re present, and the throng formed a
brilliant picture of beauty, fashion and royal splendor. There were
many native nobles, princes and rulers, the most prominent ones being
the gawkwar (king) of Baroda, and the Kahn of Khelat. Wherever the
gawkwar went he was closely followed by half a dozen turbaned
attendants and four body guards armed with daggers and cimeters, or
Damascus blades. His garment consisted of blue and green plush and
satin, and the many-colored turban was almost covered with diamonds.
It was claimed that the jewels he wore that evening on his breast and
turban had a value of two million dollars.

Feb. 10, 1883.--In spite of all efforts to live quietly I am
incessantly drawn into the whirl of social life; yesterday I attended
one of the most pleasant festivities of the season. It was a
magnificent fete given by the Mohammedan prince Raja Rajendra Naryan
Bahadur in his gorgeous palace and parks in Shova Bazar in honor of
the British victory in Egypt. Three thousand guests were present.
All kinds of amusements were arranged, such as dancing, concerts, a
circus with uninterrupted performances, nautches or dances performed
by native dancing girls, etc. In different parts of the palace
refreshments were served, all in the same grand style as the rest of
the entertainment. The parks and gardens were illuminated by thousands
of Chinese lanterns and many electric lights.

The following is also taken from my journal:

* * * Received visits from the Reverend Phillips Brooks and Joseph
Cook, and from a young Swedish count, Wachtmeister by name, who was on
his way through Asia, and also from a young prince from Madagascar, a
son of the queen of that country, who, under the guidance of Ludvig
Larson, a Norwegian sea captain, made a voyage through the seas of
Asia for the purpose of learning practical navigation. The young
prince spoke English fluently, and was a very intelligent man.

Attended a great festival at a masonic lodge where about one hundred
and fifty members of the order were present, among whom were men of
nearly every nationality and religion. The Master's degree was
conferred on three brothers who knelt before the same altar. One was a
Christian, and took his obligation with the hand on the Bible; one was
a Mohammedan, who took it with the hand on the Koran; the third, a
Hindoo, with his hand on the Shastra. The obligation was dic