1 2f>2 MSTOWY OF THE SIKHS.
2 was rather amusing ; namely, that as Dr. I), had
3 kept the old lady so long alive at Sirdhanah, there
4 was every probability of his performing the same
5 kind office to himself at Lahore. The analogy
6 was hardly,just, for before ever Dr. D had seen the
7 Begum, she had attained a good old age, thoitgh
8 there is little doubt that to Dr. D.’s unremitting care
9 and skill, she was indebted for a few years of toler¬
10 able health at the close of her life; it is, therefore,
11 to be regretted that the arrangement did not take
12 place, though 1 do not; think the Doctor has much
13 reason to regret; the circumstance, as he would
14 probably have found the King of the Sikhs a very
15 different person in the article of pay and remu¬
16 neration to his late mistress the Begum. Mr. H.,
17 an American, was several years in Runjeet’s ser¬
18 vice, and would probably have still been, but. for a
19 quarrel regarding money matters, which has for the
20 most part been the ostensible cause of all the
21 Maharajah’s disagreemen ts with foreigners.
22 From what has been said regarding Rupjeet and
23 his court, it must not be supposed that all his prin¬
24 cipal sirdars have been noticed; this was not my in ¬
25 tention. Many erroneous reports are in circula¬
26 tion regarding Runjeet, and it is but justice, on the
27 part of one who has experienced some degree of
28 kindness and attention from him, to place his cha¬
29 racter in its true light. It were vain to expect a
30 sovereign without some faults, and more particu¬
31 larly in the person ot an uneducated man, such as
32 Runjeet is ; these i have, not attempted to conceal;