'" A third question, "I trust that the crops in your
Highness' dominion are satisfactory?" The Rajah, "Ghirrr Firrr."
The interpreter, "Stimulated without doubt by your Excellency's
auspicious visit to neighbouring State, the soil in His Highness'
dominions has determined to beat record and to go regular mucker.
Crops tenfold ordinary capacity are springing from the ground
everywhere." One has seen a conjurer produce half a roomful of
paper flowers from a hat, or even from an even less promising
receptacle, but no conjurer was in it with that interpreter, who
from two sulky monosyllabic grunts evolved a perfect garland of
choice Oriental flowers of speech. It reminded me of the process
known in newspaper offices as "expanding" a telegram. When the
customary number of formal questions have been put, the Viceroy
makes a sign to his Military Secretary, who brings him a gold tray
on which stand a little gold flask and a small box; the
traditional "Attar and pan." The Viceroy sprinkles a few drops of
attar of roses on the Rajah's clothing from the gold flask, and
hands him a piece of betel-nut wrapped in gold paper, known as
"pan.
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