THE EXPEDITION AT BUXAR. 



37 



Towards this end I had also, before leaving home, written 

 f'urward to a number of hotel contractors, English residents, and 

 also Government officials, bespeaking their help and advice, and 

 begging that their replies should await the arrival of the Egypt 

 at IJonihay. Thus it came about that no sooner had we dropped 

 anchor than we were boarded by a boat from shore; and five 

 minutes later my steward brought me nearly a score of letters, 

 half of them official, and nearly all requiring immediate answer 

 and for a good reason. 



For now it was that we learnt that the Viceroy, likewise the 

 governors and potentates of one quarter of India, had elected to 



THE COOK AND HI8 KITCHEN, Bf.XAK. 



observe the eclipse from tin- very ( -entre which we ourselves had 

 come six thousand miles to occupy. This necessarily meant an 

 <>nonimtis gathering, with the levying of every tent in the dis- 

 trict and of all thing> >> mtial to camp life. This was really 

 not the worst trouble before us, but happily at that moment 

 we were not aware of the fart. Private individuals had all 

 written to tell me that nothing could be done, and moreover 

 that there was no available accommodation near any observing 

 station. 



However, as this adverse tide of circumstances swept over us, I 

 clung desperately to two huge official envelopes, one from District 

 Magistrate Mr. K. P. Chapman, conveying in the most generous 



