62 
ANTALOW. 
on the plea of business, which I believe was the truth. At the 
time appointed I went down into the hall, and found him engaged 
in a conference with Subagadis. In the court-yard beyond, was 
Thadoo,who, after the departure of his brother, was also called into 
the Ras's presence. By this time it was so late that our meeting was 
again postponed till night, for which purpose 1 was ordered to keep 
awake. Captain Rudland, however, saw the Ras, and found him in 
his usual good humour. There was rain in the afternoon, but the 
evening was very fine. The thermometer was 6^°. 
" September 8. — At four in the morning I was called to attend 
the Ras : he was in the hall crouching by a large fire, with his bro- 
ther Manasse ; Hadjee Hamed and the builder were in waiting as 
interpreters. I proceeded to express my regret at not having seen 
him for some days, which he politely excused on the plea of busi- 
ness. After some desultory conversation about our intended jour- 
ney, he once more put the question, " what are you come for?" 
adding, " I have much in my heart to say to you, if I could explain 
myself without speaking through so many mouths, and I judge 
from this, that you have much to say to me." I was proceeding 
to explain again the purport of our mission, when he stopped me, 
desiring that I would commit to writing what I might have to com- 
municate ; promising in that case, after giving it full consideration, 
to reply in a similar way, by which means he thought that we 
should more fully understand each other. Nothing could be more 
agreeable than this proposal, to which I immediately assented. 
*' Foreseeing the probability of wanting a supply of cash, 1 
thought the present a favourable opportunity to present my letter 
of credit from Currum Chund ; yet I was somewhat loth to do this 
