I concluded to remain at the village, come what would, without expecting the pleasure I enjoyed with my Scotch friend, the Collector. The village committee took the Settlement Officer a fine present, but he treated them with such contempt that they never went near him again. His servants robbed the gardens and fruit trees, but I suggested to the people to say nothing. He every morning fished at the tank and made large hauls, while his servants came with nets and took away loads of small fish as well as large. This was done daily, until it became irritating beyond endurance. The committee came to me with complaints, and I saw that I must do something or lose my position in their estimation; so I concluded to beard the lion or jackass, whatever might happen. I saw him seated in front of his tent. He did not rise or even nod, or say anything. I did not know why he should have treated me with such insolence, unless it was in the nature of the beast to do so. “Well, what is it?” he finally asked. I replied, “I hope you will excuse me for troubling you, but your men have gone into the gardens of the villages and taken vegetables and fruit and abused the people when they objected.” He stopped me with, “I don’t believe a word of it; Chuprassi!” and up came a sleek villain whom I had seen in the gardens. “Did any of the servants go into the village gardens and take vegetables?” “Khudawand!” said the fellow with his hands together. “Lord, why should we become bastard thieves when we have all we want in his highness’ camp?” “There!” said the Khudawand, “I told you that it was not so.” “But,” I remarked, “I saw this very man in the garden with his arms full of vegetables.” He made no reply. I continued, “The people do not mind the loss of the stuff, but they don’t like the abuse they receive.” He only listened. Have you ever remonstrated with a man when he only stared? Is there anything more irritating? I went on, “I built a tank and stocked it with fish at considerable expense, and the rules are that no outside natives shall fish in it, and the villagers themselves shall not take fish under a certain size, and that no nets shall be used; but your servants are daily using nets and carrying away loads of small fish.” At this he sprang to his feet, blustering out, “I have had enough of this. That is a public tank, and my servants shall fish there if they want to.”