Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 2.djvu/339

 and if you did not know his character, I think you would say there was no outward sign of determination.

"Runjeet was the only plainly-dressed man in his court; he wore a dress and turban of dark red, without jewels or ornaments of any description whatever, whilst his nobles were cased in superb cuirasses and choice armour, and were literally glittering with jewels, and oh! such shawls! no lady patroness of Almack's in her wildest dreams ever imagined such a collection. Amongst the presents Runjeet has given to Lord Auckland is a gold bed,—may he sleep on it as sound as I do on my little charpoy!

"We have just returned from a grand review of the whole of the troops for Lord Auckland and Runjeet; all very fine, I hear, and we surpassed ourselves in a charge—Shavash! Shavash! Cawnpore is a water-meadow to this place, the clouds of dust would be incredible if we did not know we are advancing to Dust Mohamed's country.

"This day week, it is said, we are to continue our march, but there are no supplies on the road for us. Shah Sūjah's Contingent have advanced, and I fully expect to see them some fine morning coming back with at least a flea in their ear. Nobody knows what is to be done, only the first division under Sir W. Cotton marches forward, the second remains here as a reserve. No one seems to imagine there will be any fighting, but we shall march down to Shikarpore, and, I suppose, having secured the safe and free navigation of the Indus, march through Candahar, if the ruler of Cabul will not listen to the reasoning of our Government.

"The crowd at the durbār before mentioned, which took place on the 30th, was beyond bearing, and the band-master, who must be a wag, played 'We met, 'twas in a crowd;' and this was by far the best thing that transpired at the visit of the Lion of the Punjab, and the Governor-General of India.

"On returning from the durbār, Runjeet stopped at the flank of the troops lining the road, and had Major Pew's camel battery paraded for his inspection, and he seemed much pleased with it. Major Pew may well be proud of having first adapted