DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0122
chap. iv. RUNJEET SING'S COUNTRY.
87
assented, on my becoming answerable for the re-
turn of the vessels.
A few hours' sail brought us to the place of
rendezvous late at night, and the fires of the sol-
diers blazing in the darkness only increased our
anxiety to meet our new friends. It was the camp
of the party which had been sent from Lahore to
await our arrival, and had long expected us. Im-
mediately on landing, we were received by Sirdar
Lenu Sing, who came with considerable state on
an elephant, and was attended by a large retinue.
The Sirdar was richly dressed, and had a necklace
of emeralds, and armlets studded with diamonds.
In one hand he held a bow, and in the other two
Persian letters in silken bags. He congratulated
us, in the name of Maharajah Runjeet Sing, on
our arrival, and had been desired by his Highness
to communicate, that he was deeply sensible of
the honour conferred upon him by the King of
England, and that his army had been for some time
in readiness on the frontier, to chastise the bar-
barians of Sinde, who had so long arrested our
progress. He then delivered to me the letters
which appointed himself as our Mihmandar, in con-
junction with two other persons; presenting at the
same time a bow, according to the custom of the Seiks.
On the ceremony being terminated, the Sirdar and
several others placed bags of money at my feet,
amounting to about 1400 rupees, and then withdrew.
The first intercourse with a new people can
never be destitute of interest, and the present was
far from being so.
g 4
87
assented, on my becoming answerable for the re-
turn of the vessels.
A few hours' sail brought us to the place of
rendezvous late at night, and the fires of the sol-
diers blazing in the darkness only increased our
anxiety to meet our new friends. It was the camp
of the party which had been sent from Lahore to
await our arrival, and had long expected us. Im-
mediately on landing, we were received by Sirdar
Lenu Sing, who came with considerable state on
an elephant, and was attended by a large retinue.
The Sirdar was richly dressed, and had a necklace
of emeralds, and armlets studded with diamonds.
In one hand he held a bow, and in the other two
Persian letters in silken bags. He congratulated
us, in the name of Maharajah Runjeet Sing, on
our arrival, and had been desired by his Highness
to communicate, that he was deeply sensible of
the honour conferred upon him by the King of
England, and that his army had been for some time
in readiness on the frontier, to chastise the bar-
barians of Sinde, who had so long arrested our
progress. He then delivered to me the letters
which appointed himself as our Mihmandar, in con-
junction with two other persons; presenting at the
same time a bow, according to the custom of the Seiks.
On the ceremony being terminated, the Sirdar and
several others placed bags of money at my feet,
amounting to about 1400 rupees, and then withdrew.
The first intercourse with a new people can
never be destitute of interest, and the present was
far from being so.
g 4