young prince was appointed regent, and for a short time affairs went on smoothly. Mean while, the authorities in Bengal were involved in a war with the Burmese, and the opportunity of pursuing his ambitious projects was eagerly seized by Doorjen Saul, a cousin of the reigning prince, who murdered the`regent, made the heir a prisoner, and usurped the sovereignty of the state. Lord Amherst, who was governor general at the time, made several attempts to bring the refractory person to reason; but, puffed up with the expectation of maintaining his power against enemies who had another and a distant campaign upon their hands, he refused to restore the legitimate heir to the throne, and openly declared his intention to uphold his usurpation by force of arms. The time occupied in negotiations, which ended in nothing, it is said cost the gallant Sir David Ochterlony his life; he had hoped that the reduction of Bhurtpore would have been the exploit of an army under his command; but the arrival of Lord Combermere in Bengal, as commander in chief, frustrated his expectation. He was superseded by a superior officer, anxious to gather laurels upon Indian ground, and, retiring to a mansion which he had built in the upper provinces, died in a short time, according to public opinion, of a broken heart. It is unnecessary to state the result of this brilliant enterprise. Though the British army, which boasted the highest state of discipline, was restrained from committing those excesses which but too often follow the reduction of an obstinately defended place, the horrors of the capture of Bhurtpore are almost without a parallel. Large bodies of the Jauts clothed themselves in a peculiar sort of armour, made of quilted cotton, studded with metal plates; vast numbers of these men, huddied together amid works which they continued to defend after every chance of effectual resistance was hopeless, perished miserably in the flames which caught their garments; others refused to take quarter, and nothing could exceed the frightful nature of the spectacles which met the eyes of the conquerors at every step. Although the siege had been comparatively of short duration, famine had made great inroads upon the poorer classes of the population, and even while in the act of administering relief, the officers appointed to superintend the distribution of rations, saw numberless miserable victims drop and die, before they could put out their hands to receive the gift.

by the prisoner, who, in his assumption of greatness, presents rather an amusing spectacle to those who know upon what a baseless foundation his claims must rest. Doorjun Saul has failed to excite any feeling of compassion in his favour. The excesses which he committed, and the murders by which he effected his usurpation of the sovereignty of Bhurtpore, rendered him odious in the eyes of all high-minded persons, and there is nothing in his manners or personal acquirements to make those who converse with him forgetful of his real character, and the conduct he pursued.

Bhurtpore, under the present rajah, Bulwunt Sing, presents a very different appearance from that of former days, when it was wont to keep the surrounding states in awe. The fortress was erected with the product of part of the spoil pillaged from the army of Aurungzebe, during his last march to the Deccan. This monarch, whose attention seems chiefly to have been directed to the subjugation of the Mahomedan princes of the empire, men whom he could easily have made tributaries and allies, overlooked or disregarded the rising power of the Mahrattas and the Jauts; the latter, rich with the spoils of Agra, obtained so strong a position in the upper provinces, that could they have been content with the sovereignty granted them by the treaty with Lord Lake, no native power would have been in so flourishing a state at the present time. The British government had, till very recently, a resident at Bhurtpore, and a small detachment from the garrison at Agra took up their quarters in the citadel. While their European officers were upon duty, they received provisions from the rajah. Nothing can exceed the religious prejudices and the intolerance of the Jauts; no European must hope to eat beef, in any shape, in a city under their control; peacocks are also held so sacred, that it would be a service of great danger to kill them; but as the authorities know that Christians cannot be induced to abstain from animal food, they supply them with fowls and kids, and are not greatly scandalised by the slaughter of mutton. Neither sheep nor goats are objects of the slightest regard in India; the latter are often chosen as acceptable sacrifices to the gods, and in that case their flesh, being sanctified, is eaten by the officiating Brahmins; many who would be shocked at the murder of a fowl, think little of that of a lamb, and it seems to be less an abomination to partake of this food, than of any other (excepting fish) which has breathed the breath of life.

