5S THIRTY FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



years, to such a degree, that my sole thoughts and endeavors 

 were bow to secure my return home. I was so occupied 

 with this idea, that if they had offered me the Koh-i-noor 

 ( which is valued at half-a-miilion ) to remain there for the 

 remainder of my life, I should have refused it. General 

 Allard's words ; *' It is difficult to get an appointment here, 

 but, when obtained, it is still more difficult to quit it," were 

 continually in my thoughts, and it cost me much trouble 

 to obtain my dismissal, or rather my liberty. 



Runjeet Sing was a man whose talents and prudence 

 bad acquired for him a great reputation, whose memory is 

 honored, and whose Lame will long occupy a glorious place 

 in the history of India. Although descended from a noble 

 family, being the son of a sirdar, he could neither read nor 

 write. He had lost one eye in his childhood, in consequence 

 of the small-pox. His external appearance was not hand- 

 some, being remarkably short, delicate, and with indifferent 

 features, which were, however, counterbalanced by his 

 talents. He had an extraordinary memory. The promi- 

 ■nent trait of his character was, that he rarely did what was 

 required of him, and acted often contrary to what he said. 

 In general, no one was informed of the place to which he 

 intended to go, nor of the time appointed by the astrologers 

 for his departure. The dark side of his character, was his 

 •extreme devotedness to sensuality, spirits, and opium, by 

 which he shortened his life, I was an ocular witness of the 

 spectacle, when he was married at Umritsir, to the Goolbe- 

 goom (rose-lady ). She had been for the hast few years a 

 kenchinee ( dancing girl ) in the service of Runjeet Sing, 

 and she knew so well how to ingratiate herself with her 

 patron, that he did not hesitate publicly to celebrate his 

 nuptials, and declare his marriage a legal one ; for he cared 

 not for public opinion, deeming that a sovereign ought to 

 have the highest authority, and an independent will. She 

 forsook the Mahomedan religion, continued to drink spirits, 

 and she ate pork, just like Runjeet himself, and afterwards 

 lived a retired life. She ruled the country, but only for a 

 short time, and she actually caused (in concert with himself) 



