'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎323] (432/496)

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tions regarding us. It soon became evident, however, that it was not his
present policy to act in a way he would doubtless have done under other
circumstances, but he had now a game to play on his own account, and
trusted in the good offices of the Major for a favorable representation to
the Government; and, at the same time, the old fox was aware of the
presence of the Sulimaniyeh regulars a day’s march to the north of his
present position. This we were ignorant of at the time, and perhaps
owed much of our safety to, for Abdullah Beg, obnoxious as he is to
most parties, has, as I have mentioned before, an interest in securing the
good will of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Sulimaniyeh, to whom, he was aware, we were
proceeding,—and, indeed, the troops in his vicinity, he had learnt, had
been sent to escort us. Finding at this juncture, that the u fortiter in
re” would not avail him, he resorted to the “ suaviter in modo” and by
insinuating promises, sought to borrow money of Mr. H., whom he heard
was a merchant,—giving as security for its future payment the proceeds
of some rice-fields that had not yet even been planted, and which, of
course, would never have been realized. In this, however, he was foiled,
and the afternoon was eked out in topics relating to the policies of
European States, with which he has some slight acquaintance. On every
other subject he is as ignorant a savage as could well be met with. At
taking leave of him the following morning, Major Bawlinson presented
him with a watch. This he declined accepting, after placing it to his ear,
and hearing the tick, alleging that he was ignorant of such things, and
that, moreover, he believed some living animal was concealed “ perdu,
within the case, that might at some future time exert a bad influence on
his fortunes.
We finished the day in partaking of his evening meal in company
with him, and scarcely ever enjoyed one so much. The rice grown on
his own grounds was, I think, the whitest and finest that I had evei
tasted. To his “ cuisine” we did full justice; but a thought would now
and then cross the mind, that the bony fingers dipping in the same dish
with you, had often performed other services for their owner, and might
even exert their strength by a tenacious grasp on one s own throat. After
our host left us, we canvassed the ways and means of obtaining observa
tions for fixing the position of his “ den,” but were reluctantly compelled
to forego them, being afraid to expose the instruments in the situation
we were then in ; so drawing our cloaks around us, we stretched omselves
out on the platform in the open air, and enjoyed a rest we were strangei s
to in our last night’s bivouac.