several rows of large pearls intermingled with valuable jewels.[1]
The Marquis received the princes at the door, and, taking their hands in his, led them into his tent. The elder, Abd-ul-Khalik, was about ten, and the other, Mooza-ud-Dien, was only eight years of age. The chief Vakeel then said, "These children were this morning the sons of the Sultan, my master; their situation is now changed, and they must look up to your lordship as their father." The Governor- General made an appropriate reply, assuring the Vakeel, and the princes themselves, that all possible care would be taken for the protection of their persons and the promotion of their happiness – a promise which was religiously fulfilled. Their treatment, in fact, was truly paternal: they were soon relieved from all apprehension; and so fully was the Sultan contented with the reception of his sons that he ordered a royal salute to be fired in testimony of his satisfaction. The princes, though so very young, having been trained with infinite care in everything relating to external behaviour, astonished all present by the dignity and ease of their deportment, and by that union of politeness and reserve which characterises Oriental courts. A strong interest for the captive youths was indeed prevalent throughout the British army – a feeling which, with regard to the younger, was increased by the affecting circumstance of his mother having recently died from fright, occasioned by the attack on Tippoo's lines.
After the hostages had been delivered, and a crore of rupees paid, several difficulties occurred in the arrangement of the districts to be ceded, but finally each of the allies picked out what best suited him: the Mahrattas
- ↑ The princes were each mounted on an elephant, richly-caparisoned, and seated in a silver howdah, being attended by their father's Vakeels, with Sir John Kennaway, and the Mahratta and Nizam's Vakeels also on elephants. The procession was led by several camel hurcarrahs, and seven standard bearers, carrying small green flags suspended from rockets, followed by one hundred pikemen with spears inlaid with silver. Their guard of two hundred Sepoys and a party of horse brought up the rear. Lord Cornwallis, attended by his staff and some of the principal officers of the army, met the princes at the door of his large tent, as they dismounted from the elephants. – Dirom.
