________________
62
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1894.
*Azizu'd-din with pearls, bracelets, jewellery, two shawls, two elephants with golden howdahs, a tent, carpet-spreaders, and a torch-bearer. When the “Lord Şahib7" arrived at Karnal, he purchased some ground from the cultivators, and caused a cantonment for white soldiers to be built. Meanwhile Captain Wade, who is never mentioned in the text except as the "Kaptan Sahib," lived at the court of Ranjit Singh, till the 25th of Jêth, t. 1888. On his departure he was presented by the Maharaja with many valuable gifts, and among them was a diamond ring which the Maharaja took off his own finger and threw to the Captain Şahib. His companion, Murray ŞAhib, likewise obtained gifts, Captain Wade bad post horseg laid to Simla, which he reached in four days from Ludhiana.19 Ranjit Singh entrusted him with letters both to the Commander-in-Chief and to the Governor-General [Lá! Şahibán jangi wou mulle), and he promised to do his atnost towards the maintenance of harmony between these high personages and Rañjit Singh. Afterwards Burnes Şahible arrived in an official capacity at Lihor, and met with a honourable reception. Captain Wade also returned and was entertained with various amusements, and given presents, as well as a "Doctor Sabib" [? Murray], who appears to have accompanied him.
As the long expected interview with the Governor-General20 was now approaching, and he had already reached Amritsar, Ranjit Singh issued orders to provide his own army with all the necessaries, by which probably new uniforms and accoutrements are meant, so as to make a good appearance in the reviews. The neighbourhood of Rupar, where the meeting was to take place, was beautified, and costly tents had to be constructed and erected for the accommodation of the Governor-General. At last Ranjit Singh himself started, continuing to mareh till he alighted at a distance of three kôs from Rapar. There the Jarnél (General) Şahib Bahadur, brother of the Commander-in-Chief, and other English gentlemen, waited upon Ranjit Singh to enquire after his health, and a deputation for the same purpose was sent to the GovernorGeneral, with presents, such as horses, dresses, and the sum of Rs. 11,000 in a bag of kimkhab. Sardar Fateh Singh Ahluwalia and Bardars Nihal Singh and 'Atar Singh Kaliai wala introduced the English gentlemen who visited Ranjit Singh. They took off their hats as soon as they reached the brink of the carpet, and Ranjit Singh received them with great courtesy, causing five of them to take seats on chairs on one side, while he himself sat on the other with Raja Hîrâ Singh and Sardâr Nihal Singh. The Sahibs on behalf of the Governor-General presented Ranjit Singh with the sum of Rs. 15,000, which they deposited in front of him in eleven bags of Kim Icháb. Then a conversation ensued, Ranjit Singh asking his guests to cover their heads, but they replied that it was as a mark of civility to keep the head uncovered. He asked whether all Şahibs were the same in understanding and knowledge. They replied that all were equal, but that their attainments depended upon their intellect and discernment, to which opinion he fully assented, saying that not even the fingers of a hand were equal. He further asked how long it took to drill a regiment, and they replied that it took six months. To his question concerning the occupations of the Governor-General they replied that he was always engaged in writing. To his remark that he had marched in six days from his capital to Rápar, the Sahibs replied, thit, as in long journeys, if quickly made, a loss of camels, elephants and horses was incurred, they themselves travelled only a few kix per diem, except in cases of necessity. Ranjit Singh answered that his own troops marched twenty kós at a time, and that he had from the beginning of his reign always been fond of long stages. To his question whether they were personally able to hit a target with a cannon ball, they replied, that this was the business of soldiers and artillerists. The conversation turned even upon wine (sharab), which the Maharajâ said was very good in
17 The name of the Governor-General is never given. He is usually called Lat-mulki, "Lord of the country," whilst the Commander-in-Chief is given the title of Lal-jangt, "war-lord."
16 Captain Wade is often mentioned by the author and praised in every way, chiefly becanse he entertained high opinion of tho author's work, although he had not read it, but only manifested a wish to do so.
19 I. e., Alexander Burnes, called Birnas Sabib in the text, and later on Jelandar Birnas. See ante, Vol. XV. p. 968.
* Lord William Bentinck, whose name is not even once given in the whole work.