Doorjun Saul made an attempt to escape with his family, but was captured in his flight, and sent down to Allahabad, guarded by a strong escort, under the com- Bhurtpore is still a very interesting place for a visit. mand of two British officers. His suwarree on this oc- Upon entering the palace, the first object which attracts casion was very imposing, consisting of numerous ele-attention in the court yards are the cheetahs, kept for phants, camels, carriages, and horses of every description. hunting. These fine animals are chained to charpoys, He maintained upon the march a sullen sort of state, re- the common native bedstead, and are seen reposing fusing to see or converse with the officers of his guard in upon them at their ease. When disturbed by strange a friendly manner, and yielding to a reverse of fortune footsteps, their appearance is rather formidable. They with a very ill grace. As a prisoner, Doorjun Saul has start up, gnash their teeth, and utter sharp growls, showno reason to quarrel with the quarters assigned to him at ing plainly that, if they should succeed in breaking their Allahabad; but he is by no means resigned to his fate, chains, there would be no small danger of an attack. and now courts the visits of young European officers, in The tamest are those which have been taken young, and the hope of inducing them to assist in pleading his cause. suckled by goats, these animals readily yielding their He is speedily made acquainted with the arrival of every milk to the offspring of a fiercer race. The cubs are as person of rank at the station, and if he fancies they can playful and as harmless as puppies or kittens, but in adin any way be instrumental to the object he has in view, vanced years their natural ferocity is apt to break out; he employs all his powers of persuasion to induce them their native attendants, however, get exceedingly attachto exert their influence in his behalf. When his solici-ed to these savage creatures, and devote all their time to tations to receive a visit are granted, young men com- the care of their charges. Twice a day, in the morning monly find him seated on a table, surrounded by nume- and after sunset, they are led out to exercise; a custom rous attendants, employed in fanning off the flies, or in common all over India, and which extends to birds. Not some other service equally indicative of deference and only are hawks carried upon the wrist to take the air, respect. The conduct of these people towards the guest but parrots share the excursion; the latter, perched upon is regulated by his rank, or the interest he may be sup- a stand, to which they are secured by a slight chain, are posed to possess. If he be a person of consequence, frequently slung over a man's shoulder, and when acnothing can exceed the homage he receives; but a casual customed to these daily perambulations, they will not be visiter, from whom no service of importance can be ex-content to remain at home, screaming and calling to pected, must be content to see all the civility monopolised their bearers until their wish is gratified. A large cocka

too, of the writer's acquaintance, if detained beyond his usual hour, might be heard a quarter of a mile off, scolding and vociferating to be taken out. Bhurtpore exhibits many of these curious spectacles: it is a place in which ALTERED FROM THE NEW ARABIAN TALES OF THE SHEIKH AL Mohd: European fashions and customs have as yet made little

whose waves, after long tossing me about like a play thing, finally buried me beneath its waters.

"I see that this preamble has awakened your attention-I shall therefore cut short my preface and simply relate my adventures.

"I was born at Myt-Rahyneh (a village built on the ruins of ancient Memphis), which, as you know, is near the banks of the Nile, and about a day's march south of Cairo. My father was a simple fellah (peasant) of the village. His name was Fath Allah, and his surname Al Mogrebi (the western Arab), for he was not an Egyptian by birth. My grandfather, Ismail Ebn-al-Modad, was born in one of the tribes that dwell in the mountains of Deren (Atlas) in western Africa; but he left his country and settled in Egypt, where he died, leaving my father all that he had brought from the west: that is to say, the surname Mogrebi, and the wish to make a fortune. It was in fact with this hope that my grandfather had come to Egypt, looking upon this blessed country as the 'sea of concealed treasures, the abundant mine of the liberalities of destiny.'

other children of the village; and thus without labour or care I attained my sixteenth year, the age which my father had fixed to take me with him in his tours of investigation, which were sometimes extended to a great distance from his habitual residence.

"Near Mit-Rahyneh is a vast tank, or rather a triangular lake, bounded on all sides by a chain of hillocks, supposed to have been formed by the gradual accumulation of sand over the ruins of an ancient city. A grove of palm trees covers these elevations, and encloses the lake with a verdant girdle, whose waving branches reflected in the limpid waters would remind you of the brilliant mirrors, set in plumes of ostrich feathers, which the women of Cairo and of several other countries are so fond of carrying in their hands. It was in this grove that I loved to sport with my juvenile companions; in this lake we loved to bathe and enjoy the varied pleasures of the water.

"One day, plunging into the eastern corner of the lake, I accidentally touched something hard, which my hand mechanically grasped. Return"His pursuits had not enriched him, but his ing to the shore, I washed my prize, and having ardour in the laborious career he had chosen never with some toil removed the mud with which it abated. He believed that his exertions would was incrusted, I found it to be a ring of coarse lead one day or other to the accomplishment of workmanship; the circlet was of brass, the centre all his desires; and at the very moment of his was a darkish stone rough and unpolished, on death, he lamented that fortune, envious of his which were graven some mysterious characters. success, had cut short his course at the very in- I felt a childish joy at this discovery, though I stant when a few efforts more would have put him was yet unacquainted with its real value; and in possession of the object he had so ardently pur-placing the ring on my finger, I continued my sued. usual play.

