TTTE CUSTOM HOUSE. 43 



some nineteen packages that his Highness had 

 brought with him from Trieste. Unfortunately, 

 however, a case containing the guns that had 

 caused me disquietude at Alexandria was no- 

 where to be found, although both the Meer and 

 myself had seen it upon deck just before we left 

 the Pekin. The examination of His Highness' 

 guns, on wliich we had to pay duty, was no 

 trifling matter, as they were upwards of twenty 

 in number. So many magnificent guns, all by 

 the first makers in England, were probably never 

 before im^^orted by any private individual for 

 his own use, and no man living can handle a 

 gun better than Meer Ali, whose shooting I 

 shall describe hereafter. 



After a fatiguing morning's work at the Custom 

 House, I returned to the Elchee Jca Bungaloiv, so 

 called from having been the residence of a Per- 

 sian ambassador, during his stay atBombay about 

 thirty years ago. Some appearance of comfort 

 had been given in our absence to the Hall of Au- 

 dience, a fine room, 120 feet long, by 40 in width, 

 as Persian carpets had been spread, and couches 

 arranged about a round table. We found the 

 Meer in high good humour, having just dined to 

 his satisfaction. His Highness, who was richly 



