relatives of the nobleman who may be present, occupy places, according to their station, in the right-hand line.
The chairs for all the public functionaries are placed, according to their rank, on the left hand of the Presiding Officer's chair.
The local notables and gentry occupy chairs, also according to their rank, on the right hand of the Presiding Officer.
A company of soldiers is drawn up in front of the stairs, as a Guard of Honour.
On the arrival of the noble near the stairs, the Sarishtadar or Munshi of the Presiding Officer leads him to the audience. All functionaries, out of respect to him, rise from their chairs on the Chiefs reaching the Presiding Officer ; who then asks him to take his seat. All functionaries and Darbáris must have assembled and taken their seats before the Chiefs arrival.
After a short conversation, the Presiding Officer orders his Munshi to take the Chief to an adjoining room, prepared previously for the purpose, where he is robed with the different parchas of the khilat except the pearl necklace. After this, he is again brought into the Darbár room, and stands in front of the Presiding Officer. The latter, rising from his seat with all the functionaries present, then ties the pearl necklace round the neck of the Chief.
The Presiding Officer then orders the Munshi to read out the sanad. During the reading of the sanad the Presiding Officer and the functionaries resume their seats, while the Chief and the local notables and gentry rise.
The Chief presents the usual nazarána of gold mohurs, and then all resume their seats.
After a short pause, the Presiding Officer orders atr and pán to be brought; and standing up, serves out the same, first to the newly-installed Chief, and then to all the Indian notables and gentry present the Munshi bringing up each one in turn to receive the atr and pán.
They all then take their leave, and the ceremony is at an end.
The ceremony of the Installation of a Rájá Bahádur, or titled personage of lower rank than a Mahárájá Bahádur, is very similar to the one described above. But the Guard of Honour is not so large, and it is not necessary that the Chief Civil Officer of the Province should be present. Also, the sarpech, pearl necklace, or whatever may compose the khilat, is handed by the Commissioner to the Collector or Assistant Collector of the district in which the Chiefs estates are situated, and he requests him to invest the Chief with it.
A ceremonial similar to those described above is observed when a Knight Grand Commander, or a Knight Commander, or a Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, or of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, is invested with the insignia of the Order by the representative of the Empress.
