They carried
their babies in baskets on their heads. We got home about 11 a.m., so
that we had made our excursion betimes.
After breakfast and bath we went to the station. Soon our train came
up, and after a two and a half hours' journey through the Indrauni river
valley we arrived at Poonah. The next day we drove all about Poonah,
and went to see the Palace of the Peshwas, in the Indian bazar. It is
now used as a library below and a native law courts above. Then we went
to Parbat, the Maharatta chief's palace. There are three pagodas in
this building, and one small temple particularly struck me. As it was
sunset the wild yet mournful sound of tom-tom and kettle and cymbal and
reed suddenly struck up. I could have shut my eyes and fancied myself
in camp again in the desert, with the wild sword-dances being performed
by the Arabs.
The following day at evening we left Poonah for Hyderabad. We travelled
all night and next day, and arrived towards evening. Hyderabad lies
eighteen hundred feet above sea-level. As most people know, it is by
far the largest and most important native city in India, and is ruled
over by our faithful ally the Nizam. Richard and I were to be the
guests of Major and Mrs. Nevill; and our kind friends met us cordially
at the station. In those days Major Nevill was the English officer who
commanded the Nizam's troops; and though he ranked as Major, he was
really Commander-in-chief, having no one over him except Sir Salar Jung.
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