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some Mogul ladies passed through the room in their way to an ad- 
joining latticed chamber : knowing the necessity of obedience, I 
preferred looking out of the window, and kept my station : but at 
the sound of foot-steps I was tempted to peep behind me; when 
instead of the ladies, I beheld the careful matron holding up a 
thick veil, to screen her charge: a similar curiosity to see an Eng- 
lish stranger brought them to the lattice; fortunately one of the 
party had known me before, which induced her to break through 
an established custom, and pay me a visit, accompanied by one of 
the greatest beauties I ever beheld: her age did not exceed fifteen ; 
her form was perfect, her features regular, and her large antelope 
eyes of brilliant lustre : although fairer than the generality of In- 
dian females, neither the rose nor the lily adorned her complexion, 
yet the brunette tint rather enriched than impaired the softness 
and delicacy of her skin ; “ grace was in all her steps,” and her 
whole deportment elegant and courteous. 
This young beauty excelled in personal charms, but was not so 
superbly attired as her friend, whom I hastily sketched, as a speci- 
men of a well-dressed Mogul. Her drawers, of green satin flowered 
with gold, were seen under a chemise of transparent gauze, reach- 
ing toher slippers, richly embroidered: a vest of pale blue satin, 
edged with gold, sat close to her shape, which an upper robe 
of striped silver muslin, full and flowing, displayed to great ad- 
vantage: a netted veil of crimson silk, flowered with silver, fell 
carelessly over her long braided hair, combed smooth, and divided 
from the forehead, where a cluster of jewels was fastened by strings 
of seed-pearl : her ear-rings were large and handsome, that in her 
nose, according to our idea of ornament, less becoming: the Asiatic 
