THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 97 



T?n the second day he felt somewhat better -, and on the 

 third he was in such a merry humor that, at five o'clock 

 in the afternoon, he ordered the minister, Dhyan Sing, 

 to put a pair of gold bracelets on my arms, valued at five 

 hundred rupees, in his own presence and in that of the 

 durbar ; this present was accompanied with two Cashmere 

 shawls of the same value, and, whilst I sat on the floor, the 

 minister laid them upon my shoulders, the maharajah telling 

 me that my physic had produced in him the best effect. 

 It was, of course, quite natural that this event should fill 

 my heart with joy, as it inspired mc with the hope that the 

 king would soon recover, and thus lay the first stone of 

 my reputation and future fortune. This scene took place 

 in the royal garden, Shahbelore, two miles from the city, 

 where I had resided for three days. On the fourth day, 

 early in the morning, the minister allowed me to visit my 

 patients in the city ; but while there, I heard that several 

 mounted messengers had been despatched from Shahbelore 

 to request me to return to that place. I galloped back ; and 

 on the road I overtook some hakims (Mohamedan physicians) 

 and astrologers, travelling the same way, on elephants, on 

 horseback, or carried in palanquins, from which I presumed 

 that the maharajah had met with some accident, which made 

 me very anxious. Arrived at Shahbelore, I was told that 

 the maharajah had an attack of fever. On examining him, 

 however, I could not find the least symptom of fever, it being 

 in fact only excitement. The gudwai, who was in charge of 

 the medicine, was of opinion that the fever proceeded fruoi 

 too great a dose, which the maharajah had asked for on 

 the previous evening, namely, two drops at once ; but I 

 thought that could not be the cause of the alteration, one 

 drop more or less not being able to produce such an effect. 

 The physicians of the city were invited to a consultation. 

 That was all they desired ; for they had be.en touched to the 

 quick on hearing that the maharajah was recovering, and 

 that he had made me presents of gold and robes of honour. 

 They would have preferred seeing the king die, rather than 

 acknowledge me, an Europeao, as bis saviour. That was 



