1 278 HISTORY OP THE SIKHS. U
2 to a small portion of the fiery liquor, he still used
3 the opium, so that little could be expected from
4 remedial means. On our first visit to him, we were
5 conducted by some of his soldiers through the
6 Rambagh at Umritsir, but on returning, the sentry
7 would not allow us to pass by the same route, and
8 we had to make a long circuit in order to reach
9 General Ventura’s house. Notice of this uncivil
10 conduct was given to the Maharajah, who begged
11 of us to inform him what punishment we deemed
12 necessary, and whether the man’s ears or nose
13 should be cut off. We objected to either, and
14 requested that the Maharajah would think no more
15 of the matter. However, the following incident will
16 show that he did not entirely forget the circumstance.
17 A Native doctor accompanied us to Umritsir, and
18 knowing that he had only to demand anything in
19 our name to obtain it, made frequent applications
20 to the court. At length Dhyan Singh became
21 astonished at the applications, and wrote a note to
22 us on the subject. Ghoolam Mohummud was thus
23 discovered, and we threatened to punish him in a
24 signal manner, but the Maharajah craved his for¬
25 giveness, and as an inducement for us to grant his
26 request, brought to our recollection, that he had
27 at our instance spared a man’s ears or nose.
28 From the frequent opportunities we enjoyed of
29 conversing with the Maharajah, he acquired friendly
30 feelings towards us, and on our taking leave of him
31 for a few days, previous to the marriage of his grand¬
32 son, he insisted on our conducting the Comrrfan-