Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-06

now ne FeceiNeu us cOuu1lSSlOH anu now
he got promotion. It is sufficient to say
that at the time he wrote. after six years
Of service, he held the commission of
captain Nor was that all He had been
able to render such signal service to q
certain rajah. that this prince, who was
not ungrateful. and hoped. besides. for
more such services. took him one day into
his treasure house and babe him help him
self to all If he pleased
my dear. he continued. 81 knew not
that the world contained so much treas
ure. Yet this rajah Is but petty prince,
and his wealth Is as nothing compared
with that of many others There we're
diamonds In bags. uncut. whose worth |
knew not. and diamonds in rings, sword
handles and women's gauds. there were
rubies. emeralds. sapphires, turquoises.
opals and all kinds of precious stones
strung rudely on common string as II they
were but pebbles. There were also gold
and silver vessels of all kinds. and there
were casks full Of gold coins AS took
out a handful ! saw that many Of them
were ancient. with Greek characters. per.
soldier Alexander When had surveyed
these wonders | thanked him and said
that | should not presume to take so
much as a single gold coin from his treas.
ure. but that If 1t should please his high
ness to offer me present | should accept
1t with gratitude. provided it was not too
costly He laughed at these words. and
1
gold that fancied myself already a rich
man.
'Since this event 1t bath pleased Lord
Give to issue an order which prohibits
officers from accepting henceforth any
presents at all from the native princes.
cannot but feel grateful that the order
was not issued before my own good for.
tune. Doubtless his excellency hath good
reasons for this order. which places the
military service at a disadvantage com
pared with the writer's. who have great
opportunities of making fortunes; and
cannot but think that it is more noble
thing to win fortune at the point of the
sword than by such arts as are daily prae-
ticed by the writer's and civil servants of
the company. There are many English
men, and many Frenchmen as well-but
we are driving them out of the country
who have become rich in the military
service of the Indian princes; yet | shall
not exchange my present masters so long
as the merchants-who think nothing of
glory or Of this country. yet a great deal
Of their dividends--perceive that 1t Is for
their safety. as well as for their credit. to
extend their power; and | have reason.
able hope that the good fortune which
hath hitherto attended mo may continue,
so that ! may return to my native coun.
try. If only in my old age. amply pro
vided AS regards the climate. have as
yet experienced no great Inconvenience
from the heat. The natives have learned
to fear an EngEshman. rather than to
love him. which is. methinks. the thing we
should most desire when we have to rule
over people as Ignorant of the Christian
virtues. although not barbarous, like the
naked blacks. but a most ingenious. dex-
ferrous and skllfu people. and Of subtle
intellect. yet slothful of body, lovers Of
rest. deceivers regardless of truth. for
ever bCueuliuB plOJS dlld COuJIlFiHB SUI
tleties. and more cruel to prisoners than
the Spanish Inquisition. The best among
them are followers of Mohammed, who
make faithful servants and good soldiers.
1t is a country where the ambition and
jealousy of princes are continually causing
fresh wars to be undertaken. and where
European may lead life of adventure to
bfa haor{to oo,fan{
was reading. as have said. this letter
aloud in presence of my two faithful
friends. Now when | spoke of the drill
on board. and the sergeant's rattan. and
the regimental supplejack. the fugleman
drew himself upEight and shouldered the
garden spade. because there was no pike
at hand; and when read of the bo's'n's
ropes end. and the ships cato tails,
Sailor Nan cooked her hat and stood with
feet apart and hands upon her hips. and
began, but In a whisper, to murmur
strange sea oaths; and when | read the
account Of the fight in which Ralph's
courage saved this grateful rajah-it was
a most dreadful battle. In which hundreds
of brave fellows and treacherous Hindoos
were killed, SO that to read 1t made ones
heart cease to beat-the fugleman, car
riedSbeyond himself, executed capers with