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2 a servant to point out to us the most elevated terrace in the
3 square (which was in the mansion of Runjeet Sing), from
4 which Herr Schofft could get a view of the temple and the
5 surrounding buildings; on this place he prepared his atelier.
6 He occupied the whole of the day in sketching the scene,
7 and on the following day he also went there, but alone, to
8 continue his work. About noon, having that morning re-
9 ceived some newspapers from my native place, Kronstadt, I
10 went to him, and he desired me to read to him the news whilst
11 he was painting. About an hour before sunset, his work
12 was nearly finished, and as the court had already departed
13 for Lahore, whither we wished also to proceed immediately,
14 he requested me to go to our quarters and to procure some
15 boxes in which he could enclose his paintings. Our quarters
16 were outside the city, in a garden formerly belonging to
17 the prince No-Nehal Sing. When I reached home I imme-
18 diately forwarded to him a horse and servants, as he had
19 told me he should finish his painting within an hour after
20 I had left him.
21 Herr Schofft was a great smoker, and attracted attention in
22 Umritsir from his scarcely ever being seen abroad without
23 having a cigar in his mouth. Now smoking is considered by
24 the Nahungs and the Sikhs as sinful, or rather criminal ; more
25 especially in or near such a holy place as their chief sanctuary ;
26 Herr Schofft was aware of this, and therefore studiously avoided
27 smoking whilst engaged in taking this sketch. It happened
28 however, that, as is customary with painters, he now and then
29 in the course of the work placed one of his pencils in his mouth,
30 in order to keep it separate from those in the left hand, whilst
31 using another with the right. This was observed by those who
32 stood watching his operations from beneath the terrace, and they
33 imagined, in consequence, that he was smoking. The rumour
34 first spread about in whispers one to another, and as the
35 impression became confirmed, a general indignation manifested
36 itself; and loud exclamations were soon heard, that the feringhee
37 (frank) was committing sacrilege by smoking in their sacred place.