to collect his revenues, the old gun used duly to be brought outside the city; and this manœuvre, without firing a shot, sufficed to bring in the defaulters. Doubtless it was the "moral effect" that used to be considered by a brave and worthy Hibernian Officer in the Bengal Artillery, who was working his guns against a refractory fortress, and who, while watching with delight the progress of his shells through the air, and congratulating himself on his successful aim, used to call out, "Well! if that isn't a pretty shot! I hope it didn't hurt any body!"

(c) “ A well of land" is the characteristic measure in a country where land is valueless without artificial irrigation. "A well" is about twenty-five acres.

(d) "Pahal" the ceremony of initiation into the Sikh religion: I have never myself witnessed this rite, but give what I believe to be a correct account. "A person having shewn a sincere desire to renounce his former opinions to any five or more Sikhs, assembled together, in any place, as well on the highway as in a house of worship, they send to the first shop where sweetmeats are sold, and procure a small quantity of a particular sort, which is very common, and, as I recollect, they call Batāsa; and, having diluted it in pure water, they sprinkle some of it on the body, and into the eyes of the convert; whilst one of the best instructed repeats to him, in any language with which he is conversant, the chief canons of their faith, exacting from him a solemn promise to abide by them the rest of his life. This is the whole of the ceremony. The new convert may then choose a Guru, or preceptor, to teach him the language of their scriptures, who first gives him the alphabet to learn, and so leads him on, by slow degrees, until he wants no further instruction."-" Asiatic Re searches," vol. i. page 293.

The same authority, in the preceding page, states that the character used by the Sikhs, is called, in honour of their founder "Guru Mookhee," from the mouth of the preceptor; probably the correct etymology of " Gurmukhi.”

(e) The neighbourhood of Sirhind witnessed more than one conflict in the early Sikh times; but it was in A. D. 1762 that the town was utterly sacked and razed, and its Governor slain. Most desolate is the present aspect of a city which appears to have had much architectural splendour; and which stands in a beautiful country, adorned with splendid groves.

(f) The Abdali body-guard wore sheep-skin caps, the sight of which more than once turned the day, as their vicinity betokened that of their master, who was much dreaded by the Sikhs, and whose rapid marches enabled him to keep up with them, light-footed as they are. I am not aware why Ahmad Shah's body-guard wore a head-dress not common among the Afghans; so far as I can learn, the Jamshidis and Sooni Hazarahs are the only tribes subject to the Afghans who now wear the sheep-skin caps, which are always differently shaped from the genuine Kajjar, or Persian cap, being much lower. Turkomans, especially those of Khaiva, also wear sheep-skin caps, but high, wide at the top, and without the burd-i-shamsher.

(9) Anent the Lahaur ruler's cogitations, an anecdote may be mentioned. Sir Charles Metcalfe had been sometime at the Court of Lahaur when he received orders from his own Government to propose to Ranjit Singh to remove his troops to the right bank of the Satlej, and to leave the Sikh States on the left bank of the river under British protection. The proposal was made with great delicacy by Sir Charles one evening when he was seated with the Maharajah on the roof of the Palace. Ranjit made no reply, but descending from the roof, mounted one of the horses that were always kept ready saddled, and rode

for a short time very violently on the maidan in front of his residence. On his return, he replied to the proposal, by expressing his astonishment at the impudent assurance of the British Government in making it. The English, be said, had refused to receive the independent Sikh States under their protection, which had some time before been solicited, and now that he, not being so scru pulous, had, at a great expense of blood and treasure extended his power over them, the English very coolly tell him to turn out, and make over charge to them! He wished to know what kind of friendship this was? Sir Charles could not deny the justice of the Maharajah's argument, but very judiciously urged the policy and expediency of yielding a point that would make the British Government his firm and lasting friend; and reminded the King that, being secure in this quarter, he might be at liberty to extend his conquests in more profitable directions. His Highness took the hint, conceded all that was required of him, and, to the latest day of his life, expressed his obligation of the sugges tion, assuring Sir Charles Metcalfe on every occasion that presented itself, of his grateful remembrance of the good advice he had given.

(h) Loans have two or three times been taken from the Patiala and Naba Chiefs, who, with great astonishment, found that the Company re paid the full amount, with interest.

(i) In the last note but one, the fact is referred to, that the Chiefs mentioned in the text, sought admission within the British pale, which was refused, tho' that Government used its influence to obtain terms for them with their own Chief.

(k) Equality among the Sardars was, as has been stated, a fuudamental law of Sikh policy, and was observed, much as other laws enacting equality have ever been.

