96 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHEEES. 



impressed with the extensive and varied information he 

 seemed to possess, and the easy and agreeable manner in which 

 lie conveyed this in conversation. His English pronuncia- 

 tion was good, and his language pure and classical ; in fact, 

 there was nothing to distinguish him from a travelled English 

 gentleman but the costume. He thought it necessary to 

 give us a little nautch, at which three Dungaree ladies 

 laboured very hard to excite our curiosity or admiration, 

 but with very little effect, all of which was concentrated on 

 our host, who completely puzzled us. Leading the way, after 

 this Terpsichorean display, into the interior of the bungalow, 

 he ushered us into a delightfully cool salle a manger, where 

 the punkha was still performing its rapid evolutions, and 

 where, upon a snow-white tablecloth, a plump cold turkey, 

 and, proli pudor ! the very beau ideal of a ham, formed a very 

 agreeable foreground; and inviting us to be seated, clapped 

 his hands, when immediately attendants appeared with 

 warm- water plates, and bearing hot dishes of the deli- 

 cious "pomflet mutchee" and "mango mutchee,"* fried to 

 the very extent of perfection, with their usual condiments. 

 Soon the "Simpkin shraub"t was copiously distributed in 

 ample glasses, from the cool vases where it had been hitherto 

 reposing, and was quaffed by our Amphitryon with all the 

 gusto of a Parisian bon vivant, and a philosophical neglect of 

 the laws and precepts of the Prophet. In fact, down to the 

 delicate slices of anchovy toast, the crisp Dungaree duck,J 

 and the crowning bottle of " Sneyd's loll" shraub, our repast 

 was perfect. 



In the mean time conversation w r as not idle; our host, by 

 a peculiar tact, had managed to draw from us not only the 

 particulars of our former lives, but as much as we knew 



* A fish, caught in Bombay harbour. f Champagne. 



J A kind of dried and salt fish. Claret. 



