the 25th native
infantry, formed a street to the general's tent, where every preparation
was made to receive our visitor as regent, and uncle to the reigning
rajah, who was a boy. Having waited some hours after the time, Sir David
began to get nettled, and was in the act of withdrawing the troops and
setting our batteries to work, when the shrill sound of the war-trumpet,
and the roll of the war-drum, were heard, which were signals that the
regent was on the move. Shortly afterwards we saw him descending the
hill in a superb palanquin, attended by about twenty armed men on foot.
At the end of the street he was met by the adjutant-general,
quarter-master-general, and several other staff-officers; and, after a
little hugging, they led him on, taking his hands in theirs in token of
friendship. Thus they proceeded to the general's splendid tent, the
street presenting arms, which he perfectly understood, and to which he
bowed in a most majestic manner. I do not think that in the course of my
service I ever beheld a more noble and venerable-looking man. He was
most superbly dressed, with numberless daggers stuck in his cumerbund,
and a sword by his side that seemed studded with diamonds and precious
stones. His neck, turban, and hands were one mass of jewels. Our brave
general met him at the door of his tent, when the greeting was most
laughable; something like that of Doodle and Noodle, in "Tom Thumb." The
manners of our visitor were those of a perfect courtier; but he was
free, affable, and jocular. In two hours after the customary sprinkling
of scents, the treaty of peace was ratified, and he returned towards
home with pleasure in his eye. Here the wise captain ran about,
delighted and delighting, saying, "Did I not tell you so? I knew it--I
could not be deceived--the thing was plain. People must have been blind
not to have foreseen this event."

Thus ended the fighting against the Nepaulese, this having been the
second campaign in what is called the Goorkah war. It was a fortunate
thing for all hands that hostilities were thus terminated, for seventy
men of the 87th regiment had that morning gone to hospital with the
dysentery, a complaint that was raging with great violence, from the
damp situation of the valley, and the thick fogs that lodged there till
nearly mid-day. Guns were ordered down, and we began to prepare for
quarters. None were sorry for it, for already were our toes playing at
hide-and-seek through our boo