It was visited by Madame Pfeiffer, who appears to have gone
everywhere and seen everybody at her own sweet will and pleasure, and she
was even admitted to the rajah's presence.
A handsomely-decorated boat, she says, awaited her and her
fellow-traveller at the bank of the river. They crossed; a palanquin was
ready to receive them. Soon they arrived at the stately gateway which
forms the entrance to the palace. The interior proved to be a labyrinth
of irregular courts and small unsymmetrical chambers. In one of the
courts a hall, surrounded by plain columns, served as a reception-room.
This was cumbrously loaded with lamps, glass lustres, and European
furniture; on the walls hung some wretched pictures, framed and glazed.
Presently the rajah made his appearance, accompanied by his brother, and
attended by a long train of courtiers. The two princes were gorgeously
attired; they wore wide trousers, long under and short over garments, all
of satin, covered with gold embroidery. The rajah himself, aged thirty-
five, wore short silken cuffs, glowing with gold, and trimmed with
diamonds; several large brilliants shone on his fingers, and rich gold
embroidery was woven about his shoes. His brother, a youth of nineteen,
wore a white turban, with a costly clasp of diamonds and pearls. Large
pearls hung from his ears; rich massive bracelets clasped his wrists.
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