________________
64
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1894.
which was carefully recorded. Bhai Sahib Bhai Gobindrâmji duly performed the pújá in strict accordance therewith, and the Makârâjà forth with recovered his health !
This part of Volume III. contains accounts of the celebration of festivals, the distribution of alms, the various movements and errands of Sardars, of the French officer Allard and of Avitabile and Ventura the Italians, which are recorded just as they happened to occur. The presents sent to the King of England, those given to the Governor-General, to Mr. Metcalfe, to Captain Wade, to Mr. Clark, and to the wife of the Governor-General, are all enumerated in detail. Also a " Padre, "21 whose name is not given, was honourably received by Rañjit Singh, who, being about to undertake a hanting expedition, invited the Padre to accompany him, or, if he preferred to stay in Lâhôr, to pay visits to various localities worth seeing there. The Padre, however, preferred the chase and so he, Shahåmat 'All Munshi, and Captain Wade accompanied by Ranjit Singh, went out together pig-sticking! News arrived that the GovernorGeneral was to depart to Europe, and that Metcalfe Şahib would occupy his position in Calcutta as his Lieutenant. Captain Wade sent a book on military drill to Rañjit Singh in English, but no one could be found able to translate it, Ventura Sahib asserting that there was no one in the Pañjab capable of doing so. Later on, Ranjit Singh issued a parwana to Ventura Sabib, ordering the author of this work, Lâlâ Sôhan Lal, to translate the book ander his supervision, but Ventura being undecided and Ranjit Singh not pressing the matter, it fell into abeyance. The English gentlemen of Firôzpůr requested the Maharajá to grant leave to Ventura to celebrate their new year's festival with them, and so be issued a parwana to that effect, and sent him away with gifts.
Mikshan şahib (Mackeson) paid a visit to Ranjit Singh, and was well entertained. Certain Şahibs having recently arrived from Europe, Ranjit Singh asked Captain Wade for instructions as to how they should be received, and he wrote in reply that they were only travellers who had come to see the country, and that the same hospitality should be dispensed to them as had formerly been shewn to Jakman 22 which was accordingly done. Two gentlemen of this party, namely, Baron von Hügel and Win şahib (de Vismes), were introduced in apdience to Ranjit Singh by Mikshan Şahib, and were received with honour and questioned by the Maharaja with the following extraordinary result:
Q.- Are you servants of the Company Bahadur" or not? A. - We are servants of our own king. Q. - What is his name?
He is called Jarmani.23
What was your position in the service of your king? A. - We were colonels of cavalry.
What was your pay ? A. - Two thousand rupees. Q. - You must teach us your military drill.
A. - We intend shortly to return to our country, and some time would be required to impart the required instruction.
Q. Why have you brought so many skins of animals ? A. - We desire to shew them to our king as specimens of the beasts of this country. Q. - What relations are subsisting between your king and the "Company Bahadur"?
A. - Formerly a war was carried on between them, but it is at present three years [sic] since they have been at peace with each other, * Probably a Bishop. * Jaquemont the French botanist.
* King of Prussin is meant.
