(i 
ae 
_2 parapet, about two. 
S12 
risen through the usual gradauons, to 
the rank of a Subadat, and fought under 
Clive, Coote, or Goddard, might be seea 
reposing on a Charpauee, under the 
shade ofa Banyan tree, ‘* fighting all 
his battles o’er again,” to a numerous 
audience. Inanother place, a weaver em- 
ployed at his loom in the open air, while 
a relation, or friend, beguiled his labours, 
with the delightiul twanging of a *Serin- 
dah, the notes of which afforded these un- 
tutored sons of nature, the must ravish- 
ing delight ; although it is probable, the 
ears of an English or Italian professor, 
would have been-horribly tortured. The 
mild and chaste deportment of the wo- 
men cannot escape observation; they are 
seen going with their brass pots to draw 
water from the weils, with downcast eye, 
and regular pace, regardless of what oc- 
curs on the right or the lefts; nor did our 
foreign appearance seem to excite the 
least curiosity. One of the officers, and 
myself, went towards a well, where there 
were about ten or adozen assembled. On 
our near approach, they all turned their 
backs to us, and one with a timid voice, 
said, ** Nazdeek} mut aou lum’ loay 
gireesht rendee. We immediately obeyed 
the order, and !eftthem to their labours: 
it must, however, be observed, that see 
veral men of the village were not far off, 
apparently watching our progress, which 
no doubt had an effect pon the women, - 
as they were well aware of the punish- 
mé€nt which awaited them, if known to 
converse with strangers of a different 
religion and cast to themselves; for their 
voluptrous forms, and piercing black 
eyes, tempered by the shade of long and 
beautiful eye-lashes, bespeak them not 
indifferent to the attentions of the other 
sex. I must, however, do them tlie jus- 
tice to say, that in ail my travels in dif- 
ferent and remote parts of Hindustan, I 
have uniformly found the generality of 
Hindu women, -possess much simplicity, 
mildness, and modesty, of character. 
Most of the villages had small serais, for 
the accommedatiof# of travellers ; and at 
regular distances, of about three or four 
miles, I observed excellent wells, lined 
with brick and stone, and surrounded by 
cet high. Most of 
by order of the” 
these wells were sun 
Emperor, Shere Sha, of the Patan Dy- 
hasty, in the sixteenthcentury. Hes 
generally decmed an Usurper, from hav- 
ing expelled Humayoon, the second 
* The Hindustanee violin. e 
+ Doge come near, we are majest women. 
Narrative of a recent Tour in India: 
[Nov. 15 
Moghul Emperor, froni the throne ; a ro- 
mantic account of whose escape, and ad- 
ventures in the desert, is fully detailed 
in Dow’s marvellous History of Hindu- 
stan. Shere Sha’s usurpation, however, 
was beneficial to the pedple; for he did 
more real service during his short: reign, 
than his two Moghul predecessors did in 
treble the number of years, Ainong many- 
other public works of utility, he caused 
wells to be sunk at short distances from 
each other, through all the great roads in 
the empire, and trees to be planted near 
them, to shelter travellers from the fers 
vid heat of the sun. Those whohave ex- 
perienced the luxury of water and shade, 
in travelling daring the hot season within - 
the tropics, can best appreciate the value 
of his gift. Ihave frequently seen groups 
of travellers, of various descriptions, repo= 
sing under the branches of ‘these. trees, 
during the noon-day heat; devotees, 
proceeding on a pilgrimage to Ghyah, 
Benares, and other holy places; Bu. 
neahs and Gosseyus travelling on coms ~ 
mercial business, and sturdy Moghuls, and 
Patans, secking military employment, in- 
termixed with camels, horses, bullocks, 
palanquins, &c, forming altogether avery 
picturesque scene, and frequently pre=. 
Senting lively images of the manners and 
customs of the Eastern nations, three 
thousand years ago, as handed down to 
us in Seripture. We had. frequent applicas. 
tions from the villagers, and sometimes 
from the travellers, tor medical aid: all 
Europeans, of whatever rank or professi- * 
ons, are supposed by the natives, who 
reside at a distance from our towns,and 
cantonmentcs, to be wonderfully skilled ia 
the healing art ; and applications for mes 
dicines are sure to be made, whether 
they are afflicted with any ailment or not, 
We had many opportunities of exercising - 
our Esculapian skill, during this march; 
and as the disorders were mostly imagi- 
nary, I doubt not but weeffected many 
capital cures. ; Bi ererer 
We were visited oue evening by a set 
of jugglers, whe craved permission to exs 
hibit their skill, for our diversion; which 
being. granted, they proceeded «to pers 
form a great variety of very pleasing des 
ceptions, particularly thatiof the Mango 
tree, which I dare say most gentlemen 
who have resided any time in Bengal, or 
the upper provinces, have had opportu=— 
nities of seeing. A Mango stone was 
buried in the ground before our faces, 
with sundry strange grimaces, and»afs 
fected incantations by the jugglers; in a 
short space of time, a slender wee was. 
mee observed. 
. 
