The Adalat is another rich source of revenue to the state, fine being the punishment awarded in almost every case, and being always the ready means of avoiding all other retribution. In civil cases, the gainer is mulcted one-fourth of the property at issue, and so common is it for both parties to pay for a decision, that he only is considered a bad man and an unjust judge, who takes your money without furthering your cause. Under such a system the poor man has little chance; and though the vagabond thief, pressed perhaps by hunger, has his nose and ears cut off, and is thereby irrecoverably branded one of the profession, the wealthy robber and dexterous ruffian ride unmolested through the land.

From the customs alone, twenty-four lacs of rupees enter the royal treasury; Amritsir yields nine lacs. We may judge what remains to the trader, who not only has to pay this recognised levy, but to pass through the screw-press of all the subordinate officers; rules and rates are laughed at, every ferry and every pass is guarded, and the baipari pays according to the humour of the watchman, which in turn is regulated by a close calculation whether the amount taken will kill the nest-egg, and prevent the trader returning, or bring down on himself observation, and consequent squeezing.

The picture I have sketched of my new-fellow subjects and our ruler, is not a very pleasant one; but it has its reliefs, and we must consider the elements Ranjit had to work upon, and the time he had to consolidate his power. He found the country swarming with petty chiefs, each a legalised plunderer and murderer; the people were all ignorant, idle, listless, and brutally sensual. Persia, Afghanistan, and the adjacent parts of Hindustan were in much the same condition; Ranjît has made life comparatively secure, and he must have done something for property, or we should not see the existing wealth of Lâhaur and Amritsir, nor would his subjects shew so little anxiety to locate themselves under the neighbouring British rule.

My reader must forgive me, if I have given him too long a dose of history and politics, but I could not without this preface make the rest of my tale intelligible. The result of my review of those around me was, that though I might serve a better government, I might be under a worse; that it gave hope to all, roused emulation, brought out the energies of employès, and prevented their hang

ing on as execrescences and nuisances, when age, imbecility, or carelessness had rendered them a curse to the country. As a military despotism the government is a mild one; and, as a federal union, hastily patched up into a monarchy, it is strong and efficient. We may see its faults without overlooking its better points. But I must pause a moment to mention three Princes, whom I find I have omitted.

Kharak Singh, the eldest, is an imbecile, and affects the religieux; Sher Singh, the second, is far from clever, but he is pru dent; he is fond of imitating the military and Europeans. Târâ Singh, the third, is a dissolute vagabond, leading the most reckless life in the common bazārs. None of them appear much at Dar. bār, and the two latter are known not to be really sons of the Maharajah, who, perhaps, keeps quiet the mystery of their birth, as a check against any possible designs of his acknowledged son.

Again I say I do not offer my rough notes as materials for his tory, but rather as first impressions and crude gatherings from very probably interested informers. Few can be so simple as not to` take all native reports "cum grano"; tho' the manner, and even matter of the report gives a clue as to its probable credibility. One man systematically lies within and without reason; he is as good as a weatherguage, and is only to be read with caution, topsy turvy. Another sees what you want, fishes for it, thinks he has it, and tells accordingly. A third is paid for misleading you, and a fourth thinks he may be so. Another knows nothing, but wishes to be seen talking with the farangi. Having considered all the engines at work, if you scribble the evidence of one on a half-margin, and can manage to parallel it with that of another of different class, caste, profession and habits, and can keep each from knowing that the other is in your employ, you may then put some trust in their testimony, where it agrees, testing it however, when practicable, by further evidence. Give as little opinion of your own as possible; be merely seeking; know nothing, think nothing, or you will be made a tool in the hands of your own instruments. With so much of advice-by way of dessert to the dry meal I have given the reader, I will squat myself on the ground and take my own evening's repast. It was a fowl pulão, which it had pleased my cook to make rich and savoury, and to me it tasted peculiarly so, nothing having passed my lips since my simple morning's meal,

and it was now evening. My custom was to rise before the dawn, to retire early, and seldom to repose during the day; a cake, or crust of bread with a glass of water when I got up, kept me till nine o'clock; and my breakfast satisfied me till sunset. When marching, the morning's crust and breakfast changed places. In faet my servants and myself have always partaken of the same pot, frequently of the same dish. No forbidden meat or liquor has passed my lips for years; and by strict temperance I have stood heat and fatigue that few Europeans could meet. The live-long day in the saddle has not prevented my rest at night; nor did a ride of nearly five hundred miles, (k) which I made in a week, interfere with my appetite or disturb my sleep. Abstinence and energy in yourself, and blood in your horses, will enable any man of good constitution to do as much. Thirty yards of fine muslin rolled round a European cap or hat, forms the best protection from the sun; but the night is the time for travelling for any one who intends to last long in the East.

