"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." [‎٣‎٠‎٧] (٦٥٤/٣٢٤)

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.
307
to wear it. Malcolm was not yet a Major-General; and
the rules of the service therefore precluded him from
writing G-.C.B. after his name. His promotion, how
ever, was not far distant; and in such a case the promise
was as good as the performance.
So, with this great object of soldierly ambition already
within his reach, and the prospect of a Lieutenant-Gover
norship before him, Malcolm addressed himself hopefully
to his administrative duties in Central India. The hot
weather found him again at Mhow, toiling on with assi
duous endeavour to settle not only the country which had
passed under British rule, but the native principalities
by which he was surrounded. It was hard work ; but
it pleased him well, for he felt that he was doing good.
The nature of it cannot be described better than in his
own words. Writing to one of his oldest friends, Mr.
Haliburton, he said:
" I wish I had you here for a week, to show you my nabobs,
rajalis, Bheel chiefs, pattyls, and ryuts. My room is a thorough
fare from morning till night. No moonshees, dewans, dubashes,
or even clioubdars, but Char Derwazah Kolah* that the inha
bitants of these countries may learn what our principles are at the
fountain head. My success has been great, beyond even my own
expectations; but the labor of public duty in the way I take it is
more than any man can bear, and I believe I should be gratetul
to the Directors for relieving me from a life that no human being
that sees how it is passed can envy.
" Of the result of my efforts I will not speak. You will hear
from others that have lately quitted this scene. Suffice it to say
that from the highest ruler to the lowest robber, from the palace
in the city to the shed in the deepest recess of the mountain
forest, your friend Malcolm-Sahib is a welcome and a familiar
guest, and is as much pleased, thank God, with firing arrows and
eating nuts with the latter as at the fine durbar and sumptuous
* Literally, " Four doors open"—a phrase implying general accessibility.
x 2