"You will not be surprised that my father, "Some time afterwards, the day came when my imbued from infancy with the opinions and hopes father was for the first time to take me with him of the old man, continued the same pursuits, firm-on his excursions; but before quitting Mit-Rahyly persuaded that, sooner or later, he or his de-neh, he wished to introduce me to a maternal scendants would discover that which they had so uncle, whom I had never seen, and who lived at eagerly and so obstinately sought.

"Of course, you have guessed that my father and grandfather were treasure hunters. Both spent their lives in excavating at hazard in the desert, sometimes in the plains of Saharah, and sometimes in the sands and rocks that surround the great pyramids.

Cairo.

"My uncle Ahmed was a saïs (groom) in the establishment of Zú-al-Fykar, one of the first beys of Cairo, and governor of a fertile province; and my father was anxious that I should obtain my uncle's patronage and protection. He conducted me to Cairo, and presented me to Ahmed. I was then in the full bloom of youth and health;

"In spite of all my father's fatigues he never found a treasure; nevertheless his continued ex-my features were considered agreeable and regucavations brought to light bits of metal, gems, or some little idols worshiped by the subjects of the Pharaohs. These partial discoveries seeming to promise something more substantial, encouraged him to persevere; and the sale of these objects to curious travellers or to Frank merchants at Cairo, sometimes procured him considerable sums.

lar, my form was active, light and strong. I was
not then a deaf, stammering, asthmatic hunch-
and his prophet wither the hand that struck the
back, nor had a disastrous sword-cut (may God
blow!) as yet seamed my countenance with a
mark like the broad hem of a garment. My uncle
took a great fancy to me, and procured me a situa-.
tion in the bey's household, which opened to me
the most favourable prospects. But it was written
on the table of light that I should be neither a
treasure hunter nor a groom, but the miserable
inmate of the Moristán that
you behold.

"I was destined by my father to the same labours to which he devoted himself every day, and I was to have for my inheritance the same hopes that my grandfather had transmitted to him; but fate, which sports with our projects, was "On the day of a great festival-I remember pleased to render me master, without labour or well-it was the Muled-en-Nabí (birthday of the fatigue, of a real treasure-one of unappreciable prophet)-all the domestics and slaves in the value, but also of a very singular nature, for to it bey's house were permitted to enjoy themselves. I owe the long course of misfortunes by which II was a great favourite with them all, but was have been pursued in almost every country in this especially caressed by the bey's secretary, a learned Copt, acquainted with all the languages of "Until I was old enough to share my father's Egypt. His look accidentally fell upon my ring labours, I spent my time in sporting with the-which my father believing of little value, had VOL. XXVII. NOVEMBER, 1835-63

vast universe.

left with me and he asked permission to examine that the inscription appears to announce, but if so, it. After a long and tedious scrutiny, he said- I doubt if it contributed to his happiness. O, my "These characters are neither Arabic, Coptic, son! it is not the power of satisfying our desires, Persian, Greek, nor Hebrew; they are Khatt- but the courage to suppress them, that insures Asfwú (bird alphabet, or hieroglyphics), and felicity. The heart of man is insatiable, the acthere is only one man alive who can interpret complishment of one wish leads to the formation them, a dervish in the valley of the Waterless of a thousand; these are the pregnant sources of river. I am about to travel in that direction, and evil, like the small kernel that in an almost imif you intrust me with the ring, I will get him to perceptible space contains an immense tree, which interpret the inscription.' will soon raise its head to the clouds and destroy all the vegetation under its shade, and whose branches will one day or other break the heads of the children of him by whom it was planted. Moderation in our desires, and contentment with what we possess, constitute the only imperishable wealth.'

Owing probably to some secret influence of which I was not myself aware, I refused to part with the ring, but offered to accompany him on his journey, if my uncle granted me permission. Leave was easily obtained, and I joyously set out in company with the Copt, though in truth I did not attach any great importance to discovering the meaning of the inscription.

