rung on these names, and that is the tune the whole song goes to. Beyond surmise, Sir John Kaye admits that he has no authority. His sources are 'general conjecture,' 'well-credited report,' his own 'deliberate conviction,' the belief of one, the hint of another, the gossip of a third, for which, even as he transcribes it, he hastens to add that he will not vouch. He only repeats what is told him. 'Due historical accuracy' he will not lay claim to. Since the day of Herodotus was history ever so written?
Once he gives his authority. He writes that 'on the departure of the mission for Ludhiána' (July 13) that is, when Mr. Macnaghten left Ranjít Singh to present himself before Sháh Shujá, 'Burnes had proceeded to join Lord Auckland and his advisers at Simla.' If he did, it was contrary to Lord Auckland's expectations; who looked for him, as has been seen, with Mr. Macnaghten on July 17 or 18. Then he copies into his pages the following anecdote. The story is related in his Narrative of Various Journeys, by Mr. Masson. Dr. Buist, author of Outlines of the Operations in Sind and Afghanistan, repeated the story, adding that Masson was 'not a very trustworthy authority.' Sir John Kaye omitting this caution, prints the anecdote; though he admits that he was for a long time very sceptical of its truth, and does not even now vouch for it. But some men, he says, likely to be better informed, 'are inclined to believe it.' It has been questionable to the writer of this narrative, whether notice should be taken of a vaga-
