BOMBAY. a7B 
to his sister. I and Mr. Frissel approached close to the purdah, and 
he spoke directly to her, and she replied. 
After innumerable difficulties we were gratified with a sight of 
her: she was really a very pretty girl, fair, round faced, with 
beautiful eyes, and apparently about seventeen years of age. By 
the customs of India she can never marry. She is considered as the 
representative of the family of Nana, and as such is much looked up 
to by all his numerous dependants. She wishes to adopt a son, who 
would in that case succeed to the claims of the old man. These 
were too many, and too important, for the Paishwa to wish to see 
them revived; she will consequently never obtain her wish. She 
made several requests to us : first, that she might obtain some of 
her personal jewels, which the Paishwa had in his possession ; and 
secondly, a garden-house near Poonah, which belonged to Nana. 
These requests Mr. Frissel assured her Colonel Close would employ 
his interest to procure for her. She will probably succeed. After 
some more conversation I received a dress, and Purseram Punt tied 
a serpaish on my hat. It was with difficulty I saved my coat from 
having the attar rubbed down the sleeves, but I begged to wave the 
honour, and, with Mr. Frissel's assistance, succeeded. No presents 
were made to the rest of the party. We returned home to dinner. 
November 1 . — The tide served at ten, when we embarked in the 
balloon, and reached Bombay about four. I was received, as usual, 
with a salute of thirteen guns. One of our poor fellows died as 
he was passing in the boat from Panwell; the rest were all re- 
covered. Four of our escort had deserted, which made up the list 
of casualties. Bombay, as a place of consequence, owes its origin 
entirely to the Portuguese ; for in 1530, when it was ceded to them, 
