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island affording a nightly roost for cranes, kites and crows ; and 

 shelter for a number of those immense bats, not improperly called 

 flying-foxes. To finish this picturesque scene a ruined Hindoo 

 temple, nearly covered with moss, and the clematis in great variety, 

 terminated the terrace walk in the garden, where the animal 

 creation had hitherto been so unmolested, that my orange and lime 

 trees were filled by peacocks, doves, and bulbuls ; monkeys and 

 squirrels feasted on my pomegranates and custard-apples; while 

 pelicans, spoon-bills, and other aquatic birds occupied the lake. 



The intrusion of the monkeys I could have dispensed with; 

 their numbers were often formidable, and their depredations 

 serious. I believe there were as many monkeys as human inha- 

 bitants in Dhuboy ; the roofs and upper part of the houses seemed 

 entirely appropriated to their accommodation. While the dur- 

 bar was repairing, on my first arrival, I resided a short time in one 

 of the public streets; the back of the house was separated by a 

 narrow court from that of a principal Hindoo. It being the shady 

 side, I generally retired during the heat of the afternoon to a ve- 

 randa, and reposed on a sofa, with my book; small pieces of mor- 

 tar and tiles frequently fell about me, to which, supposing them to 

 be occasioned by an eddy ofwind,Ipaid no attention; until one day, 

 when I was so much annoyed by their repetition, accompanied by 

 an uncommon noise, and a blow from a larger piece of tile than usual, 

 that I arose to discover the cause; and, to my astonishment, saw the 

 opposite roof covered with monkeys, employed in assaulting the 

 white stranger, who had unwittingly offended by intruding so 

 near their domain. Although my new situation invested me with 

 considerable power, and made me the first man in the city, yet as 



VOL. II. 2 Q 



