DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0058
CHAP. I.
SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS.
25
strengthen the bonds of union ; and whatwas further,
that the promise of an officer was sacred.
An interview in the following morning brought
a repetition of the whole arguments ; and, as we
could not convince each other, we both agreed
to address his Highness. After the style of
Asiatic diplomacy, I informed the Ameer, " that
cc he had acted the part of a friend, in first point-
" ing out the difficulties of navigating the Indus,
" and now assisting me through them by giving
" his sanction to the water route ; but since I
" was so thoroughly acquainted, through his High-
" ness's kindness, with the dangers of the river, I
" dared not trust such royal rarities as the gifts
" of the King of Great Britain to the care of any
" servant." In three days I received a full and un-
qualified sanction to advance by water from the mouth
of the Indus. I gladly quit the detail of occurrences
which have left few pleasing reflections behind,
except that success ultimately attended our endea-
vours, and that they elicited the approbation of
Government. The Ameer of Sinde had sought to
keep us in ignorance of the Indus ; but his treat-
ment had led to another and opposite effect; since
we had entered, in the course of our several voyages,
all the mouths of the river, and a map of them, as
well as of the land route to Tatta, now lay before
me. Our dangers on the banks and shoals had been
imminent; but we looked back upon them with the
pleasing thought, that our experience might guide
others through them.
SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS.
25
strengthen the bonds of union ; and whatwas further,
that the promise of an officer was sacred.
An interview in the following morning brought
a repetition of the whole arguments ; and, as we
could not convince each other, we both agreed
to address his Highness. After the style of
Asiatic diplomacy, I informed the Ameer, " that
cc he had acted the part of a friend, in first point-
" ing out the difficulties of navigating the Indus,
" and now assisting me through them by giving
" his sanction to the water route ; but since I
" was so thoroughly acquainted, through his High-
" ness's kindness, with the dangers of the river, I
" dared not trust such royal rarities as the gifts
" of the King of Great Britain to the care of any
" servant." In three days I received a full and un-
qualified sanction to advance by water from the mouth
of the Indus. I gladly quit the detail of occurrences
which have left few pleasing reflections behind,
except that success ultimately attended our endea-
vours, and that they elicited the approbation of
Government. The Ameer of Sinde had sought to
keep us in ignorance of the Indus ; but his treat-
ment had led to another and opposite effect; since
we had entered, in the course of our several voyages,
all the mouths of the river, and a map of them, as
well as of the land route to Tatta, now lay before
me. Our dangers on the banks and shoals had been
imminent; but we looked back upon them with the
pleasing thought, that our experience might guide
others through them.