to the inhabitants,
who cannot be called a litigious race.

While we were at Bisoleah, on our way to Katmandu, an interesting
instance occurred of the prime minister taking the law into his own
hands; and, as far as we could judge, complete justice was done to the
parties. A complaint was preferred by a deputation of the peasantry of
the Terai against one of the sirdars who was a member of his suite, and
who had been governor of some part of the district before he had
accompanied the minister on his expedition to England. It was alleged
that he had, in connection with his brother, who was an especial
favourite with Jung, defrauded them of 25,000 rupees. This charge was
indignantly denied by the two sirdars. The case was fully entered into,
and the result was, that Jung became convinced of the justice of the
claim of the peasantry. He had no sooner satisfied himself on this point
than he ordered both the noblemen to be placed in confinement, where they
were to remain until the required sum was forthcoming. The affair
delayed us twenty-four hours; and I perfectly well remember wondering at
the time what could be the cause of a detention for so long a period in
so unpleasant a locality; more especially as by it we lost the chance of
a day's rhinoceros shooting, which was, doubtless, as great a
disappointment to Jung as to myself.

By thus carefully protecting the interests of the peasantry he has
endeared himself to them, since they are always sure of a ready and
attentive hearing of any complaint, although it may affect the highest
nobles in the land. In talking to a man who acted as guide on our return
through the Terai, we discovered that the popularity of Jung, arising
from this cause, had extended across the frontier, and had induced my
informant to migrate into the Nepaul dominions, so that he might benefit
by the paternal rule of its prime minister. He said the taxes were
lighter, and he led altogether a more happy and independent life than in
the Company's dominions, where the native officers employed as
tax-gatherers do not always display the most scrupulous honesty.

But it is not with the peasantry alone that Jung is so deservedly a
favourite. With the soldiers he is, if possible, still more popular. An
admirer of Napoleon, he has profited by the perusal of his life, and
turns to advantage his knowledge of the influence possessed in so
wonderful a manner by one whom he seeks in every respect to imita