How does Ruth Prawer Jhabvala use imagery in Heat and Dust?

Imagery:

"Douglas' voice, firm and manly, rose above the rest. When he spoke, the others confined themselves to murmurs of agreement. He must have made some jokes, because every now and again they all laughed in polite unison. Sometimes he seemed to speak rather more sternly and then the murmurs became very low and submissive till he made another joke whereupon they dissolved in relieved laughter. It was almost as if Douglas were playing a musical instrument of which he had entirely mastered the stops."

"Satipur also had its slummy lanes, but Khatm had nothing else. The town huddles in the shadow of the Palace walls in a tight knot of dirty alleys with ramshackle houses leaning over them."