1 APPENDIX. Xvii
2 Lahore. A Sikli 1ms often been known to travel on foot, from
3 Lahore to Peshawur, in five days ; and I had a Sikh in my
4 corps of artillery who repeatedly went on foot from Jummoo to
5 Lahore, and I have known him bring' back dispatches in some-
6 what less than 36 hours ; the distance is 60 Punjaub coss, or
7 about 90 miles from Lahore to Jummoo, which makes 180 miles
8 to be travelled in 36 hours ; but there are several Sikh soldiers
9 who would, even for a small consideration, go 40 coss, or 60
10 miles daily, for 12 or 15 days together.
11 Note.
12 " The one who turns King's The King's evidence, or
13 evidence is allowed to escape murkei, is never questioned as
14 with impunity, and to retain to what part of the booty he
15 his share of the spoil in all cases has received himself ; he only
16 of stolen cattle." — Page 73. has to shew, or point out, or
17 even tell the place or spot where the property is, and then he
18 receives from the owner a stipulated sum; and in case of
19 cattle, &c. the thief, though he may be in possession of the
20 cattle at the time, very seldom returns the same, but gives
21 others in lieu of those stolen ; and those he gives in this manner,
22 generally turn out to be the stolen property of others. But a
23 murkei is alwa}rs ready and sure to go and inform the owners
24 (for a certain sum) and immediately a long law suit commences
25 between the parties : nor are these matters ever finished until the
26 murkei has received large sums, equal to the amount of pro-
27 perty, when, to prevent any further strife, or through fear, the
28 whole of the property is returned by the thief, he having a
29 previous understanding with the murkei, as to the amount of
30 money raised by this kind of swindling, which generally proves
31 to the sufferers far more injurious and expensive than the
32 plain robbery itself.
33 Note.
34 " The day for them (the Fa- The youngest brother is
35 queers) has gone by; they still alive and well, and at
36 have done their work, and are present most active in all ne-
37 gathered to their fathers" — gotiations of consequence, be-
38 Page 100. tween the British Authorities
39 and the Lahore Durbar.