1^0 
POONAH. 
affairs, and the assistant Dewan of the state after paying their 
compliments, put themselves at the head of the procession, to show 
me the way to the palace. They were attended by a large body of 
horse, and some soldiers ; an escort of British infantry waited also 
on the opposite shore, and joined my suwarry. On entering the 
place before the palace we found his Highness's cavalry and guard 
of infantry drawn out, with his elephants and suwarry : they 
were by no means splendid. As we passed under the Nobit Kanah 
the kettle drums beat. Within the walls the servants were all at 
their posts, and the crowd considerable. In the windows were 
numbers of the higher orders. We quitted our palanquins at the 
foot of the stairs, which we mounted, attended only by our 
Chubdars and Ausubadars. A small anti-room led to the durbar. 
At the door I waited a few seconds, till I saw that the Dewan of 
the state, Sadasheo Maunkesor, was sufficiently near; when, 
having quitted my slippers, I stepped on the white cloth with 
w^hich the whole room was covered, Colonel Close supporting my 
left arm. I embraced the Dewan, and presented the officers of my 
suite. At that moment the Paishwa entered the room, and stepped on 
his guddy or throne. I hastened towards him, supported as before, by 
the Colonel, with the Dewan on my right. His Highness continued 
standmg, and slightly embraced with his right hand, I doing the 
same. His brother was on his right, to whom I was next pre- 
sented, and who also embraced me. I then returned and presented 
to the Paishwa the gentlemen of my suite, who were also embraced. 
We then sat down. The Dewan was next his Highness on the left, 
but rather behind : I was close to him ; next to me was the Colonel, 
and then the other European gentlemen. We had no chairs or 
