35 ! 
B O OTA N. 
were dislodged from before Tassisudon, and had fled to Wandipore. 
Upon this intelligence, he halted at Kepta. His men soon after were 
countermanded; and, upon the Raja’s return, he was himself ordered 
to the capital. It was this morning only he had arrived, and he paid 
his first visit to the Raja while we were present. He went through 
the performance of the same humiliations, or mode of obeisance, as 
was exacted from every subject; and having prostrated himself nine 
times before the Raja, he then presented him with a white silk scarf, 
and was directed to sit down upon the floor, on the opposite side 
of the room. When he had paid his respects, and been some time 
seated, I took the opportunity of the first pause to address myself to 
him; and we entered into conversation, at which the Raja seemed not 
at all displeased; nor did I omit to express my sense of the Soobah’s 
most obliging treatment of us, while we were at Buxadewar. As 
long as he continued at Tassisudon, we had frequent visits from the 
Soobah, and we were pleased with his society; for he was a liberal 
minded man, void of prejudice, modest and unassuming in his 
manner, and of a more conciliating exterior, than the generality of his 
countrymen. 
The most remarkable among those, who occasionally came to visit 
us, was a little old man, who wore red robes, the dress of the reli¬ 
gious order; some called him the Raja’s story-teller, others a jester: 
he assumed the part of a buffoon; and seemed altogether dependant 
upon the success of his tricks, for his daily dinner. We were early dis¬ 
tinguished by his attention; and he never passed us within hearing, 
but he hailed us in bad Bengalee; and whoever may follow us while 
