in all other Nepaulese
palaces, and adorned in like manner with a profusion of pictures,
occidental as well as oriental, while in the midst, upon a round table,
and displayed as drawing-room ornaments, was an incongruous collection of
articles, amongst which I remarked three leaden spoons, an old
cruet-stand, a Bohemian glass scent-bottle, an old hair-brush and tooth-
brush on some hot-water plates, a pair of brass candlesticks, and other
wares usually found in kitchens, pantries, and bedrooms. Some English
prints and pictures of a particularly pothouse appearance attracted me
into a little side room, where a handsome telescope stood pointed out of
the open window, from which there was a lovely and extensive view, and
while my friend and the prince were chatting in the next room I took
advantage of the means thus afforded me of enjoying the prospect.

On looking through the telescope the first object which met my eye was
the roof of a handsome house, on which figures were moving briskly to and
fro. All the windows of this mansion were commanded by the glass, and I
almost imagined I could see the female figures flitting about in the more
gloomy and secluded part, which seemed to be the harem. The house thus
under observation struck me as being known to me, and upon looking at the
neighbouring objects I perceived that it was the palace of the Minister
Sahib.

The fact of the glass being thus pointed to his house was in itself a
suspicious circumstance, but I little thought that the bland owner of the
leaden spoons and pothouse pictures was then deliberately contemplating
the vile plot he so soon afterwards nearly succeeded in executing. Within
a week after this visit I heard that our polite entertainer was in
confinement for an attempt to assassinate the minister, towards whom he
had so recently professed the profoundest sentiments of regard.

We descended into the well laid-out garden attached to the palace and
devoured the delicious mandarin oranges, with which hundreds of trees
were loaded, until our attention was diverted from them by a luscious
fruit, in appearance something like a medlar: this fruit is rare in
Nepaul, the tree being a native of Thibet.

It cost us an effort to bid adieu to the polite prince and his attractive
garden; but at length we remounted our elephants and proceeded on our way
to the Minister's house. Passing through the handsome gateway, guarded
by a magnificent tiger, that prowled re