DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0169
134
THE MAHARAJA.
CHAP. VI.
Lahore: there was a mixture of Hindoostanees and
Seiks in every corps. After the inspection, the
brigade manoeuvred under a native general officer,
and went through its evolutions with an exactness
and precision fully equal to our Indian troops: the
words of command were given in French.
During the spectacle,, his Highness conversed
with great fluency, and asked our opinions on
his army and their equipments. His muskets,, he
said, cost him seventeen rupees each. He was
particularly desirous to know if a column of Bri-
tish troops could advance against artillery. From
these subjects he passed to that of the revenue
of Cashmere : he had just got thirty-six lacs of ru-
pees, he said, from it this year, which was an increase
of six lacs. " All the people I send to Cashmere,"
continued he, " turn out rascals (haramzada) : there
" is too much pleasure and enjoyment in that
" country ;" and when he considered the importance
of the place, he believed he must send one of his
sons, or go himself. This is the style of Runjeet
Sing's conversation; but his inquisitive disposition,
and pertinent questions, mark the strength of his
character. He found out, among our establishment,
a native of India, who had been in England, whom
he first interrogated in our presence, and afterwards
sent for privately, to know if the wealth and power
of the British nation were as great as had been
represented. We left his Highness, on observing
preparations for breakfast, — a meal which he usually
takes in the open air, and in presence of his troops,
and even sometimes on horseback. His passion for
THE MAHARAJA.
CHAP. VI.
Lahore: there was a mixture of Hindoostanees and
Seiks in every corps. After the inspection, the
brigade manoeuvred under a native general officer,
and went through its evolutions with an exactness
and precision fully equal to our Indian troops: the
words of command were given in French.
During the spectacle,, his Highness conversed
with great fluency, and asked our opinions on
his army and their equipments. His muskets,, he
said, cost him seventeen rupees each. He was
particularly desirous to know if a column of Bri-
tish troops could advance against artillery. From
these subjects he passed to that of the revenue
of Cashmere : he had just got thirty-six lacs of ru-
pees, he said, from it this year, which was an increase
of six lacs. " All the people I send to Cashmere,"
continued he, " turn out rascals (haramzada) : there
" is too much pleasure and enjoyment in that
" country ;" and when he considered the importance
of the place, he believed he must send one of his
sons, or go himself. This is the style of Runjeet
Sing's conversation; but his inquisitive disposition,
and pertinent questions, mark the strength of his
character. He found out, among our establishment,
a native of India, who had been in England, whom
he first interrogated in our presence, and afterwards
sent for privately, to know if the wealth and power
of the British nation were as great as had been
represented. We left his Highness, on observing
preparations for breakfast, — a meal which he usually
takes in the open air, and in presence of his troops,
and even sometimes on horseback. His passion for