320 DR. HOOKER’S MISSION TO INDIA. 
knew and spoke highly of Dr. Wight, as did many persons. My 
apartments were in Government-House, but detached; in fact, 
I had a house or Bungalow all to myself, with bed-room, sitting- 
room, and bath-room: all empty, hollow-like places with no 
windows, but the walls all round formed of Venetian blinds, mats 
for carpets, and the beds enclosed by mosquito curtains. Others 
of us had tents pitched close to the house, which were very pretty, 
and lined inside with chintz. Two of Lord Tweeddale’s aides-de- 
camp live constantly in one of these tents, when at Madras; but 
the Governor very generally resides with his suite at a country- 
house called Ghindy, about seven miles off. 
On Thursday morning we had to receive Admiral Inglefield of 
H.M.S. “Vernon,” with Capt. Sir H. Blackwood of the “Fox,” 
and several other naval officers from ships in the Madras roads. I 
was very anxious to see Sir. H. Blackwood, whose brother, also a 
captain in the R.N., I knew at Cambridge, and who is going in 
the “ Fox” to survey the Teak forest of Moulmain, where he recom- 
mends Government to buy a large piece of land and to build a dock- 
yard which may supersede Bombay, the Teak of the Malabar coast 
being all destroyed by injudicious felling. Lord Dalhousie had 
intended staying only twenty-four hours at Madras, but was 
persuaded to hold a levée on Friday, so the rest of Thursday was 
spent in going on board the “ Moozuffer ” to fetch our clothes. In 
the evening I called on Mr. James Thomson, brother of Dr. R. D. 
Thomson of Glasgow, and a member of the mercantile house 1n 
which our late friend Gideon T. was a partner. From him I 
found that I could get Gideon’s plant-collector up from Cape 
Comorin to Calcutta; and I expect to be able to retain him m 
my service at the rate of twenty or twenty-five rupees per month 
(27. or 27. 10s.). I had also to procure a Madras servant, if I 
possibly could; but I failed, after a great deal of trouble. The 
Madras servants, as is well known, will do more than a Benga- 
lee, can speak a little English, and will stick to you longer, 
through all parts of the country: very essential qualities for a 
traveller. The one I first sent for was already engaged, the second 
wanted twenty rupees a month, which I cannot afford, because — 
