1 THE COURT OF THE SIKH SOVEREIGNS. 145
2 to his elephant, which he duly mounted, and
3 amidst compliments, hurrahs, the discharge of
4 cannon, and the discourse of hauthoys, returned
5 to the place from whence he came, preceded and
6 followed, as before, by a horde of retainers, and
7 accompanied by Sir W. Cotton and some po-
8 litical officers. The troops were then marched
9 off the ground, and the crowds of spectators
10 returned at midday to their homes and their
11 breakfast. ,
12 “SECOND DAY.
13 “ November 30th.—This day was devoted to a
14 retarn of the visit attempted to be described
15 above; and most truly may it be said that to-day
16 was the master of yesterday. The Sikhs fairly
17 ‘shone down the English.’
18 “At break of day, the 16th lancers and the 2nd
19 cavalry sprung into their saddles, and went
20 ahead, under the command of Colonel Arnold,
21 to occapy the opposite or right bank of the
22 Sutlege, at the foot of the bridge of boats, and
23 await the coming of the Governor-General.
24 His Lordship was not long in his preparations
25 for a start. Before sun-rise, the body guard
26 were paraded outside the enclosure, and very
27 soon afterwards, Lord Auckland, with his Secre-
28 tariat, Sir W. Casement, Sir W. Cotton, Colonel
29 Skinner, Major Wade, and several staff officers
30 and brigadiers, to the number of about thirty,
31 L