242 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



useful language to get up. On the return he wrote 

 out his report. He was sorry not to learn something 

 of other languages, but he learnt two or three alphabets 

 so as to be able to read or at least make the sounds of 

 words he saw painted up, e.g. names of stations or roads. 

 By leaving London the day he did Ramsay missed 

 the incoming mail with final renseignements, and he had 

 no very clear ideas of how to proceed. Among his 

 fellow-passengers were the Bishop of Bombay and 

 Mrs. MacArthur, and they invited the Ramsays to stay 

 with them if no other arrangements had been made. 

 On arriving at Bombay, however, they found them- 

 selves taken in charge by Mr. Padshah, Mr. Tata's 

 private secretary and right hand in all his enterprises, 

 and he took them to Malabar Hill, where they were the 

 guests of Mr. Justice and Mrs. (afterwards Sir Edward 

 and Lady) Candy. While there they had their first 

 experience of Anglo-Indian society. In India hos- 

 pitality is a fine art. Though Ramsay's end and aim 

 was work, all his time was planned out for him to see as 

 much of the country and its inhabitants as possible, 

 without feeling that he was neglecting the object for 

 which he was sent. If, for example, a long interview 

 with someone was necessary, an excursion would be 

 arranged, and he and the other man would be sent 

 together driving, or boating as the case might be, and so 

 business and pleasure were combined. An excursion to 

 the Caves of Elephanta was the occasion of a long 

 conversation with Mr. Tata on the possible sites for 



