CHAPTER X

Summary

September 11th.—As Lord William had affairs to manage in relation to the settlement of the affairs of Bussahir, we halted here for the day, and the Rajah came up with his attendants for the adjustment of the disputes between himself and his rebellious viziers. Hay held his court under the alcove of the tent, while the little Rajah squatted down on a cushion beside him. The three hereditary viziers, who really hold the Rajah's dominions in trust, alarmed at the assumption of power on his part, are passively resisting his new-fangled notions, and plotting against their master. They would neither have free trade nor taxes levied in money. There was a long and sometimes an angry discussion, in which the Rajah and the head vizier scolded each other alternately. At last it was agreed that the Rajah should take the sense of the whole of his people, and abide by their decision; and the viziers, to show that they felt no malice, came out on the hill-side to beat for game when we went out shooting. Just as we were starting, the cry was raised that “the sepoys” had arrived, and some five of the wretched hill-men came up to our camp, dragging after them two tall men, bound hand and foot with ropes. They were brought up to Hay for examination. Their upright bearing at once denoted that they were soldiers.