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ON the 10th, at Plaffee -ten coffes: a small village in the Biffouly district. About eight miles to the north-west of Bunguree, and oppofite to the fort of Biffouly, croffed the Rawee,* which is about one hundred and twenty yards in breadth, and very rapid. In the ferry-boat were two Sicques going to the fort, of which, a detachment they belonged to, had taken poffeffion, in confequence of being called in to the affiftance of the Biffouly chief. Though this be the invariable refult of every connection made with the Sicques, the infatuated mountaineers never fail to seek their aid when engaged in war. A bordering chief had invaded the Biffouly districts, plundered the inhabitants, and burned their villages, before any oppofition was made. The Sicques were called in to repel the enemy, and defend the fort of Biffouly; but after performing the required fervice, they became pleased with their new fituation, and refufed to relinquish it.

A QUICK progrefs through this country, and avoiding the track of the Sicques, were ftrongly, though unneceffarily, recommended to us. The boatman at the ferry of Biffouly, though a brother Mahometan, made an exorbitant demand of hire, which was confiderably leffened by the interference of the Sicque horfemen, who faw the impofition, and had only to make known their will to effect obedience. The journey of this evening, folitary and dreary, gave a wrong bent to every spring of the imagination,

*The Rawee is the Contral Punjab river, and runs near the city of Lahore.

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which fullenly refused to receive one chearful or pleasing idea. If such did begin to shoot forth, the prospect of a deserted village, a defolate country, immediately destroyed it, and introduced in its ftead, thofe pregnant with the horrors and miseries of war. Great God! that the common evils of life fo abundantly heaped on our heads, fhould not be felt as already too grievous, without the wilful encounter of additional mischiefs! This propensity in the nature of man, indicates a difpofition at once deftructive of the purposes which he seems defigned to execute, and disgraceful to the intellects he fo amply poffeffes.

AN obliging houfe-keeper in the village of Plaffee, accommodated me this evening more agreeably than I could have expected. His little tenement was compofed of materials that had refifted the late conflagration of the country, and he had, with his family, refumed the quiet poffeffion of it. Seeing me oppreffed and languid, from the effects of a fever, which had feized me on the road, he procured me a bed, and gave me every nourishment which his houfe afforded.

On the 11th, at the village of Buddoo - ten coffes; the refidence of a petty chief, tributary to Jumbo. This day an annual fair was held at an adjacent hamlet, which being near our road, we mixed with the numerous spectators of the festival. The good humour and mirth accompanying this meeting exhibited a strong contraft to the scene of yesterday, and defcribed, in lively colours, the various bounties which flow from peace. Among the diver

fions of the day, I obferved the wheel with boxes fufpended from its rim, of common ufe in the fouthern parts of India, for whirling round those who are difpofed to make fuch aerial circuits. More than once have I taken my feat in one of those whirligigs, and can affure you, that the entertainment, though not of a fober kind, has its pleasures; and what is more than you can say of many a pleasure, it fets you down where it took you up. My fervant did not arrive this evening, and from having hitherto wholly relied on his services, I sustained a great inconveniency. But a Kashmirian family at Buddo, on the score of an acquaintance with my companion, in a certain degree relieved it, by giving us a friendly reception, and a slender supper.

ON the 12th at Mancote-eight coffes. A chief depending on Jumbo refided at this village, which stands on an eminence on`an partially skirted by a small river. Here my troubles branched out anew, and though not deserving a rank in the lift of misfortunes, involved me in various difficulties. My Kashmirian associate having by mistake proceeded beyond our place of rendezvous, there was no one to prepare my victuals, or to take care of the horse. Though the Hindoos hold in abomination the performance of any menial office for ftrangers, yet the shop-keeper at Mancote, from whom I had purchased the neceffaries of the day, afforded me great affistance. He gave me houfe-room, a bed, and alfo fome of his household utenfils, for holding the horse's corn, and my own provifion. From an affociation with thofe who had obviated

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my various wants, and had even rendered the journey a pleasant one, I was at once deprived of all help. In the first place, I cleaned and fed my horfe, nor did he deferve lefs at my hands; for he was a good-tempered, fure-footed, active animal. Had he not indeed been thus qualified, he could not have fupported fuch fatigue, or have clambered over the fteep and and rocky mountains that had hitherto ftood in his way. After this care, it was necef fary to remedy the ftate of my own wants, which became urgent and clamorous, for I had not eaten any thing that day.

BEING told that a mendicant Seid* of eminent fanctity refided in the upper part of the town, I prefented myself to him, told my ftory, and earneftly entreated his aid. I had imagined that the man who lived on public benevolence, whofe welfare in the world was promoted by a common exercife of humanity, would have chearfully come forward to my fuccour, efpecially as the request had no tendency to touch his property. But I reckoned without my host. Never did mitred prieft in all the plenitude of his power, rolling amidst the pluralities of benefice, regard a meagre curate with a deeper contempt of eye, than did this haughty defcendant of Mahomet receive my fupplication. Simply fetting forth the lofs of my fervant, and the inability to fupply his place, I requested that he would dire his people to prepare for me a meal, the materials of which were all in readiness. This language

The defcendants of Mahomet are fo denominated.

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had no effect on the Seid, who confiding, I fuppofe, wholly in the efficacy of faith, had exploded from his creed the doctrine of good works: or, confidering perhaps the trade of begging to be a monopoly of his order, he wished to expel and discourage all interlopers. After warmly expatiating on the difficulties that furrounded me, throwing in alfo fome strictures on his conduct, he grumbled an affent, but with an exprefs provifo that I fhould produce fire-wood. I could as eafily have brought him a bulfe of diamonds as a stick, for it was then dark, and indeed hunger and fatigue had made me incapable of exertion. Turning from him with indignation, I loudly reprobated his violation of what even the rudest Mahometans hold facred, the rights of hofpitality; a ready performance of which, he ought to know, was earneftly enjoined, and that the Divine vengeance was peculiarly denounced against all who tranfgrefs its law. This exclamation, delivered with heat, rouzed the attention of his adherents, one of whom defiring me to be pacified, propofed to adjust the embarraffment. He carried me to the

houfe of a finging girl, who, on learning the ftory of my wants, tucked up her garment with a fmiling alacrity, and commenced the bufinefs of relieving them without delay. It would have made your heart glad to have feen this honeft girl baking my bread and boiling my peas, fhe did it with fo good a will; frequently obferving, that I had conferred an honour upon her, and that the prefent fervice, was but a fmall return for the many favours she had received from thofe of my clafs. Will not you judge the declara

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