This is a reproduction of a book from the McGill University Library collection. Title: The narrative of a commuted pensioner Author: Williamson, John, d. 1840 Publisher, year: Montreal : Printed for the author, by J. Starke and Co., 1838 The pages were digitized as they were. The original book may have contained pages with poor print. Marks, notations, and other marginalia present in the original volume may also appear. For wider or heavier books, a slight curvature to the text on the inside of pages may be noticeable. ISBN of reproduction: 978-1-926810-99-7 This reproduction is intended for personal use only, and may not be reproduced, re-published, or re-distributed commercially. For further information on permission regarding the use of this reproduction contact McGill University Library. McGill University Library www.mcgill.ca/library THE NARRATIVE OF A COMMUTED PENSIONER. By J*** LATE OF THE LXXVIII REGT., NOW SERJEANT IN LIEUT. -COL. maitland’s batt. of Montreal volunteers. “ I have seen war’s lightning Sashing, Seen the bright sword with bayonet clashing. Seen through red blood the war-horse dashing, And scorn’d, amid the reeling strife. To yield a step for death or life." MONTREAL: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY J. STARKE AND CO. 1838 TO THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES OF THE ISrittsi} Srmg anU Jtoijal Y'oluntmrs in tfje ©analraB, THIS NARRATIVE OF SERVICES IN INDIA IS DEDICATED, IN ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR THE BRAVERY, PATRIOTISM AND ZEAL DISPLAYED BY THEM IN CRUSHING THE LATE REBELLION, BY THEIR HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. THE NARRATIVE OF A COMMUTED PENSIONER. LETTER I. My Dear Friend, The mutual regard which so long subsisted betwixt your father and myself, not to speak of what I have for you personally, would render it no easy task to refuse any request made by you. Your wish, therefore, to have a narrative of my life, although it may re cal some painful recollections, I will with plea- sure gratify. Prepare, then, to hear of battles, storms, sieges, hair breadth ’scapes, and all the vicissitudes of a soldier’s life. You will likewise, in the course of the narrative, have an account of the nature of the climates of the different foreign countries I have visited; with the dispositions of their inhabitants, their manners, customs and religious ceremonies. My father, you may perhaps recollect, had, in his younger days, served his Majesty on board a man-of- war, and had been created a warrant officer. After leaving the service, he returned to his native town of C. in the north of Scotland. This town stands on a peninsula, having a very large basin in front capable A 2 of containing the whole of the British Navy. The entrance to this basin is about two miles in width. The place is justly called Portus Solutis, or Harbour of Safety. The town contains nearly two thousand inhabitants and its chief trade consists in the manufac- ture of sack cloth, of which there is a factory in the place, employing about two hundred of both sexes of the population. There is also a salmon fishery, the produce of which is sent to the London market and turns to good account. Pork too, is shipped to Lon- don in considerable quantities. The original town lay more towards the entrance of the basin, than the present town, and, as I was informed, never contained more than from three to four hundred people, chiefly fishermen. It was destroyed in consequence of the German ocean forcing its way over a piece of ground which lay low to the water’s edge, and, there being no bulworks to protect the place, in one night it was overwhelmed, with a few of its inhabitants ; the rest made their way up the country, without being able to save any part of their property. In this town I was born and brought up. I recei- ved the education usually given to those of my rank in life in Scotland, although I profited little by it. On leaving school, I was apprenticed out to a trade. When the term of my servitude had expired, I resol- ved to visit the metropolis of Scotland, expecting to find there more encouragement in my trade than I had got in my native place. I therefore set out on my journey to Edinburgh, where I arrived in safety. 8 and, obtaining employment at my business, remained there a considerable time. In the late long and sanguinary war, which con- vulsed Europe to its very centre, when England alone stood in the breach, it became necessary to make great exertions to oppose the then Ruler of France, and to prevent his threatened invasion of the country. All men were therefore, called upon to serve their country in some shape or other, and seeing that I must become a soldier, either in a regular regiment or the National Militia ; of two evils, I thought to choose the least, and therefore enlisted in the Edin- burgh Militia. After remaining in that corps for about three years and six months I found, that in- stead of having chosen the least, I had chosen the greatest evil, I resolved to volunteer into a regiment of the line. An opportunity soon occureu while we were stationed at Dunbar, when thirty of our regi- ment, including myself, volunteered into the 78th Highlanders. Previous to volunteering I waited on General M c Kenzie, Col. of the 78th, who had known me before I enlisted. He told me, that if 1 entered his regiment, and my conduct had been all along good in the Edinburgh Militia, he would make me a serjeant. Shortly after we had volunteered, we were ordered to join the depot of the regiment, which was then stationed at Perth. Here we found two hundred other volunteers from the different Scotch Militia regiments. We were placed under the command of 4 Major Stewart and formed into four companies. I was appointed pay serjeant to the fourth division. The 78th was at this time serving in India, and thither we expected to be sent, so soon as we were properly organised. Accordingly on the 10th of Nov. 1807, we received orders to proceed to the Isle of Wight, thence to embark to join our regiment. Af- ter remaining some time at Park House Barracks, the order, for the embarkation of our division on board the Elphinstone and Winchelsea Indiamen, arrived ; and, on Christmas day, of the above year, we were all on board our respective vessels. I embarked in the Elphinstone, Capt. James Craigie, Commander. She was a strong built vessel, carrying heavy cannon, I believe thirty-two pounders, on the gun deck. The crew consisted of English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, French, and Lascars or Indian sailors. The passen- gers belonged to the 47th, 56th and 78th regiments, in all and of all kinds, about one thousand souls. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER II. Mv Dear Friend, All being now in readiness, the signal for sail- ing was hoisted by the commodore, and away, the whole fleet went, before a favoring gale. A few days 5 sailing brought us into the Bay of Biscay, when for three days and four nights we endured all the horrors of a storm. The liohtnino-s flashed — the thunders © © roared — the winds blew — the rain descended in tor- rents — and the seas raged around us, rendering it a scene not soon to be erased from the memory. I will not, however, attempt to give you a description of it. There is, I believe, little variety in storms at sea ; and you are, I have no doubt already familiar with such a scene, either in its reality, or from the description of some abler pen than mine. On the fourth evening the storm abated its violence, although the sea still continued much agitated. Next morning we had cleared the Bay; and on the 11th January, ten days after loosing sight of Great Britain, we arrived at the island of Madeira, where we re- mained four days. The signal for sailing being once more hoisted at the admiral’s maintop, the fleet again set sail, and soon left the island of Madeira behind. We saw the flying fish in great numbers pursued by the dolphins. We caught a few of these strange creatures and the sailors eat them. There was now a dead calm. Not a breath of wind to cool the air, which was excessively hot. The sharks were day and night prowling around us, wishing for something to fill their hideous mouths. A lady, who was look- ing over one of the cabin windows, overbalanced her- self and fell among these terrible creatures — a boat was instantly lowered and she was snatched from a horrible death. Another accident occured that same 6 evening; a soldier, belonging to the 47th regiment, was looking over the ship’s side with a child about two years old in his arms, the infant being of a lively turn, sprang from his fathers arms and overboard he went. Another soldier seeing the accident sprang into the sea and seized the child whom he kept afloat until a boat, which had been lowered, reached them, when both were saved. We had got as far as the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope, when we were again overtaken by a storm, which lasted during a day and a night, we sustained no damage other than the loss of a few top- sails. Here a part of our fleet left us, bound for dif- ferent stations. Having run a long way to the south in expectation of the trade winds, we began to feel it cold — and we had a good deal of snow for a week or so. After cruising some time in a southern latitude, we had the good fortune to get what we wanted. The ship’s course was then altered, and in less than a week we got again into the warm latitudes, with a steady w ind blowing on our quarter. After a passage of three months and seventeen days we cast anchor at Bombay. Boats having been procured to land the troops before ten o’clock that day, the whole were once more placed on terra firma. Thousands of the natives came to offer their services in carrying our knapsacks and other baggage, a request which a few of us were foolish enough to comply with. We gave them our knapsacks to carry to the place of our en- campment, but no sooner had they got them than 7 they disappeared, which deprived us of all we at that time possessed. These natives, to us Europeans, presented a strange and stricking appearance. — They were all naked, except a turban which they wore upon their heads, and a handkerchief tied round their waists. These were Hindoos, of whom I will have occasion to speak more particularly hereafter. The party which belonged to the 47th, marched olf to join the regiment, which lay at a place called Old Woman’s Island, in the neighbourhood of Bombay. The men belonging to the 56th and those of the 78th were ordered to encamp at a little distance from the city. For a month we lay on the bare ground with a knapsack for a pillow, and without any covering ex- cept the canvass tent ; having very foolishly given our beds and bedding to a petty officer on board the ves- sel we sailed in, upon his representation that they would be of no further use to us, as Government would supply us with articles better suited to the climate of the country. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER III. My Dear Friend, The morning after we encamped, my comrade and I went out to walk and to take a view of the 8 country. In the course of our walk we came to an encampment where a Sepoy regiment lay. In passing a large tent, which was partly open in front, we looked in and saw one of those gods that the Hindoos call a Samea, standing upon a pedestal, I went in and, without any thought, gave it a kick with my foot which made it roll on the ground. Two of the Bramins, who were at the back- side of the tent and whom we had not perceived when we entered, immediately rose up, crying murgee , mur- gee, which signifies murder, seizing us both by the collar, but in a second we laid them alongside their god, and made our retreat. They followed us, but to no purpose; for having got among the tents of our own party we were safe enough. The Bramins, finding that they co*uld not discover us, went to the Governor of Bombay and informed him of the sac- rilege that two of the newly arrived Europeans had committed, by knocking down their Samea. That evening the Governor issued orders “that whoever should molest or offend any of the castes in or about Bombay, if discovered, should be severely pun- ished.” The following morning my comrade and I went, before the sun rose, to enjoy the cool breeze by the sea side. When we arrived at the beach, we were greatly astonished to see more than a thousand human forms, all in white, kneeling upon the sand. Upon the first appearance of the sun, which now began to peep over the mountain tops, the whole mass of kneeling 9 people spread forth their hands, as if to welcome his ap- proach. They then arose, went to the water’ s-brink and threw in handfuls of rice, flour, and pieces of coin. I now perceived that these people were Fire Worship- pers, performing their devotions to their deity. I shall here, before proceeding farther with my narrative, give you a brief account of these people, with their religious ceremonies, and their sentiments concern- ing God. They are called Guebers or Fire Worship- pers, from the sun being the principal object of their adoration. They believe that God, whom they call Oramazis, is the first of incorruptible things, eternal, unbegotten, and that he is no compound of parts — there is nothing equal to him nor like him — he is the Author of all good, and he is entirely disinterested — he is the most excellent of all excellent beings, and the most intelligent of all intelligent natures — the father of equity, and the parent of all good laws — self-instructed, self-sufficient, without beginning or end — that he existed before the material sun, which is emblematical of its Creator — that he existed from all eternity in an adorable solitude, without any com- panion or rival, and that he is as to visible things, most like light. One of their prayers is as follows : “ O thou glorious and unsearchable Being, Lord of divine essence and attributes, the Lord of abundance and the God of life. It is thou who didst create the intellect and all that is necessary in the mind of thy creatures. It is thou who didst form the body and the soul. It is thou only who truly livest, for thou art 10 the Lord of life, the only God in the whole world. It is thou who didst make the revolving heavens and the fixed earth. It is thou who didst beautify heaven with the embroidery of the stars and raised the orbs with nine stories. Xhou didst plant the earth with the human race and illuminate it by the sun and moon. Xhou didst make the world of substances and accidents; but man was thy chief care. Let us turn to rectitude and holiness, for there is nothing else in the regions of the blessed. On thee we depend for all the comforts we enjoy. Continue while it is thy good pleasure to bestow them on thy children. Whether they offer up any sacrifices or not at the present time I do not know, but in former years they did so. Yours, &c. Xhe Commuted Pensioner. LETTER IV. My Dear Friend, In the conclusion of my last letter I informed you that the FireWorshippers were formerly in the habit of offering up sacrifices to their deity. In offering up these sacrifices, they neither used libations nor music nor hallowed bread nor erected altars. Xhe person who intended to offer the sacrifice, which was a sheep, led the victim to an eminence, into a clean place and. n wearing a wreath of myrtle about his Tiara* invoked the god to whom he intended to sacrifice the offered victim. When the priest had cut it into small pieces, each one present took a share, saying, at the same time, that Oramizis desires nothing but the soul of the victim. In the whole course of my travels I have never met with any people so cleanly in their apparel. Their turbans of many folds are pure as snow. Their upper garment is nearly as fine as their turbans. Trowsers worn very wide, drawn together round the waist by a silk cord ; and they generally wear a sash of red silk round their loins. They are in ge- neral, a tall and slender people, very discreet, but un- commonly superstitious about fire and water. They will not allow you to take any of their fire away, nor even to light your pipe at it. If you should be under the necessity of asking them for a drink of water, they will give it to you, provided you allow them to pour it down your throat. They allow no stranger to touch their cooking utensils, and if any one happens so to do, they immediately destroy the articles thus contaminated, and the offender is obliged to pay the value. This I experienced in my own person ; as I happened, one day, to take up a copper pitcher to take a drink, when the owner immediately destroyed it, and I was obliged to pay three rupees as its value. If a fire happens in any of their bungalows or houses (which is no uncommon circumstance), the inmates make no endeavour to secure their safety; saying that their god has come for them. While we were 12 encamped in the neighbourhood of Bombay, a fire occurred at a place called Dongaree, within a mile and a half of that city, and I, along with many other soldiers, went to aid in extinguishing it. The Fire Worshippers, or Persies, as they are sometimes called, were, on this occassion, compelled to quit their bun- galows, the soldiers dragging out both men, women, and children, from the flaming houses. