This is also the custom in India.

'After I had submitted to this examination, the guardian of the gate
arose, took my hand, and opened. Four individuals surrounded me, two of
whom took hold of my sleeves, while the other two held me from behind.
They conducted me into a grand audience-hall, the walls of which were in
mosaic; the figures of natural productions, whether animal or mineral,
were there represented. In the middle of the hall there was a brook,
both banks of which were bordered with trees; men stood on the right and
on the left, but no one spoke. In the centre of the hall of reception
stood three other men, to whom my four conductors confided me, and who
took me by the garments as the first had done. Another individual having
made a sign to them, they advanced with me. One of them, who was a Jew,
said to me in Arabic, "Fear not; it is their custom to act thus towards
strangers. I am the interpreter, and am a native of Syria." I demanded
of him what salutation I ought to make, and he replied, "Say--May
blessing be upon you!"

'I arrived, finally, at the grand dais, where I beheld the emperor
seated on his throne, having before him his wife, the mother of the
princess. The latter, with her brothers, were stationed at the foot of
the throne. At the right of the sovereign there were six men, four at
his left, and as many behind him; all were armed. Before allowing me to
salute him, or to approach nearer to him, he made me a sign that I
should sit down for a moment, in order to recover from my fear. I did
so, after which I advanced nearer, and saluted him. He invited me, by a
gesture, to sit, but I did not comply. Then he questioned me on the
subject of Jerusalem, the blessed rock (of Jacob), the holy sepulchre,
and the cradle of Jesus, Bethlehem and Hebron, Damascus and Cairo, Irak
and Asia Minor. I replied to all his demands, the Jew performing the