three o'clock
The stone streets of the little town , so steep as to be cut out , here and there , into a rough semblance of steps , were alive with quickly moving figures , in holiday attire : which , in the East , is a true outward and visible sign of its wearer 's inward and spiritual sense of festivity . Open shop fronts and quaintly carven balconies were noisy with shrill voices . Every self-respecting house was plastered with fresh mud ; every window and doorway garlanded with marigold and jasmine buds ; every brain , absorbed in the paramount speculation , as to how the sacrificial buffalo would behave . At three o'clock , under a blazing sun , the Rajah set out , enthroned on his State elephant , whose silver howdah and gala trappings formed a fitting pedestal for the red and gold magnificence of the young prince himself . Two ropes of pearls hung down to his waist : a huge uncut emerald made a vivid incident of green upon his gilded chest : and the diamond aigrette , surmounting his turban of palest green muslin , flashed and quivered in the sunshine , like living fire . The Resident , in immaculate grey suit and tall white helmet , sat beside him in the awkwardly swaying howdah with an admirable air of comfort and unconcern ; and their triumphal progress was enlivened by the brazen cheerfulness of trumpets and trombones , the melancholy squeal of bagpipes , and the ear-piercing shriek of native instruments ; while , through all , and above all , and under all , the throbbing of innumerable tom-toms suggested the heart-beats of the mighty crowd made audible . Journeying thus , along the unshadowed road that overhangs the river , they came at length to the promontory itself .