256 Memoirs of John Shipp. [Marcn, 
to the elegance of my appearance ; and in this state I contrived, somehow or 
other, to crawl out of the ditch. At this moment the retreat was sounded, 
after every mortal effort had been made in vain. 
The advice which he offers to young men destined for India, is the 
result of long experience. The following is excellent as a warning, and 
as a piece of description :— 
« A young man, on joining his regiment, which happens to be stationed in 
some remote part of the country, instead of meeting with that hospitality and 
friendly association which he has a right to expect at a well-regulated mess 
(the great basis of unanimity amongst the officers of a corps), finds every 
officer of the regiment living separate, and keeping native women. With these 
women they spend the greater part of their time, to the entire neglect of the 
more intellectual and rational pursuits of men. With such examples before 
his eyes; ata solitary place, far from any large station, where good society 
is to be met with; deprived of the company of his brother officers, and 
doomed to a life of unvaried monotony ; the inexperienced youth who joins 
the regiment, is but too often induced to fall in with the prevailing folly ; 
and, at length, instigated by others, and seduced by the amorous professions 
of a mercenary fair (or rather black) one, he consents to keep her and her 
numerous attendants. This connexion being formed, he may, probably, ask 
himself this question,—‘* Who is it that I have thus selected to be my com- 
panion,—the sharer of my fortunes, the participator of my cares, the solace of 
my woes, and the partner of my bed?’ If he does not know, I will tell him, 
in plain terms, but without the least exaggeration. She is a black woman, 
labouring under the influence of dark idolatry ; so ignorant as to be wholly 
unfit for your companion ; so immodest and lascivious as to be disgusting ; 
jealous in her disposition ; cruel in her nature ; despotic to your household ; 
extravagant in her expenditure ; and her sole object in connecting herself 
with you, is the mercenary prospect of having herself, and those whom she 
may please to call her relations, kept at your expense. This, young man, is a 
true character of the object you have selected to spend your days with. 
“To a consciousness of the consequences of-this illicit and vicious con- 
nexion, a man is first awakened by the inharmonious jabber of half a dozen 
plack bantlings surrounding his table, which groans under huge dishes of 
curry and rice. When each little darkling is ushered into the world, gold 
bangles are expected for the mother, silver ones for the nurses, new dresses 
for all the lady’s relations, and a grand dinner to her whole circle of acquaint- 
ance—at least fifty persons. When the darling little creature is christened, 
a similar routine of expenditure must be quietly submitted to, to which is 
usually added an entertainment to your brother officers, on which truly 
interesting occasion you would be accounted but a shabby fellow if you did 
not sport sparkling champagne. When the child begins to toddle, there is 
another day of jubilee,—for all which rejoicing poor ‘master’ pays the piper. 
Then comes the day when the little duck begins to lisp the endearing names 
of pa’ andma’. This is another gala-day ; and before all these holidays have 
been duly observed, the probability is, that ‘ master’ receives an addition to, 
his already-crowded circle, by the production of another dear little stranger, 
with master’s nose and eyes. 
« 'Thus goes on the life of a man who has once formed a connexion of the 
kind of which I speak, till at last he awakens to reflection and remorse, and 
distractedly asks himself—‘ What have I been doing? What is to become 
of these children? Can J abandon them? Am I not already a beggar, for 
ever estranged from my native land, and cut off from all chance of again’ 
seeing my dear relations in England?’ Alas! these reflections are too late, 
and it remains only for the victim of his own folly to. consider what he has 
remaining which may console him. Has he love?—No. Has he peace of 
mind?—No. Are the children which he is supporting his own ?—Very doubt-_ 
ful even this. Is his mode of life such as he can reconcile to his principles or 
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