Page:Letters from India Vol 2.pdf/170

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158
LETTERS FROM INDIA.

Wednesday, 13th.

All ——’s goods were sold to-day, and it has been a most wonderful sale. All Calcutta there, though in general gentlemen think it wrong to attend sales and mix with the sircars who buy; but it was a fashion to go and see these things. We sent Giles and Mars at different times, and heard of daggers that cost twelve shillings going for seven pounds, and little agates that cost six shillings fetching two pounds, and the arms, which were really curious, went at ridiculous prices. I wish some very rich person in England had bought the arms in a lump. I suppose such a beautiful collection never will be made again. He got them through Runjeet Singh and Colonel Skinner and great natives who would let their workmen work for him; and then he poked out some antiquities in the Punjâb. Most of them were in worked silver, and some inlaid with stones, and such beautiful chain-armour and battle-axes.

Thursday, 14th.

I find I bought more at ——’s sale than thought I had. He had a silver bed-frame with little posts beautifully worked, and I told Captain