212 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



that tyrant Ghoolab Singh for a paltry sum (75 

 lacs, or £750,000), which egregious act of folly 

 was consummated on the 16th of March, 1846, 

 only a few days after we had beaten the Seikhs in 

 the Sutlej campaign. The hard-fought fields of 

 Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal and Sobraon cost 

 us Sale, Broadfoot, and a host of other noble 

 spirits, and it seems heartrending to think that 

 the glorious spoils of that campaign should be 

 sacrificed by the imbecility of " our diplomats " 

 and the " itching palm " of the Government. 



We spent five months cruising about this far- 

 famed Paradise of the Hindoos, and saw every- 

 thing that was worthy of notice ; but our wander- 

 ings were now fast drawing to a close, for Fred's 

 leave of abence having nearly expired, he was 

 obliged to rejoin his regiment, then stationed at 

 Peshawur; whilst urgent private affairs required 

 the Doctor's presence in Bombay, and I was about 

 to return to my native land after an absence of 

 many long years. I often look back with intense 

 satisfaction to those happy days, for I was blessed 

 with the companionship of two dear friends, kin- 



