70 
HOOGLY. 
proceed with all expedition in my palanquin, and send a convey- 
ance for them, Messrs. Graham and Salt alternately occupying the 
one intended for the latter. In little more than an hour I arrived at 
Mr. Brook's, who had not sent his carriage, for the best of all possible 
reasons, because it was broken. He was much concerned for the 
situation of my fellow-travellers, and a gig was with all expedition 
sent to meet them. He now kindly prepared a dinner for us, as we 
could not wait for his, and by the time it was ready, Messrs. Graham 
and Salt reached us. Of Hoogly I saw nothing, as it was nearly dark 
when I arrived, and quite so when I departed. The situation of Mr. 
Brook's house is very pleasantly situated on a bend of the river, 
whence is commanded a very beautiful prospect. I had here to take 
my leave of an excellent friend, Mr. Graham, from whom, during 
my stay, I had received every mark of hospitality and friendship, 
and who had arranged every thing for my comfort during the long 
journey which I was now about to undertake. There were two roads 
by which I might have proceeded for Benares. One new, carried 
over the mountainous and wild part of Bahar, but two hundred 
miles nearer than the old, through the populous cities of Bengal. 
If I had taken the former, I must have proceeded day and night, 
halting only three times ; on the latter road, I had nearly every 
twenty-four hours a place, where I could rest during the heat of the 
day, and I should be able to see many of the most celebrated cities 
of the East, The old road was therefore preferred, as health was 
• infinitely more important, than either time or expense, and it was 
hitherto impossible for me to judge, how I should bear the Eastern 
mode of travelling. Bearers for our palanquins had been ordered 
at the different towns, to be placed at stages about ten miles from 
