مرفقات لرسالة إلى وزير الدولة لشؤون الهند، رقم ١١، بتاريخ ١٥ يناير ١٨٧٥: خلاصات المحتويات من رقم ٣ إلى ٤٥ من وكيل الوزير الممارس للحكومة في الهند، فورت ويليام [و‎‎٧‎٥] (١٠٠/٤٧)

39 . . *
matter revealed the presence of arsenic. I failed, however, to detect in it the
slightest trace of any mineral poison other than arsenic. Many of the glitter-
ing particles appear to be of the same nature as those seen in the powder sent
me by JJr. Seward, namely, diamond dust, other glittering dark coloured
particles in the earthy matter prove to be oxide of iron, being in fact the same
substance that is commonly used as sand for drying ink.
Appendix. C.
Statement hy Colonel Phayre, C.B., Resident, Baroda, da led IQth November 1874.
T he attempt to poison me was- made on the morning of Monday, the 9th
November 1874. The small quantity of poisoned sherbet taken by me was
swallowed at about 7 a.m . At about 20 minutes or half past 9 a.m . the
Maharaja paid me his usual visit. After some common place remarks His High
ness observed that the weather was not healthy, that there was a good deal of
fever in the city, and that he himself had been suffering from purging and
headache and fever from eating the usual Dewallee sweetmeats, but that he had
recovered. I made no remark, but it occurred to me that His Highness had led
the conversation to the subject in order to elicit some remarks from me. I
have since learnt from the evidence that His Highness' confidential Arab
Sowar, Salam, was at the Residency earlier than usual on that morning; that
when I sent a note to summon Dr. Seward between 7 and 8 o'clock the Arab
Sowar stopped the peon, Mahomed, who w^as carrying it, and asked him to buy
him some biscuits in the bazaar, which extraordinary occurrence I can only
account for by a desire on the part of Salam to divert the peon's attention from
his proper errand to summon the Residency Surgeon.
By about noon on Monday the attempt to poison me began to spread in
the camp and city. Next day, Tuesday, 10th, several people from the citv came
to call or sent to enquire after my health, but no one came from the Maharaja.
Wednesday, the 11th, pasged in a similar manner without any enquiry on His
Highness' part.
On Thursday, the 12th, His Highness came to pay his usual visit, and on this
occasion, for the first time, he was accompanied by Mr. Dadabhyi, usually His
Highness comes alone. His Highness opened the conversation by saying that
he had heard on the previous day (11th) that some one had poisoned me, and
asked how I was, remarking at the same time that I showed no signs of hav
ing been poisoned when he called on Monday, the 9th instant. Previous to this
remark by His Highness I had not mentioned the hour at which I was poisoned,
but I afterwards told him how the Maharaja knew that I had been poisoned
when I came to receive him on the Monday morning is not apparent.
Mr. Dadabhoy said that he heard the rumour first on Tuesday, 10th, but
did not believe it. That the rumour was repeated so strongly on the 11th that
he believed it, and that he intended to speak about it next day, 12th. He asked
me if I was making enquiry imo the matter, and I replied that I was, and he
expressed a hope that I should succeed in discovering the perpetrator of the
crime.
On Saturday, the 14th instant, after dark in the evening, 5-45, I received
the following yad from the Durbar:—
Durbar yad to the Resident, No. 2057, dated 14th November 1874.
" A t a personal interview with you the day before yesterday I learnt from
you the particulars about the attempt made by some bad man to poison you,
for which I am very sorry. But it was the favor of God that his cruel design
did not meet with success.
" If it becomes necessary for you to obtain my assistance in proving this
criminal's guilt, the same will be given. This is written for your information".