or by deputation — of the various chiefs of Bundelkhand at Allahábád, of Málwá at Cawnpur, and of Rájputána at Delhi. While he was at Simla he exchanged courtesies, by way of reciprocal missions, with the 'Lion of the Punjab,' the veteran Ranjít Singh. The Musalmán movement which had been organized by the fanatic Syed Ahmad in the Afghán District, west of the Indus, had for some time given much occupation to the Sikh government; and the systematic aid which the malcontents received from their co-religionists in British India rendered it desirable that the friendly disposition of the Calcutta Government should be placed beyond the reach of doubt.
Lady Amherst quotes from a letter sent by a member of the British deputation a graphic account of the court of Ranjit Singh:—
'The Darbár was held in the western verandah of the palace. It was Sunday. Ranjít Singh himself looked graver than is customary with him. The air was sultry, the fountains had half lost their force and the people half their vivacity, and though only 8 o'clock in the morning the day seemed already closing — the whole scene going to sleep. We sat for some time like statues, except a couple of dogs fighting. Ranjít wore a very plain vest sprinkled with diamonds; he sat upon his golden chair with his legs folded up. His long grisly beard seemed to have grown since his last appearance, and his decrepitude seemed more closely marked. Ranjít frequently gave a twist to his moustache, looked around him, and fixed his eyes on the ground. At length he made a signal which was answered