Chand Khan's death came on me so suddenly, amidst so many troubles, that I was quite bewildered; his Mūltāni squad were, I saw, by no means satisfied with the part I had taken in regard to their leader on his return from Lahaur; and, as was natural for rude minds, could not understand how I should treat a servant whom I trusted and liked, as I had done Chand Khan, nor could they forget that their friend was a prisoner when he met his death. I could appreciate the men's feelings, and, therefore, regarded not their glances, but exerted myself as if I had been their comrade to trace out the villains; a sword and a shoe had been left behind, both were common coarse articles, made by village workmen, and it was my great object to find the manufacturers; all my endeavours however failed, and it was long before the truth was revealed and another depth of Sikh character fathomed.

How much I now missed my Vaqil! His careless, easy manner, so unlike any other native of my acquaintance, had drawn me towards him, for, whatever may have been the value of his harangues and opinions, they had an earnestness and a devil-maycareness about them; that was very attractive to one like myself, who had so long dwelt among men measuring their words, and watching the listener's eye to judge of the effect of the first sentence before a second should be permitted to issue from their lips, who could never give an answer without considering why the question was put, and if it meant "more than met the ear." Musalman, Hindu, and Sikh, almost all of my acquaintances during my not long, but very busy career having been of such stamp, I could not but appreciate Chând Khân, and in his company felt as if with a European intimate. To replace such a man was no easy matter, and seldom was a bold and wise counsellor more needed than just now at Kângrâ, for without were enemies thickening, and within friends and followers were wavering.

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Taking Aliverdi Khân aside one day, I remarked to him, as if casually, that he and his comrades appeared to be tired of my service, that if so, the road was open, they should have a free passage to their homes, be paid up to the last couree, and receive certificates of conduct. "Has your fidwi given offence, is my Lord displeased?" was the reply; "By no means, Aliverdi, I do not usually disguise my thoughts, nor do I offer chits, when I have reason to complain of my servants; the case is as I've stated, you seem to have something at your hearts, and I would not be served by unwilling hands." "Khodawand, shall your fidwi speak."" By all means, friend, speak out." My Lord is angry, and distrusts his servants, but believe me Sahib, we would die for you; true it is that we are grieved at the dog's death that our brave and openfriend and Sardar has met. We are down-hearted on his account, and, pardon me my Lord, we think that, considering his zeal and his services, Chand Khan was but ill rewarded." Aliverdi was a favourite, and one who had not taken on, from the partiality shewn him, I therefore explained to him how impossible it was I could have acted differently towards the unfortunate deceased; "But no man," repeated I, " more laments his death, or will go further to avenge it." "And so I have said my Lord," rejoined the Pathan; "there are odd fellows among us, and some of them are wil

ful and suspicious; but I've reminded them how you have treated us from the beginning, and how you have exerted yourself since Chand Khan's death." The result of this conversation was an alteration in the demeanour of my men, whom I now found doubly alert and anxious to wipe away from my memory this temporary suspicion.

At this time I received a parwānah to the effect, that I was to produce Chand Khan at Lahaur, dead or alive; that failing to do so, I should be made personally responsible. "Short and sweet exclaimed I;" they are coming to it in earnest now; they'll have me out of Kangra, but the Maharajah must come himself, for he'll find that he has one obedient servant; one officer who respects his orde.s."

How I came to be Governor of Kangra often puzzled me, and how I, a stranger and a foreigner, was trusted as supreme in so strong a hold, when the system of the government was to suspect all its servants, and in the pettiest forts to put more than one authority, or sometimes as many as three or four thanadars to watch and check each other. The conclusion I came to, was an unusual one for the Panjab, that having been much favoured, I was bound to be very honest!

My position in all its bearings I explained to Mahtab Kowr, she advised, nay conjured me to fly, but I could not take such a step without subjecting myself to suspicion, and giving a triumph to my enemies; I however converted the little money I had amassed, being about two thousand pounds sterling, into gold, and bills on Shroff's in the British territory, and I always carried about my person £500 worth of gold in ducats and in thin plates. In my travels through many countries I had been accustomed thus to load myself, by secreting my cash about my person, generally in a belt round my waist; but in times of danger in more unsuspected places; just now I could not but feel that every day might be my last at Kangra, and indeed with so much to contend against, I should have yielded to the storm had not my pride forbidden, and had I not had a dearer object than self to care for. Marriage is thought by some to incapacitate a man for the duty of a soldier (a), and to deteriorate him for all active business; my own experience contradicts the opinion: an active man will be active, and a sluggard, slothful, be he either benedict or bachelor: nor would any