1 INTBODUCTIQN.
2 «ld^8fter ghring preMnta to the diief and his bnitfaer, they set out
3 far camp. Hicj both spoke highly of the kindDess of Omar Ehami,
4 and were alsopleased vHh the attentions of one of the leaders of the
5 party opposed to him.
6 t On Iheir way htnA^ as they approached a mined viUage, they saw
7 spears rise» and seven horsemen issue forth ; the gentlemen had but
8 one innn ^vith them, but Ibftnnately he was the guide furnished by
9 Omar Khaun: the party in ambuscade was commanded by that
10 chief s nephew, who, thou^ he probably was as hospitable as the
11 test, while tho o;entlemen were his guests, thought himself at fuU
12 liberty to plunder them after they had quitted the lands of his tribe.
13 He was, however, persuaded by the guide to go away without injurirjg
14 them. Sooti after, tliey were called to bv a man on foot, and
15 desired to stop; on their disrpj:?nrdin<i liim, the man lav down, and,
16 fixing his matchlock on its rest, took a verv liberate aim at Mr.
17 Harris. Here, however, the guide again interposed, and they reached
18 camp without any farther ailventures. Some of the people of Derau-
19 bimd afterwards came to our camp, and received ample returns of
20 hospitality Irom the gentlemen who had visited them.
21 Near the end of January we received intelligence ftom Mahomr;
22 med Shaan, that the King was oertunly coming to Besbawer, and
23 diat Moolla Jaftr Seestaimee was appomted to attend us. till some
24 person of rank could join us. After the passage of several chupperst
25 or couriers, on horseback, ftom the court, Moolla Jafier joined us,
26 and we beg^ to get ready far our march* Moolla JwSEst had heep
27 a schoolmaster in his native country of Seestsun* but had afterwards
28 oome to court to. better his fartnne : he had some success in com-
29 merce and had an' cppcnrtunity of obligbg the King, and enricliing
30 faimadf at onoe^ by purchasing some of His Miyesty*s jewels, duihaig
31 his mitfartunes, and flight to the mountains. He was now in grei^
32 &vour, ihou^ he maintained .the style, and manners of an ordinary
33 merchant. He was a grave old gentleman, shrewd, sensible, and
34 good humoured^ but blunt, and somewhat passionate. Under his
35 guidance we set out fiom Deralsmael Khaun on the 7th of Ffsbruaiy.
36 p
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