REV. HENRY MARTYN, B.D. 31 



instead of the indescribable slops of the Portuguese, and the dinner 

 table spread with solid joints, so grateful to an English stomach 

 after the succession of dirty little basons of greasy mixtures, 

 which constitutes a Portuguese feast. The land about the Cape 

 seems to possess few natural advantages, except some gardens 

 near the town, which the industry of the Dutch has made 

 productive. I saw nothing but a few vineyards. The white 

 sand, that lies over all the ground, would be very fatiguing to 

 the eye, had not a kind providence relieved the scene by 

 adorning the whole land with the most beautiful heaths and 

 shrubs. 



After a five weeks' stay at the Cape we sailed for Madras, and 

 reached it in a little more than 10 weeks, passing by the way in 

 sight of Ceylon, Tranquebar, Pondicherry, and other places on 

 the coast. A number of interpreters came off immediately, 

 clad in white muslin, and on going ashore the officious 

 Asiatics crowded about us to the number of 200, I suppose, to 

 offer their services ; with one man to carry an umbrella, another 

 as interpreter, another as waiting servant, and a proportionate 

 number of porters in my tram. I was obliged to bear all ; these 

 had all attached themselves to me, without so much as consulting 

 me on the subject ; and deaf to my assurances, that I did not 

 want quite so many people, they made a low bow, and continued 

 as before. There was nothing remarkable in this first part of 

 India which I visited : it was by no means so romantic as 

 America. Vast numbers of black people were walking about 

 with no dress but a little about their middle, but no European 

 was to be seen except here and there one in a palanquin. I 

 lived during my stay with Mr. (Oiler ? ), — in office. Once I 

 preached at Fort St. George, tho' the chaplain hardly knew 

 what to make of such sort of preaching ; they were however not 

 offended. Finding that the people would bear to be addressed 

 plainly, and not really think the worse of a minister for dealing 

 closely with their consciences, they determined, they said, to 

 preach the gospel as I did, but I fear that one, if not both, has 

 yet to learn what the gospel is. I breakfasted one day with 

 Sir E. Pellew, the Port Admiral at Madras, and met S. Cole his 

 captain. I was perfectly delighted to find one with whom I could 

 speak about St. Hilary and Marazion; we spoke of every person, 

 place and thing we could thiijk of in your neighbourhood. 



