DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0156
CHAP. V.
INTELLIGENT SEIK.
121
continuance of the pole star in one place when the
earth was said to move so many miles daily in its
orbit round the sun. Among other information that
I was enabled to impart to him, I showed him the
thermometer, and explained the nature of the instru-
ment. He immediately had the whole particulars
committed to writing : and, where such avidity, and
so laudable a thirst for knowledge, were displayed,
I could not withhold making him a present of the
instrument. This Sirdar was equally expert in the
martial exercises of his nation : he handled the
bow with grace and dexterity ; he was an excellent
horseman, and could hit a mark at full speed; and
I have seen him touch the ground with both feet
at the gallop and regain his seat. I must mention
that his curiosity did not always take a scientific
turn ; for his wonder had been excited by our art
in preserving meat, fish, &c. A ham, which I showed
him, was calculated to satisfy his doubts ; and he
was only contented when he had got a complete
recipe for curing it. The Seiks are very fond of
hog ; and ham bids fair to be a standing dish in the
Punjab. By the 11th of July we had left the
country of the Kattias, and reached Futtihpoor,
where the land is cultivated. Our approach to
Lahore seemed to facilitate every arrangement: a
detachment of fifty lancers had been stationed in
the intervening villages, to assemble the inhabit-
ants, to drag the boats the moment we approached.
Our own suite was now increased to about 500
people ; and to a drum and fife, which had al-
ways been with us, a bugle was added. Such dis-
INTELLIGENT SEIK.
121
continuance of the pole star in one place when the
earth was said to move so many miles daily in its
orbit round the sun. Among other information that
I was enabled to impart to him, I showed him the
thermometer, and explained the nature of the instru-
ment. He immediately had the whole particulars
committed to writing : and, where such avidity, and
so laudable a thirst for knowledge, were displayed,
I could not withhold making him a present of the
instrument. This Sirdar was equally expert in the
martial exercises of his nation : he handled the
bow with grace and dexterity ; he was an excellent
horseman, and could hit a mark at full speed; and
I have seen him touch the ground with both feet
at the gallop and regain his seat. I must mention
that his curiosity did not always take a scientific
turn ; for his wonder had been excited by our art
in preserving meat, fish, &c. A ham, which I showed
him, was calculated to satisfy his doubts ; and he
was only contented when he had got a complete
recipe for curing it. The Seiks are very fond of
hog ; and ham bids fair to be a standing dish in the
Punjab. By the 11th of July we had left the
country of the Kattias, and reached Futtihpoor,
where the land is cultivated. Our approach to
Lahore seemed to facilitate every arrangement: a
detachment of fifty lancers had been stationed in
the intervening villages, to assemble the inhabit-
ants, to drag the boats the moment we approached.
Our own suite was now increased to about 500
people ; and to a drum and fife, which had al-
ways been with us, a bugle was added. Such dis-