Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/181

Rh 'The appearance of Lord Amherst on this scene did not exactly correspond with what might have been expected from the Governor-General of India, though it accorded with his unassuming character. He rode in plain clothes, on a white horse, not remarkable for its beauty, attended by a single aide-de-camp, and couple of troopers of the bodyguard, who were dressed in red hussar jackets, with silver lace, leather breeches, and long boots, caps and feathers. Lady Amherst appeared in a better style, accompanied by her daughter and an aide-de-camp, in a smart carriage and four. An escort of the bodyguard attended in front and rear. The vehicles on the course were of every build, from the dashing landau to the humble buggy. Some of the ladies sported bare arms, and were unbonneted: a few of the gentlemen promenaded in white jackets, without hats. Rich natives, baboos and others, were lounging in their coaches; among them were the representatives of the Pacha of Egypt, the Imaun of Muscat, &c. The Strand is a street which leads along the river, and is resorted to by the more sober and unostentatious portion of the inhabitants. Here were several beautiful Armenian ladies with golden diadems, the lower parts of their faces muffled in white veils, who were enjoying in their carriages the cool breeze from the river. . ..

'During this month (February) plays were occasionally performed by amateurs; balls and parties were frequent among the Europeans, and nautches among the natives. One of the latter was given by Baboo Russum Doss Moolk (reported to be worth 100 lakhs) on occasion of the marriage of his son. The saloon in which we assembled was brilliantly lighted up with wax candles in expensive cut-glass chandeliers. The natives sat on chairs and couches; many of them wore English stockings, shoes, and kid gloves, which made a ridiculous addition to their Oriental costumes.'

Time, it will be seen, has dealt very gently with