counting its contents, we found that it contained 700 native gold mohurs, worth nearly L1,200.  Then came dozens of gold bangles, or anklets, of pure metal, such as those worn by dancing-girls.  We were fairly bewildered at the sight, our hands trembling and our eyes ablaze with excitement, for such an amount of pure gold as that already discovered we had never seen before.  But the treasure was not yet half exhausted.  The jar seemed a perfect mine of wealth—­gold chains, plain and of filigree workmanship, each worth from L10 to L30; ornaments of the same metal of every sort of design, and executed in a style for which the Delhi jewellers are celebrated all over India.  Then came small silver caskets filled with pearls, together to the number of more than 200, each worth from L3 to L4, pierced for stringing.  Others, containing small diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and the greatest prize of all—­reclining in a casket by itself—­a large diamond, which was sold afterwards by the prize agents for L1,000.  There were many other articles of value besides those I have mentioned—­gold rings and tiaras inlaid with precious stones, nose-rings of the kind worn by women through the nostrils, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces of small pearls without number.

All these various articles we spread out on the floor of the room, examining each again and again, and with avaricious thoughts intent, lamenting that we were not allowed to appropriate what would have been to us a fortune.  Truly such a temptation to enrich themselves without fear of detection was never till this occasion set before two impecunious subalterns of the British Army.  Here, spread out before us, lay loot to the value of thousands of pounds, all our own were we to follow the example of some who had already feathered their nests with much larger amounts, defying those in authority to take the plunder from them.  However, such a course could not be entertained for one moment, and, moreover, were we to possess ourselves of all the contents of the jar, there was no secure place of concealment to be found, and unpleasant inquiries and prying eyes would soon have revealed to the world our abduction of the booty.

It is impossible to do more than guess at the value of the plunder acquired on this day.  My friend received a reward for the find; as for myself, I will leave it to my readers whether it was possible for weak human nature to resist the temptation of carrying away some few mementos from this miscellaneous collection of treasure-trove.  To tell the truth, I must confess that in after times my only regret was that I had foolishly let slip an opportunity of enriching myself which could never recur.  We agreed—­and in this we were borne out by the prize agent—­that L7,000 was the lowest sum at which to compute the loot we had found.