138 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



and of the animal itself, during the darkness of the night, 

 fell into a grave in traversing the ruins of old Lahore. 



Mrs. Van C vvas thrown from her hovvda, and had two 



of her ribs broken by the fall. I may also mention that she 

 was at that time in the ninth month of her pregnancy. I 

 began my treatment with a c jpious bleeding from the arm, 

 and afterwards administered to her one grain of mumiai 

 daily, for three successive days, and ordered her to lay 

 quietly on her back, so as not to disturb the bandage. On 

 the fourth day, when I visited her, she endeavoured, but 

 in vain, to make the cracking of the bones audible by 

 moving from one side to the other, the union of the fracture 

 was already effected by the callus, and a few days subse- 

 quently she was delivered of a fine healthy boy with 

 much ease. 



About the same time, under Sheer Sing's administration, 

 a faqueer struck me from behind with a stone, whilst I 

 vyas passing the bazaar at Lahore; I was told that he was 

 insane, and had already behaved in the same rude manner 

 to some sirdars. On this account I caused him to be 

 imprisoned, placed a chain upon bis legs, and had him 

 taken to my powder-mill to work. I gave him good food, 

 administered remedies, and prohibited him from smoking 

 churrus or eating opium, to which habits he was previously 

 addicted. Scarcely was he a few days in the mill when 

 I was informed that he had been bitten by a serpent, 

 and at once sent him some medicaments which I judged 

 likely to prevent the ill effects of the venom. On the 

 same afternoon I visited him, and found him in good spirits. 

 I at first attributed the circumstance to the effect produced 

 by the remedies I had sent, but was surprised on hearing 

 that he had not taken them, he being of opinion that the 

 venom of the serpent was incapable of affecting him, 

 inasmuch as he had often been bitten by serpents without 

 having sustained any injury. The serpent which wounded 

 him on this occasion was a viper, which he had caught and 

 retained in his possession, and he offered to allow himself 

 to be bitten on the tongue, if 1 would consent to witness 



