Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 1) (London, 1835)

CHAP. VI.

RUNJEET SING'S REPLY.

147

" flowing with feelings of pleasure and gratitude for
" all these marks of kindness and attention on the
" part of his Majesty, that I find it impossible to
" give them vent in adequate expressions.

" By the favour of Sri Akal Poorukh Jee*, there
(< are in my stables valuable and high-bred horses
" from the different districts of Hindoostan, from
" Turkistan, and Persia; but none of them will
" bear comparison with those presented to me by
" the King through your Excellency; for these
" animals, in beauty, stature, and disposition, sur-
" pass the horses of every city and every country in
" the world. On beholding their shoes, the new
u moon turned pale with envy, and nearly disappeared
"from the shy. Such horses the eye of the sun
" has never before beheld in his course through the
" universe. Unable to bestow upon them in writing
ct the praises that they merit, I am compelled to
" throw the reins on the neck of the steed of de-
" scription, and relinquish the pursuit.

" Your Excellency has stated, that you were
" directed by his Majesty to communicate to me
" his earnest desire for the permanence of the
" friendship which has so long existed between the
" two states, and which has been so conducive to
" the comfort and happiness of the subjects of both.
" Your Excellency has further observed, that his
" Majesty hopes that I may live long in health and
" honour to rule and protect the people of this
'< country. I beg that you will assure his Majesty,
" that such sentiments correspond entirely with

* God.

L 2