る

While I was munching my pulão, and, in fancy, galloping over the plains of the Panjab, Chând Khân entered. Observing that I had but one dish, and no drink but sugar and water, he was surprised. "Not drink, my lord! You never then will find favour in this besotted court, where all, with scarcely an exception, are drunkards, and where the strength of a man's brain is measured by the thickness of his head. And how does the Khân (7) like Sikh attire ? for Ranjit Singh will want you to wear it. He has been making many enquiries about you, and has even had your servants up to examine them, just now you are in high favour, but he will expect you to comply with all his whims." Then friend," I replied," he will be disappointed;" and the thought struck me that a little judicious opposition might stand me in more stead than implicit acquiescence; but at any rate, I resolved neither to drink of his cup, nor to wear his garb. "I am not sure," I continued aloud, "that I shall take his service at all; I have friends in India, and may find employment with the British. At any rate, there are many princes who would be glad of my services. Shah Shuja even now meditates the recovery of his kingdom, and what finer field could I have?" Excellent, my lord; your slave with 50 good shumsheres is at your disposal-fire-eaters, men whose faces are seen in the day of battle." Very well, Chând Khân-if there be occasion, you shall not be forgotten.".

I was pretty sure my expressed uncertainty would reach the Maharajah's ears; and so it did, with many exaggerations, increasing my value in his eyes ten fold. The next day, but one, was fixed for my second interview, but the next evening I expressed myself fatigued and unwell, and thus, on one pretext or other, put off my visit for a fortnight. Each day a ziyafat of a hundred rupees, with sweetmeats, was brought. I was asked to administer strengthening medicine to the Monarch, he feeling altogether feeble, and fearing another attack of paralysis, which had already more than once deprived him of speech. I sent a preparation of steel, of which Dhyân Singh had the benefit. Right or wrong, such was his report of its efficacy, that from having no appetite it had made him ravenous, that in all his limbs he felt twice the strength he had before, and so forth-that the Maharajah was in raptures, sent for me imperatively, and ordered me to be informed that if I could not come to him, he would himself go to me (m); the messenger brought ten times the usual ziyafat. To-morrow I will attend His Highness" was my answer.

"

In the morning a guard of honor was in waiting, and in very different state from my former appearance, and attended by a Sardär of some standing, I was taken to the Darbār. Being seated on the carpet, close to His Highness, he asked me a hundred ques» tions about Europe, England, America, of what caste I was myself, and of what were his European Officers. "For my own I can answer," replied I, "and you may write and ask Captain Wade at Ludiana. For your officers I cannot undertake to say; some of them are of good blood, but of one other I am somewhat doubtful. His countrymen are a bad set, but there is an old proverb, "that a white sheep may be found in a black flock." The Maharajah here interrupted me with a hearty laugh, whispers buzzed around, and the attendant Mutasaddis used their pens. Dhyân Singh here put in his word," The General," he said, (alluding to the second officer I had mentioned) "the General is a good man, and a khair khwāk," many voices responded, “bahot ach'cha-nek ādmī, bahādur, changâ ādmi," but I persisted, thereby affording Ranjît much amusement. Well, but where is this wonderful medicine, which has done such wonders for the Raja ?" asked the Maharajah. I produced two papers, which he seized, and handed one over to his Minister. "Here faqir, take this." Azîzûdîn's face was for a mome at clouded, but he swallowed the steel, and affected instant

raptures. Well, I will try the other myself," said Ranjît; and for a wonder actually took the dose. Without waiting to see its effects, he said to me, Bellasis, I perceive you are a wise man ; I have seen you and enquired about you; you are bold and you are able; you are young, but you have had experience; years and wisdom do not always go together; moreover I am pleased with you. I promised you the command of a Regiment, it is done; and in addition, I give you the management of the Kote Kângrâ district. It is wild and rugged in parts, but savage as is nature, man is there more so. I deal plainly with you; the post is one of difficulty, the country has been mismanaged: the revenues were nine lâkhs; they are now less than six, from you I will, for two years, accept five Your salary shall be fifteen thousand rupees a year, and I grant you the nazarand of your villages." "Wâh, wâh, quismat! quismat!" ejaculated many around. "You shall, in addition to your own Regiment of Lancers, have one of Infantry to keep up the place, and also two corps of Najibs; the latter you will raise yourself and appoint your own officers. The regular corps shall be detached from Jamadâr Khushiyâl Singh's brigade, and shall have a tankwah on your revenues. Join without delay; attempt to have no secrets; leave a prudent Vaqil at the Darbâr, and keep the Raja informed of all events. Remember that all I hear of you through other channels I put down against you. The post is high; the trust is great. Here" (and at a sign the faqir held out a sealed packet) are your secret instructions. Again I say, be vigilant, cautious, prudent, and let no complaint from the raiyats Rukhsat! may fortune attend you."

reach the

presence.

A khilat of ten times the value of the last was then thrust upon me amid shoutings, praises, and murmurs from those around. A title, too long and flowery to repeat, was bestowed on me; a bag of a thousand ducats put into my hand, and I was turned out before I could half express my thanks. I hastened home much more importuned than on the last occasion; now, even first-rate Sardars were pleaders, or offerers of humble congratulations; and many were the ummedwars for najibships, and places of Mutasaddi, Vaqil, &c. Hastily, and almost roughly, I elbowed my way through them all, anxious to be alone, and open the sealed packet.