SEC ROLE. 
95 
my arrival, inviting me to his house at Secrole (the English Benares.) 
Colonel and Mrs. Pringle, who were proceeding by water to Cal- 
cutta, dined with us. I afterwards set off for Benares, said to be 
sixty- three miles. 
March 7. — The bearers were bad, so that by morning I had made 
but little progress, nor did I arrive on the banks of the Ganges till 
four o'clock in the evening ; I am therefore convinced it is farther 
than is supposed. I was highly delighted with the view of this 
seat of the Hindoo religion, covering the opposite concave bank of 
the river. The minarets were most conspicuous. I passed to a 
gaut at the extremity of the town, and without entering the gates, 
proceeded to Secrole, two miles farther. General Deare was not at 
home, but a dinner was prepared, and Captain Maxwell, his Brigade- 
Major, arrived to make his excuses for being obliged to be absent 
at Chunar on especial business. 
March 8.— Major Maxwell came to breakfast, and immediately 
afterwards Mr. Neave, the senior judge of circuit and appeal, and 
agent to his Excellency the Governor-General, waited on me to 
make an arrangement concerning my visits to the princes. He 
communicated to me the directions he had received, which were 
most flattering^ I found from him, that according to the custom of 
India, the stranger should pay the first visit. As his Excellency 
had arranged otherwise at Calcutta, I conceived myself bound to 
decline complying with it, but expressed my wish to be introduced 
to the different gentlemen resident here, and I would certainly 
return their visits. I agreed to dine with him, where I met a very 
large party. 
March 9.— General Deare arrived early in the morning, and at 
