MADRAS. 97 



In Indian parlance, by-the-bye, anything perfect is 

 called pncka ; one hears people speak of pucka girls, 

 as well as a pucka horse or pucka cigars. Tlie com- 

 pany on board was exceedingly agreeable, and the 

 time passed quickly ; there was a Col. H., Com- 

 missioner for the Suppression of Thuggism and 

 Dacoytism, full of tales relating to exploits of that 

 plundering cut-throat fraternity ; Col. E,., talking of 

 his hill life ; a Belgian Consul-General and Madame, 

 both attentive listeners ; a dapper little Irishman, 

 making everyone laugh with his hyperbolical sporting 

 adventures, and many others, each adding his mite to 

 the general fund of conversation, whilst the frolics of a 

 clever black ape, belonging to the Captain, further 

 helped to amuse the passengers. 



Early on the fourth day we found ourselves in the 

 open roadstead of Madras, and the weather being 

 somewhat boisterous, the landing in a massulah, a 

 large deep surf boat, was by no means pleasant ; 

 the latter are made of planks stitched together with 

 leather thongs so as to be light, and at the same time 

 yielding when struck by a sea. 



The feature of Madras is its polygon fort,- " St. 

 George," built in 1639 ; the natives reside in the so- 

 called Black- town, which also contains the offices of 

 merchants and bazaars, a few temples, tanks, and a 



H 



