He was also recommended to come to Calcutta and to
pay his respects to the Viceroy there, when, of course, he would
be received with the number of guns to which he was entitled. The
Indian Princes attach the utmost importance to the number of guns
they are given as a salute, a number which varies from twenty-one
in the case of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who alone ranks as a
Sovereign, to nine for the smaller princes. Should the British
Government wish to mark its strong displeasure with any native
ruler, it sometimes does so by reducing the number of guns of his
salute, and correspondingly, to have the number increased is a
high honour. Sulkily and unwillingly the Rajah of whom I am
thinking journeyed to Calcutta, and sulkily and unwillingly did he
attend the Durbar. On occasions such as these, visiting native
Princes are the guests of the Government of India at Hastings
House (Warren Hastings' old country house in the suburbs of
Calcutta, specially renovated and fitted up for the purpose), and
the Viceroy's state carriages are sent to convey them to
Government House.
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