to gather together and transmit to the agents articles of little value.  But, soon gaining experience from continued practice, and taking note of the different houses in which there was a likelihood of finding prize, we settled down to a systematic course of search, which in the end proved highly remunerative.  Scarcely anything of value was found lying about the different rooms; these had been already gutted and the contents destroyed by the soldiers, both European and native, who, since the day of assault, had roamed about the city.  At the time we began our search all was comparatively quiet, and during our operations, such was the vast extent of the city and so numerous the buildings, that only on two or three occasions were we interrupted by parties engaged in the same quest as ourselves.

My companion was a good Hindustani scholar, and taking advantage of his proficiency in the language, he made a point of interviewing several natives of the city, who, in the capacity of workmen in different trades, were allowed in Delhi, and were employed in their several occupations.  From one of these, a mason and builder, N—­received information that a large quantity of treasure was concealed in the house of a former rich resident.  This man had helped to secrete the hoard, and on the promise of a small reward was willing to help us in unearthing the booty.

One morning in the beginning of October, attended by the mason, and carrying the necessary implements, we were taken to the house in question.  This was a large building with a courtyard in the centre, the rooms of which showed the remains of luxury and wealth, but, as usual, had been despoiled by the plunderers of our army.  Every article was scattered about in dire confusion; there were piles of clothing and bedding; rich and ornamental stuffs were torn to pieces, and the household furniture, broken up, was strewn about the courtyard.  Our guide took us to a small room, about 80 feet square—­in fact, it was the closet of the establishment—­the walls of which were whitewashed, the floor being covered with a hard cement.  Here, we were told, the treasure was concealed under the flooring of the room, and we lost no time in commencing operations, the mason assisting us.  Picking through the cement, we came on a large flagstone, which we lifted out of the cavity.  Then we dug a hole about 3 feet square, and the same depth in the loose earth, disclosing the mouth of a large earthenware gharra, or jar.  Loosening the soil all around, we attempted to raise the jar out of the ground, but all our efforts were unavailing—­its great weight preventing us from lifting it one inch out of the bed.  Then, trembling with excitement, for we felt sure that a rich display would greet our eyes, we began slowly to remove each article from the gharra, and place it on the floor of the room.  A heavy bag lying at the mouth of the jar was first taken out, and on opening it, and afterwards