VIZIER'S CHARACTER. 163 



possess them, and asked the Colonel if he would 

 part with them. The sly Colonel knew the man 

 he had to deal with, and refused, being well 

 convinced that his Highness would not be easy 

 until he possessed them. After having withstood 

 all entreaties for several days, he consented to 

 sell the cage and mice for ten thousand rupees 

 (1250), and I heard, that the Vizier offered him 

 five or six thousand rupees, which he declined. 

 The whole sum would have been given, had not 

 the Vizier's minister persuaded him to wait a few 

 days, and see if they would not be surrendered 

 at the price he had offered. In the mean time, 

 whilst the negociation was pending, a man brought 

 a cage full of these white mice, which his High- 

 ness bought for a few rupees to the great mor- 

 tification of the. Colonel. 



Whenever his Highness purchased any piece 

 of mechanism, or other curiosity, Martin forth- 

 with searched the world for something superior 

 of the same kind ; which he was certain of selling 

 to him at an immense profit. His Highness 

 could never bear to hear that any person pos- 

 sessed any thing superior to his own ; an instance 

 of which may be seen in the following anecdote. 

 He had a large room filled with mirrors, amongst 



M2 



