384 Journal of a trip through (he [Antrim 



and his brother must now be about 33 years of age. The present 

 rajah is a large, stout man with a plebeian countenance. He is a merry- 

 good-natured fellow, and puts one in mind of a jolly English hotel- 

 keeper. He has an only daughter, and seems likely to die without an 

 heir, in which case his property will escheat to the Government. Be- 

 fore I return from this long digression and continue my journal, I must 

 mention what every body conversant with Indian history will acknow- 

 ledge as a singular instance of fraternal love and a proof of the amiable 

 disposition of the present rajah. During the long illness and helpless 

 condition of the late rajah, his brother took the greatest care of him 

 and managed his estate. The latter, moreover never forsook his bro- 

 ther when the Sikhs were treating him with every kind of indignity 

 and depriving him of the fairest portions of his jaghir, giving them to 

 his illegitimate brothers, who espoused their cause. Such has been the 

 noble conduct of Purmode Chund, although by treachery and murder 

 he might have possessed himself of his brother's property many years 

 ago, as well as have ingratiated himself into the favor of the Sikhs, who 

 were then overrunning the country. When we compare such conduct 

 to that usually pursued on similar occasions by Indian princes we can- 

 not but feel convinced of the purity of the attachment. What a re- 

 freshing contrast does this instance of disinterested devotedness form to 

 the murderous treachery of the successors of Shah Jehan !* 



35. Leaving Koorooee we marched over about five miles of low 

 naked hills until we came to the ridge which separates this uninterest- 

 ing country from the Seel-khund. An ascent of 500 feet brought us to 

 the summit, whence we descended into a long and fertile valley. It 

 appears to stretch out as far as the Sutlej in the neighbourhood of Bi- 

 laspoor, having its northern extremity bounded by the rugged pergunnah 

 of Kumleh-gurh, and its eastern flank by the picturesque heights of the 

 Sikunder-ke-dhar. A stream called the Sirr I believe, which is nearly 

 dry at this season of the year, flows down the centre and empties itself 

 into the Sutlej. Once in the valley our road turned to the southward, 

 and crossing it diagonally brought us to the foot of the ghat which leads 

 over the Sikunder range into Sookeyt. We encamped at a small village 



* I regret having now to add that Purmode Chund, as well as the Rajah of 

 Jaswun, has been weak-minded enough to rebel against the British Government, 

 and has consequently forfeited his jaghir. 





