Both in peace and war he was attended by various officers of state, and no one had speech of him except through them.

It would even seem as if two persons only were entitled to open a conversation with him--the Vizier and the Chief Eunuch.

When he received them, he generally placed himself upon his throne, sitting, while they stood to address him.

It is strongly indicative of the haughty pride of these sovereigns that they carried with them in their distant expeditions the cumbrous thrones whereon they were wont to sit when they dispensed justice or received homage.

On these thrones they sat, in or near their fortified camps, when the battle or the siege was ended, and thus sitting they received in state the spoil and the prisoners.