Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/316

 who pluck it previously rub their hands with oil; and if its adhesive juice remain on the lips after eating, it is removed by the same means.

I had made over a sā'īs of mine to a gentleman just arrived in the country ; he wished to send his horse some sixteen miles, and desired the man to ride it, thinking the distance too great for him to lead the animal. The sā'īs came to me to complain; he wished to quit the gentleman's service, saying, "You hired me, Mem sāhiba, to take care of the gentleman's horse, and to lead him; he has no right to force me to ride him." I told him the gentleman had just arrived in the country, and gave the order from a kind motive. "Ah well!" said the sā'īs, "if that be the case, I consent to stay in his service,—but not to ride the horse;" adding, with a contemptuous shrug and look of condescending pity, "if he has only just come from England, what should he know?"

How beautifully the natives put on a turban! The jamadar's was most gracefully arranged this morning; I made him explain the mystery, and put it on before me. Those who wish to understand the true oriental mode of arranging a turban, may refer to No. 22 in the Appendix.

Col. Gardner tells me that the two boys, Khema Jāh and Feredooa Buckht, whom I saw at Lucnow, and whom the King declared to be his heirs, are now out of favour, and are not allowed to enter the palace; I am glad that low caste boy has no chance of being raised to the throne. The King has taken another wife; his taste is certainly curious, she is an ugly low caste woman. The old Nawāb Hakīm Mehndi has the whole power in his hands; the King amuses himself sitting up all night and sleeping all day; leaving the cares of state to the Hakīm. The revenue, under his superintendence, has increased very considerably; the Hakīm's passion is saving money, and he appears to take as much pleasure in saving it for the King as for himself.

Col. Gardner gave us some instructions in archery, for which we have a great penchant; nor could I resist going continually into the verandah, to take a shot at the targets, in spite of the