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER V. My Dear Friend, After remaining about two months in the neighbourhood of Bombay, we were ordered to em- bark on board country boats and proceed to a place called Tannah. Near to that village was a strong fort, which being empty, we took possession of. Here we received our arms and accoutrements and commenced drilling and mounting guard. The rainy season had now commenced. The soldiers were attacked with dysentery which cut off nearly twenty men. I did not escape the malady, but suffered much for seven days. On the eighth day I felt an exces- sive desire for something to eat, and I got the cook, who was a native, to make me a plum pudding, and procure for me a bottle of port wine from the sub- 13 conductor. I then eat my pudding, and drank about an English pint of the wine, and in about a quarter of an hour after, I fell into a sound sleep, and did not awake until next morning, when I felt much refreshed, and the complaint had almost entirely subsided. When the doctor came to the hospital to visit the sick, which was generally about eight o’clock in the morn- ing, he was much surprised to find me recovering, as when he had left me the preceding evening, he did not expect that I would get better. Every day I continued to improve in my health and in a month after I was able to do duty. I then informed him what I had done, and its consequent effects. The fort in which we were stationed, seemed evi- dently to have belonged to the Hindoos previous to its occupation by the British, for within the first gate there is placed a large image, about ten feet high, without either legs or arms. The head was round like a cannon shot, with one eye in the forehead. This statue or image was all besmeared with red paint. At the bottom of this huge god of the Hindoos was a trough, which would contain about five gallons. It was kept constantly full of cocoa nut oil. Every morning the devotees of this strange looking idol came, anointed their foreheads, arms and breasts with the red paint, then fell down before it and kissed the ground seven times. They then presented their offerings of cocoa nuts, rice, and small pieces of coin which they call pici. I was much shocked at their superstitious ceremonies, and would most certainly 9 14 have knocked the idol to pieces, had not a sentry been placed upon it, with orders not to allow any one to molest the worshippers, or to touch the image. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER VI. My Dear Friend, Being always of an inquisitive disposition, I was in the habit, wherever we were stationed, of col- lecting all the information possible relative to the manners, customs, and religion of the natives. I have, in consequence, become possessed of many particulars regarding the Hindoos, and these I shall now detail to you ; but, as they were acquired from various individuals, at different times, in desultory conversations, I may, perhaps, not be able to do it, in so clear and distinct a manner as might be wished; yet, I trust sufficiently, so as to give you a tolerable idea of these people. The religion of the Hindoos is Pagan. Their sacred books, thc\ say, were sent- by God to one of their prophets called Brama. In one of these books, which is called the Vidam, it is written, that “one supreme God is the author and governor of the uni- verse;, and it is he alone who rules the world and all 15 that is therein — it is he alone who rules the eight hundred and forty thousand kinds of living creatures; but because of his various appearances and properties, he has different names. He is called Biruuma, be- cause he creates; Wischtnu, because he protects; and Ischuren, because he destroys. This supreme being, they say, is invisible, incomprehensible, im- mutable, without figure or outward form. No man can comprehend him — his essence fills all things and every thing that is, proceeds from him. All power, all wisdom, all knowledge, all holiness and all truth dwell in him. He is infinitely good, just and merciful. It is he alone who created all things, and who preserves all things, and who delights to dwell in the hearts of all good men, that at last he may conduct them to eternal happiness. Man must re- semble the great God ; — his good actions in life must outweigh his bad ones; — he must fit himself for eternal happiness in this world, and if he neglect to do so, his soul must go through a number of trans- migrations, to purify and refine it. God never pu- nishes but to cure. He is the lover of the souls of men, and they never will be eternally lost. God, as the protector and deliverer, is said by the Bramins, to have already been nine times in this lower world, delivering men from destruction and restoring them to a state of purity. At certain periods they sacri- fice a sheep, and at the time of doing so, they re- peat, with a loud voice, these words, “ When shall the Saviour be born? When shall the Redeemer 16 appear?” The Bramins also say, “ that before sin had entered the habitation of man, myrrh, honey and wine flowed from the fountains; but when man made a bad use of these blessings, God deprived them of them, and they were sentenced to work and labour here for ever after.” When a Hindoo dies, his living wife is burned upon the same pile with the dead husband. I asked one of my informants why this was done? His only answer was, “that it had been the custom for many generations to do so, and that it was voluntary on the woman’s, part.” I replied, that it was only no- minally a voluntary act on the woman’s part, and I was certain that in many instances, it was submitted to with very great reluctance, and that it was a cus- tom that ought to be immediately abolished. He said, that for his own part, he would have no objec- tions, for his religion taught him not take away life, except in self-defence. The Hindoos, although they believe in one su- preme God, have also a belief in inferior deities. Their belief is, that the Supreme 'Being appoints these inferior or tutelar deities to the charge of cities, towns and villages, for their protection or destruction, as his will may be, and that without his permission they can exercise no power whatever. The Hindoos have a very singular mode of trying any of their caste who is accused of theft. The ac- cuser and the accused are brought before an image by a Bramin. From each party he gets a bettle nut, both of which he fixes on the face of the image; and 17 if the nut of the accused falls first, guilty or not guilty, he is taken away to be punished! In one of my conversations with a Bramin on the subject of religion, I advised him to turn Christian, and began to explain some of the Christian tenets. “ All this is very good,” he replied, “and your religion may be good, so is ours — our fathers received their religion from their fathers as did yours — our fathers loved their children, and certainly would not deceive them by giving them a religion they did not believe to be the true one.” The Mussulman, the Persie and the Christian have the same proof. Whilst we were conversing, a drunken soldier came reeling against us, and caught the old priest by the beard. I lajd hold of the fellow, and dragged him away, and got him put into confinement. The next time I saw the Bramin, he asked me if the man who had seized him by the beard were a Christian? I answered that he was. “ Go,” said he, “and see if any Hindoo gets drunk, or abuses any of you Christians.” This com- pletely closed my mouth, and I made no farther at- tempts q.t converting him. The Hindoos are a very cleanly people. Like the Jews, they have an abhorrence of swine’s flesh, and you cannot insult a Hindoo more, than by offering him a piece of pork, or to touch him with it. Should any of them have inadvertently touched any part of the animal, they consider themselves defiled and unclean, until such time as they are absolved by a Bramin. This these priests are always very ready to do, provided 18 the unfortunate fellow’s purse is heavy enough ; but if he has not the means to satisfy the Bramin’s demands, he is certain to have a severe punishment to undergo in the shape of penance. I shall here mention a few of these penances. One of them is as follows : — The defiled person is not allowed, for the space of a month, to lie down or even to sit; he must take his sleep in the best way he can standing, not being al- lowed to lean against anything for support. Another, is to have the one arm raised above the head; and to keep it in that position for a length of time, and the consequence is, that frequently their arms become unfit for use, as it gets completely benumbed and power- less. Another, and apparently the most severe, is having a hook passed through one of their ribs, and then hung up a few feet from a fire, whilst the offi- ciating Bramin throws into it some powders which casts out a rather agreeable scent. In this position the unhappy wretch must remain, until the Bramin pronounces him purified from his uncleanness. It frequently happens, however, that the defiled person will neither part with his money, nor suffer penance. He then loses caste, as it is termed, — that is, he is thrown out of his tribe, and none of his relations or acquaintances are allowed to speak to him. They are called Pears or bad men. These Pears, or Hin- doos who have lost caste, are very numerous in India. They are chiefly employed as cooks, washermen, water- men, and in all kinds of drudgery required by the Europeans. Except in dress, they conform to all the 19 customs of the Europeans, and they are not slow in adopting their vices. In fact, they get so debased, that for the sake of money, they will become acces- sary to the prostitution of their own daughters. They drink like fish, and that of the worst sorts of arrack, new from the still, which would very shortly kill a European if he were to indulge himself in the use of it, but seems to have no effect upon them. There is another liquor which they use. It is got by tapping the top branches of the cocoa nut tree. This they call tady, and is very agreeable and safe to drink, provided it is used early in the morning or after sun- set. It soon, however, ferments and then it becomes extremely hurtful to a European constitution. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER VII. My Dear Friend, I have, in my last letter, given you all the infor- mation in my power regarding the Hindoos; and it may not be amiss, before proceeding with my narra- tive, to mention a few particulars about the opinions and customs of the professors of the Mahometan re- ligion, who are very numerous in India. They believe in our God, whom they call Alla, and that Mahomet is his prophet — that Moses had 20 an existence and was sent from God to teach man- kind the way to paradise — that Alla sent Jesus Christ to teach mankind; and that the Jews, his countrymen, crucified him; and lastly, that he sent Mahomet, being the last and greatest of his prophets. They likewise believe that prayer, with fasting, conducts mankind half way to the palace of Alla — and that those who persevere in prayer are truly in quest of God, and shall be hereafter united to him. They pray five times a day. They must not, however, ask for riches or honours, but petition Alla for purity of mind that they may seek nothing but him. They are taught, that should it please Alla to send afflic- tion, they must not spurn at the visitation ; as those whom Alla afflicts, he loves when they receive it with resignation. The true mark of a good man, they say, is to be possessed of a tender heart, to have a hatred of the world, and a distrust of self. Many of these Mahometans or Mussulmans go a pilgrimage to Mecca, the city of their prophet, and have in con- sequence great reputation for sanctity amongst their brethren. They do not allow the adoration of images, statues, or similitudes of divine things. A great number of them are merchants, and, as far as my experience goes, and I had a good many transac- tions with them, they are very fair in their dealings. Their dress consists of a turban, generally white as snow, but sometimes green or blue; a large white gown, down to their heels, with wide trowsers, and a sash, generally of silk, tied round their waist. They 21 are a steady and sober people, but very proud, and are seldom seen to laugh. They are in general strongly built, and possess considerable physical strength. They are in most respects superior to the Hindoos. In my next letter I shall proceed with my narrative. In the meantime, Yours, &e. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER VIII. My Dear Friend, I now again resume my narrative after a long digression. The rainy months being over, we re- ceived orders to proceed to Bombay, thence to Goa, there to join the main body of our regiment. In ten days we arrived at our destination, and were welcom- ed by the old hands of the regiment. The strength of the corps was then exactly five hundred men, which, with the addition of our party, made the regi- ment nine hundred strong; and, in about two months after, we got an additional two hundred and fifty, all disciplined men, fit for immediate service; although we were not brought into action for three years and ten months thereafter. The Island of Goa is a settlement belonging to Portugal, and is governed by a Viceroy from that country. It is about twenty miles in length; and 22 from eight miles to a quarter of a mile in breadth. There are a couple of Portuguese regiments who do duty in the place. The greater part of the soldiers live at old Goa, which is the chief city, the rest at a town called Panfum. Formerly the Inquisition ex- isted here in all its power, but at the time I lived there, it was divested of its terrors, the king having granted a religious toleration. The priests, however, still swarm in it; and are computed to be no fewer than five thousand out of a population of twenty thousand, consisting of Portuguese, Hindoos, Ma- hometans and Persies. The monks are principally of the order of St. Francis; belonging to which order there is a very large monastery, standing upon an eminence by the sea-shore near to a place called Caba, where a temporary barrack had been erected for the 78th. The Island is very healthy, and the heat at no time oppressive, as it stands high and is exposed to the cool sea breezes. The natural pro- ductions of the Island are rice, tobacco, pepper, the sugar cane, with excellent pot herbs. Fruits are in great abundance and very delicious. The animals used for food are buffalos, swine and sheep ; but the best is scarcely eatable. The buffalo meat is of a dry nature and very lean. There is also abundance of poultry, and very cheap, but much inferior to those of Europe. It is somewhat strange that dogs, brought into these warm climates gradually degenerate; they become indolent, lose their native energies and ul-. timately become unfit for any use. 23 The soldiers in this country are well provision^ The price is deducted from their pay, and generally amounts to one half, the other half they receive to provide themselves with such necessaries as occasion requires. Upon the whole, I do assure you, that a soldier in India is far better off than common tradesmen at home, although it must be allowed that no private soldier can save money. The day and the journey must end together, with all private soldiers, in whatever country they sojourn. