Page:Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of India etc. (Volume III.).djvu/30

12 COURT OP BARODA. sport ; and I do not think he understood my mo- tives for declining to be present at it A Mussul- man, however, who sat near him, seemed pleased by my refusal, said it was *' very good,** and asked me if any of the EngUsh Clergy attended such sports. I said it was a maxim with most of us to do no harm to any creature needlessly ; which was, he said, the doctrine of their learned men also. Mr. Williams told me that this sort of conversation, which was very little disturbed by the most strenuous efforts which the poor singers and dancing-girls could make to attract attention, was characteristic of a Maharatta durbar, and that he had known the most serious business carried on by fits and starts in the midst of all this seeming levity. At last, about eight o'clock, the Raja told us that he would keep us firom our dinner no longer ; and the usual presents were brought in, which were, how- ever, much more valueable than any which I had seen, and evidently of a kind, very few of which were within the compass of my redeeming firom the Company. About nine we got back to dinner, hungry enough, and a little tired, but for my own part both amused and interested.

The Raja offered to return my visit next day ; but knowing that Tuesday is, in the estimation of all Hindoos, unlucky, I named Wednesday in pre- ference, telling him my reason. He answered very politely, that he should account every day lucky in which he had the opportunity of cultivating my acquaintance, but was evidently well pleased. He bad already, out of civility, and in consequence of