'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎364] (406/476)

304 mission to sinde.
him, if they were well remunerated, they were ready to intercede
with the Umeers in behalf of the mission ; but, that on the other
hand, if their offers were neglected, he might as well go back to
India without delay, as nothing could be effected without their con
currence. At first these vagabonds, who were almost of every nation
in Asia, gave us considerable annoyance hy the noise they made,
but we soon became reconciled to their shouting and hooting, and
latterly their exclamations and denunciations were rather a source
of laughter and amusement.
The second day after the envoy had got to Hyderabad, the cere
monials of his first audience at court were brought forward; when,
as we had foreseen, the proposals made by the Umeers, through
various people, induced a negotiation that delayed the final <111 align
ments for nearly a week ; and had once or twice led us to anticipate
quitting Sinde without a personal interview ol its rulers.
It had been understood that the Musnud or throne was considerably
elevated from the ground *, and the envoy therefore deemed it proper
that he should have a chair to sit upon, and also that the three
Umeers should rise on the entrance of the mission ; while they, on
the other hand, not only declined shewing any outward mark of
respect by standing up, but actually proposed that we should all be
disarmed, previous to coming into the hall of audience, giounding
this unwarrantable proposition on a plea that proved it a still gieater
insult, of an attempt having once been made by two Vakeels t of the
Jypoor Rajah, to assassinate one of the Umeers at a public levee.
Mr. Smith reprehended, in the most unequivocal terms, this de
grading demand, and acquainted the deliverer of it, that had he even
felt inclined to submit to it himself, than which nothing could be
farther from his thoughts, he was not at liberty to insist upon the
* This mistake was immediately rectified, and the stipulation regarding the chair with
drawn, as it was ascertained that the Umeers sat upon a Fursh or quilted matrass, that
did not raise them above two inches from the ground,
f Vakeels, agents.