'A Journey from Bengal to England, through the Northern part of India, Kashmire, Afghanistan, and Persia, and into Russia, by the Caspian-Sea. By George Forster. In the Civil Service of the Honourable the East-India Company in Two Volumes. Vol. II.' [‎65] (78/314)

FORSTER’S TRAVELS.
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contained an order of payment. This event fenfibly affedted
my future progrefs, and I feared would detain me at Kabul
until clearer credentials were obtained. Another occurrence be
fell me at this time, of a much more trivial nature; but as it
ferves to pourtray perhaps a national character, may deferve a
notice.
The muleteer, who had accompanied me from Pefiiour,
charged me with having given him a counterfeit rupee on the
road, and now required its exchange. He had before made
known to me his fufpicion of this piece of money, which one
of the paflengers had given him, and had folicited my inter
ference for redrefs. When I recounted this fa£t, reprobating alfo
the fhamelefs fraudulency of the attempt, the boy, for he was
not more than fixteen years of age, daringly told me to fpare
my words and^ pay the money, or he would prefer a double
complaint againft me, and make oath to the kazzi, that none
of the mule-hire had been paid 5 though himfelf had witneffed the
advance of half the hire at Pefho.ur. His youthful appearance,
and fo intrepid a declaration, united in ftriking me with horror,
and I inftantly put my hand to my purfe to prevent his purpofe,
when Bagdafir, who had heard our difcourfe, infilled that no
money fhould be paid without an order from the judge. They
went to that officer’s court, where the muleteer, without a wince,
made oath to the truth of his demand, winch was forthwith paid
Vol, II, ' I by