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it swelled up were softened by being mingled with
the muffled sounds caused by the imperceptible
movements of the people who crowded the hall.
All this had an enchanting effect upon the senses.
" As soon as the Nizam's figure was seen at
the other end of the hall advancing towards the
musnad, the assembled people—dressed in robes
"of Kashmir shawls and gold brocade and girt with
rich kamarbands and belts, carrying gold-hilted
swords under their arms—rose and stood in their
places. When the Nizam seated himself on his
gold embroidered musnad in the middle of the hall
on a raised platform between two arches, the
musicians began strains of joyous felicitation
appropriate to that part of the ceremonial. The
Nizam's retinue sat behind him in a semicircle,
that is, those who were allowed the privilege of being
seated in his presence, and in front of his musnad
were ranged his principal nobles robed in neema-
jama, after the style of the old Moghal court, each
in his appointed place. At a sign from the
Nizam, the Dewan approached him respectfully
and presented his nazar which consisted of eleven
ashrafees; then followed other nobles in their
order of precedence. And after them came the
State officials and the rest of those who had the
honour of attending the durbar. They presented
their nazars in succession, but no order of prece-
dence could be observed—the rush was so great.
Several persons attempting to approach the
musnad at the same time caused, as was natural,
a great confusion. This was unavoidable and the