08 MADRAS IIOSI'ITAI/ITY. 



IjiTge mosque. Id tlie suburbs is a people's park and 

 wild beasts, here also ai-e the palatial residences of 

 tlie Europeans; walls, verandahs and pillars covered 

 with Madras chunam, which ^-ives them the appear- 

 ance of fine marble. There are excellent broad roads 

 ill every direction, and to judge from the number of 

 elegant carriages rolling along in the afternoon, one 

 would imagine that there must be considerable wealth 

 in the place. There is also a chib, one of the best in 

 India, and during the cool season private theatricals 

 are the rage. Here I saw " Nothing venture, nothing 

 win" capitally performed by officers of the 17th 

 Lancers. The races, likewise, take place there, and 

 all these are matters to talk about. On reaching 

 Madras I had the good luck to be invited to stay 

 with a friend at one of the best appointed establish- 

 ments ; a comfortable West-end brougham covered all 

 over with white quilting, the very sight of which made 

 one forget the tremendous heat, took me to its desti- 

 nation. On alighting I fovmd the ample verandah, 

 which for blinds had chicks or tattees, made ot 

 split bamboo, hung between the pillars, thronged with 

 white robed domestics, some dusting, others pulling 

 the punkahs, cleaning the lamps, moving chairs, etc., 

 and in one corner there were a couple of tailors 

 squatting on the cool mosaic intent upon a shirt front 



