Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/257

Rh me an age. I was in constant fear of having the foot disjointed. But mother-in-law was all smiles that evening. She formulated the motherly blessing, "May I be thrown from over thy head," and then the thing was over.

I was now led to a seat outside between two venerable guests, and took a leisurely survey of the assembly. Most of the guests were Parsis, but there were some Mussulmans, Hindus, and Portuguese. How these latter gentlemen came to know our family is still a mystery to me; but mother-in-law is certain they were representatives of the Government. As far as I could guess, one of them was Dr. de Lucha, the Sonápore apothecary, and the other Mr. Annunciation, the undertaker. But each had a cocoa-nut and a nosegay in his hand, and that means they were welcome guests. I have no time to speak of the dresses of ladies and gentlemen, and of the exquisite music the former discoursed alternately with the Portuguese band.

But here's how we dined on the occasion. The guests sat at table instead of squatting on the floor, each having before him a fresh plantain leaf. On this leaf the waiter served the dinner—about two dozen little dainties from sugar, ghee,