36 



A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



BramahH, the highest caste in Hindoostan, could not^ of 

 coiu-ae, cook their rice at the same fire, nor drink of the 

 same water as tliat used by those of lower caste ; nor 

 could the iowGst follower of these Boldiers condescend to 

 cook where our men daily dressed large portions of fclie 

 unclean beast. Such a proceeding would, indeed, hare been 

 an abomination not to be got over ; so that we had to erect 

 two cooking-placesj independent of our galley-fire, and to 

 hoist on board casks of water, which they bad themselveg 

 provided and filled. The few poor follows, wlioso stomachs 

 were strongest, would appear in a morning with their 

 little brass pots of water to perform their ablutions. 

 Tbey clean out the mouth with tlie forefinger, thrusting 

 it well into the throat, which generally had the effect of 

 accompli shin that wMch the unpleasant motion of the 

 ship might have failed to do. 



On landinfij at Labuan I almost dreaded enquirtwg into 

 the state of the poor fellows we had left behind. We 

 found the whole colony sick : some Marines had died, 

 many others were seriously ill ; and, of all the survivors, 

 the poor Governor himself was in the worst condition. 

 He had l)een delirious, and lay apparently with but htUe 

 hope of recovery ; and his favonrite medfcal attendant, 

 Br» Treacher, in whom he had every confidence, was 

 nearly as bad as himself. I saw that some steps should 

 be immediately taken ; and, making my way to the sick 

 bed side, I begged Sir James to prepare for removal on 

 the morrow, giving him the choice of the Amkiand or the 