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER I X. My Dear Friend, While we were stationed at Goa, a foolish af- fray took place between a brother serjeant and my- self, which was the cause of my being reduced to the ranks. One day while at breakfast, serjeant G. asked me to go to the canteen and take a glass or two. Seeing that he had already got enough, I told him I would not, that day, drink more than my allowance. This refusal he looked upon as an affront, and began to abuse me, calling me, and the other volunteers that came along with me to India, cowards. I said that that had yet to be proved; but should it turn out so, we could follow the example set by him at the battle 24 q£JA.ssay and hide ourselves in a field of rice. This rendered him quite furious, and he struck me a blow on the side of the head. Being of a temper naturally hot, I could not stand this, nor endure it without re- taliation, I accordingly returned the blow, when a scuffle ensued, which terminated nothing to the ad- vantage of the aggressor, as in the course of it, his foot slipped and he fell on the corner of a bed, and broke a couple of his ribs. “ Rightly served,” now echoed from twenty mouths, he being much disliked, not because he did his duty strictly, but because he was what we denominated a pickthank, that is, one who was constantly carrying to the officers some trifling complaints against his fellow soldiers. In consequence of his hurts, serjeant G. was obliged to go into the hospital - ; where he remained three weeks. In the interval, the busy tongue of fame had conveyed to the ears of our commanding officer, that I had been fighting, and that I was the cause of my brother serjeant being in Hospital. I was ordered in due ar- rest, and remained so, until serjeant G. was dis- charged from the hospital. We were then brought before a regimental court martial; and all that I could urge in my defence, or the witnesses’ evidence on my behalf, was unavailing; we were both sentenced to be reduced to the rank and pay of privates. I certainly had some reason to expect a more lenient sentence, as I had for upwards of three years per- formed the duty of a serjeant to the entire satisfac- tion of my commanding officers, and this was the 25 first offence I had committed against the Articleag# War. After having been so long a non-commissioned officer, the situation of a private soldier was by no means agreeable to me, and as I had a relation re- siding at Madras, who held a high situation in the Company’s service, I thought of applying to him to relieve me. I accordingly waited on my command- ing officer and mentioned to him my intention, and requested a certificate of my conduct while under his command. He desired me to write my letter and leave it with him, and lie would consider of it. I did so, and the next day I received my letter back, with a note from my commander to this effect, “that my late conduct, which had been the cause of my being reduced, prevented him from giving me such a char- acter as would be of service to me.” I was much disappointed; but had no alternative but to submit. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER X. My Dear Friend, In a short time after the occurrence mentioned in the conclusion of my last letter, orders were receiv- ed that we should hold ourselves in readiness to pro- ceed on an expedition, and, that a Rifle Company should be formed from the best marksmen in each c 26 regiment. Three companies were instantly formed, clothed, received rifles and accoutrements, and com- menced drilling. In the course of a month we were embarked, and, after a pleasant voyage we, on the 2d February, 1811, arrived at Madras, where the fleet, that was destined for the expedition, was assem- bling. The morning after we cast anchor, I was somewhat surprised by my commanding officer telling me, that if I wished to go ashore to see my relative, I was at liberty to do so. I eagerly embraced the offer, and getting myself ready, got into the boat, alongside in which were major F. and other two offi- cers who were also going ashore. Immediately on landing, I went in quest of the person I wanted to see; but how great was my disappointment when I found that he had left Madras for Britain a month before. The next day major F. accosted me, saying that he was sorry to find that I had been disappointed in not seeing my friend; “but,” said he, “continue to behave yourself, and on the first vacancy I will restore you to your former rank.” We remained but a short time at Madras, when -every thing being in readiness, the fleet set sail in three divisions, having eleven thousand troops on board, comprising the 59th, 69th, 89th and 78th European regiments, with a few squadrons of the 22d Light Dragoons, and about four thousand Sepoy, or native troops; likewise, a few Artillerymen with field pieces. We continued on our course with a gentle breeze for about a month, when the water on board 27 getting scarce, it was determined to stop and replenish our stock at the first watering place we should come to. In a few days after, we had the satisfaction of seeing an Island on our starboard quarter, and the whole fleet made for the desired haven, where, in the course of a few hours, we came to an anchor. The Island appeared to be covered with wood, which came down to the very water’s edge. Next morning, the watering parties of the different vessels, were all on the alert to procure an additional supply of that ne- cessary article. The Rifle Companies were also or- dered ashore to practice ball firing. This continued for five successive davs. On the morninff of the v O fifth day, we again weighed anchor and proceeded on our voyage. The next place we made was Malacca, where we remained for a week, taking in fresh pro- visions. I was not ashore there, so I can give you no account of the place. After leaving Malacca the Yellow Fever, or some other malady resembling it, attacked the men in the vessel I was on board. The unfortunate sufferers got completely mad before they died, and when life was extinct, their bodies became perfectlv black. There were no fewer than eighteen of the men died of this disease. I was also attacked by it, and when the first symptoms appeared, I adopted the plan of one of the sailors on board Cap- tain Cook’s ship when at the Island of Java, that is to say, I got nearly drunk. Having procured a bottle of arrack from the ship’s steward, I made up and slung my hammock, drunk nearly the whole bottle of spirits, and got under the blankets. I vomited very much during the night, but next morning, thank God, the fever was gone, although I felt considerable uneasiness from the effects of the liquor. When the doctor made his visit next morning, he enquired how I was, I told him I was nearly well, and at the same time I mentioned the cure I had taken. He laughed and said I shall acquaint the commanding office] 1 with this new cure of yours. In less than half an hour, major F. came to see me, and inquired what put it into my head to get drunk. I replied, that in reading Captain Cook’s voyages, I had observed it mentioned that on their arrival at Java, the ship’s crew was attacked with the fever of the country, with the exception of a cook, who got himself drunk every night while they remained at the Island; — besides, I replied, the one devil drives out the other. Well done W. I shall inform the general of this matter, which he accordingly did. Next day, the whole medical staff came on board and examined me. I stated exactly how I had been seized, and what I had taken as a cure. Double allowance of arrack was then ordered to each man, with an addition of half a pint of shrub per day, so long as the fever continued amongst us. None died after this, except two, who were too far gone to receive anv benefit from the cure. Having reached the straits of Malacca, we were obliged to come to an anchor every night, in consequence of innumerable small islands scatter- ed around as far as the eye could reach. None of 29 these Islands exceeded two miles in circumference. We now made the Island of Java, the place of our destination, after a tedious voyage of five months. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XI. My Dear Friend, We had no sooner reached our destination than preparations were made for disembarking the troops. The light brigade was first landed, and without any opposition on the part of the enemy, marched five miles up the country. The heavy brigade and cav- alry were also landed the same evening. The 78th passed the night, part of them in a coffee field, and part in a store for the same commodity, at that time nearly empty. A very laughable incident occurred that evening. The men, when they got amongst the coffee, thought they had got into a field of com- mon beans, and began to eat of them greedily. They however soon repented their temerity, for they were seized with such a violent vomiting that they con- cluded they were poisoned. The doctors were sent for, and as soon as they came, the cause of the poor fellows’ sickness was discovered, when they got well laughed at. They, however, spent a very un- comfortable night of it. The light brigade were 30 more fortunate, having got into a field of water melons, which they found very pleasant and refreshing, after having lived so long on salt provisions. We remain- ed two days without advancing. On the evening of the second day, one of our company having got sick I was ordered to see him to the beach, and get him conveyed on board the ship. I did so, and having seen him safe on board I went on my way to return to my company. During my absence the brigade had moved from its ground. There was no one left to direct me how to proceed; but as I judged that they had proceeded towards Batavia, I also took that direction. I walked on until I came to a place where there were two roads; the one leading straight for- ward; the other branching off to the left. As I was ignorant which of these roads I should take, I threw up my sword, determined to take that road towards which the point of the sword should be directed upon its fall, and fortunately for me it turned out to be the right one. I proceeded onwards, and not long after I met Sir Samuel Auchmudy, the Commander-in- Chief, with his staff. He demanded of me the rea- son of my being behind and alone. I told him I had been sent to escort a sick soldier to the beach. He did not seem pleased, and said that two men ought to have been sent with him, as it was unjust to make any one soldier carry the arms and accoutre- ments of a sick man, such a distance. “ Go,” said he, “and remain for the night with the first inlying picquet you come to.” I marched on, and in about 31 half an hour after I parted from the Commander in Chief, I was challenged by a sentry, of the 59th Riflemen. I told him who I was, and he having in- formed me where my own company was to be found, I again marched forward. Darkness now enveloped me ; and you may conceive that my situation was very far from pleasing, traversing a strange country alone and in darkness. I however, proceeded on my cheerless and lonesome way, crooning over a favorite Scotch ditty, said to be “ Lord Moira’s farewell to Scotland,” upon his leaving that country to join the army in Holland. I had scarcely finished the se- cond stanza, when a beast of the forest sprung across my path, and, with a tremendous growl, darted into the wood, followed by another savage beast which appeared to me to be in pursuit of the first. I im- mediately unslung my rifle, and loaded it with a couple of running shots, determined to sell my life as dear as possible if I should be attacked by any of these ravenous creatures. As I marched on at a brisk pace, I saw at a distance lights moving to and fro with a circular motion, and seemingly approach- ing me. I halted, fixed my sword on my rifle and prepared for the worst. In a few minutes the lights came close to me, when I found them to be flambeaux, carried by three Malays as a protection from the wild beasts that are continually prowling about during the night in that country. This is a very necessary precaution, and no person travelling at night in that country, should neglect to carry lights with them, as 32 the beasts of prey always avoid lights. I made a sign to the Malays to give me one of their lights, with which they complied without hesitation, and perhaps it is well that they did, as to tell the truth, had I been refused, I might have done mischief con- sidering that my life might almost be said to depend upon the possession of the light. At the same time I may remark (although I was not aware of this until after) that my life was in fully as great danger from the Malays as from the beasts of the forest, as they are so fond of fire arms that they would not hesitate to murder any one for the sake of them, provided they could get off with impunity. Believe me, I consider my escape on this occasion to have been one of a miraculous and providential nature, and one that can never be obliterated from my mind. Had they made an attempt to seize my arms, I might indeed have dispatched one of them; but there still would have been two to grapple with, and these armed with daggers, the Malays never being without these wea- pons in their belts, so that my chance of escape must have been small indeed. The Malays having parted from me, I continued my journey; and having first slung my rifle across my shoulders, I then began to use my light in the same manner as I had seen the Malays do. In about an hour after, I came up with my own company who had bivouaced in the road for the night. Upon my arrival I informed Captain Cameron that I had met the Commander-in-Chief and his staff, and that he was highly displeased at S3 my having been sent alone with the sick soldier, and that it was likely he, Captain Cameron, would hear of it the next day. “It cannot be helped now” re- plied that officer, “but to make you amends you shall do no duty until we reach Batavia.” Being dismiss- ed, I unloosed my knapsack from my shoulders, stretched myself upon the ground, and resigned my- self to sleep. Next day news was brought that three men belonging to a Sepoy regiment had been torn to pieces by the wild beasts near to the place where I received the flambeau from the Malays. We re- mained two days at the place where I had rejoined my company, and on the third we marched into Ba- tavia, the French having evacuated it and retired to a strong position called Cornelius. The light brigade which entered the city, was comprised of the follow- ing companies; viz. the light and rifle companies of the 59th, 69th and 78th, with five companies of the 89th amounting in all to eighteen hundred men com- manded by General Gillespie ; and I am confident that the British army could not produce a finer or a braver set of fellows. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XII. Mv Dear Friend, Upon our arrival at Batavia, we were marched into the great square where the stadt-house stands ; 34 there the authorities came and presented the keys of the city to our commander. The general then caused it to be proclaimed, that the British army had come to free the Island from French tyranny, and that thereafter it would be given back to the Dutch Go- vernment. We now understood that the French army amounted to twenty-five thousand men, com- posed of Dutch, French and Malays, commanded by a veteran of the name of Jansin. The day following our occupation of the town, we again marched in quest of the enemy. We had not proceeded more than an hour, when we were saluted with a tremen- dous volley of musketry and grape shot. Not an enemy, however, were to be seen, as they were strongly posted within a wood, behind barricades of newly felled trees. Their cannon were too much elevated to do much execution amongst us, but the rifles and musketry told sharply. We had only two cannons with the Brigade, which were speedily brought into play, and did great execution. The Artillery continued to cannonade the enemy for some time, but not a shot was fired by the rest of the Brigade. Becoming impatient of our inactivity, we called out to the General to allow us to charge and scour the woods. At last an order to that effect was given, and forward we dashed, like some mighty torrent, sweeping all before us. Five Riflemen, along with myself having forced our way through a hedge which impeded our progress, we were astonish- ed to find ourselves in the midst of the French Ar- 35 tillery. I was the first who got through, and as soon as I discovered where I was I fired my rifle, and the other five men did the same, and I believe, each brought down his man. The remaining gunners threw down their sponges, &c. and fled. The French Army, having been driven back at all points, retreat- ed to Cornelius. I do here assure you that I was the first soldier who put hands upon the cannon taken upon this occasion. I do not mention this by way of a boast, or with the view of making it appear that I was braver than my associates, but simply state the fact, that such was my good fortune. After the ene- my had been driven back from their position, our Commander formed us into a solid column, and ad- dressed us saying that we had behaved nobly, in completely defeating an enemy triple our number, and taking six pieces of Artillery, and added, that he wished it was in his power to reward us all as we deserved. