1 260 THE LORDS OF THE HILLS J —
2 dress ; ambitious to a degree that knew no bounds ; quick of
3 parts ; of deep discernment ; discreet, prudent, careful, and
4 ever scrupulous of offending- without just cause ; always study-
5 ing, and seldom failing to gain the respect and good wishes of
6 all around ; mild and polite even to the meanest class ; extreme-
7 ly laconic in speech ; impatient of delay ; deaf to all long,
8 round-about, or shuffling explanations, speeches, petitions, or
9 harangues ; off-handed and concise in all orders, judgments,
10 and sentences for punishment ; bashful and seemingly with an
11 inward consciousness of the degradation of his original rise at
12 court ; ever passive with inferiors ; high, haughty and distant
13 with equals, and respectful to superiors, but polite to all ; occa-
14 sionally humorous, witty and sarcastic ; but generally silent,
15 thoughtful and reflective ; an enemy to the sensualist, libertine,
16 or debauchee, and of regular and moderate habits himself. — In
17 religion Rajah Dehan Sing in his heart was more a Deist than
18 anything else ; and though outwardly following the rules pre-
19 scribed to his caste, <fec. he was often known to rail at the whole
20 as made up of Brahminical deception. He believed but little in
21 either the Jothushee or Nejumee. He despised Brahmins and
22 their tenets, as false and foolish, and more than once speaking
23 in private on caste and religion, &c. he acknowledged that be
24 believed the Europeans knew more about the right way than any
25 native. He considered all Europeans as Deists, aud often, when
26 going through some long, holy, and sacred ceremony, he would
27 order the Brahmin to make quick work of it, smiling and saying,
28 e We have now had enough of it.' He was often known to
29 ridicule the whole as a farce, and really had the same opinion of
30 Hindoo deities, as Europeans have. He could write a good
31 and quick hand in his own Dogra character, and was extremely
32 apt in learning Persian, &c. But though he may be said to
33 possess, as he certainly did, all those and many other qualities,
34 still the good traits in his mysterious character seemed to be