66 



For leagues and leagues around, the brazen sound 

 Uolls through the stillness of departing day. 

 Like thunder far away ! 



The stanzas are accurately descriptive of the superior order of 

 villages in Hindostan. The natural history of the banian-tree is 

 equally just and poetical with Milton's admired lines on the ficus 

 Indica, and more copious. The description of the lotus transports 

 those who have been accustomed to that beautiful flower to the 

 calm and peaceful scenery of a Hindoo lake, and awakens a thou- 

 sand pleasing recollections. 



Ampliat aetatis spatium slbi vir bonus, hoc est 



Vivere bis, vita posse priore frui. Mart. 



They stretch the limits of this narrow span, 

 And, by enjoying, live past life again. 



In such a tranquil scene we usually pitched our tents. Our travel- 

 ling marquee had a fly or awning, which being a few feet above the 

 roof of the tent, and spreading some distance around, kept it cool, and 

 afforded a sort of veranda to shade our servants, in a deficiency of 

 trees. To render it more effectually cool during the hot winds 

 prevalent in April and May, instead of the usual purdahs, or hang- 

 ings of cotton before the entrance, we placed tatties, or screens of 

 matted grass, especially the fragrant cusa, when we could procure 

 it. These being kept constantly watered, the passing air was cooled, 

 and the interior of the tent rendered very comfortable. 



I have already observed, we were obliged to travel with beds 

 and every necessary comfort ; our views never extended beyond 

 that invaluable word; a word but little known out of an English 