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XIII. My Dear Friend, In my last letter I gave you an account of the first action in which I had ever been engaged. We gained the victory, but it was with the loss of a great 36 number of brave soldiers; but our loss was not in any degree equal to that of the enemy. The enemy, as I mentioned before, retreated within the strong forti- fication at Cornelius. Before proceeding to attack them within their entrenchments, it was necessary for us to erect batteries. The period, therefore, between the tenth and twenty-second days of the month, was occupied in erecting these batteries, and a heavy train of Artillery having been landed from the Illustrious, 74, was planted in them. Upon the morning of the 22d, a strong detachment of the ene- my came down, and made themselves masters of all the batteries, driving out all the sailors who were then planting the cannon. The 78th, along with the 14th and 69th, after some severe fighting, retook all the batteries, but not until the French had spiked a few of the guns. The detachment of the enemy retreated once more to Cornelius, after losing a good many men in killed, wounded and prisoners. The British likewise lost a good many men. After the action I went over the field, and I observed many things worth recording, a few of which I shall now mention to you. In one place I saw two contending parties lying dead, each transfixed with the bayonet of the other. A little farther forward I beheld a wounded soldier dashing his head upon the ground and groaning most piteously. He did not speak, although I called to him, asking if I could render him any assistance. A Cavalry officer, I believe Cap- tain T. of the 22d Light Dragoons, was passing at 37 the time, and seeing the poor fellow suffering so much from his wounds, told me to put him out of pain by shooting him through the head; I said I could not do it ; upon which he drew his pistol and shot him. I then examined in what place he had received his first wound, and found that it was in his left breast, a few inches below the nipple. I then took another direction, and came to a part of the field where a number of the 78th lay dead and wounded. Amongst the latter there was one young man with whom I had been long acquainted and for whom I had a great respect. He had the misfortune to receive a cannon shot, which took away a part of his belly and nearly severing his right thigh from his body. I sat down beside him, in order to condole with him on his sad condition. After conversing with him for a few se- conds, he begged of me to get him some water : for- tunately, I had a canteen full at my side which I gave him, and in a few minutes he had emptied it. He then took me by the hand and exclaimed, “ Oh ! my good friend, if you are fortunate enough to return to Scotland, let my sister know of my fate. Tell her that she was the cause of my being a soldier ; but I forgive her. She may now take the property be- longing to me. She did all in her power to poison the mind of my poor old father against me before he died. She ever prayed for my destruction and it is now accomplished, so as to inherit my property ; but perhaps she will not live long to enjoy it. Oh ! W. I feel the chill hand of death creeping over all my D 38 body. Farewell, farewell !” He spoke no more; but after a few heaves and struggles he yielded up as brave a spirit as had ever beat in the breast of man. On my return to my native land, I wrote to his sister in- forming her of the death of her brother; and in re- turn, received a very kind and grateful letter, thanking me for the trouble I had thus taken, in informing her of the fatal end of her brother; at the same time making inquiry if there were any monies due to the deceased as prize money, &c. being disgusted at her mercenary views, I never took the trouble to write her again. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XIY. My Dear Friend, On the evening of the 26th August, when all nature was hushed to repose, and nought was to be heard save the voice of the distant sentinels proclaim- ing that all was well, I laid mvself down on the green sward, at the foot of a large tree, with my knapsack for a pillow. I fell into a train of thought concern- ing the many vicissitudes in a soldier’s life, and also upon the expected rencounter of the following dav. I thus soliloquised: “I am now surrounded by a number of brave men, many of whom, before to- 39 morrow’s sun sets may be numbered with the dead, and have taken up their quarters, where the sound of no earthly bugle will awake them. They are now buried in profound sleep, unconscious of all passing events. Sleep on, my brave comrades, and may some celestial spirit hover over your heads and convey some pleasing vision to your souls. I may be one of those who is doomed to fall in to-morrow’s engage- ment; but fear shall never take possession of my soul. I will not yield to the dastard. Honour forbids it. Then the thoughts of my wife and little ones — and the destitute condition my death would place them — the thought nearly unmanned me.” I started once more to my feet, and casting up my eyes towards heaven, methought I heard a voice, in a gentle whis- per, address me in these words, “Is not .He who pro- tected you in the two former engagements sufficiently able to protect you again in the sanguinary field — put your trust, therefore, in Him” I became calm, and again stretched myself on the ground, and en- deavoured to compose myself to sleep. I closed my eyes and soon fell into a profound slumber. A strange vision presented itself to my mind’s eye. I thought a person of gigantic size stood before me. He had a stern appearance, but he spoke mildly. He said “follow me to yonder place,” at the same time pointing towards the sea side. In casting my eye in the direction pointed out, I thought I per- ceived a number of the men of our Regiment to all appearance drunk, and behaving like madmen. I 40 thought I challenged one of them for their improper conduct, and that they began to abuse me, and en- deavoured to strike me. My conductor then took me by the hand and said, “let us go from amongst them.” He then led me towards a rock which lay at some distance, and having arrived at it, he desired me to ascend the same. I did so ; but it was with great difficulty I accomplished it. I then again met my conductor, who said to me, “look to the place you have left behind.” I looked and saw the sea violently agitated. I likewise thought I saw whole sections of the men swept away into the yawning deep, and were no more seen. My conductor then desired me to look upwards to the sky. I did so, and perceived a large opening in the heavens. My guide then told me that he had orders to take me thither, and in an instant he caught me by the middle, car- ried me up and placed me on solid ground. It ap- peared to be a vast garden field of flowers and fruit trees. There was no regular road; for however cau- tiously I directed my steps, still I occasionally trod upon the flowers which grew in my path. I told my guide that I was certainly doing wrong in treading down the flowers. To this however he made no an- swer, but proceeded to a large white house, and said, we must enter that building. We entered by a wide door which stood open and led us into a large hall where I saw, arranged along the wall, a number of figures of birds of the colour of gold. They sung so melodiously that it baffles all description. In the 41 centre of this hall stood a large table, on which was placed a sand glass, part being run down, and my name written in full upon the glass. A door at the farther extremity of the hall opened, and a person, of a most reverend appearance, entered. He was clothed in a white robe which reached from the neck downwards, and was similar to those worn by the Hindoo Bramins. He turned towards me, and said, with a frowning countenance, that I had trampled down his flowers and soiled the hall with my dirty feet. He then addressed my guide, and asked him why he had brought me there, and by whose autho- rity he had acted ? My guide said “ that it was by order of his son.” At that instant a door opened, and a young man of comely appearance entered, and said, “ Oh ! Father, this is the person who was so much abused by the men who were washed away into the sea.” The reverend looking old man then ad- dressed me with more mildness, and said, “your father was a good man and a good soldier and kept his shoes always clean. Imitate his example.” I said “my father was never a soldier.” “He was,” he re- plied, “ although he never, like you, destroyed my flowers or yet wore a sword by his side. Take him away and shew him his father.” The old man then departed. After he had gone, I asked the young man to let me have the sand glass, as my name was upon it. “The sand glass,” he replied, “indeed be- longs to you ; but it must remain where it is until everv grain of its contents has run down.” He then 42 led me away, my former guide following us, and hav- ing gone a short distance we came to a large iron gate, through the bars of which I saw my father, sit- ting piling up a number of books. At a little distance I saw my sister, to whom I had been much attached during her life time. She perceived me first, and told my father, and both came to the gate and spoke to me. I told my father I would not go away again, but stay and read the books, and asked him to open the gate and let me in. He said he had not the key, but that the young man who was with me had. I then applied to him for the key, but he said that I must not get in at this time. I said I would then climb the gate, and accordingly I attempted to do so, but the higher up I got the bars appeared to increase. The young man said “you will never get in that way.” I therefore gave up the attempt. The young man then turned to my guide, and directed him to take me back to the top of the rock, and remain there until he sent me a present. Upon this we de- parted, and returned by the same way and in the same manner we had ascended. We had remained there but a short time when I perceived a person coming towards us having three pieces of red silk cloth in his hand. I thought he tied one piece round my left arm, another round my left thigh, and the remaining piece round my right ancle, saying at the same time that that was the present promised me by the young man. At this stage of my dream I was awoke by one of the serjeants of the company, call- 43 ing me to get up and fall into the ranks. I asked what o’clock it was, he told me it was exactly five o’clock. I immediately got up, joined my company, and in less than a quarter of an hour, was on the march to storm the supposed impregnable works at Cornelius. Yours, See, The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XV. My Dear Friend, In making the attack upon Cornelius, the company I belonged to led the advance, having a Dutch guide, with two officers, about fifty yards in front of the whole. We were challenged by a French sentinel on the outermost post; the Dutchmen in front gave him the watchword, which he had previously obtained unknown to us. The Frenchman being thus thrown off his guard, the guide sprang upon him, mastered his arms and dis- patched him without any alarm being given. We were then ordered to proceed until we came to a bridge which led over the river, towards the enemy’s strong position. The sentinel at that post was fast asleep, and being immediately seized, was made prisoner. Here w 7 e made a second halt to wait for Col. Gibb’s division, which was to support us. In a 44 few minutes they came up, and in the interval, Gen. Gillespie who addressed us as he had done every sec- tion of his army separately. He told us that at the farther end of the bridge the enemy’s entrenchments lay, and that there w r as a chevaux de frize in front of the whole, which was first to be cleared, and then we were to dash amongst the enemy sword in hand, that there was to be no firing, and not a prisoner was to be taken. “ Now onwards, follow me,” said the brave gene- ral. This was no common strife, for we had to contend with an enemy more than double our number, surround- ed on all sides by batteries with a large fort in front, entrenched within a deep dry ditch with a chevaux de frize, whose spikes, like so many spears seemed to threaten instant destruction to any who might attempt to assail it. They had likewise a large park of Ar- tillery, ready.to pour upon the assailants a storm of round, grape and cannister shot. Having gained the farther end of the bridge, we halted for a few mo- ments. The General then took off his hat and cheered. We followed his example ; when forward ! forward ! was the general cry, and onwards we rushed to the slaughter, and in a few minutes we grappled with our foes — sword met sword and the blood flowed in copious streams. The enemy fought stoutly, and long continued the deadly conflict. We fought man to man, and bodily strength was put to the test. We drove the enemy before us, trampling upon the bodies of the dead and dying, deaf and insensible to the cries of the wounded. Towards the conclusion 45 of the affray, a Frenchman and I grappled; he was a much stronger man than I. We both fell, and I have no doubt he would have speedily finished my career, had not one of my comrades run him through the body. I got up and, being maddened with pain from my hand being lacerated by the teeth of the fellow whbm I had grappled with, I was soon once more in the thickest of the melee fighting with fury. The ene- my were, however, at last defeated, and the entrench- ments cleared. Having once more formed our ranks, the General ordered us to storm a battery of twelve guns, which was galling us on our right. We were formed in sections of companies and then we prepared to storm the twelve gun battery. In double quick time we hurried on, but ere we could reach it, it blew up with a tremendous explosion. The shock was truly awful and astounding: the ground shook around us. It was terrific beyond description. We were completely covered with dust, whilst fragments of human bodies, with pieces of wood, stones, &c. came down amongst us whereby a few were killed and a great many wounded. Our gallant and brave Gene- ral was struck from his horse, as was also Col. Gibb. The contending armies, as if by mutual consent, ceased firing. We thought the French had sprung a mine; while they, on the other hand, supposed that our waggons of ammunition had blown up. The ex- plosion, however, proceeded from neither of those causes, but was produced by the following circum- stance. The grenadier company of the 59th regi- 46 ment, with a few officers, rushed into the battery, carrying and surmounting every obstacle before them, and made themselves masters of the place. An Ar- tillery officer who commanded the battery snatched a burning match from the hand of one of the Artillery- men, and threw it into the powder magazine, thus devoting himself to destruction to prevent the bat- tery he commanded passing into the hands of his opponents. This officer’s name was Muller, and he was either a Dutchman or a German. The smoke being partially dispelled, we could plainly perceive the faces of our enemies in front of us. A volley from our Rifles was instantly sent amongst them, and then another and another ? but not without a return from the enemy. We did not, however, continue long firing, the word was given to charge bayonets, and onward we went to close combat. In this charge we encountered a Malay Regiment, composed of fine athletic fellows, in bodily appearance somewhat resembling Scotch Highlanders, and like them also undaunted in the battle field. When within a few paces of these brave fellows we halted, to take breath, and found them closing up their ranks, by filling up the vacancies caused by our shot. Time was precious — the bugle, therefore, once more sound- ed the charge. We drove their arms aside, and the next moment our swords and bayonets were deeply dyed in blood. Again, and again we charged, until the ill fated Malay Regiment was literally cut to pieces. We now halted a short time to recover our 47 exhausted energies, and during the time, I took a survey of the horrid work we had been about. I asked a brave fellow who was alongside of me. and who had served in many previous campaigns, if he had ever beheld such dreadful execution. He said to me, “ I have fought at the