56 VISIT TO LORD ELPIIINSTONE. 



self a very good judge of a horse, according to 

 English ideas, which differ somewhat from those 

 of the natives, and though he paid high prices 

 he certainly got first-rate Arabs. The Bombay 

 people generally are great horse-fanciers, and 

 the merchants of that Presidency, especially 

 Parsees, drive the finest horses that I ever saw 

 in harness out of England. 



Lord Elphinstone on his return fi^om Matara 

 at once fixed a day for the Meer's state- visit, 

 and His Highness was received at Government 

 House with the honours due to his rank ; and 

 though no direct promise was made. Lord 

 Elpliinstone assured him of the favourable in- 

 tentions of Government, and recommended his 

 proceeding immediately to Sindh, placing him- 

 self under the orders of the Commissioner, and 

 exerting himself to the utmost in the preserva- 

 tion of law and order in his own territory. 

 This was the more gratifying, as so strongly in 

 contrast with the harsh and unworthy treat- 

 ment he had experienced from the Bombay 

 Government on leaving India ; but all the local 

 authorities were then hostile to him, whereas 

 he returned at the recommendation and on the 

 friendly assurances of those high in power at 



