1 50
2 INTRODl LTION.
3 ilk a loud and Honorous voioe» They are welomie;" on whidi we
4 pmyed tor him again, and repeated the ceremony enoe niore» when
5 lie ordered as dresses of hofiour. After this^ some officer of the
6 ODiirt called oat something in Turkish, on which a division of the
7 floldien-on each side filed off, and ran out of the court, with the
8 UFnml noise of their boots on the pavement, accomjianied by the
9 (.lashinjT of their armour. The call was twice repeated, and at each
10 call a division of troops ran oft : at the foiirtli, the Khauns ran off"
11 aJso. with the exception of a certain number, wlio were now ordered
12 to come tbrward. The King, in the mean time, rose majesticnily from
13 liisihrone, descended the steps, leaning on two eimuchs, and witli-
14 drew trom our sight. ITie Khauns who were .suuuuoned, ran on as
15 usual, while we walked on to the toot of a slair-case, covered witli a
16 very rich carpet : we paused here till the Khauns had run up, and
17 ipere amngiBd } after whidi we ascended, and entered the haU, vHheie
18 the King was now seatedon a low throne opposite the door. We
19 stood in a line, wliHe the King of Gnibul asked after the health of
20 His.Majesty and the Govemdr General, inquired, into the length of
21 our joumej, and opieaaed hia wiah that the firiendaiiip betwixt his
22 nation alid oura might be increaaad ; to all which I made veiy brief
23 regies. The gentlemen of the embaasy now retired, leading me and
24 ' Me^ ftracheji who were desired to seat ourselves near His
25 Mqeatgr. The Imaum and the Moonshee Bamhee (or head secretary),
26 stood near m, and the other Khaima stood along one side of the hall.
27 The Governor General's Persian letter- was now opened and r^ul
28 with striking distinctness and el^ance, by the Moonshee Baushee,
29 and the King made a suitable answer, declaring his iriendship for the
30 English nation, his desire of an intimate alliance, and his readiness to
31 pay the utmost atte?ition to any connnunication with which 1 might
32 be charged. At u r i had replied, PI is Majesty changeil the subject to
33 inquiries respecting our journey, and questions about our native coun-
34 try. When he understood that the climate and productions of Eng-
35 land greatly resembled those of Caubul, he said the two kingdoms
36 were made by nature to be united, and renewed his professions ol'
37 Digitized by Google