1 WUZEER ZOROVEROO. 201
2 delegated but practically irresponsible authority over the
3 subjects of Goolaub Sing*. While he was thus winning pro-
4 vinces and hoarding wealth for his patron, he exercised the
5 most rigid self-denial towards himself. He had never drawn
6 pay from the time of his first interview with the Rajah; he wore
7 no clothes but those sent him by his master ; where bribes or
8 presents were offered to him, he invariably sent the money
9 to his chief. Even his wife and children, he left dependant
10 on the Rajah for their daily subsistence. But he had his re-
11 ward in the favour and admiration of his master, and in the
12 unlimited confidence which that master placed in him. It is
13 possible too, that he might have had ulterior views for his own
14 aggrandisement, in the exercise of the power which he thus
15 acquired, but as the time or the opportunity for effecting his
16 purpose, whatever it might be, never occurred, nothing is
17 known on this point.
18 The conquests of Zoroveroo in the north rendered him an
19 object of dread among the people inhabiting the countries
20 that lie along the further base of the Snowy Range, and
21 it was not without reason that they regarded his progress
22 with alarm. At his suggestion, Goolaub Sing formed the
23 project of an expedition for the conquest of Ladakh, and this
24 plan was carried out by the Wuzeer, though at the expence of
25 much difficulty and loss. His army marched by the way of
26 Kistowar, and penetrated the Snowy Range, through passes of the
27 most difficult and almost inaccessible character. On his return
28 from this first expedition to Ladakh, however, he greatly
29 improved the communication with that province, repairino- the
30 roads and removing some of the obstacles to his advance
31 through the passes.
32 It was not long ere he proceeded on a second expedition in
33 this direction, marching by the same route to Ladakh, where
34 he was joined by a force from Cashmere. Thence he advanced
35 and took Iskardo and Little Thibet from Ahmed Shah. This
36 c c