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132 satisfied with the arrangement of this court-ceremony the Mussulman officers belonging to his escort ushered in the Thibetian, who in look and costume resembled a melodramatic brigand. This man brought him presents from his master, with a view to induce Jacquemont to ascend the mountains to his stronghold, but this the naturalist refused. Finally, the chief himself visited the encampment and explained his business. He told the stranger that his wife and daughters were kept prisoners by Runjeet Sing in Cashmere, and Jacquemont promised him to endeavour to obtain their release. This appeared to soothe him; but knowing that the surest means he could adopt to obtain them would be to detain him as a hostage, Jacquemont thought it prudent to take advantage of his temporary departure to continue his march beyond his new friend's dominion.

In some similar adventures he was less fortunate. The firmans of the king, pompously directing his dependents to give aid and succour to the explorers, proved of little value. At a place called Sukshainpore, the chief refused to obey the orders of Runjeet Sing for furnishing the travellers' camp with necessary provisions. He shut himself up in a little fort with some miserable soldiers, whose arms were matchlocks, and threatened to fire on the escort if he insisted any further on his obedience. The next day, Jacquemont entered the Himalaya with his escort, and encamped at a spot where a number of mules were to have been placed at his disposal, to take the place of the camels unable to travel further through the mountains. In place of mules, however, he found a