hat I might pitch my tents beside his, and he would impart whatever I
thought proper to the king. When about to part, after long discourse, he
pressed me to accept a horse with handsome furniture, which was brought
to the door, but I refused. He then sent for nine pieces of Persian
silks, and nine bottles of wine, that I might not depart without some
testimony of his love, but these also I refused to accept, with many
protestations of affectionate regard. I observed him looking earnestly
at my sword, which I offered to give him; but, following my example, he
refused.

At night I visited the king, who spent his time sadly with an old man,
after reading long letters, and few spoke with him. At his rising, he
presented to this person, who was a cripple from age, 5000 rupees, and
took his leave of him with many embraces. I here again met the Persian
ambassador, who, after some compliments, repenting that he had refused
my sword, and having a liking to it, now asked it from me, saying, that
such liberty among friends was reckoned good manners in his country. We
continued to remove four or five c. every other day, and came on the 7th
to the goodly river _Shind_. The 18th, the king passed through between
two mountains, the road having been cut through the woods, but with so
much trouble and difficulty, and so much encumbrance to the baggage,
that it was left behind, without provisions for man and beast. This day
likewise I lost my tents and baggage, but found them again at midnight,
having been obliged till then to take up my lodging under a tree. This
part of the country is much infested by thieves, and is hardly under
obedience to government, except so far as it is kept under by force. It
belongs to a rajah, who has no desire to see the king. The exactor
complained, and some few of the people that fled being taken, were
chained by the neck and brought before the king, all the rest having
fled into the mountains. At night the king caused the town near which he
was encamped to be set on fire, appointing a new governor, with orders
to re-build and new-people the town, and to reduce the district under
more regular government and better civilization. He left a party of
horse with the new governor, to enable him to perform this service.

On the 20th, the people who had fled to the mountains, being enraged at
the burning of their town, set upon a number of stragglers who had been
left behind, killing many of them, and plundering th