DANGERS BELITTLED 323 
Bangers and troubles once over were characteristically 
treated as of small account, and in December 28 he writes to 
his mother : 
You see, by the above date, that I have, as usual, lighted 
on my legs and am safely escaped from the Rajah's clutches. 
Not that I think my own personal danger was ever very 
imminent ; but the man who could commit one such rash 
and mad act (as the seizing and maltreating us), might be 
capable of doing what is really far more unlikely. 
The whole affair has been naturally exaggerated at 
Darjeeling, and so, into the Indian newspapers. My kind 
friend, Mr. Hodgson, especially, was possessed with the 
most dreadful alarm — due, I am well aware, to his intense 
sohcitude on my behalf. He imagined all sorts of horrors, 
and attributed our capture to the Chinese authorities, whom 
he supposed to resent our having crossed into Thibet. He 
verily believed we should be carried into Lhassa — perhaps 
to Pekin, in a wooden cage — in short, he conjured up all 
sorts of chimerae which, happily, did not enter our heads. 
He concludes with a very hght touch : 
I am dreadfully busy, as I need hardly tell you ; and T. 
Thomson is an invaluable help. Hodgson says I am fat, 
and that my looks are a disgrace to the Rajah's prison house ! 
Campbell is robust and rosy. The new baby is to be named 
Josephine.! It is very small and much the colour of blotting- 
paper, hke all the little babies I ever saw ; but some mothers' 
eyes have a property of neutrahsing that tint, as yours must 
have done, for you say I was a fair and white infant ! 
Similarly, to his uncle T. Brightwen, whom he thanks for 
a timely gift of new razors, ' now first used upon our truly 
complete success of the expedition, which elicited the warm thanks and highest 
expressions of approval of the Governor- General in Council and of Lord Strath- 
nairn, who was then Commander-in-Chief, were owing in a very large degree 
to the perfect information regarding the people and country afforded by Dr. 
Hooker's work, and which was not obtainable from any official source. 
f I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
See also ii. p. 183. ' G-' 
1 He writes to his mother, April 27, 1850 : * Josephine was christened the 
other day, I answering all the responses I could in conscience, which does not 
include all the Church of England formulse.' 
