CHAPTER XXIV. 



In a short time after my arrival at Dhuboy, I became tolerably 

 reconciled to its recluse situation, which afforded me very little 

 intercourse with my countrymen : in other respects I was far from 

 leading a solitary life; for the administration of justice, collecting 

 the revenue, superintending the agriculture of five large towns, 

 and a hundred and fifty populous villages, which were under my 

 care, gave me constant and anxious employment. 



I dedicated one day in the week, and more when necessary, 

 to the administration of justice, in which 1 was assisted by four 

 principal brahmins; the cazee, and three Mahomedans, conversant 

 in the laws of the Koran, with some respectable merchants, and 

 the heads of other castes. These persons advised me in doubtful 

 cases, and especially on points relating to the religious ceremonies 

 and customs of the Hindoos. The carpet of justice was spread in 

 the large open hall of the durbar, where the arbitrators assembled: 

 there I always attended, and, agreeably to ancient custom, referred 

 the decision to a panchaut, or jury of five persons; two were 

 chosen by the plaintiff, two by the defendant, and the fifth by my- 

 self, from among these elders. I had, by this means, the satisfac- 



