Fanny Parks has written in her diary ‘Wandering of a Pilgrim, in search of the Picturesque’ a description of Zenana, she visited in early 19th century, lived in British India. One can get a fair idea of the upper class’s ladies life style. During her stay, she met various royal ladies. Under the care of Captain Ross she met her Highness Baiza Bai, widow of late Maharaja Daulat Rao. She ruled the kingdom for nine years, being queen of Gwalior. When she went to meet her highness left her shoes outside pardah to pay respect to that lady of rank. She found her seated on embroidered gaddi, with Gaja Raja Sahib, her grand daughter, and ladies attendants standing around her. She was dressed in plainest red silk, wore no ornaments except pair of small plain gold bars as bracelets, being widow put jewellery aside. Her grand daughter was wearing typical Maharatta dress. Mountain women were used to wear long dresses with long sleeves, tight to the elbows. A piece of silk some twenty yards or more they wind around them as a petticoat and also give effect of trousers. Hair was plaited and bound into a knot at the back of their head and low down. Eyes were edged with surma and their feet hands dyed with henna, on their feet and ankles were curious silver ornaments, toe rings of peculiar form. In the nostril was very large and brilliant nose ring. From her throat to waist, hands and arms were ornamented with strings of magnificent pearls and jewels. Girls wore caps with tassels and married women had a high cone dress ending in a plume of feathers and from it hung a veil. But Indian hot season forced them to change their style.
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