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2 December 1905 — Lahore | |
Saturday. 2nd December [1905]. In the morning we drove out, went to the Reid’s & picked up Etta & Pam Bruce to take them out shopping & then dropped them & went back to lunch at camp & then accompanied by Mr & Mrs Howell we drove to visit the Fort. It is well placed & has fine walls but we found the interior much less interesting than others we have seen—much having been cleared away & white washed by our Govt. We were also too late to get into the Moti Mashid the porter having gone away. We drove back through the town—its streets are so narrow that one wonders that a large landeau should be got through them. The people were busy painting the facades of their quaint houses in expectation of the P. & Pss’ visit. Unfortunately the prevailing mania was to make them a hideous dark “Ricketts” blue– As they were using merely a wash it matters less—as the next rains will probably clean the most of it off. The streets are so narrow that the English officials are in a state of anxiety as to the Royalties driving through them—& there are fanatics of all kinds & from all provinces here. Any one could shoot at them from the street or roofs of a house with unerring aim. Our drive was most interesting but the sayce had to howl & shout the whole way to clear the road for our carriage & one seemed in danger of crushing some one every moment. Once we stopped before the booth of a man selling garlands of jessamine flowers threaded & ready for any worshipper going to a temple. He had baskets of bright orange marigolds also for sale– But we could not linger [as] it was getting dark & Mr Howell was taken ill & was anxious to get back into camp. We had also to dress & go & dine in Government House at 8.15. We met Mr & Lady van Dugdale who are of the Royal suite & had remained here to rest. There were also one or two more of that party. Sir Godfrey Faussett took me into dinner & I sat next to Sir Ch: Rivaz a rather dull stiff man– Lady Rivaz has a pleasant manner & is still elegant & good looking tho’ her hair is turning grey. She looks frail—but is not so being a fine rider. The dining room of the house is the tomb of the Great Akbar’s cousin—rather a desecration—but it has a fine effect well lighted up with electric light—& decorated appropriately. Sir Godfrey told me that the Prince was enjoying his trip & making an excellent impression in this country. He has pleasant jovial sailor manners & that the Native Princes are much struck with his easy manners with him as tho’ he were one of them—as contrasted with the manners of English Governors & Viceroys. In the eveng Mr Dugdale sat & talked to me & said he was an intimate friend of my brother Monty’s. We returned to camp about 11. | |
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