-,24 G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 



Every thing relative to the kitchen is noted in a moft particular 

 manner ; great attention is paid to the imperial larder. The 

 provifions are noted, the different forts of mutton and fowl ; the 

 products of the kitchen garden ; the variety of grain and jDulfe, 

 even to fplit peas, and every fpecies of pickle and incentive to 

 appetite. Not but the imperial Akbar was the moft temperate 

 of men. He ate but once in twenty-four hours, and always 

 rofe with an appetite. 

 Climate of The climate produdlive of thefe luxuries is far from being en- 



viable. The longevity^ in fome inftanc^s, is boafted of, as proofs 

 of its goodnefs, but the thoufands and ten thoufands who fall 

 fuddenly in the prime of life, are melancholy convictions of its 

 general infalubrity. We will begin with the ingenious Mrs. 

 Kinder/ley's account of the welcome flie had on her arrival at 

 Calcutta, in April 1766. " During the hot or dry feafon, which 

 " begins at the beginning of March, and continues till the be- 

 *< ginning of June, a typbon, commonly called a Korth-weJIer, 

 " from the point from which it originates, is very frequent in 

 " February and March. It is to ftrangers moft terrific, attended 

 ** with thunder, lightning, and rain ; the loudnefs of the thun- 

 *' der, the terrible flaflies of lightning, the roaring of the wind, 

 ** which carries all before it, and the deluge of the rain, are al- 

 ** together tremendous ; it appeared as if every crack of thunder 

 " mufl tear the roof of the houfe from end to end. 



*' The tempeft being fpent, was fucceeded by the azure morn, 

 " and the radiant fun, which, tempered by the coolnefs of the 

 *< earth, formed fome hours of the moft delightful climate 

 " that can be imagined, but was too foon followed by excef- 



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