"My good old man,' I interrupted, 'such thoughts may perhaps suit your age. For my part, I entertain very different opinions. I am indeed so weary of my journey hither, and so little satisfied with your fare, that I should be glad to get back to my master's house at once, I care not by what means. That is what Morad wishes, and I'

"Every thing pleased me on the journey, until we passed Terráneh, when we quitted the fertile and smiling banks of the Nile to bury ourselves in the desert. The Copt was mounted on a stout donkey, but, trusting to my vigorous constitution, I preferred going on foot with the inferior attendants. I soon found that I had undertaken a very "My speech was cut short. I felt myself sudpainful task. Our road lay sometimes over mov-denly hurried through the air, and in an instant ing sands, sometimes over rocks, and sometimes was transported to the bey's court, which I had over heaps of rounded pebbles that slipped under quitted two days before. I fell as if hurled by a our feet. We sank up to our knees in the sand, whirlwind into the midst of a large copper tray, our flesh was torn by the sharp points of the rocks, from which my old companions were taking their and the rolling pebbles often carried us backward meal. I had not been expected back so soon, and in a second through a space that it required many my singular fall, as little foreseen by me as by minutes to recover. Our rest was still more pain- them, had overturned and broken every thing on ful than our march. The sun in a cloudless sky the tray. Their first impulse was to punish by a scorched us with its burning rays; not a tree af- shower of blows the person who had destroyed forded us shade, no speck of verdure in the wide their dinner. Happily my uncle heard my cries, prospect broke the uniformity of this ocean of rock and rescued me from their hands. and sand, the true empire of death and desolation. "I related my adventure as it happened, but "At length, after a painful journey of a day and not a soul would credit my story. The day passand a night, we reached a summit whence we ob-ed in reproaches for the mischief I had done, and tained a sight of the valley of the Waterless river. It is so named because the view of this vast ravine suggests the idea of the bed of a vast river, whose waters had been suddenly dried up by a decree of Omnipotence. After a day's rest, I was conducted into the presence of the venerable Makarius, the wise man of the desert. He had once been tall, but age had now bent him nearly double. His bald forehead shone like the polished marble of a column; his silvery beard descended below his girdle; he wore a brown robe; a stick surmounted by a cross-piece supported his tottering steps. His feet and head were naked, but though every thing marked his extreme old age, the fire of the eyes that glanced from under his shaggy and wrinkled brows showed that time had not weakened his intellectual powers.

"He examined my ring attentively, and showed some surprise on deciphering the inscription. My son,' said he, 'this inscription is written in a language more ancient than any of the works of man that have descended to our times, and this is its interpretation-What does Morad desire? Let him speak, or only think, MORAD WILLS, and his wishes shall be accomplished.'

"I do not know,' he continued, 'if the former possessor of this ring really possessed the powers

ridicule of my improbable tale. Night promised some respite to my fatigue, but my sleep, though sound, was disturbed by fantastic dreams of the wealth hidden by malignant spirits from the sons of Adam. On waking, I could not avoid dwelling on these visions of splendour. I was especially anxious to witness the glories of the court of the kaliphs, and I involuntarily eried out, O, how happy should I be to contemplate this delicious spectacle! How anxiously does Morad wish to be at this moment in the land of so many marvels, in the midst of the city of Bagdad!'

"No sooner had I spoken than I was hurried through the air, above the clouds, and held by a powerful, but unseen hand, over the middle of the Tigris, into whose waters I was soon precipitated. The waves whirled round me and opened a passage for me to the very sand in the river's bed, whence the rebound immediately brought me to the surface. I swam vigorously, and soon reached the bank. The sun quickly dried my garments. I went through the city, and found that I was really at Bagdad, but that the kaliphs and their glory had long since disappeared, its present ruler being a Turkish pacha.

"My travels having sharpened my appetite, I discovered with sorrow that I had not a single coin in my pocket. I obtained a few scanty alms

from the charity of pious Mussulmans, and when evening came I sat down hungry and fatigued under the shade of some trees opposite to the pacha's splendid residence. Lights gleamed from every part of the building; sounds of music announced mirth and joy; slaves clothed in the richest garments crossed and recrossed the courts. This sight aggravated the sense of my forlorn situation.

"How wretched is the lot of Morad!' I exclaimed, doomed to darkness, hunger, and cold. Oh! how I wish for some of those delicate viands, for that brilliant illumination, for that delightful music, a faint echo only of which is wafted to my ears!"

