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136 shoulders at the absurdity of his demand, and offered to permit my treasurer to prove its impossibility. He eagerly accepted the offer of seeing my stock counted; but I reproved his eagerness with affected severity and contempt, as if what I had said should be received as an undoubted truth. 'The Asiatics,' said I, 'readily perjure themselves for a crown; but have you never heard tell of the value of the word of a Christian gentleman? He excused himself with joined hands, protested that he believed me, but added, 'that five hundred rupees would not satisfy his people.' However, after some further manoeuvres, I so completely triumphed, that I might have saved my rupees had I not dreaded the in subordination of Neal Sing's followers."

Unhappily, the fatigues of travel in many parts of the world, and the unhealthiness of the Indian climate, began to have their effects upon the health of the traveller. He was unfortunately attacked by a liver disease of an alarming character. Having with difficulty made his way back to Bombay, he was received with great kindness by the government, who provided him with medical aid; but all efforts were unavailing. To a friend who saw him at this time, Jacquemont spoke feelingly of the attentive care of his physician, and of the kindness of the governor; but he added, that he had not more than three or four days to live; that the aid of art was useless; and that having completed all his manuscripts except a short account of Thibet, which he intended to supply, he should die with the consolation of having contributed all in his power to the progress of science, still so far from being complete. His words proved prophetic. On the fourth day after this