this old man survives* will* if he has not:forgotten it, be loudly greeted
with the word khdsh. He was one of -those inoffensive* good humoured
creatures, sometimes to be met with in the lower rank of
people, who enliven their^neighbourhood by their Careless vivacity*
tricks, and drollery ; and who, without an irascible particle in their
composition, receive composedly the cuffs, and feed upon the catesses*
of those whom they entertain. But, not being* competent to the
comprehension of all his drolleries, we thought his visits, at last,
too frequent, and we fairly frightened him from _our rooms, by electricity.
Never was a creature more astonished than when he received
the. first shock: we often -save.it. him afterwardsoby surpriæ, till at
length he thought himself no where safe; and a single turn of the
cylinder would make him run, without stopping, till he was out of
*‘ght.
Our electrical apparatus proved a most fertile fund of amusement.
The quick and incomprehensible action of the electric Huid, produced
frequently a very laughable spectacle, among crowds of Booteeas,
who were attracted by curiosity to our apartments. It was ex*
tremely entertaining to communicate the shock to a large circle. After
the first impression and exclamation of astonishment, there never failed
to :ensue among them a hearty, laugh ; each being delighted at tfcg
idea of what Jbe supposed thè other felt. By the Raja’s desire, I
carried the apparatus repeatedly to his apartment, and he was much
diverted with it. He would never venture- to draw even a spark
himself, but would occasionally call!in parties to be electrified, and
1 Khâs signifies good, excellent.
much enjoyed the. foolisjb figure, theyiuhade?, on -ithff^.sph^atio® of a
shock. *:At last w^'foi^i^Sistidlrfiioult; t&i c^lieGia^dlunteers, tfop.the;^
all grew remarkably! shy s ofthe macfejhe,1.! Tah&RajJ^jhq^e^ei^iseeined
to »derive sos-much amusement .from i&jftfiati I.;eaUld not ^find^ih^ my
heart to »deprive him ®f supM q 1 1> sotfilfift
apparatusjin his, Bands, with s'uehr.di'ieotio.nsias. I thpughjt;,,pgcd:ssary=,:>
and if its charms dq®b|iceasefiwith i t t S i p q j j f l J i i s
being able,at.,any time tq,a^e''fitv., The.Rajat had atxnbehanie .tujm^and
delighted,» in.exhibitiUgrxthe works ofihist^^^t^jSj^^M^wereiiless^'e'*,
markable for ingepnityjiban for, strength*. * He^renkonedl^imSelfiippSri
'sessed .ofOxtraordinary good-iron/ and: ind^g@d|pi^ng|%tbpi‘Bi()n • of the
j arms’ tfa’bticatedlfrom: it! It was a, fevomite iUmusementtwirhiLjum^t®
examine:the few, mathematical and optical insjtruments wethad with
and Mr. Saunders afforded him a great treat,,by4sh©wmgidusi'ehiriirgical
instruments, and explaining their uses. , j
The versatility;‘akigenius,, and spirifeofi inquiry, which he»possessed]
had qualified/him for the- practice': of, physio,•jequallyjwhf1.:any of),the
profession in bis <,own. dominions; .andjhdfhadfra perfect-; knowledge of
qyery medicinal preparation in use,among.them:3^^&enter£|inedsa
just opinion of our-superior skittj* andjv’4§§j$?U$.o£ preJKtigig ctsjmjuch
as possible by sthojopportunity, he ordered hjsechiefsphysitfian to attend
pn Mr. Saunders, and'ayaili himsel&ofhis insferyjjtijgps. ,-The Raja wH|-
hngly ^patted with specimens ,of all; hfe things „and gave ^jacGQunjjef
their reputed properties: in return*, he received; frpqi-, M^-- 'Saunders
whafeverhe'tXMild^p^.l^ft^lu« chest. The virtues of qne
he put to the; festjyhifoiwe wgrgowjthl B™» this: was, ij&j^puanha.