Such was the rapid rise to power at the early age of thirty of General Jung Bahadoor, the Nepaulese ambassador to England, who would have been invested with a deeper interest than the mere colour of his face or brilliancy of his diamonds entitled him to, had the British public known the foregoing particulars of his eventful career. But, perhaps, it was as well for him that they did not, since our occidental notions as to the legitimate method of carrying political measures might have altogether excluded him from the favour of those who delighted to honour him during his visit to England; but, in extenuation of his conduct, it must be remembered that the mode employed by him of gaining power is the common one in his country, and that his early training had induced a disregard of life and recklessness of consequences; for he is not, I am convinced, naturally cruel. Impetuous and thoughtless, he has many generous and noble qualities; and in a companionship of two months I discovered so many estimable traits in him, that I could not help making allowances for the defects in a character entirely self-formed by one ignorant of all moral responsibilities, the half-tamed son of an almost totally uncivilised country. And while thus unreservedly relating his history, I do so in the belief that he has no desire to conceal what, in his own mind and that of his countrymen, is not regarded as crime, since I have frequently heard him refer, with all the simplicity of conscious innocence, to many of the facts I have related, and for some of which he himself is my authority. Having thus given a short account of the previous career of this remarkable man, a few words on his present position and future prospects may not be uninteresting, the more so as he purposes, since he has visited the courts of Europe, to become an enlightened ruler of his countrymen. CHAPTER X. _The titles of his Excellency General Jung Bahadoor Coomaranagee in England--Extraordinary notions of the British public on Indian affairs--Jung Bahadoor's conciliatory policy--Our unsuccessful attempt to penetrate beyond the permitted boundaries--Dangerous position of the Prime Minister--His philanthropic designs--Great opposition on the part of Durbar--Native punishments--A Nepaulese chief-justice--Jung's popularity with the peasantry and army_. The rumours in England during Jung Bahadoor's short residence there--of who he was, of what position he held, of his having taken his greatest enemies with him to keep them from conspiring against him while absent--of his being at least a Prince, if not the Rajah himself in disguise--were as far from correct, and as improbable, as were the numerous stories related of him in the newspapers, many of which had no foundation whatever, and in no way redounded to his credit.