£04 JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
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incommoded in matters of ceremony by the offi¬ 
ciousness of the Than-d’hau-gans or others. The 
Prince’s palace, if I may use such a word for a 
very homely dwelling, was in the inner town, a 
few hundred yards from the south-west angle 
of the palace enclosure. We rode thither on 
horseback, declining the incommodious and 
shabby conveyance by elephants, which was 
again tendered to us. Besides our own horses, 
a number were supplied sufficient for the accom¬ 
modation of our principal attendants. At the 
dwelling of the Heir-apparent, we were received 
in a Rung, or open hall, where we were not de¬ 
tained above twenty minutes, when we were 
formally summoned, by a written order, into his 
Highness’s presence. We ascended a short flight 
of wooden steps, at the bottom of which we took 
off our shoes, and were ushered into a hall filled 
with a crowd of well-dressed chiefs, wealthy na¬ 
tives, and some of the principal Mohammedan 
and Chinese merchants. The floor was spread 
with carpets, and we were requested to seat our¬ 
selves immediately in front, and within a few 
yards of the throne prepared for his Highness. 
In a few minutes the folding-doors behind the 
throne were thrown open, and the Prince was 
seen in an adjoining chamber seated upon a gilt 
couch, cross-legged, and under a pair of mirrors. 
