140 THIRTY- FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



the faqneer seven rupees, which he had just received as 

 cazarana ( present ), but he immediately gave them to the 

 mezur, saying, " That is a gift of the son of a laundress," 

 and departed. Sheer Sing pretended not to have heard 

 this insulting remark, although it was spoken so loud that 

 every body noticed it ; and 1 felt much annoyed, having 

 been the cause of the introduction of the insolent faqueer. 

 I reprimanded him, and gave orders for his re-imprison- 

 ment as a lunatic. He had not yet given the maharajah 

 a proof of his assertion, and consequently had not deserved 

 the reward of seven rupees. The bad consequences of his 

 unruly tongue, however, did not fail to overtake him ; 1 did 

 not doubt that Sheer Sing would very soon procure the 

 serpents which he had ordered, and therefore gave instruc- 

 tions to the soldiers who accompanied the faqueer to the 

 mill, to bring him early in the morning to my abode, so 

 that he might be at hand, in case the maharajah should 

 send for us. The next morning the faqueer, on his way to 

 me, met with a friend of his, who inquired where he was 

 going, and why he was fettered ? He replied that he was 

 bound to show to Sheer Sing his ability, and at once, as 

 if in bravado, untied the pot which contained his two vipers, 

 and caused himself to be bitten by one of them. Scarcely 

 had he advanced two steps, when he staggered and fell. 

 But he summoned all his strength, and rose again, in order 

 to proceed, but again fell • and not being able to rise a 

 second time, a charpai ( stretcher ) was brought, to convey 

 him from the bazaar to my house. He was followed by a 

 multitude of curious people, and I caused him to be taken 

 into a neighbouring stable, belonging to the faqueer 

 Chirakooddeen, who went immediately to see the patient, 

 as he was then vomiting blood. Chirakooddeen was of 

 opinion that he could never recover, and the injured 

 faqueer being a Brahmin, he wished me to send him to 

 a termsale ( an Indian temple ), in order to avoid the 

 unpleasant consequences which might attend his death ; 

 but, on mentioning this intention to the patient, he pre- 

 ferred being conveyed to a friend of his, who was living 



