NATURALIST IN INDIA. 251 



" present arms" to the " Sab-Logues." We entered our boat 

 at the Sopur log-bridge at 2 p.m., and continued moving 

 slowly down the stream, arriving at Baramula at dusk. The 

 palms* mentioned by Bernier seem to have disappeared : not 

 one was observed. Several dwarf species are common on the 

 ranges near the plains of the Punjaub, but never to my 

 particular inquiries was a palm-tree seen in the valley. 



The want of loyalty on the part of the iahabitants of 

 Baramula towards the young heir to the throne was very 

 striking. With the exception of the soldiery, a great majority 

 of the poorer classes fled into the mountains on the arrival of 

 his Eoyal Highness. The reason, we were informed, was partly 

 owing to the imperial decree of the previous year, by which 

 several hundred coolies were pressed for the purpose of carry- 

 ing the baggage of the ill-fated army that left more than half 

 its numbers before Chulas, io the unsuccessful raid against 

 the rajah of that country. This state visit was evidently 

 made with the view of restoring public confidence, but the 

 wretched inhabitants had been so often called on to give their 

 services to the state on short notice and no pay, that they had 

 little trust in any demonstrations of royal affection. I have 

 seen Goulab Singh's palkee (Litter) surrounded by numbers of 

 petitioners, aU eager to gain an audience, and begging most 

 earnestly to be allowed to tell their grievances ; indeed it 

 was seldom he went abroad or made a tour through the pro- 

 vinces that he was not followed by a motley crowd of sufferers 

 pressing forward to solicit a hearing for some alleged injustice 

 on the part of himself or his dependants. I recollect a scene 

 of this description immediately on the Maharajah landing at 



* " When day had hid his sultiy flame 

 Behind the palms of Baramoule." 



Lalla Bookh. 