battle of Maida in Calabria, in the second battalion of the 78tli Regiment, and in Egypt with the same Regiment, when that corps was taken prisoners by the Turks, after loosing about three fourths of their number, but I must confess I have never seen any thing like this, and it is not yet nearly over. Many poor fellows must sleep to wake no more ere the tri-coloured flag, that waves in yon- der fort, falls,” at the same time pointing with his finger to Cornelius. He then expressed a desire for something to quench his thirst, and as I had my can- teen full I gave him a part. I then took a part of it myself, which in the act of doing so I observed a poor wounded fellow eying me very wistfully and to him I gave the remainder. There was a Dutch Regiment lying upon our flank which seemed to be in commo- tion, and our General suspecting that they were pre-« paring to attack us ordered us to march up briskly upon them. Having got within one hundred paces of them, they threw down their arms, took off their caps and cheered us. They were all taken prisoners, and sent to the rear with a small escort. General Gillespie then addressed us saying, “My brave fel- lows there stands the enemy’s park of Artillery, it must be taken.” To get to the rear of these cannon 48 was our object, and if possible, to do so unperceived. We gained the rear, but not without being perceived, being so well guarded by the French troops. We poured into them a most destructive fire, and without waiting to re-load our pieces we charged and drove them back. Again we formed our ranks as well as the circumstances and the nature of the ground would admit, and poured in another destructive fire, — and then a second charge. We obtained possession of a part of the park of Artillery, but what was our astonishment to find a fresh Regiment of the enemy drawn up in open columns of companies on our right flank. We were instantly ordered to load a-fresh. The enemy formed quickly; but ere they could level a musket at us, our balls made large gaps in their ranks. The last charge I ever heard General Gil- lespie give, was: “now death or glory my boys! for- ward again, let steel meet steel and down they go to everlasting sleep.” Onward we went to the charge ; but the enemy did not remain to meet it. They threw down their arms, and fled and the park of Ar- tillery was ours. In this last conflict I may say, without exaggeration, that we were entirely enveloped in flame and smoke from the constant and heavy fire from the enemy’s guns. A Sepoy Regiment belong- ing to our army was almost entirely annihilated by the murderous discharges of the cannon. Previous to the capture of the park of Artillery, I fell, pierced by a grape shot from one of the cannon. My blood 49 spouted up in my face, my cap was torn from my head, and my rifle was dashed to pieces in my hands. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XVI. My Dear Friend, Having recovered from the shock caused by my wounds, I looked around for some person to assist me and tie up my wounds; but I could see no one who was capable of performing that friendly office for me. The surviving men of my company were in hot pursuit of the enemy; and the wounded, who lay in heaps around, perhaps stood as much in need of assistance as I did. Seeing no one to help me, I had to do the best I could for myself. Accordingly, I took the sash off a serjeant who lay dead by mv side, with which I bound up a wound in mv arm. The other two wounds I could not bind up, so I was obliged to allow them to take their chance. After having continued some little time there amongst the killed and wounded, I got up, and asked some of those who were comparatively slightly wounded to go along with me and look out for a surgeon ; they, however, one and all refused, stating that they were safer where they were as the fighting was not yet ended, and that if I went I had every chance of e 50 being killed, I nevertheless went away in pursuit of a surgeon to dress my wounds ; but I had not gone far when I found myself getting faint from the loss of blood, and felt myself altogether unable to pro- ceed without assistance, when fortunately, an officer (who I afterwards found to be Captain Wetherall,* aid-de-camp to his father, Gen. Wetherall the second in command of the army,) passing by, and observing my situation, humanely rendered me the assistance I so much stood in need of. He not only bound up my wounds, but likewise conveyed me to a place of greater safety than where I then was. This was one of a number of pits, which had been dug by the ene- my in front of their works as a protection against a night attack. This brave and humane officer, having placed me safely in the bottom of the pit, departed. He had not been gone three minutes, when a shot struck the side of the pit and, nearly covered me with dust, and a few stones also fell upon my head,, but without doing me any material injury. I remained nearly ten minutes longer in that place, when 1 ob- served a soldier passing whom I requested to assist me out, which he did. I once more endeavoured to * The officer above mentioned, is Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall now commanding the Royals, in Montreal. Feeling certain that the Colonel was the same officer who acted so humanely towards me in India, I waited upon and remembered him of the circum- stance. The Colonel immediately recollected it, and expressed his satisfaction at again seeing me, at the same time said, that if he could forward my views in any way, he would feel most happjs in doing so. 51 make my way to the hospital, along with an officer who now made up to me. This officer had his arm almost shot off from his shoulder, and it was hanging useless at his side, attached to his body by a mere thread. In making our way to the hospital we had to see a most melancholy sight — Col. Campbell, of our Regiment, lying wounded, having lost one leg and the other nearly off. His faithful steed lay ex- piring by the side of his master, determined in life or in death not to forsake him. A tear fell from my eye to behold the good old Colonel — indeed, I may truly say, the father of our Regiment — lying helpless as an infant, unable to move a joint of his body without the most excruciating pain. Alas! a tear was the only tribute I had to bestow, “ this is sad work,” I said, to the officer who was with me, on seeing around us so many dead and wounded both of friends and foes. “ True,” said he, M but it is the fate of war.” The enemy fought bravely ; and had the Dutch shown the same courage as the French and Malays, the British flag would not have been seen waving upon the walls of their boasted im- pregnable Cornelius. After walking about half an hour, we came up with a few pioneers carrying masheels and palanquins, to carry the wounded men from the field of battle to the general hospital. A masheel is something like a hammock. It is made fast at both ends to long poles, and is generally car- ried by four men. A palanquin, on the other hand, is formed of thin boards, and is also carried by men. 52 The officer who was along with me, and I, got into two of these masheels and away they went with us towards the hospital. On coming to the trench we had stormed in the morning, my foremost bearers stumbled, and I was thrown out and fell into the bot- tom of the trench. At first I thought every bone in my body had been broken, I was so much shook, although, ultimately, I found that I had received but little injury. An officer of the 22d Light Dra- goons who had observed me fall, struck the bearers with the flat of his sword, and that with such right good will, that I am sure the effects of it must have continued for at least a month after. I felt sorrv for the poor fellows, as I am sure that what happened was purely accidental on their part. I was in a short time once more placed in my masheel, and again progressed towards the hospital. My bearers, how- ever, instead of carrying me to the general hospital, landed me at a gentleman’s house which had been converted into an hospital for those who were most severely wounded. Having been placed in a large room, I was much shocked to see so many brave fel- lows, lying on the floor severely wounded, with two or three surgeons cutting and slashing and lopping off their limbs. My own wounds being in a bad state, I called to one of the surgeons and, asked him to examine them. He came forward and began to examine the wound in my arm, but while he was in the act of doing so three French officers were brought in wounded, and he immediately left me, without 53 doing any thing for me, in order to attend to these officers. You may be sure I did not feel over well pleased with this treatment, and began to abuse the surgeon sharply for using me in this manner. The only answer I received was an order to go down to the general hospital, and get my arm amputated. This, in my opinion, did not mend matters, and I abused him still more than before. There was, how- ever, no remedy, and I accordingly set off to find my way to the general hospital. I had not proceeded far when I was taken into a palanquin, in which I was conveyed until I reached the bungalow occupied by Major F. of our Regiment, whose servant hailed me and took me to the Major, who was anxious to hear particulars of the storming of Cornelius, he himself not having been present in consequence of indisposition. When I came into the Major’s pre- sence he could scarcely recognize me, I was so cov- ered with gore. He asked me if it was all my own blood. I said some part of it was that of our ene- mies; but that I was wounded in three different places — that we had had dreadful work, the French having disputed every inch of ground — and that the slaughter had been immense. I felt extremely faint from the loss of blood, and told the Major so ; but before I could get any assistance, I fell upon the floor quite insensible. After I had recovered, the Major asked me what occasioned the terrible explo- sion which occurred during the storming. I told him that it was caused by the blowing up of one of 54 the enemy’s batteries, which we were about to at- tack, and which was blown up by the officer in charge of it, to prevent it from falling into our hands. The Major then asked if the 78th had suffered much. I said that it could not but have suffered severely, al- though I could not tell the extent of its loss. I, at the same time, mentioned, that I believed Colonel Campbell was by that time no more, as I had seen him in a dreadfully mangled condition, having one of his legs shot off, and the other nearly in the same state. He seemed much affected when he under- stood that the Regiment had suffered so much, and at the loss of the Colonel, and I observed him wiping the tears from his eyes. At this time his servant entered, and informed the Major that a carriage was coming down from the field. He desired the servant to go instantly and enquire if it could take W. to the general hospital, as it was most probably going thither. There were three French officers in the carriage, and they very politely made room for me, and I was placed in the carriage. One of the officers spoke very good English. He told me that he had been attacked by three Sepoys, and would most certainly have been killed by them, had not a British soldier interfered, and at the risk of his own life, saved him from their fury. This soldier was, as I afterwards learned, a corporal of our Regiment of the name of Cooper. We now arrived at the general hospital, where we separated. I went into an apartment which was crowded with the wounded, and the sur- 55 geons busily employed attending to their different wants. It was a scene which no one who had looked upon could ever forget, and was much too shocking for description. The surgeon to whom I applied for assistance, belonged to one of the ships of war which had accompanied the expedition. He immediately attended to me, and having probed the wound in my arm, he extracted from it a piece of my jacket and shirt and then began to dress it, from which I received almost immediate relief. He next attended to the wound in my thigh, from which he extracted a piece of Dutch copper money. I re- quested him to give me the piece ; but he would not part with it, saying that he wished to show it to the Commander-in-Chief. Having dressed the wound in my thigh, he applied himself to that in my ancle, which he told me was very slight, and that a few days would heal it up. I was then taken to another ward, and a bed being got for me, I was put into it and left to repose, of which I stood much in need. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XVII. My Dear Friend, Having slept soundly for several hours I awoke greatly refreshed. The ward in which I was placed 56 might contain between fifty and sixty men more or less wounded. Upon casting my eyes about, and observing the situation of the poor lellows beside me, I could not avoid exclaiming to myself, “is it for this end that parents bring up their children, with all the tenderness and care that paternal affection can bestow. What if, when on its mother’s knees, at- tempting in childish innocence to lisp out papa and mamma, it should be told the parents that that child, so fondly loved, would at no distant day leave his bones to whiten on the plains of a foreign land ; or what is perhaps still worse, return to his native land mangled and torn with wounds, a wretched wreck of his former self.” Would not those parents, in the bitterness of their heart, exclaim, “it were better for thee, my son, that thou hadst never been born.” A loud groan here attracted my attention. It pro- ceeded from a bed opposite to mine. The soul of another brave fellow had winged its way to its last account. Another widowed mother had to mourn the loss of an only and beloved child. Whilst I was ruminating over the fate of this poor fellow, some one called me to assist him, as he was bleeding to death. I made what haste I could, and went to him, and found the sheet of the bed completely saturated with blood. I attempted to stop the bleeding by binding up the wound tightly with a napkin, but without effect — the blood still continuing to flow. I am afraid, my poor fellow, I can do you no good, you must have the assistance of the surgeon, and for- 57 tunately one at this moment came into the ward, who immediately applied the necessary remedies to stop the bleeding. His wound, however, afterwards mortified, and the man had to get his leg ampu- tated. Shortly after, I was startled by a piercing shriek from some one in the ward. It proceeded from a wounded man who had some how or other fallen from his bed upon the floor. In consequence of the fall, his wound burst open afresh, and before any assistance could be procured he bled to death. The next morning I awoke considerably refreshed, and although my wounds felt stiff and sore I was sufficiently recovered to allow of my going out of doors. I accordingly went out and directed my steps towards a river that run by the back of the hospital The scene, however, was not one calculated to com- pose my agitated spirits, as the river, which was much swollen, was almost covered with the dead bodies of men and horses. I therefore turned from the sight, and directed my steps elsewhere ; but it seemed that nothing but melancholy objects should meet my view, as I now came to the place where graves were preparing for the reception of the bodies of twelve of my fellow soldiers, who had died in the hospital of their wounds. Finding nothing in the surrounding scene at all adapted to cheer my troubled mind, I returned once more to my apartment in the hospital. Amongst those who had died of their wounds, and for whom the graves were preparing, I found three belonging to the 78th, At the death 58 of two of them, I was not at all surprised, their wounds were so bad; but I was a good deal astonished at the death of the other, as I thought his wounds were slight. He himself, however, had always a presentiment that he would die in the Island of Java, and nothing could drive the idea out of his head. The day before he died, thinking he was doing well, I began to joke him upon it, and said I hoped he was now convinced that he was wrong in his idea that he would die at the taking of Java. He said to me, stop until to-morrow and you will see whether I am wrong or not. My old opponent G. also died in the hospital at this time of the wounds which he had received at the taking of Cornelius, thus by his death wiping away the stig- ma of cowardice. Although this man had been the cause of my being reduced from the rank of a ser- T i*--. > -•- 1-1 