J827.J Adventures of Ntitifragus. . 145 



" My attention was almost wholly engrossed with the contemplation of the 

 princely room we were dining in ; it was open on every side, and had a large 

 verandah, and extensive casements, shaded by Venetians ; the floor was of marble, 

 the walls were decorated with glass wall-shades, chandeliers, and pictures; a pun- 

 kah,* suspended from the ceiling, fanned us overhead, while a native at each 

 corner of the table moved to and fro a large hand punkah, made of the leaves of 

 the toddy tree, the end of which was fixed in a wooden socket, and the hookah 

 emitted odoriferous spicy gales ; crowds of Bengallee servants were in attendance. 

 So enchanted were my senses, that I could not help observing to Tassit, that, 

 much as I had heard of eastern luxury, the reality surpassed ev^n the imagina- 

 tion. Yes, Naufragus,' resumed Tassit, ' the luxury is certainly great, but it soon 

 cloys ; and then, my friend, the mind has not, as in England, any means of reno- 

 vating its exhausted powers ; the very climate tends but to smother energy, and 

 lull the soul into a state of indolence and languor; and all the luxury which cap- 

 tivates your young imagination, affords not that substantial happiness, which, in 

 your free and happy country, is enjoyed by a rustic at his homely board.' '' 



At this period of the narrative, the author's feelings as a man quite as 

 much as his adventures as a sailor come into play. But he does justice 

 to the characters of his relatives, even when he fancies himself ill-used by 

 them. He goes to England ; but, finding an ill reception from his family, 

 and no prospect of aid, contrives to obtain letters as a "free mariner," and 

 returns to India : sailing, on this (his third) voyage, in the first instance 

 for Ceylon ; where he again engages himself as mate of a coast trader, 

 and soon acquires money to attempt a little " trading" of his own. 



The purchase of a small vessel, through the agency of a dubash, or 

 broker, and the business of fitting it up and obtaining freight, introduce 

 some humorous notices of the habits and character of the native dealers 

 of Calcutta. Naufragus, after some consideration, agrees that his pur- 

 chase shall be a brig ; and desires " Moodoosooden Chetarjee" to look out 

 for one, the pi-ice of which should not exceed 500/. 



" Moodoosooden Chetarjee was, as I before said, a sedate-looking youth; his 

 gait and manner had even an air of sanctity, much heightened by his dress, a gar- 

 ment of fine linen folded loosely over him, and hanging down to his sandaled feet, 

 his turban being of rich muslin. . On his entrance he would make his salam by 

 raising his hands, in a graceful curve, to his forehead, touching it three times. 

 4 Well, Moodoosooden,' I would exclaim, ' what news this morning ?' [With 

 emphasis.] 'All the best news, my lord!' * What is it, Moodoosooden?' 

 4 Nothing, my lord !' This odd reply at first gave disappointment to inspired 

 hopes ; and it was not until I got used to Moodoosooden's manner, that I could 

 suppress the curiosity which his mode of answering was calculated to excite. In 

 general, indeed, as may well be imagined, the natives puzzle Europeans, fresh from 

 their native soil. 



" One evening, Moodoosooden entered with a bearer t behind him, carrying a 

 superb brass-mounted mahogany writing-desk, and requested my acceptance of it. 

 Having presented it, he said he had succeeded in selecting a brig just then for sale, 

 which he thought would suit me. ' She was,' he added, * registered at one hun- 

 dred and twenty-five tons, Chittagong built ; her price four thousand rupees (five 

 hundred pounds), and was then lying in the river Hooghly. I have besides, my 

 lord,' resumed Moodoosooden, * engaged a rich freight tor you for Madras, Pondi- 

 cherry, and Ceylon, the produce of which,' he added, 4 will more than defray the 

 cost and outfit of the vessel and crew.' Well, Moodoosooden, this is good news ; 

 to-niorrow morning I will go with you to see the vessel.' * But that,' Moodoo- 

 sooden rejoined,' * is not all; I have secured you a good syrangj and tyndal'H-* 



* " A board, about twelve feet in length, three in width, and one inch in thickness, 

 richly gilded and papered. It is fastened by ropes to the roof or ceiling, and kept in 

 motion by means oj' a line attached to its centre, and pulled by a person who sits in a 

 corner of the room." 



t " A palanquin-bearer, or menial. J Boatswain. || His mate. 



M.M. New Series. VOL. IV. No. 20. U 



