APPENDIX III. 



479 



lation at Patta, with, the means for wliicli I was ready 

 provided. The Sooltan asked if that was possible, for, 

 allowing I might be able to do such a thing, how could 

 it be propagated so as to be of advantage. It was replied 

 that a sufficient number of persons might be easily in- 

 structed for the purpose ; but he seemed to doubt the 

 truth of this assertion, and treated the proposal with con- 

 temptuous neglect. Then, rising, he abruptly withdrew. 

 Thinking the audience at an end, we were about to retire, 

 but it was intimated that we must walk into another 

 apartment, whither they conducted us, the way to it lead- 

 ing through the opposite side of the court and up a 

 narrow mud staircase : this room was better furnished, but 

 equally filthy and more gloomy than the former. The 

 Sooltan soon followed us, and it presently appeared, if we 

 did not pay a very high price for liberty to take leave of 

 his Highness, we must consent to remain for a time much 

 exceeding either our pleasure or convenience. Seating 

 himself for a moment and whispering to some of his attend- 

 ants, he rose, and with them retired into an inner room, 

 where Captain Smee was called, and remained separated 

 from us during the rest of the conference, which lasted 

 till near sunset. About 4 p.m. they all came out for a 

 few minutes, and at this moment a lascar arrived from 

 the boat and told us the people had been fired upon, but 

 that on showing their arms they desisted. This outrage 

 (we had a flag of truce flying all the time) was taken no 

 notice of. The Sooltan laid it to the charge of his cousin's 

 (Note 10) party. His Highness, however, seemed perfectly 

 ashamed of his own treatment of us, which was such as 

 he .did not care to make public, for he carried Captain 

 Smee a second time into the private apartment for the pur- 



