BOO T A N. 
7 8 
Before we left the Zempi, a messenger from the Daeb invited us to 
his presence. The Zeenkaubs, who accompanied me from Rungpore 
had, I found, fallen under the Raja’s displeasure. They interceded 
with me to mediate their peace; and, accordingly, I made a point, on 
this next visit, of carrying them with me. After the usual ceremonies 
of introduction, and the common compliments, had passed upon our 
meeting, I prefaced the business of their mission, by bringing the 
Zeenkaubs, his servants, to the Raja’s notice; and, apprehensive that 
they had forfeited his favour by some inadvertent error, begged leave 
to recommend them to his forgiveness; highly commending, at the 
same time, their zeal and fidelity in his service. The Raja replied, that 
they had indeed been guilty of a crime of the highest nature, in having 
returned without receiving his order, or even asking his permission; 
he added, that it was an immutable law among his subjects, that a 
person charged by him with the execution of any duty, could never, 
while he had life and breath, recede from the prosecution of what he 
had undertaken, or return to his presence, without having completely 
accomplished the object of his mission, unless by special authority. 
A striking instance of this implicit deference to the commands of their 
superior, occurred upon my return to Bengal. The Raja had deputed 
two of his Zeenkaubs, to accompany me to Calcutta, charged with 
no particular business, but chiefly out of compliment to me, and. 
to bring him the earliest account of my safe arrival. On coming to 
Rungpore, I learnt that the Governor General was preparing for a 
journey to the upper provinces of Hindostan. I soon afterwards re¬ 
ceived his commands to cross the country, and join him upon the road. 
