17^ 
LUGKNOW 
accept the presents, that from my rank, he was bound to offer me 
on pubhc occasions, he was perpetually trying to discover some- 
thing which he conceived I might with propriety receive: he sent 
people into his woods to bring me rare birds and plants ; he laid a 
dawk two hundred miles to bring them down to me in a state of 
perfection ; and extended his kindness beyond my departure, by 
supplying me with the camp-equipage necessary for my journey 
to Furruckabad, and my return to Cawnpore. Saadut Ali is a man 
of most pleasing manners, and his appearance is dignified and 
princely, though his manner of life has made him too corpulent. 
His hair is now grey, and he has lost many of his teeth, but the 
fire and intelligence of his eye still lightens up his countenance. 
In conversation he is lively and entertaining, through the medium 
of such an excellent interpreter as Major Ouseley. Though ignorant 
of Persian myself, I was able to judge of this, and even sometimes 
of the delicate turn which he gave to the compliments paid to him. 
The language of the eyes is in great use at the courts of Asiatic 
princes, and by them they issue many orders. I one day under- 
stood a sign that his Highness made to a servant, and told him, 
through Major Ouseley, that his eyes spoke English: No, said 
he, yours understand Persian. Colonel Scott assured me, that his 
language was remarkably pure and elegant, and his mind well 
stored with Asiatic literature. He has certainly some knowledge of 
English, as he observed to me one day, that he did not know why 
my name was spelt with aT, when it was pronounced C. Possibly 
he wishes to conceal his knowledge, that he may hear the observa- 
tions that are made more freely in his presence, from supposing him 
to be ignorant of the language. 
