Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/164

160 being mutilated or treated with inhumanity, recourse to which was by no means improbable. Such was the state of the government, and such were the scenes frequently enacted in Oudh before the Governor-General's arrival in the province. They told the same tale as at Lahore and Khatmandu — pointing to two alternatives, either more direct interference by the British Government in internal affairs, or the drastic remedy of annexation.

On his arrival at the palace, the Governor-General was received with every mark of honour. Darbárs were held and the most costly presents offered, with a general illumination of the city. The King, a sensualist in appearance, seemed to be lavish to excess in all his surroundings. Entertainments were provided in our honour. These consisted mainly of fights in the arena between various kinds of wild animals — tigers, buffaloes, and hyenas contending together. Even quails were pitted against each other to provide amusement for the royal party. There he sat in his throne of state, as a Roman Emperor may have done in days gone by; but the dignity and kingly appearance was wanting. After being satiated with these sanguinary exhibitions, the Court retired, and then the serious part of the conference began. The words of warning had been carefully prepared. They were described as the 'golden' advice of the Governor-General to the King. 'Golden,' it may be presumed, because the whole was subsequently transcribed in golden letters with the most elaborate