jcjcxni/j a sui iy lvv uis ueain. Hie wound which he had received was in the knee, and the surgeon wished to amputate his leg, but he would not con- sent. A locked jaw ensued, which caused his death. Scarcely a day passed at this time without some one falling a victim, either of the wounds they had received or of dysentery, which at that time pre- vailed, to a considerable extent, amongst the troops ; and there were not a few whose deaths were brought on by their own intemperance and dissipation. To those who were in a fair way of recovery, the rations allowed in the hospital were by no means Sufficient. A few of us, therefore, clubbed together to get an additional allowance, but nothing was 59 permitted to enter the hospital without being in- pected by the serjeant of the guard. We, however, contrived to get what we wanted, through the instru- mentality of one of our number who swam the river, which flowed immediately at the back of the hos- pital, going out and coming in again at a back door; but we had not continued to enjoy ourselves in this way many days, when some one envious of our enjoy- ment gave information to the visiting surgeon, who took occasion to make his rounds a good deal earlier than usual, and found me busy preparing for our mess. Observing what I was about, he came up to me, and perceiving a strong smell of arrack, he kicked the kettle from off the fire, threw it into the river, and walked away. I then went down along the side }f the river, expecting that the kettle would be flopped by some brushwood about fifty paces below, ind in this I was not mistaken, and I soon got it out igain. We continued to enjoy ourselves for a con- aderable time longer, but our money at last began .o fail, and we were obliged to put ourselves on half Allowance. A few days before our money was wholly ipent, we were a second time caught by the visiting Mirgeon who, with a few oaths, took the kettle from fls place, poured its contents upon the ground, and then smashed it to pieces. I could not stand the lpss cooly, and I spoke out very freely to the sur- geon about his conduct, for which he threatened to report me. However he did not do so. Not long after this, Lord Minto with his staff visited the hos- 60 pital. He inquired at each man in oiir ward how he was getting on, and if he had any complaint to make. There was not a single individual who did not com- plain of the smallness of his rations, and that there was neither arrack nor wine served out to them; and as it fortunately w3s dinner-time when his Lordship was with us, we were enabled to exhibit the scanti- ness of our allowance. His Lordship immediately ordered that we should, in future, have double our former allowance, and each man to have half a pint of wine per day. Yours, Sic. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XVIII. My Dear Friend, From the foregoing detail you will perceive that the life of a soldier, at least when on active ser- vice, is not that life of idleness which many are apt to suppose. Indeed there are few who enter the army who have any proper idea cf the nature of the service. Very many, I believe, enter from no other motive than idleness and a disinclination to work • but they are not long in finding out their mistake. The hardships which these afterwards encounter is nothing more than what they deserve. About a week after the event mentioned in my last letter, our Regiment received orders to embark at Batavia for a place called Sourabaya. Previous to our embarkation we were to receive our arrears of pay. Although I was wounded, and in the mean- time disabled from service, I knew I was entitled to my arrears of pay as well as the others; but although it wanted only two days of the embarkation there was no appearance of a settlement taking place. I therefore requested, and obtained from the Doctor, a pass to go to the place where the regiment was sta- tioned, which was about two miles further up the country. I went directly to the officer of my com- pany to enquire of him if I was to get my arrears of pay, and if so, at what time they were to be paid ; and in answer, he informed me I would be paid that evening. Upon that assurance I departed from him, and went to seek out some of my old comrades to spend an hour or two with them, before their departure to Sourabaya. We had been but a short time together, when a serjeant of the company came in and told me that I was to be taken to the guard house and con- fined by order of the Lieut. I inquired what crime I was accused of. He said of insolence to the Lieut. ; and that I was not solitary, for that two other men, of the names of Harvey and Munroe, were also accused of the same crime, and likewise ordered to be con- fined. I was immediately marched to the guard house, and, along with the other two, consigned to durance vile for the remainder of that day and the ensuing 62 night. The next morning the Regiment was paraded to witness the punishment of a man who had been sentenced to be flogged. It is usual on these occa- sions to bring out all the prisioners who are confined either in the guard house or black hole to witness the punishment. Of course, Harvey, Munro and I were brought out on this occasion. Colonel Lindsay, who then commanded the Regiment, when he saw us brought out as prisoners, came forward and asked for what offence we had been put into confinement. I •aid I was not aware that I had committed any of- fence that deserved confinement in the black hole for twenty-four hours. “ By whose authority were you confined in the black hole ?” asked Colonel Lindsay. “ By Lieutenant M‘Kenzie’s,” I replied. The Colonel then called for Lieutenant M‘Kenzie, and asked him what offence I had committed. M‘Kenzie cooly replied that he knew nothing about it ; but that the sergeant who had put me in confine- ment would, perhaps, be able to answer the question. The sergeant being called said, that he had confined Harvey, Munro and W. by order of Lieutenant M‘Kenzie, for insolence towards him. M‘Kenzie said, the sergeant was wrong. He had desired him tq put Harvey and Munro, but not W. into confine- ment, for insolence to him when asking for their arrears of pay. Upon this statement the Colonel ordered us all three to return to the hospital, and told us that our arrears of pay would be sent us that pight. I thereupon told the Colonel, that as I had 63 been confined without a cause, I would not allow the matter to drop, but that 1 would acquaint the General with the harsh usage I had met with from Lieutenant M'Kenzie. The Colonel then turned to the Lieutenant, and said “ McKenzie, I am afraid this will turn out a bad business for you. It was highly improper to order a wounded man to be con- fined in the black hole, more especially as he had not, by your own confession, committed any offence. I am afraid a General Court Martial will be the result.” Upon this I came away along with my two fellow sufferers, and returned to the hospital. Ac- cording to promise, that evening we received the full amount of our arrears of pay. Next day Colonel Lindsay and Lieutenant M‘Kenzie came to me in the hospital, when the Colonel said to me “ I hope W. you will think no more about the mistake that was committed in confining you, and allow it to rest as it is without acquainting the General, as the Regiment, is much esteemed by the General, and I would wish to avoid anything that might tend to lower it in his opinion. You know I have always been your friend, and if you allow the matter to drop you shall not repent it.” I agreed to the Colonel’s request, and gave up all idea of reporting the Lieut, to the General. The Colonel said to me, “when you are fit to do duty in the Regiment you shall be replaced in your former rank.” Two days after the transactions above noticed had taken place, I found the wound in my arm getting 64 more painful than formerly, and much swollen. The surgeon upon examining it, ordered a rice poultice to be applied to it ; still I found no relief, in fact, the pain was greatly increased. A consultation was held by the medical gentlemen, and it seemed to be the general opinion that amputation would be necessary. One of the surgeons, however, said that he could, by an operation, save the arm, if I would trust my- self to his care. I very thankfully accepted his offer, and submitted myself to his direction. He immediately commenced operations and laid open the wound by cutting out a piece of putrified flesh. The wound, when thus laid open, was by no means an agreeable sight, and I will not trouble you with a description of its loathsome appearance. Red precipitate was then applied to the wound, which caused me great pain for some time, but in the course of forty-eight hours, after the wound was thus cleansed and properly dressed, I began to experience much re- lief, and from day to day thereafter, my arm continued to mend, although it never has, as yet, been entirely cured. I could never attribute the bad state my wound had got into, to any other cause than the cold, caught on the night I was confined in the black hole ; and when the kind of place I was confined in is con- sidered, the consequences to me are not much to be wondered at. The black hole or dungeon in which I was incarcerated was underneath the guard house, about six feet deep, entirely under ground, and quite impervious to the light, and we had not even a little 65 straw allowed us to keep our bodies from coming in contact with the damp and noxious earth, when we lay down to rest. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XIX. My Dear Friend, I shall now give you a narrative of the events that occured at the taking of the Island of Java, subsequent to my being wounded. The enemy being driven from all their batteries and entrench- ments at the point of the bayonet, retreated to Cor- nelius ; but not so quickly but that the British were enabled to enter it at the same time and to drive them from that, their last retreat, which they had deemed impregnable. The enemy again drew up in order of battle, in rear of the fortress. The Com- mander-in- Chief of the British army, called out his whole disposable force in order, once more to give battle to the enemy. When preparing to march forward for that purpose, a flag of truce was seen advancing, who brought an offer of capitulation from the French Commander, which was accepted of. By the capitulation the French soldiers became prisoners of war, the officers being put on their parole, whilst the Dutch and Malays were allowed to 66 return to their homes. We thus, in a comparatively short period of time, were enabled to wrest from French usurpation one of the finest Islands of the East. This, however, was not accomplished without a very serious loss on the part of Great Britain, both of blood and treasure. When the conquest had been completed, an order was issued by the Commander-in-Chief that all the wounded soldiers should be inspected by a medical board; that those who were unfit for farther duty were to be invalided, and those who were not con- sidered unfit for service were to continue with their respective Regiments. The wounded of our Regi- ment were ordered to embark at Batavia, for Sourabaya, to join the Regiment which lay there. In ten days after our embarkation, we landed at our destined port and joined our Regiment ; but few of us did any more duty in the corps. We had nothing to do but to enjoy ourselves as we pleased. The town of Sourabaya, where we were now quartered, contained about eighteen hundred inhabitants, con- sisting of Dutch, Malays and Chinese. The former are a phlegmatic and reserved set of people, extremely cleanly in their habits. The Chinese are of a more lively turn of mind. They are much addicted to gambling — chess and cock-fighting are their constant amusements. They are notorious cheats ; and it may be truly said, that a European has but one eye while a Chinese has two. There is no set of people in the East who have more cunning and duplicity ; 6 ? and they make it an invariable rule to cheat where it can be possibly done. Their complexion is of a yellowish hue, and their eyes are deep sunk in the head, which makes them appear as being half shut. I shall now endeavour to give you an account of some of the notions which these people entertain respecting the Deity, and of their account of the Fall of Man. The religion of the Chinese is Pagan ; but the ideas they have concerning the Deity are greatly superior to most other Pagans. The books, which, as I was informed, treat of their religion are Chu-King, Siang, Sang-y-King, Takis, with a few more which it is unneccessary to mention. They have a belief in more gods than one. The Supreme God they name Chang-tee, Tien, and sometimes Yao. In one of their books it is written that “ Chang-tee is a self- existent unity, who is present every where, and who produces all things by his own power. He is from all eternity without interruption. He is uncreated and new. He is the source of all motion and the root of all action. If it be asked what he does, he is eternally active. If you would know where he is, he exists every where.” In another of their books it is said, “that the heaven and the earth are of an immense height, yet they have figure, colour, number and quan- tity.” Again, if one should ask how all these things came, the answer is, “that all were made by the great God who is the origin of all created substances, whether they be heavenly or whether they pertain to 68 the world we live in. He who knows this Sovereign Being, knows much; and he who knows not him, knows nothing. God is so high, that he eannot be reached, — so profound, that he cannot be fathomed, — so immense, that he cannot be measured, — immutable, and cannot change, — indivisble, without part or form; yet he exists entirely every where; even in the minutest thing in creation. It was this Almighty Being who produced the mountains and the great deep, — who makes the animals walk, — the birds fly, — the sun shine, — and the stars move, and holds the earth in his hands.” In the book called Y-King, it is said that Chang-tee, or Sovereign Lord, is just and good, full of mercy and love for his creatures ; — that his justice is love and his punishments are mer- cies. That when the hour of executing- his decrees arrives, none will be able to resist him. He will then show that when he punishes he is just and good, and that he never acts from vindictiveness nor hatred. To render the good happy and to punish the wicked, is his constant rule ; and when he punishes he only seems to be in wrath, for justice demands the punish- ment of the violator of the laws of nature.” In the book called Chu-King, it is written, “ that besides the Supreme God their is a being who is said to be the minister of Chang-tee, and is called the holy saint. His different names are Yinwang, the prince of peace; Chingin, the divine man; Changgin, god- man; Tien-tee-song, the sovereign lord; Kiun-tee, son of the King; Kigin, son of Heaven. The 69 saint or great man, wants in himself all the virtues of heaven and earth. The saint made the heavens; the great man made the universe. Tien is the saint without a voice, — the saint is Tien speaking with the human voice. The heart of the Sovereign Lord is in the breast of the saint. The counsels and the rebukes of Heaven are in the mouth of the saint. He has the form of a man ; and the heaven and the earth are united in him. He has the form of a man, but is without his passions.” In the book called Siang-Sang, it is said that “the Divine Man made the heaven and the earth and all created intelligence, and that he existed from everlasting.” In the Chi- King, it is stated that “it is he who converts the hearts, — and is the beginning of all things ; — that he is expected to appear in this world and will establish it in righteousness. When he comes into this world he will labour much and suffer much ; he must pass the great torrent whose waves will enter into his soul. That he alone can offer up to Chang-te the sacrifice worthy of him.” In the same book, it is said that “the people sacrifice their lives for bread ; but the saint sacrifices his life for the world. He asks nothing for himself — he seeks only the happiness of others ; — he enriches others, but impoverishes himself; he loses himself to save mankind. The Lord will restore man to his primitive virtue. Vinwang, the prince of Peace, alone knows how to love his brethren. Yao has enriched him with all his riches : and has given him the universe for a recompense. The Lord said ?0 to Vinwang, ascend to the sacred mountain and draw all the world after you. Conquer the rebels who dispute my