"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٣‎٩] (٦٥٤/٥٦)

1
THE PAINS OF PEESENT-GIVING.
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them. I liave treated this latterly as a mercantile concern, and
if there is the slightest feeling of pride in the Minister's mind, he
must be ashamed. I am not yet decided whether I shall return
the presents, but believe I shall not (unless their behaviour mends)
spare them this last degradation. I am told the Prince is not
fully informed of this transaction; but he must know something
of it, and if he had one royal sentiment in his breast, he never
would permit a proceeding of such a character. But he is as
rapacious as his brethren, and as insensible to shame."^
On the 11th of September, Malcolm quitted Kerman-
sliah; and at the end of his first march, this unseemly
contest was brought to a close:
" The customary presents," he wrote in his journal, " of a horse
and a sword for me, and a dress for each of my family, was sent
yesterday to my tent. I received the royal present with the
usual ceremony, and we went in the evening to visit the Prince,
who was very gracious, and talked a good deal. He, however,
on this occasion, displayed more obstinacy than knowledge in his
observations, and on our differing regarding the geography of
ancient and modern Europe, he was kind enough to give me a
great deal of information upon those points, which I received with
a smile. After I returned to the camp, I sent for the merchant
whom I had claimed as security for the payment of the 15,000
kroosh for the khelats, &c., which were, as 1 expected, not worth
5000. The pride of the Minister was, I found, prepared for the
loss, and the man came to Camp with the cash. I tore his bond,
and wrote a letter to my mehmendar respecting my sense of
the conduct which had been pursued towards me, but stating
that, as I considered the honor of the King and his son to be the
same, I should look over what was past, and keep the articles sent
me, which he must know were of no value either to me or the
gentlemen of my suite, rather than involve the Prince's name
further in such a transaction by the public return of his presents.
On tlie 20tli of September, after a march enlivened
and rendered hazardous by the disturbed state of the
country, Malcolm found himself on the banks of the
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