DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0020
2 ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE JOURNEY. chap. I.
the Sutlege, till that river is joined by the Beas, or
Hyphasis.
Before crossing the boundaries of India it was
both prudent and necessary to receive the permis-
sion of Maharaja Eunjeet Sing, the ruler of the
Punjab. It was suggested to me that a private
application was in every respect preferable to an
official letter from government, since the most fa-
vourable reception which I had already experienced
from his highness left no doubt of his ready com-
pliance. I consequently addressed his highness,
and solicited the indulgence of again entering his
territories. I gave him a brief outline of the ob-
jects which I had in view, and congratulated myself
on having to traverse, at the outset, the territories
of so friendly an ally. In the true style of Oriental
hyperbole, I assured his highness, that " when I
had again the pleasure of seeing him it would add
to my happiness, because it would afford me an op-
portunity of renewing my terms of friendship with
a prince whose exalted virtues filled me with recol-
lections of perpetual delight! " In the course of
three days we were joined by a small escort of
cavalry sent to welcome us, and their commandant
brought a most friendly reply from the Maharaja,
expressive of his pleasure at our approach. It was
also intimated to us that we should receive presents
of money and gifts as we advanced; but, as it
would better suit our character to pass without
these attentions, I civilly declined them. Reports
would precede us, and doubtless in an exaggerated
enough shape, which made it desirable to shun all
the Sutlege, till that river is joined by the Beas, or
Hyphasis.
Before crossing the boundaries of India it was
both prudent and necessary to receive the permis-
sion of Maharaja Eunjeet Sing, the ruler of the
Punjab. It was suggested to me that a private
application was in every respect preferable to an
official letter from government, since the most fa-
vourable reception which I had already experienced
from his highness left no doubt of his ready com-
pliance. I consequently addressed his highness,
and solicited the indulgence of again entering his
territories. I gave him a brief outline of the ob-
jects which I had in view, and congratulated myself
on having to traverse, at the outset, the territories
of so friendly an ally. In the true style of Oriental
hyperbole, I assured his highness, that " when I
had again the pleasure of seeing him it would add
to my happiness, because it would afford me an op-
portunity of renewing my terms of friendship with
a prince whose exalted virtues filled me with recol-
lections of perpetual delight! " In the course of
three days we were joined by a small escort of
cavalry sent to welcome us, and their commandant
brought a most friendly reply from the Maharaja,
expressive of his pleasure at our approach. It was
also intimated to us that we should receive presents
of money and gifts as we advanced; but, as it
would better suit our character to pass without
these attentions, I civilly declined them. Reports
would precede us, and doubtless in an exaggerated
enough shape, which made it desirable to shun all