204 
plexions, and a graver deportment than the former. One of each 
set appeared to be a youth of nineteen, the three others from 
thirty to forty years of age. These also having made their obei- 
sance, withdrew; and were succeeded by an old man, who it seems 
was a celebrated teacher of the gymnastic art, and received a 
pension from the Mahratta government for that purpose: he was 
received with great respect by the populace, and by a profound 
reverence from the eight combatants on re-entering the area from 
their respective portals. The contest, which lasted a Jong time, 
consisted of wrestling, boxing, and similar feats: in boxing, one 
hand was guarded by a case of horn or wood, with a convex pro- 
tuberance over every knuckle: they commenced the attack by 
raising the hand unarmed in the attitude of beckoning; with the 
other they strike desperate blows, particularly at the fingers of their 
antagonists, when attempting to catch hold of them. 
After a few weeks residence at Fort Victoria and the hot-wells, 
I joined two other gentlemen on a journey from thence to Bom- 
bay: I rode on horseback; being invalids, they travelled in palan- 
keens: our retinue consisted of more than fourscore persons, 
besides horses and pack-bullocks. This number of attendants for 
only three Europeans, may appear extraordinary to those who 
have never been in India; but they were all indispensably neces- 
sary in a country, where no caravansary, or house of refreshment, 
is to be met with; a traveller must therefore carry every thing 
with him, even a bed and kitchen utensils, which renders an Indian 
journey troublesome and expensive. 
The distance from the hot-wells to Mandava, where we em- 
barked for Bombay, was one hundred and thirty miles; yel from 
