NATUBA.LIST IN INDIA. 205 



exhausted, for scarcely a day passed without numbers of ap- 

 plicants crowding round me. I often relieved suffering 

 humanity, and with more ample means at disposal might have 

 done substantial good. Many cases of cataract were cured sim- 

 ply by means of a fine sewing needle, slightly bent at the point, 

 and stuck in the end of a piece of wood ,: the success of such 

 operations proclaimed my presence far and wide, I daresay 

 even now there are Cashmerees who remember my humble 

 efforts, and I wiU say, with all their faults, gratitude to those 

 who soothe the bodily sufferings is never wanting with them. 

 I recollect in a subsequent visit to the valley I had been 

 delayed by one of Goulab Singh's minions at the fort of 

 Chacar, near Dunna, from want of coolies to carry my lug- 

 gage. No persuasion or expostulation availed ; the fellow 

 seemed determined to prevent our progress if possible, or at 

 least to throw obstacles in our way, so that we might not again 

 attempt another journey, and inform others of the difficulties 

 to be encountered. After much useless negotiation, a 

 wretched-looking man made his appearance at the door of the 

 hovel in which I was quartered. He had been wounded in 

 one of the many disastrous raids made hy Groulab Singh 

 agaiast the chief of Dardu. This poor fellow's left knee was 

 contracted, and he had long despaired of any relief to his 

 deformity. One could therefore fancy his state of mind when 

 I found that the distortion depended entirely on the simple 

 contraction of his ham- string tendons, and was removed at 

 once by division of the latter, so that in a few minutes the bent 

 limb was made straight. I had the satisfaction afterwards of 

 seeing him walking about. The result of my operation 

 reached the fort, and the next morning I had twenty of the 

 best coolies the governor could procure, all ready to carry 

 myself or baggage anywhere. 



