AN EASTERN STORY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7146, 25 April 1885, Page 4

AN EASTERN STORY.

One day, it is said, three Khyberees, caught red-handed in if removing " a baggage camel out at graze, were brought prisoners before Mr Merk. lie blew them up in choice Pushtoo, forcibly pointing out the heinousness of their misdeed. Then came a pause. The great Empress of India was kind and compassionate ; even such wretches as they were cared for. If they would solemnly promise to refrain from any act of aggression in the future, each oue would receive ten rupees and a blanket. There was a consensus of salaams and promises and invocations of Allah. The men were led into Mr Merk' a inner tent. No one else was admitted. Then the political officer hauled forth from a treasure cheat a huge network bag of some 3000 glittering rupees. Probably this was meant to impress the untutored Ehyberee mind. The political officer was proceeding to count out the ten rupees each, when one ferocioue tribesman drew his glistening tulwar concealed under his robe, and dared Mt Merk to atir an inch. The other two men walked off with the bag. Ten minutes later the man standing over the •political officer suddenly turned from him and dashed away. The alarm was raised at once, and scouting parties sent out ; but the end of the business was that Mi Merk had to make good 3000 rupees to the Simla Treasury. This Btory si non t vero c ben trovato.