l80 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



early on the following morning we left Qmritsir for Lahore. 

 1 may add that the watch, and the plate, &c., which I had sent 

 with his luncheon, were of course lost ; but the painting was 

 subsequently recovered. 



It was a fortunate circumstance for me that the ranee, 

 during the war with the English on the Sutlej, in con- 

 sequence of the many abortions she had experienced, was 

 affected with ophthalmia, and had not consented to the de- 

 mands of the Commander-in-Chief, Teja Sing, who was also 

 suffering from fever ( or from fright ), and wished my at- 

 tendance in the camp. I had, therefore, the advantage of 

 remaining in the city ( avoiding the inconvenience of com- 

 promising myself with the English, by becoming an attache 

 of the hostile Sikh camp, which subsequently caused the 

 dismissal of Colonels Mouton and Hurbon ), and also of 

 becoming personally acquainted with the ranee, whose 

 portrait I have presented to my readers. 



The result of the war on the Sutlej, I have already men- 

 tioned ; and, as my office at Lahore was almost annihilated 

 on the annexation of the Punjab by the English, I made up 

 my mind to return to Europe ; but the season not being 

 favorable for the homeward voyage, I determined to employ 

 my leisure in visiting the valley of Cashmere, which is rich 

 in historical, physical, and industrial interest, hoping not 

 only to obtain a collection of the plants of that country, 

 and thus enrich botanical science ; but also, at the same 

 time, by excursions into the surrounding mountains, to im- 

 prove my health, which had been sensibly impaired by the 

 duties and unceasing exertions of the past two years. 



Having obtained the necessary permission from the 

 English government at Lahore, and also from the maharajah 

 of Cashmere, Gholab Sing, I departed from Lahore, and 

 reached the valley of Cashmere in three weeks, without 

 the occurrence of any incident v/orth noting. Arrived 

 there, I entered into communication with the maharajah, 

 and he proposed that I should enter his service. This, 

 however, I declined, more especially as it would interfere 

 with my proposed journey to Europe ; but I promised him 



