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by a train of artillery, with two Hags on each gun-carriage; an 
officer bearing the sacred standard of green silk, embroidered with 
gold, and mounted on an elephant, surrounded by young men 
with small banners, formed the first division. Then came a detach- 
ment of Mogul infantry, with a band of martial music, preceding 
the scidees, or Mahomedan caffrees, favourite slaves and chief 
officers of the nabob, mounted on excellent horses, richly capa- 
risoned: the scidees are generally natives of Abyssinia, adopted 
into the family of the rich Moguls, and often married to their 
daughters. After them came a company of English troops, fol- 
lowed by an elephant, and camels carrying kettle-drums and musi- 
cians, with others on horseback: these were succeeded by an 
English gentleman of the council at Surat, in a stale palankeen, 
representing the East India Company, as governor of the castle, 
and admiral of the Mogul’s fleet: the nabob’s empty palankeen 
and carriages went before his two sons, mounted on Arabian char- 
gers, immediately preceding the elephant on which his highness was 
enthroned in a splendid houdah, with his principal attendant in a 
separate apartment behind: the nabob was richly dressed, and his 
turban adorned with jewels: the covering of the houdah and capa- 
rison of the elephant, were scarlet and gold. The buxey, or general 
of the army, at the head of a select body, closed the procession. 
'This magnificent cavalcade only occurring once a year, was 
very gratifying to a stranger; but I was still more delighted with 
the company I accidentally met on the occasion. A friend pro- 
cured me a projecting window in one of the principal streets to 
view the spectacle ; where I was soon accosted by an old duenna, 
to desire I would either turn my back, or walk down stairs, while 
