Part 9 - Procession to camp and arrival of H.H.

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SUMMARY:
A colourful procession with dancers and sarnai players accompanied the party to a well-prepared camp with multiple tents and a kitchen. After preparing in case the R. or two Maharanis were there (they were not), H.H. arrived at 3.0; the writer notes he seemed aged, overweight, and short of breath, though still pleasant and thoughtful.

CONTENT:
was about 2 miles from camp, we then played & danced the whole way in. How they manage that I can't think - up hill, down hill, over muddy patches, small streams & so on - the music & dancing continued. They are dressed in very bright clothes, the dancers in white skirts & many coloured top half clothes, with a little brightly coloured crown adorned with a few ornaments. The sarnai players are in red flannel. This all caused the greatest excitement locally, & our procession was joined by everyone, men, women & children, & also by all the coolies carrying our loads. We reached camp soon after a pause to get scarves ready in case the R. or two Maharanis were there to meet us. But they were not, so we had a rest here till H.H. came at 3.0. The camp is a magnificent place, with three large tents for us, an E.P. tent for reception & another huge tent for our kit, besides a kitchen with a good chula made. Everything is laid on & all our wants catered for. At 3.0 H.H. arrived. He rode up & got off his pony 30 yards from the door, where we all went to meet him. I was surprised at the way he has changed. He has become very fat & flabby & the few yards up hill walking made him very out of breath indeed. I should think it may well be that he drinks now. At any rate he has aged greatly. But he is still the pleasant, thoughtful man he always