464 Voyage of the Novara. 



cording to the natives, the yellow colour is procured from the 

 crushed, yellow-tinted root of the Curcuma longa, (a species of 

 spice), the red from the Cardomum {Amomum repens), citron- 

 ^uice, and red rice ; while the white is prepared from common 

 chalk. 



Lord Harris had, with true Indian hospitality, made the most 

 admirable arrangements for our accommodation while at the 

 Seven Pagodas. When, after our first survey of the locality, 

 we came down to the beach, we found two large and two small 



tents ready pitched, and a number of men collected round a 

 fire preparing our breakfast. But how great was our astonish- 

 ment, on entering the first tent, to find it spread with carpets, 

 with an elegant sleeping-apartment with two large commodious 

 bedsteads, and fitted up with all the usual necessaries for the 

 toilette ; while, in the passage which ran between the inner and 

 outer walls of the tent, stood two immense baths ready filled 

 with soft water to reinvigorate our exhausted frames ! Ere we 

 had recovered from our surprise, we were advised of the voice 

 of the Government Peon, apprising us that breakfast was served 

 in the second tent. This was used exclusively as a dining and 



