1888 Bombay Boot and Shoe Etiquette

“When the governor of Bombay held a levee at Ahmedabad, a number of Hindoo officials clubbed together to buy a pair of English boots, so as to avoid the indignity of appearing before his excellency with bare feet…”

The boot and shoe etiquette sorely perplexes native officials on ceremonial occasions. In the mofussil it is customary for all native government officials to take off their native shoes before entering the presence of their superior, but if they wear English boots no such change is required. When the governor of Bombay held a levee at Ahmedabad, a number of Hindoo officials clubbed together to buy a pair of English boots, so as to avoid the indignity of appearing before his excellency with bare feet. Each took it in turn so wear the boots as he was presented to the governor, and no small amusement was created outside the levee room by the officials rushing backward and forward to exchange the solitary pair of boots with the next comer.-London Globe, 1888

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