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The heart of a continent : vol.1 |
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him. In addition to this, he may call upon any men to serve
him, and he may summon the whole country, if he so wishes,
to go to war. All this he may do theoretically. Practically,
of course, by custom and by public opinion, he has to keep the
exercise of this authority within reasonable bounds. Still I
have known cases of wives being given away when the husbands
have committed some offence, this being considered a punish-
ment to the husband alone, and the woman being supposed
to have no feelings.
The method by which the Mehtar carries on his government
is by durbars, and as this is a very interesting form of govern-
ment, and one of which the original simplicity is likely to
disappear as the country comes in closer touch with British
method, I wish to draw especial attention to it. Twice every
day the Mehtar holds durbar ; the morning durbar is at about
eleven or twelve o'clock, and a second is held at ten o'clock at
night. In the summer-time the morning durbar was regularly
held under the huge plane trees round the fort, but frequently
Nizam-ul-Mulk held them somewhere along the river-bank
where he was hawking or shooting. The evening durbar was
held in a hall or room inside the fort. At these durbars the
Mehtar sat with his legs crossed on a broad low seat, which
serves as a sort of throne, the members of his family sat near
him, and the other principal men range themselves in a semi-
circle in from of him, every one except the Mehtar squatting
on the floor. A few guards and servants were stationed behind
the Mehtar. There are no very formal proceedings, though
very strict etiquette is observed in many particulars. The
Mehtar comes out of his private apartments, and is followed
to the durbar hall by his attendants ; then he seats himself, the
people squat down after him, and informal conversation com-
mences. Perhaps some one has come in from the frontier or
the provinces, and the Mehtar asks what the news is. Whatever
news there may be the Mehtar discusses with the principal men,
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