"I had not finished speaking, when a long train of slaves, bearing torches, issued from the palace, accompanied by another company bearing golden dishes and vases of porcelain, filled with every delicacy that could gratify the most fastidious palate. Musicians and singers completed the procession, which advanced towards me and formed a circle under the trees by which I was shaded. I had just begun to use the viands thus wondrously provided, when the eunuchs and guards of the pacha rushed to punish the deserters with sticks and clubs, and bring them back to the place they had so mysteriously quitted. I had more than my share of the beating, and as I sank exhausted under the blows, I wished to be in a place of safety.

'Blessed be heaven said they, 'for inspiring you with the design of coming hither to perform penance. Choose yourself the kind of suffering you wish to endure, for heaven is delighted only by voluntary atonements.'

"As I kept silence, each began to recommend his favourite mode of penance.

"Knock your head against this stone, brother, cried one, until you bruise it as much as mine." "Heaven protect you,' said another, 'it is much better to roast yourself over a fire until your skin is as crisp as mine.'

"No,' roared a third, "the deities are better pleased by your driving nails and hooks through your limbs, as large as those by which you see [me transfixed.'

"A fourth glaring at me with maniac eyes, said, 'Leave these men whose devotion is so feeble, and come with me to sacrifice yourself beneath the wheels of our great idol Jagga-Nattah (Juggernaut.)'

I opened my mouth to declare my dislike of all these seducing proposals, when one of the fakirs, in order to hasten my decision, seized a burning coal in a pair of tongs, and thrust it into my mouth, before I could make any resistance to this act of devout friendship. You will readily conjecture how soon I wished to be delivered from the fakirs. My desire was accomplished the instant it was formed, but a portion of my tongue had been consumed in this holocaust to the gods of India, and since that time I have been, as you perceive, a stammerer.

"Instantly I found myself in a dungeon enclosed on every side, where I believed myself safe, as I found that my persecutors had disappeared. I "Certainly the most diabolical of the fakirs discovered that I was not alone; and though the would not have wished to follow me to the spot darkness hindered me from learning immediately whither I had been removed. I was in a deep the nature of my asylum, groans and the clank of gorge of the mountains of Serendib (Ceylon), chains soon revealed to me that I was in the placed exactly between a huge tiger and an lowest cells of a prison. I spent the night in enormous lion, apparently about to dispute which gloomy reflections. In the morning my compa- should have the honour of devouring me. Never nions informed me that I was still at Bagdad, in did I form a wish more rapidly than for the dethe dungeons of the fortress,-adding that they struction of these frightful animals. At the same had been all condemned to suffer the penalties of instant they sprang upon each other, and after a treason. Their sobs and despair, when they heard dreadful fight fell dead together at my feet. I in the court-yard of the prison the awful prepara- had nothing more to fear from my two enemies, tions making for their punishment, were heart but I lay at the bottom of lofty precipices, which rending. Already through the grated windows I could not ascend, and for a day and a night I they could see the stakes for their impalement endured all the pangs of intense hunger. The fixed on the esplanade of the fortress; the creak-scent from the carcasses of the lion and tiger ing of doors and the clash of arms announced the approach of the executioners. In a few minutes more I should have been involved in the fate of those poor wretches, when I addressed the genius who, I doubted not, had caused my misfortunes: 'Whoever thou art that hast conducted the unfortunate Morad hither, remove him to some spot distant from these butchers; that is what Morad desires with his whole heart and soul.'

brought a cloud of eagles and vultures, and troops of jackals and hyenas, into the ravine. They soon devoured the carrion, and I feared, with reason, that they were about to fall upon me, when I exclaimed, 'Save me, O God, from this gulf of destruction. Morad wishes to be released from this host of ravenous enemies, and to dwell in some place cultivated by man.' Scarcely had this cry of agony issued from my lips, ere dread"In an instant prisoners and prison had disap-ful claps of thunder, a thousand times louder than peared, and I was in a convent inhabited by idola-any I had ever heard before, echoed through the trous fakirs, near a large Indian city on the borders sky. I thought the heavens were about to fall of China. The monstrous images that crowded upon my head. The jackals and hyenas fled, my new abode were hideous and disgusting; but the eagles and vultures also fled, and I found myin this sacrilegious temple they received the wor-self, with a pleasure I cannot express, lying on ship due only to the one God. Each of these verdant turf in a rich and luxuriant country. My horrid figures was surrounded by numerous devo- wish was this time faithfully fulfilled, but the ees, and my presence seemed to excite no surprise fearful thunder had made me deaf, and you know lab the assembly. My new hosts came round me. that I continue so to the present hour.