Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s3.t2.9

c7.s3.t2.9

at others, the courtiers enhance the gaiety and cheerfulness by their wit and humour.¹ In some respects these pleasure parties were very different from the official public *darbar* we have described elsewhere. In contrast to the dignity and the solemn appearance of a monarch in *darbar*, he was anything but conventional and ceremonial in these private parties. If there were a few chosen people in the party, he ‘left off the vanity that appertains to kingship’. The courtiers and guests were permitted to take off their heavy overcoats and to be generally at their ease. There was no particular reserve in conversation and matters of high policy of the State as well as smaller affairs were discussed with perfect geniality and ample freedom.²