BOMBAY TO BUSIIIRE. 
13 
embarking in their own boat, and who unluckily found themselves under 
the muzzles of the guns, where they were involved in clouds of smoke, 
with the wads whistling close to their ears. We at length reached the 
landing place; an immense crowd was assembled to await our 
debarkation. The SJiei/c had collected all the soldiery of the town to 
escort us to his house; and in the moment of our touching the shore* the 
whole mob was put in motion, raising a dust so thick that I could scarce 
distinguish Englishman from Asiatic. To add to the denseness of 
the atmosphere, the boats, which were close to the beach, commenced 
a salute; which was immediately answered by a range of guns on the 
coast. The whole procession was obliged to pass in the immediate 
rear of these guns as they were firing, though they appeared so old 
and honey-combed, that I feared they must have burst before the 
honours were over. We proceeded in a cloud of dust, and through 
streets six feet wide to the Sheik’s house, and at length entered A by a 
door so mean and ill-looking, that it might more properly have formed 
the entrance to his stable. This door introduced us into a small court 
yard, on one side of which was an apartment where we seated ourselves 
on chairs placed on purpose for us. A Persian visit, when the guest is 
a distinguished personage, generally consists of three acts: first, the 
kaleoun , or water pipe, and coffee; second, a kaleoun, and sweet coffee 
(so called from its being a composition of rose-water and sugar); and 
third, a kaleoun by itself. Sweetmeats are frequently introduced as a 
finale. As I shall have many better opportunities of describing all the 
ceremonies of these occasions, it is sufficient to add at present, that we 
performed the three above acts, and then mounted our horses for Mr. 
Bruce's house in the country. 
Part of the same armed rabble, which had escorted us from the boat 
to the Sheik’s house, attended us to the Factory. These soldiers are the 
militia of the place, and serve without pay. They even find their own 
arms, which consist of a matchlock, a sword, and a shield that is slung 
behind their back. They consist of working men attached to different 
trades, for we discovered the dyer by the black hue of his hands, the 
