318 DR. HOOKER’S MISSION TO INDIA. 
antly as each surf tumbled beside the boat and carried her on 
the top of its foaming crest, letting her down bodily on the hard 
sand every time, with a crack that would break any ordinary 
vessel to pieces. Our boat, when fairly aground, was hauled a 
little way out of the rollers, opposite an alley in the crowd, where 
Lord Tweeddale and his staff stood ready to receive us. We 
landed one by one, in chairs carried by black fellows, who were so 
quick in their motions, that all four of us were out in half a minute. 
The guns in the battery immediately saluted, and the bands 
struck up “God save the Queen,” while the English, who formed 
the greater part of the crowd nearest us, hurraed, greeted us with 
hats off and handkerchiefs, and the troops gave the military salute. 
We were introduced formally to Lord Tweeddale, who was gorgeous 
in his Governor's uniform, broad ribbons, stars, and orders, and 
especially in the attire and appearance of his body-guards, aides- 
de-camp, and staff. The aides stuck close to us; for the crowd 
drew round so fast that it was difficult to reach the carriages, 
of which there were four: one for Lord Dalhousie, and the second 
with Ladies Tweeddale and Dalhousie, who had come down to 
meet the Governor-General, the third for Fane and your humble 
servant, the fourth for Courtenay and Bell. 
The start for the Government-House was very striking, for 
here we were kept clear of the crowd by the Governor's body- 
guard, a splendid troop of horse-soldiers, and all the cavalry 
regiments, the whole under arms, with the bands playing. We 
were no sooner in motion than a thousand carriages full of gaily 
dressed people started with us, together with horsemen and 
mounted ladies, and running natives, who escorted us the whole 
way to the Governor-General's house: ourselves being immedi- 
ately surrounded by the staff-officers and aides-de-camp, splen- 
didly dressed, and mounted on iron-grey Arab horses. The troops 
occupied a mile and a half on both sides, first the splendid 
Madras cavalry, then the European, and lastly the native infantry. — 
As we passed each, the band played the National Anthem, 
and they kept up the salute till all the carriages had passed. - ER 
was a gorgeous and stunning sight, but marred in some degree 
