'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎85] (127/476)

ARRIVAL OF BAGGAGE.
85
that they had seized his horse, and plundered him of every article he
was possessed of, not even sparing the clothes he wore. This recital
was rather discouraging to us, but we consoled ourselves with recollect
ing the notorious disposition of all Persians to exaggerate, on occasions
where their own personal exertions or safety are called into question,
and therefore trusted, in the event of our ultimately attempting that
route, that we should not find circumstances so decidedly adverse as
the Moollah represented. We asked him no further questions, fear
ing to excite his suspicions, and when we had conversed on indif
ferent topics for half an hour, he returned to the city, having pre
viously volunteered to bring some Persian books another day, and
read to us, a proposal we most willingly agreed to, as it helped to
pass the forenoons, which were very dull and lagged sadly, from our
having no means of amusing or employing ourselves.
22(i February, This afternoon at three p. m. we had the gratifi-
fication to receive our baggage, and the Hindoostanee servant who
had the principal charge of it, gave a miserable picture of the
sufferings and distress of the party from cold and bad camels ;
they had succeeded with vast trouble in advancing, (even at the
tedious rate they did) owing to the people of Khozdar dreading the
severity of the winter season at Kelat so much, that they could hardly
be persuaded to bring their cattle. This servant related, that after
our departure they waited two days at the Kohunwat, during which
period, neither Ruhmut Khan, or the owner of the hired camels whom
we had allowed to go to his home, appeared, so that there could
exist no question, but that the latter had received his clue from the Be-
zunjas : the morning of the third day Ruhmut came with eight armed
men, and instantly demanded where we were; he was exceedingly
irritated and disappointed, on being told we were gone on without
him, and asked half a dozen of times, whether we were merchants
or thieves, to elope in so infamous a manner: in the evening
he was joined by his brother Buhadoor Khan and the camel driver,
the last of whom made some frivplous excuse for his long absence.
Nothing could exceed the rage of the two petty chiefs, when