sovereign will. Arm thyself with my wrath, display my standard, draw out my troops, res- tore peace every where, and fix the happiness of thy empire. Yinwang gained the summit of the moun- tain and the rebellious spirits fled to the caverns — the mountain of the Lord was no place for them. Living waters, running pure from the fountain, became the property of Yinwang and his followers, to quench their thirst. Vinwang has chosen the mountain for his abode ; and thither must all the faithful nations of the earth go.” The account of the Fall of Man is thus given in their books : — “ When the first man and woman had been created they were placed upon the mountain above spoken of. The mountain was at that time extremely fruitful ; but by the apostacy of the first pair, it was rendered barren and unfruitful.” The following is the lamentation of Yinwang on account of the fall : — “ Tinwang (the name of the first man) has plunged us into numberless miseries — he is the cause of the unfruitfulness of this formerly delightful country — he hath overturned our house — he hath filled our country with thorns and briars — our misery will last for many ages — the mountain is lost for a long period of time — vice will overcome all like a mortal poison. We possessed fertile fields and fruit- ful seasons, now all is lost, Oh ! Tinwang, what hast thou done ? But Tinwang says, he could not help 71 it, — it was Poeasee, his wife, who did it. She hated innocence and loved vice — by her ambition to gain knowledge she has destroyed the bulwarks I had raised to protect us — our misery has not come from Tien, but from a woman. Ah ! unhappy Poeasee, you have kindled the conflagration which will con- sume us. On me let Tien pour out his vengeance ; I am to blame. One of the degraded spirits hath deceived me, and I am undone. But Vinwang, full of mercy and pity, hath said that after many ages he will destroy the destroyer Chong-chong. This rebellious and perverse dragon shall suffer for his pride and presumption. His ambition blinded him. He would have mounted up to heaven, but I threw him down to the abyss below. At first his abode was in the high places ; but he forgot himself, and he lost eternal life. That night when he fell, the stars lost their accustomed lustre. Ten suns were then seen in the heavens that pretended to enlighten the oelestial sphere. Yas ordered Vinwang to pierce them with his darts. He wounded nine ; and nine ravens, that dwelt in them, had their wings clipped. Yas ordered one of the celestial spirits to drive Chong-chong into the black valley of misery. — Tchi-y-con, another of the degraded spirits, raised a great storm and endeavoured to rob the celestial army of all light. Te-wang, however, bound him to his chariot.” It is further stated in the same book, that “ Chong-chong has the face of a man, with the body of a serpent, and that he is all lies and deceit. 72 This degraded being disputed empire with the Sovereign Lord of the universe ; and, while raging with fury, he struck his head against a mountain ; in consequence the pillars of heaven were broken, and thus the position of the earth became oblique.” In the book called Chu-King, it is said that “ the soul of man was originally luminous, but that it became obscured after the apostacy of the first pair.” It also states that “when any one supposes himself possessed of virtue, it is a sure indication that he is altogether without it : the truly wise and virtuous are always humble, and believe themselves incapable of any good or virtuous action, although always ardent in their aspirations after good, as if they thought them- selves capable of performing every good action.” The Sovereign Lord, addressing Vinwang, said, “ I love a pure and single spirit like thine. It makes no noise — it does not dazzle from without — it is not fro- ward nor proud. In seeing thee, one would say that thou hast no light or knowledge. Thou, however, conformest thyself to my orders. I hate the proud ; but I love the humble. I shall always dwell in thy heart, for thou art all loveliness.” Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XX. My Dear Friend, You ask me if I ever had an opportunity of seeing any of the Chinese females, and in answer I 73 may state, that on one occasion I did get a sight of some of these females, I shall now relate to you my adventures on the occasion in question. One evening while strolling along the banks of the Jacara river, which flows pleasantly past the town of Sourabaya I met two of my comrades, who asked me to go along with them and partake of a glass of arrack. After a little hesitation I agreed to do so, and accordingly went along with them. We had no difficulty in finding a grog shop, and in we went. Having drunk a couple of glasses each, one of my companions, who was rather of an amorous disposition and at the same time a little of a wag, proposed that we should endeavour to pick up a Chinese sweetheart a-piece, that evening, I said that would be rather difficult, as the Chinese females never were to be seen by Europeans. He said he would ask the land- lord to put us upon a plan. He accordingly called the landlord and put the question to him. “ Yes, yes Mynheer,” replied the landlord, “you shall see de Chinese frow.” Having paid our reckoning we sallied forth upon our adventures accompanied by our Dutch landlord. We had not proceeded far when a. house was pointed out to us by our guide, as one where we would meet with what we wanted. The house was surrounded by a wall, composed partly of stone and partly of mud. We could get no entrance by the door. Our only alternative then, was to make an attempt to scale the wall, and the Dutchman having procured a ladder for us, we all, with the exception 6 74 of himself who left us, mounted the wall at the lowest part. Having got to the top, we perceived within a square court, five females, two of them with children in their arms. They did not seem to be at all alarmed or displeased at our appear- ance, but came forward and began speaking and laughing; but we could not understand one word of what they said. It was now proposed by one of my companions that we should descend into the court. I objected to this; but it was of no use, for down the other two would go. They hauled up the ladder from the outside and placed it inside the wall to enable them to descend to where the females were. The two then descended, and I remained upon the wall as a sentry. It was certainly amusing to hear the parties talking to each other all at the same time without the one being able to comprehend the other. The one who was the first proposer of the frolic, had a wooden leg, and he carried a large stick, in order that he might the better keep his balance, and it was cer- tainly a laughable sight to see him stumping along with one of the Chinese girls waddling after him, holding by his arm. She pointed out the different fruit trees to him, and made signs to him to eat. The difficulty, however, was to get at the fruit; at last they resolved to make use of the ladder. When they came for it, they found that I had taken it up, and refused to let it go for the purpose they wanted. At last, however, they persuaded me not only to allow the ladder to go, but also to join them in the garden. We then began 75 to gather the fruit, of which we eat abundantly. One of my companions endeavoured to make love to one of the girls in the best manner he could ; and in the course of his attempt, he kissed her repeatedly which caused the other girls to laugh very heartily. In the midst of our enjoyment a male servant, belonging to the family, made his appearance, and snatching up a piece of a bamboo hurried towards us, brandishing his stick, aimed a blow at the head of the one who had been kissing the girl; but he warded off the blow, and immediately knocked the fellow down, who roared out most loudly in his own language, something which I think signified “murder.” Immediately upon the appearance of the servant, the girls hobbled off as fast as their little feet would carry them. We also considered it high time for us to retreat. We, there- fore, with the assistance of the ladder, got once more into the street, and got off, leaving the ladder behind us, making the best of our way to the old Dutch- man’s house, where we took another glass to refresh ourselves after our frolic. The Dutchman, after we had told him our adventures, laughed very heartily, and said, “ you English are de tevil for de frow.” The owner of the place where we had our frolic, who was a Chinese merchant, went to the commanding officer and complained; stating, that three soldiers had entered his premises, over the wall, with the intention of carrying off his daughters, and that they had nearly killed one of his servants, and that he wished them to be punished. The officer desired 76 him to go amongst the men, and pick out the guilty ones, and he would punish them severely. This he could not do as he had never seen us, and he was obliged to go away very much dissatisfied. It was pretty well known in the Regiment who were the transgressors, and many a laugh it created afterwards amongst officers and privates. The Chinese women are of very small stature, and whiter in the complexion than the men. Their feet are also very small. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XXL My Dear Friend, The Island of Java contains some millions of inhabitants, but the exact number I cannot tell. The original inhabitants go under the name of Javanese, and they are idolaters. Besides the Javanese there are numbers of Malays, Chinese, Portugese, and dif- ferent other kinds of people. The Dutch are masters of the whole Island, and subject all the other inhabi- tants to taxation. The Malays profess the religion of Mahomet ; but they are not so strict in their religious observances as the Turks. They perform frequent ablutions either in the rivers or baths. They observe their fasts by abstaining from meats from sunrise till 77 sunset. They avoid intoxicating liquors, but are immoderate in the use of opium, which they take as a substitute. They circumcise their children at the age of thirteen. They are, generally speaking, remarkably sedate in their manner, and speak very little. A Frenchman will speak more in one day than a Malay will do in a week. The Malay in per- sonal appearance, is handsome, of a stout make, but of a gloomy and ferocious physiognomy, and jealousy is a predominant passion. Should the wife of a Ma- lay give her husband cause to suspect her inconstan- cy, he never rests till he finds out the paramour. He then intoxicates himself with a composition of opium, takes his poisoned cress or dagger, and off he starts for the abode of the unfortunate wretch who is the object of his vengeance. It is no matter what the distance may be, or whether it is in town or country. Having found the object of his wrath, he plunges the deadly weapon into his breast or throat It has occurred in Java, that a whole family has fallen a sacrifice to the jealous fury of one man. The act is called the running of the Muke. Whenever it becomes known to the Dutch police, that such a thing is to take place, a strict watch is set upon the person who is suspected, and when he sets out on his mission of death he is followed, and before he has time to do any mischief, he gets his brains knocked out. Peace was once more established in the island, and every thing restored to its former quiet. The 78 Women who had been left at Goa, now arrived at Sourabaya ; but not a few of them were fated to find their husbands numbered with the dead. You may, perhaps, suppose that those women who had lost their husbands were rendered very wretched and were much to be pitied, but it is not so. The scenes to which they become accustomed, in following the army, too often deadens the feelings and renders them quite callous. Indeed many of them, in less than a month after their arrival, were married again. Although this is generally the case, it does not always apply ; and it often happens tha£ there are amongst them, some who are truly wretched. One instance I will relate. Upon the landing of the women at Sourabaya, there was one who was looking anxiously around for her husband, and not seeing him she said to one of the soldiers, whom she knew' to be a comrade of her husband, “where is O’Neil that he does not come to welcome me, and press to his heart this dear child whom he has never seen ?” He could not answer her; but a tear which bedimed his bronzed cheek was too sure an indication that he could not satisfy her V of the safety of her husband. The poor woman too w r ell understood from his silence, that her husband, the father of her infant, was no more. She, with a piercing cry, fell into the arms of the soldier, in a state of total insensibility, from which she recovered after a short interval, to a full sense of the reality of her affliction. Another scene occurred at this time, but of a mirthful character. An old female cam- 79 paigner came forward from amongst the females, cry- ing out “ whare is my man, I ken he is no killed yet, for mony a battle he has been in and aye cam aff hale scart ?” “ Here, I am,” cried a good old soldier belonging to the Rifles, bouncing forward from among the crowd, and pointing at the same time to his wooden leg, he was from necessity obliged to keep quiet. He remained in that situation until his death, which took place a few years after his retirement. There are two or three anecdotes illustrative of his gastronomic powers, which I shall here relate. 179 From what I have above mentioned of his charac- ter, you may very readily suppose that he was a great frequenter of tavern parties ; and, as a natural consequence, his funds were too often finished be- fore the period for another supply arrived, when he was sometimes under the necessity of applying to his comrades for loans; but not being so punctual in making his payments as he should have been, they at last became indifferent of rendering him assistance in that way. His inventive faculties were often called into use to discover a method that would supply him with means to carry on the manner of living to which he had so long been accustomed. The course he adopted on one occasion, when his finances were at their very lowest ebb, was of a truly ridiculous nature. He joined a party, who went to spend the evening at a tavern, and he was some time in the house before he recollected that he had not a single sous in his purse to enable him to dis- charge his share of the reckoning; and as his credit was then in very bad odour with his companions, he felt loth to apply to them ? especially as there were some strangers present. He set about cudgelling his brains for a plan either of avoiding or meeting the difficulty, but without being able to see his way through it. At last an opening appeared, and he was not long of availing himself of it. One of the strangers in conversation happened to mention some circumstances of a person who possessed powers of swallowing immense quantities of food, and which 180 he considered as almost incredible. Our gourmand at this part of the conversation, struck in, saying, that he did not consider what had been mentioned, as anything extraordinary, as he himself could excel it. The other scouted the idea of his being able to outdo this person mentioned by him, and offering a bet on the subject. This was just the point he wished to arrive at, and a wager was immediately entered into between them, that he (the Lieutenant) would discuss a square yard of tripe ; which hav- ing been procured he commenced operations, and in a short time, and apparently with little difficulty, the quantity of tripe disappeared, to the astonishment of the whole company. By this means he got out of his present dilemma, and was not only enabled to discharge his reckoning, but was also furnished with a supply for future exigencies. On another occasion, being at a party, where a number of strangers were assembled a conversation took place as to what might be considered nauseous food. One of the gentlemen remarked, that he could not conceive anything more disagreeable to the taste than oysters mixedwith sugar. “ Unpleas- ant as you may conceive them to be,” says the Lieutenant, “ I will bet you any money that I will eat an hundred oysters mixed up as you have men- tioned.” The other instantly accepted the offered wager ; and the materials having been provided, the feat was accomplished to the great surprise of all, and the disgust of many present. 