6 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



prevented me from joining the sufferers, several of whom 

 lay about the deck, pictures of unmitigated woe. For the 

 first day since we left, the pianos had a holiday, and we 

 were even able to walk about, for " Sports " and deck 

 cricket were at a standstill. Even the kodaks ceased 

 from troubling, and the banjos were at rest, so an ill- wind 

 blew some of us good. 



Sunday, October 2nd. — It is pouring with rain, and 

 every one is wildly undoing rolls of umbrellas and water- 

 proofs. By the time they are disinterred the rain is over, 

 and the heat stifling. Alan says that with the exception 

 of a few showers about Christmas time, this is the last 

 rain we shall have until we return to Europe. 1 



At 2 p.m. we anchored in Bombav harbour. Even 

 before the anchor was down, hundreds of coolies swarmed 

 on board, and tore the luggage from meek, unoffending- 

 people, screaming and shouting wildly in unknown tongues 

 the while. Never in my life have I witnessed such a scene 

 of confusion. The British-India boat by which we proceed 

 to Kurrachee was already starting, and we had barely time 

 to get ourselves and about a ton of luggage on board, the 

 boxes positively having to be hauled up the ship's side as 

 she slowly steamed her way out of harbour. Mr. Eustomjee, 

 a very wealth}* Parsee merchant to whom we had an 



1 Our experience, alas ! did not bear this out, hardly a week passing 

 without rain. But then of course it was, as usual, an "exceptional 

 season." 



