ng showed us his horticultural arrangements with no little
pride. His house is situated in the midst of gardens, adorned with
fountains and reservoirs, and he informed us that upon one aqueduct alone
he had expended 30,000 pounds. The garden was in its infancy, and,
notwithstanding the great formality with which it was laid out, bid fair
to do credit to Jung's taste and industry. In one direction the gardens
extend to the river side, where he has built some handsome baths, not far
distant from which, and at one corner of his grounds, stands a
four-turreted building, inhabited by the Ranee of Lahore, who has taken
refuge from the English under the hospitable roof of Jung Bahadoor. Here
this extraordinary woman leads a secluded life, rarely venturing outside
her doors, and never giving any one a chance of judging for themselves of
her rumoured beauty. She is, no doubt, meditating some bold design
worthy of the heroism she has proved herself to possess, for she is said
still to retain hope where hope is surely forlorn.
We had not on this occasion walked a whole day over Nepaul roads, as was
the case when last we dined with Jung; consequently, when his feast was
set before us, we did not do justice to it. Perhaps our appetites were
spoiled by the parting which was about to take place, for we were not to
see his Excellency any more, and to part from the prime minister of
Nepaul is not like parting from any other man. Even were he only a
casual acquaintance, it would cause a different feeling from that of
bidding adieu to one who was to lead a peaceable life, and in all
probability die in his bed; but when the chances are strongly against
either of these suppositions, and when the friend whom you are leaving is
a man of so interesting a character, the possessor of such great talents
and of so many amiable qualities, one with whom you have journeyed and
hunted and undergone all sorts of adventures and witnessed all sorts of
scenes, and who has on all occasions proved himself a kind friend, an
hospitable host, and an agreeable companion, it is anything but pleasant
to look upon him for the last time. Doubtless, in the early years of his
yet uncivilized life, Jung Bahadoor was guilty of great barbarities and
crimes, but it was war to the knife, and self-defence no less than
ambition prompted the acts of that bloody drama. Now he has proved
himself a changed man, and his late generous and humane conduct might
well read a
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