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2 manufacturing false coin. Runjeet Sing reposed much con-
3 fidence in me, and insisted on my accepting the command of
4 an artillery department, or the office of governor of a province,
5 like the Generals Ventura, Avitabile, and Dr. Allen ; this, how-
6 ever, I refused, deeming that I had not sufficient abilities to exe-
7 cute such an office properly ; but upon his giving me the choice,
8 I accepted the management of a gunpowder manufactory, and
9 also a gun-stock establishment. Notwithstanding my numerous
10 occupations, which were very lucrative, I was affected with
11 nostalgy, i. e ., I felt an irresistible longing to visit my native
12 country, which I had not seen for many years, to such a
13 degree, that my sole thoughts and endeavors were how to
14 secure my return home. I was so occupied with this idea,
15 that if they had offered me the Koh-i-noor (which is valued at
16 half-a-million) to remain there for the remainder of my life, I
17 should have refused it. General Allard’s words : “ It is difficult
18 to get an appointment here, but, when obtained, it is still more
19 difficult to quit it,” were continually in my thoughts, and it cost
20 me much trouble to obtain my dismissal, or rather my liberty.
21 llunjeet Sing was a man whose talents and prudence had
22 acquired for him a great reputation, whose memory is honored,
23 and whose name will long occupy a glorious place in the history
24 of India. Although descended from a noble family, being the
25 son of a sirdar, he could neither read nor write. He had
26 lost one eye in his childhood, in consequence of the small-pox.
27 His external appearance was not handsome, being remarkably
28 short, delicate, and with indifferent features, which were, how-
29 ever, counterbalanced by his talents. He had an extraordinary
30 memory. The prominent trait of his character was, that he
31 rarely did what was required of him, and acted often contrary
32 to what he said. In general, no one Was informed of the place
33 to which he intended to go, nor of the time appointed by the
34 astrologers for his departure. The dark side of his character,
35 was his extreme devotedness to sensuality, spirits, and opium, by
36 which he shortened his life. I was an ocular witness of the
37 spectacle, when he was married at Umritsir, to the Goolbegoom