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so long as he lived, he was Hyderabad. That
Hyderabad, alas !no longer exists—except in the
hearts of those who have survived it."
" The Nizam as a child was under the special
care of his grandmother, who was a jealous
guardian of his prerogatives and strict in
exacting from all persons the reverence and
homage due to the sovereign. None could
have access to him except some trusted servants
of the household and on ceremonial occasions
recourse was had to certain symbolical obser-
vances on the part of the Dewan and the higher
nobility. On the anniversary of the Nizam's
birthday and on the Eid days traditional custom
demanded that nazars should be presented by the
Dewan and the chief nobles at a formal durbar.
But as the child Nizam could not hold a durbar,
the Dewan proceeded to the Royal palace to pay
his homage. Mounted on a majestic elephant
richly adorned with silver ornaments and surround-
ed with armed retainers (Arab, Afghan and others)
forming a long procession, he arrived at the palace
in juloos (state). Etiquette forbade entry into
the courtyard of the palace except on foot, so he
had to alight at the outer gate and stand respect-
fully with his face turned towards the Mahal
where his royal master was supposed to be. There
he made his salaams—his right hand touching the
ground as he bent low and then touching his
forehead as he rose each time. This was repeated
at the entrance to the next courtyard, and so on
until he arrived at the spot beyond which none was