DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0208
chap. vil. INTERVIEW AT ROOPUR.
173
hairy legs, and coarse appearance, ill became the
glittering gold and crimson velvet with which
his back was ornamented. Runjeet said that he
had at last got paces out of him, and had frequently
ridden him; he further added, that he had given a
village and five hundred rupees to the man who
had succeeded in training him ! Rose water and
uttur sprinkled on the assembly signified its close;
and Runjeet conducted Lord William to a boat on
the banks of the Sutlege, where he embarked under
a salute. The high road to the bridge of boats
passed through a garden, which was fantastically laid
out in different-shaped parterres. The seed had
only been sown on the day before Runjeet Sing
arrived, and now presented to view various figures
of peacocks, horses, &c. It had grown up thus sud-
denly from constant irrigation; being, I presume,
water-cresses, or something of that description.
" In the afternoon of the 28th, his Highness was
met on the banks of the Sutlege by Colonel Morrison,
C. B., Major M'Lachlan, and Captain Higginson, by
whom he was conducted to the parade ground.
The Governor-General here joined him, and passed
down the line of troops. The Maharaja was dressed
in green, and rode one of his favourite horses,
' Kuhar:' he had a plain shield tied to his back,
and but for the housings of his horse, it would have
been difficult to tell that < he was the king amang
them a'.' His activity was as usual very great; he
was here, there, and every where; he rode round
the infantry squares, and called to his commander
in chief to note the number that knelt down. He
173
hairy legs, and coarse appearance, ill became the
glittering gold and crimson velvet with which
his back was ornamented. Runjeet said that he
had at last got paces out of him, and had frequently
ridden him; he further added, that he had given a
village and five hundred rupees to the man who
had succeeded in training him ! Rose water and
uttur sprinkled on the assembly signified its close;
and Runjeet conducted Lord William to a boat on
the banks of the Sutlege, where he embarked under
a salute. The high road to the bridge of boats
passed through a garden, which was fantastically laid
out in different-shaped parterres. The seed had
only been sown on the day before Runjeet Sing
arrived, and now presented to view various figures
of peacocks, horses, &c. It had grown up thus sud-
denly from constant irrigation; being, I presume,
water-cresses, or something of that description.
" In the afternoon of the 28th, his Highness was
met on the banks of the Sutlege by Colonel Morrison,
C. B., Major M'Lachlan, and Captain Higginson, by
whom he was conducted to the parade ground.
The Governor-General here joined him, and passed
down the line of troops. The Maharaja was dressed
in green, and rode one of his favourite horses,
' Kuhar:' he had a plain shield tied to his back,
and but for the housings of his horse, it would have
been difficult to tell that < he was the king amang
them a'.' His activity was as usual very great; he
was here, there, and every where; he rode round
the infantry squares, and called to his commander
in chief to note the number that knelt down. He