238 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
panions, for several weeks, leaving his daughter 
with the wife of the only one of them who was 
married. Such fellowship by no means tended to 
soothe the harassed spirits of this unhappy girl, as 
her companion, so far from seeing anything base in 
the practices of her husband and his associates, advo- 
cated the propriety of robbing, especially under the 
circumstances in which they were placed, deeming 
anything justifiable from which individual benefit 
might accrue. The poor girl, instead of being released 
during the absence of her father from having the fruits 
of vice continually forced upon her view, was con- 
strained to hear its perpetual vindication, which ren- 
dered her home such a scene of mental conflict, that 
she would have preferred a life of rigid asceticism to 
that which she was now obliged to lead. 
Upon one occasion, in following his predal avocation, 
the Parsee nearly lost his life. The party, of which 
he was head, had committed a robbery in the terri- 
tory of Napaul upon a wealthy traveller, whose money 
they had secured, and having done this had separated, 
to obviate the risk of detection. Meanwhile Jumsajee, 
who had not quitted the spot, observed two horsemen 
making towards him at full speed, and well armed, 
accompanied by the person who had been plunder- 
ed. It was clear that the Parsee was the object of 
their speed ; and as there appeared little probability 
of being able to make a successful resistance, his only 
chance was in immediate flight. 
He rode a small dark roan Arab, of great strength 
and fleetness, upon which he knew he could rely. 
The moment was critical, the horsemen were fast ap- 
