Everything in the way of ceremonial in India is
done strictly by rule. The precise number of steps the Viceroy
will advance to greet visiting Rajahs is all laid down in a little
book. The Nizam of Hyderabad is met by the Viceroy with all his
staff at the state entrance of Government House, and he is
accompanied through all the rooms, both on his arrival and on his
departure; but, as I said before, the Nizam ranks as a Sovereign.
In the case of lesser lights the Viceroy advances anything from
three to twenty steps. These points may appear very trivial to
Europeans, but to Orientals they assume great importance, and,
after all, India is a part of Asia. At right angles to the
Calcutta throne-room is the fine Marble Hall, with marble floor
and columns and an entirely gilt ceiling; empty except for six
colossal busts of Roman Emperors, which, together with a number of
splendid cut-glass chandeliers of the best French Louis XV.
period, and a full-length portrait of Louis XV. himself, fell into
our hands through the fortunes of war at a time when our relations
with our present film ally, France, were possibly less cordial
than at present.
Pages:
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394