1 210
2 HISTORY" Of THE SIKHS'.
3 right hand, and his grandson, Nonehal Singh, on his
4 left. Captain Wade was in attendance, and on
5 this, and all other occasions, acted as the medium
6 of communication between Sir Henry and the
7 Maharajah. The space before Runjeet, and. between
8 the canauts, was occupied by dancing girls and
9 musicians. The cupbearer quickly introduced the
10 green bottle filled with the favorite spirituous liquor
11 of the Sikhs. The two chiefs pledged each other in
12 a bumper, and the glass w r as then handed round to
13 each of the guests, in turn. The sigh t was highly
14 amusing; Runjeet was in excellent spirits, and,
15 though he could not indulge so freely as in former
16 days, he still took his small allowance, which he
17 measured out in a golden cup. While the glass
18 thus circulated, the dancing girls and musicians
19 were not idle, and did their best to amuse Runjeet
20 and bis guests. In this manner, the hours passed
21 quickly; while an animated conversation was
22 kept up between Sir Henry Fane and Runjeet.
23 Mention having been made of the battle of
24 Waterloo, particular notice was taken by the
25 Maharajah of Colonel Torrens, who had been
26 present in that great engagement, and wore on his
27 breast the distinguishing medal; this was examined
28 minutely, by Runjeet, who seemed to approve of
29 such a mode of rewarding bravery in the field of
30 battle. After the green bottle had done its duty,
31 and the dancing girls performed all their favor¬
32 ite movements, and exhausted all their store of
33 choice songs. Sir Henry and his staff retired about