a place where we could see her
Majesty pass; at last, however, through the kindness of a mounted officer,
we succeeded. First came the Shahzadehs, or princes of the blood, in
carriages drawn by six horses, and then the wazirs (viziers) and nobles,
and the ambassadors from foreign states, in vehicles, some with six, and
some with four horses. When all these had passed, there came the Queen
herself in a golden carriage, drawn by eight magnificent steeds; on her
right was Prince Arleta, and opposite her was Lord Melbourne, the grand
wazir, (prime minister.) The carriage was preceded by men who, I was
surprised to observe, were dressed in the Hindustani fashion, in red and
gold, with broad sleeves.[2] But those nearest her Majesty, strange to
say, wore almost exactly the costume of Hindustan, and to these my eyes
were immediately directed; and I felt so delighted to see my own
countrymen advanced to the honour of forming the body-guard of the
sovereign, that I could scarcely believe the evidence of my senses, when I
perceived on closer inspection, by their complexions, that they were
English. Still I could not (nor can I even now) understand the reason of
their adopting the Hindustani dress--though I was told on enquiry, that it
was the ancient costume of the guard called _yeomen_." ... "As the Queen
approached the people took off their hats, nor was I less astonished[3]
when I heard them begin to shout _hurra! hurra_! as she passed; which in
their language seems to imply approbation. When her Majesty turned towards
our carriage, I immediately made a _salaam_ after the manner of my own
country, which she graciously acknowledged, seeing, no doubt, that I was a
native of a strange land!"

[1] This must have been one of the _vakeels_ or envoys, whose
departure from Bombay, in March 1839, is mentioned in the _Asiatic
Journal_, (xxix. 178;) the party is there said, on the authority
of the _Durpun_, (a native newspaper,) to have consisted of
eleven, Mahrattas and Purbhoos, no mention being made of Moulavi
Afzul Ali. We have been unable to trace the further proceedings of
the deputation in this country; but they probably found on their
arrival, that the fate of their master was already decided, as he
was dethroned by the Company, in favour of his cousin Appa Sahib,
in September of the same year, on the charge of having
participated in a conspiracy against the English power. The
just