw playing at hide and seek through the different 
holes ; but it was impossible. I then delivered to him a nazur of 
nine gold mohurs, in a similar manner. Mr. Neave made his 
nazurs of five mohurs to the Begum, and three to her son. 
This important part of the ceremony being over, and Mr. Neave 
being seated on a chair opposite, a conversation began through the 
medium of his interpretation. The mother enquired after my 
health and that of Lord Wellesley. My motives for visiting India 
were next enquired into. I replied, that the wish to see so fine a 
country, and to pay my respects to his family, who were all highly 
respected by the British nobility, were my chief motives. Did I 
mean to visit the royal presence ? I replied, most certainly. They 
then launched forth in praise of Agra and Delhi, and the mag- 
nificence of the buildings. The idea of what passed in their minds 
* A curtain, usually of cloth, which when let down serves as a door. 
