1 '].«l HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 273
2 by European politicians, but it is by no means an
3 uncommon occurrence in the East. Tears are
4 equally the types of joy and sorrow. His alliance Xuh o!!-'
5 with the British was not one of choice, but founded ® d n * h a [™" d “
6 on a necessary political basis ; he witnessed with i )ol,tlcal bas,a ‘
7 his own eyes the effect of discipline, in the soldiers
8 composing Metcalfe's escort; he learned from J us-
9 vmnt .Ilao the irresistible force of our artillery, and
10 being only separated from such a power by the
11 Sutlej, he saw no other alternative than that of
12 making friends with a government which he could
13 never hope to subdue. Had Itunjeet survived to
14 vvlcness our disasters in Cabnl, he would readily
15 have discerned that they arose entirely from local
16 circumstances, and in no way deteriorated from
17 our military prowess; but the Cabul massacre was
18 otherwise viewed by Runjeet’s less intelligent
19 countrymen. It doubtless had some effect ip mak¬
20 ing the Sikhs believe, that we were not the invin ¬
21 cible power which their great founder had believed.
22 As further illustrative of the character of the
23 Maharajah, we will offer a few more anecdotes, at
24 the risk of being charged with egotism. In the
25 history of India it will be found, that medical men
26 have some share in procuring a footing for the
27 English in the country. One of the emperors
28 rewarded a medical officer at his court for his skill
29 in curing him, with a grant of land to his country¬
30 men! In our own case, the office of medical
31 attendant on the- Maharajah was accepted, when
32 Doctor Murray resolved on going home, more with