THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 173 



at Cabul, who, having admired the colour of my beard^ 

 and ascertained it to be produced by nitrate of silver, forth- 

 with applied it to his own hair, which had been previously 

 dyed with the compositions I have described. The result 

 was as indicated, and the nabob became for some time the 

 laughing stock of the community. 



Besides the solution of nitrate of silver, they use in Europe 

 a compound powder of litharge, soap, chalk, starch, and a 

 little sulphuric acid, &c. This is also well-known in the 

 east, but is not in esteem, inasmuch as it is productive of 

 noxious effects as regards health, and also renders the hair 

 stiff and rough. 



With regard to this digression on medical and domestic 

 matters, I may, before I return to my narrative, mention to 

 my readers, that at the end of this volume they will find a 

 short rhythmical essay by the well-known Dr. Triller 

 ( which I have translated from the German ), on the means 

 of ensuring a merry old age, and although it does not evince 

 much poetical fervor, is nervertheless valuable for the advice 

 it contains. 



The maharajah Sheer Sing, was, in his private character,, 

 extremely polite and amiable ; he had an intense desire for 

 knowledge, and devoted great attention to European skill, 

 industry and learning. In these matters, he could, of 

 course, only acquire information from Europeans, and 

 would enter freely into conversation with them, without the 

 slightest observance of the etiquette which his position 

 might have commanded. On one occasion, in the course of 

 our conference, he inquired whether I had any relations in 

 Europe ; and learning that I had a younger brother at 

 Kronstadt, who had formerly been in the military service; 

 but was at that time exercising the profession of a watch- 

 maker, the maharajah inquired whether he could repair 

 machinery of that description which was out of order ; and,, 

 on my replying in the affirmative, he askad whether 1 

 thought my brother would make up his mind to leave 

 Kronstadt and come to Lahore, if he should send for him.. 

 His reason for asking this was, that ( being a patron of the: 



