CHAPTER XVI.

RESIDENCE AT CAWNPORE—THE DEWĀLĪ.

1830, _October_.

Aghā Meer the Nawāb—Elephants Swimming the Ganges—Cashmere Goats—Discontent of the Soldiers—Buffaloes—Methodism—Desertion of Soldiers to Runjeet Singh—Marks of Age on Stud-bred Horses—Abolition of Sŭtēē—Pilgrim Tax—The Dewālī—The Phŭlŭ-hŭrēē Festival—Arrival of Aghā Meer and his Zenāna—Vicious Horses—Turquoise Mines in Persia—Lament of the Hindoo Women—Burning the Dead—The Mug Cook—Brutal Punishment—Plagues of Egypt—Conversion of Hindoo Women—The Races—The Riding School—Kishmish Bakhshish—Apples and Grapes from Cabul—Arab Merchants 159