ioo 



forgotten ; they generally contrive to bring their boats to some 

 convenient station, where numerous fires blaze on the banks, a 

 good supper is dressed, and mirth and festivity unite with the 

 adventures of the day, to beguile the time till their meal is 

 finished, and all lie down to repose. No fires are permitted in 

 the budjerows ; those who wish for hot meals have them dressed 

 in separate boats. 



On quitting the nullah we re-entered the Hooghly river, and 

 at noon reached Sook Saughur, an elegant house of European 

 architecture, highly finished, and the grounds disposed with great 

 taste. The next morning we had a fine view of the Dutch settle- 

 ment at Chinsura; and immediately after of the French esta- 

 blishment at Chandernagore : they both make a very respectable 

 appearance from the river; especially the house belonging to 

 the French chief, at a little distance from the town. We next 

 passed the Danish settlement of Serampore, where the Danes 

 have long enjoyed themselves in undisturbed tranquillity, and a 

 flourishing commerce. Four large ships were at anchor before 

 the town, where the neatness of the houses and gardens, the good- 

 ness of the roads, and the stir of business, indicated peace and 

 comfort. 



A short distance brought us within view of the forest of masts 

 before the magnificent buildings at Calcutta, where we landed in 

 the evening of the 18th of October, after a voyage of much interest 

 and variety. 



" No man," saith Lipsius, in an epistle to Lanoius, " can be 

 such a stock, or a stone, whom that pleasant speculation of 



