CHAPTER I. 



NEW ARRIVAL, BAKING INTO THE FACTORY, ETC. 

 will suppose the young to - be Indigo Planter 



already arrived in Calcutta, and his call made 

 on the agents. He has put up at the Great 

 Eastern Hotel for a day or two, eaten his introduc- 

 tory tiffin with the " house," and received his order 

 to proceed up to join his " concern " somewhere, 

 say, Tirhoot. This will probably be about the 1st of 

 November, when the cold weather has well set in, 

 and the climate is simply lovely. Dates differ as to 

 the commencement of the indigo-season in Lower 

 Bengal and Tirhoot ; in the former, the " season " 

 commences from the 1st of October, yearly ; in the 

 latter, from the ist of November. The Indigo Assist- 

 ant's engagement is yearly, as a general rule, and 

 commences from one or other of these dates, depend- 

 ing on what district he is in. He will go by rail as 

 far as, say, Mozufferpore, from the Howrah Station 

 at Calcutta ; ddks, that is to say, relays of riding or 

 driving horses or ponies, will be sent out beforehand 

 for him, that he may ride or drive from the railway 

 station to his destination, and a bullock - cart is 

 generally engaged for his luggage. One horse, or 



