1 immediate proof of it. He uncovered lie pot, and was about
2 to present his hand, but tile maharajah objected to the serpents
3 which the faqueer had brought with him, and said that lie
4 would order some to bo procured. He handed to toe faqueer
5 seven rupees, which lie had just received as nasKtrana (present),
6 hut lie immediately gave them to the raezur, saying, “That
7 is a gift of the son of a laundress,” and departed. Sheer Sing
8 pretended riot to have heard this insulting remark, although
9 it was spoken so loud that every bod) noticed it; and I felt,
10 much annoyed, having been the cause of the introduction of
11 the insolent faqueer. I reprimanded him, and gave orders for
12 liis re-imprisonment as a lunatic, fie held not yet given the
13 maharajah a proof of his assertion, and consequently had not
14 deserved the reward of seven rupees. The bad consequences of
15 liis unruly tongue, however,did not fail to overtake him; I did
16 not doubt that Sheer Sing would very soon procure the serpents
17 which he lmd ordered, and therefore gave instructions to the
18 soldiers who accompanied the faqueer to the mill, to bring him
19 early in the lorning to my abode, so that lie might be at hand,
20 in case the maharajah should send for us. The next morning
21 the faqueer, on his way to mo, met with a friend of his, v/ho
22 inquired where he was going, and why he was fettered '■ He
23 replied that lie was bound to show to Sheer Sing his ability, and
24 at pnee, as if in bravado, untied tin pot which contained his
25 two vipers, and caused himself to he bitten by one of them.
26 Scarcely had he advanced two 'steps, when he daggered and fell.
27 Hut lie summoned all his strength, and rose again, in order to
28 proceed, but again fell; anil not being able to rise a second time,
29 a cliarpai (stretcher) was brought, to convey him from tire
30 lui’/aar to my house. He was followed by a multitude of
31 curious people, and 1 caused him to he taken into a neigh¬
32 bouring stable, belonging to the faqueer Chirakooddeen, who
33 vent immediately to see the patient, as lie was then vomiting
34 blood, Chirakooddeen was of opinion that he could never
35 recover, and the injure 1 faqueer being a Brahmin, he wished me to
36 send him to a termsale (an Indian temple), in order to avoid