181 The redoubtable Lieutenant on one of the nights of his revelry, upon his return home to his lodgings, “o’er a’ the ills o’ life victorious,” discovered that his worthy landlady had been busily employed during his absence in making her annual supply of jams and jellies. The jars containing the same were arranged upon the table, which presented a temptation too great to be withstood, and after getting properlv seated, he fell foul of the dainties, and made sad havoc among them, emptying several of the jars; — he then retired to bed; but his extra dose, not having amalgamated pleasantly with the other ingredients with which it became associated, caused him to spend a very restless night; and his repeated groans awakening the lady, she repaired to his room to as- certain the cause of his distress; when, “Oh horrible! most horrible !” she beheld the sweet Lieutenant, stretched on his back, “ all clotted with gore.” “ Murder ! murder !” she cried, and bouncing out, called in the watch, informing them that her lodger had cut his throat. The alarm soon spread among the neighbours, and in a few minutes the house was filled. An examination was about being made, when the supposed suicide awakening, sprang up as much astonished as his visitors. A scream of horror arose, of which he demanded the meaning, but received no answer ; some of them, however, ventured closer to the body to examine the wound, and it was then discovered that the alarm had no real foundation. The Lieut., in his dispensation of the above Q men- 182 tioned sweets, from the unsteadiness of his hand, had, not only, taken them internally, but had also bestowed a very liberal portion upon his outer man, thus giving him all the appearance of a person covered with blood. Y ours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XLI. My Dear Friend, While at Goa, it was a common practice with us to give balls, which were generally named after the particular counties to which we belonged, and the expenses connected with them defrayed accord- ingly. The Ross-shire men would give one in honor of their county ; the Sutherland men of theirs ; and if any counties claimed but few men belonging to them, two or three of such would unite together to make up sufficient strength to bear the expenses ; and a good deal of rivalry was kept up as to which party excelled in their arrangements and in the ele- gance of the entertainments. The officers were always willing to encourage these parties, and their ladies attending with them, also seemed to enjoy themselves very much. It was a pleasing sight to see so many assembled together in such harmless amusements, keeping up the customs and the remembrance of 183 their native land. On such occasions the use of the band was always allowed, which added much to the effect. When such a commemoration-day arrived, all was life and bustle. Some bringing the choicest shrubs and flowers they could get, to decorate the apart- ments; — others scrubbing and sweeping; — one placing seats ; — another candlesticks, and so on ; all in the happy anticipation of spending an evening in inno- cent mirth. The children would skip about clapping their hands impatient for the hour of assembling, and the incantation of the poet could be read in everv countenance. •/ “ On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet. To chace the glowing hours with flying feet.” When the time arrived, the men, whose entertain- ment it happened to be, were waiting to receive their guests, find seats for them, and attend to their com- forts ; not, as you may suppose, with the elegance of a Chesterfield, but I doubt not, with as much sin- cerity. The balls were generally opened with a good Scotch reel to a merry Scotch tune, and there was no small degree of emulation amongst the men as to their powers in the Terpsichorian art, and rival sets were formed to bear away the laurels. The genuine Scotch reel was rattled off in fine style, and the palm of vic- tory awarded by competent umpires appointed for the 184 purpose. Various hornpipes were also danced by volunteers, such as they had been taught in their boyish days, and they gave good evidence of not hav- ing forgot them. The Irish jig was not neglected, and the sons of the Emerald Isle proved, without a doubt, that they also had studied the heeling art. There was one lady, the wife of an officer of the 86th, who attended one of these balls, whose elegant dancing acted like magic upon us. All had admired the grace of her movements, during the early part of the evening, in various dances with different officers, but it was not till she took a part in a minuet , with three others, that she so much as- tonished us. Her graceful movements and handsome figure, gave her more the appearance of a sylph than an inhabitant of this earth. Every eye was rivetted, and every voice hushed, enchanted by one “ Whose fairy form was ne’er to be forgot.” After the officers and their ladies retired, an old Scotch dance called “ Bab on the bowster” was introduced, and which universally wound up the evening’s entertainment, causing a good deal of laughter. Another kind of amusement that was resorted to, was the acting of plays, and which occasionally wiled away an evening very pleasantly. Nationality was shown in this also, as any play relative to Scotland, such as “ Douglas,” “ the Gentle Shepherd,” &c., was sure to have a good audience, and some of the 185 characters were really well sustained; while others that were intended to “ melt and fire the heart by turns’’ were sometimes, from blundering or awkward- ness, on the part of the performer, turned into ridicule ; and what the author intended for deep tragedy, was often dished up to us in a very different style. Some of our performers, ere they had com- menced “ to strutt and fret their little hour upon the stage,” would have done well to have studied Ham- let’s address to the players ; for I have seen them not only tear a passion into rags, but their own clothes into the bargain ; but possibly most of them had never heard of it. Between the play and farce, as is customary, a comic song, ballet dance, or something else, in the shape of interlude, was given to make up a variety in the amusements of the evening. And it would occasionally happen that the name of some one who excelled either as a singer or a dancer, was so fre- quently called out, that he would be under the ne- cessity of stepping forward, although his perform- ance did not form part of the bill of fare for the evening. Demands were also made on the musicians for national airs, which were generally complied with. Among the various pieces performed by our ama- teurs, there was a Turkish one, in which some men of colour were requisite ; but the poor fellows who had these parts assigned them, found after- wards that they had entered rather top deeply into 186 their characters, some wag having mixed up a strong vegetable dye in the composition with which they had to besmear their faces and hands ; and it was only when they wished to return to their own fair semblance, that they discovered the trick. Every thing was tried to wash off the colour, but nothing would do, so they at last gave it up as hopeless and trusted to time, which alone made good their former complexions. A reward was offered to any one who would make known the individual that had been guilty of the act ; but he was never discovered : if he had, the men intended, that, as one part of the punishment, he should have been blackened with the dye from head to foot. Upon the Moors, as they were called, falling into the ranks, it was impossible for either officers or men to keep their gravity, their appearance was so very ridiculous, how- ever much we felt for them. Some of them took it much to heart; but one Irish lad used to enjoy the laugh along with the rest of us, and wonder what his old dad would say, were he to witness the effect of the climate on his boy. It was customary on the King’s birth day, for each man to receive one Rupee, to drink his Majes- ty’s health and provide a dinner, which was nicely prepared, and besides the usual substantial dishes, consisted of many of the luxuries the country pro- duced. After the dinner was placed on the table, and previous to our seating ourselves, we were visited by the commanding officer, accompanied by a few of the 187 others, who went round and inspected the different messes, to ascertain if every thing was comfortably arranged. Upon his approach, each mess presented him with a glass of wine, which, having tasted, he addressed the men, expressing his gratification at seeing every thing right, and desired them to conduct themselves with propriety, and thereby show the greater respect for their worthy Sovereign, whose natal day they were assembled to commemorate, and wishing them every enjoyment, retired. The game of cricket was another amusement with us, and as several of the officers were very fond of it, they used to turn out and make up matches, which were often keenly contested. One officer in parti- cular was an excellent hand; his bowling was tre- mendous, and at the wicket it was next to an impossibility to put him down. This game should be encouraged in the army, especially in warm cli- mates, where there is such inducement to inactivity, and prevent that system of lolling and sleeping which the men fall into, and which there can be no doubt nourishes that baneful disorder of the liver to which Europeans are so subject in our Eastern possessions. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. 189 LETTER XLII. My Dear Friend, One of our serjeants, who acted as Regimental schoolmaster, was a man whose amiable and good qualities deserve to be recorded, but I fear my hum- ble powers will but poorly perform the task; still, a grateful remembrance of the many fatherly admoni- tions I received from him, prompts me to make the attempt. He was highly respected by all who knew him, and well he deserved to be so. Independent of the du- ties which his situation demanded of him, he volun- tarily undertook others ; and many, who have passed to that “ bourne whence no traveller returns,” have blessed the day they knew him. He was par- ticularly kind to the sick, and attended alike to their bodily and spiritual comfort. He had such a calm and feeling manner about him, that he was sure to win his way to the heart of any man, but especially of one languishing on a sickbed. A comrade of mine who was confined in the hos- pital with a fever, and who, poor fellow lived, as too many of us did, regardless alike of God and man, told me one day when I had gone to see him, that he was conscious he would never recover. He talked to 180 me of the unhappy state of his mind. All his past conduct, he said, rushed upon him and he felt now, what his parents had often told him, that a day of repentance would arrive — and then, and not till then, would their admonitions be respected; I tried to soothe him ; but what could I, who had lived nearly as regardless of holy things as himself, say, that would tend to soften his anguish and produce a bet- ter state of mind within him. After listening to him for some time, as the only means I could think of for his relief, I ventured to propose to him that I would ask serjeant M‘Intyre to accompany me on my visit to him next day. He hesitated ; but I continued to urge him to permit me to do so, and having procured his consent, I waited on the worthy serjeant and told him the nature of my errand, enquiring at the same time, what hour would be the most convenient. He drew out his watch — looked at it, and continuing in deep thought for a minute or two, replied, that as he seemed to be so unhappy, he thought it would be better to go imme- diately and see him. We crossed over to the hospital, and I went up to the bedside and told the sick man that we were come now in place of to-morrow. He looked to the kind-hearted man, and holding out his hand to him, shed a flood of tears. “ Your friend tells me,” said the serjeant, “ that you are unhappy — what is the cause of your unhappiness ?” “ My past life,” he replied. “ And who,” said the serjeant, 190 “ ran l «>ok upon his past life, and feel otherwise than unhappy.” He conversed with the sick man on the kindest manner, and then proposed to him that we should address ourselves to that Being, who showers down his mercy even on the wicked ; he then offered up a fervent prayer in behalf of the dying man, imploring forgiveness and protection for him ; after which he read some portions of scripture, and folding in the leaves of several places which he wished him to examine, left him, promising to return the next dav ; but desiring the sick man to send for him at any time either by night or by day, if fie could serve him. On our way back, the serjeant took the opportu- nity of imparting to me a great deal of good advice, and pointing out the state of my comrade as a beacon to warn me of my danger. I felt every word that he addressed to me to be true, and proposed immediate amendment ; but the impression was evanescent, although at the time I thought it would have proved a lesson for the remainder of my life. The young man lingered on for ten days, and the serjeant continued to attend him, doing all he could to comfort him and to prepare him for that change, which so shortly awaited him. I sat up with him occasionally, and he talked much to me of M‘In- tyre’s attention, which he said had reconciled him to his fate, and that he now looked forward with plea- sure to the hour of dissolution. Many others, be- 191 sides this young man met with a kind adviser in MTntyre, whose time was much occupied in such acts. There being no church we could attend in that country, MTntyre invited all those who chose to meet with him on the Sabbath evenings for the pur- pose of reading and explaining the Scriptures, of which he had an extensive knowledge. To those that did attend, and I am sorry to say they were but few, he took every pains to impress on their minds the great importance of becoming acquainted with the word of truth, and after delivering a very impres- sive address, closed the meeting with prayer. MTntyre stood very high in the opinion of the of- ficers, and when any of the sick men expressed a wish for any little luxury which they thought they could take, the request had only to be backed by MTntyre (and this he never refused to do) in order to be granted. The fate of this good man was a melancholy one ; he embarked along with the second division of invalids on board the Cloyne for Britain. The vessel was never heard of after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, so that there can be no doubt that all perished. — There were not less than three hundred souls on board — MTntyre’ s wife, a most amiable woman, and their two little boys were amongst the number. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. 192 LETTER XLIII. My Dear Feiend, A party of us, consisting of five privates and Donald M‘Leod one of the pipers, procured leave of absence from our commanding officer to go to Agoade to take leave of some acquaintances we had in the 86th previous to their departure on an expedition to the Isle of France ; and for this purpose we engaged a double canoe. We arrived safe at our friends’ quarters, where we were very kindly received and' spent a pleasant day amongst them. As the evening approached we began to make preparations for our return, and a little before dark we took leave of our acquaintances, and again took to the canoe. We had got about half way from the main land, towards the Island of Goa, when a squall overtook us, which we tried to bear up against, and had it not been for the conduct of one of the natives who was working the canoe we would have reached; — but the fellow had taken too much arrack, and through his carelessness, in loosing his paddle, we were left to drift at the mercy of the winds and waves, and ran a great risk of being all lost. It was so dark by this time, that any attempt to recover the paddle was useless ; so with the remaining one we kept working as we bes*, 193 could to make the Island, which we accomplished near midnight, much exhausted, as the canoe kept shipping water all the time, and every one had to exert himself in bailing, otherwise we should have perished. Not having any proper utensil with us for the purpose of bailing, we were under the neces- sity of putting our hats and shoes into requisition, which proved to be very poor substitutes. At one period the water was gaining on us so rapidly, that it seemed impossible our frail bark could continue long afloat, and one of the party see- ing the danger of our situation, began to resign him- self to his sad fate. He knelt down to pray ; but McLeod, who was rather a strange sort of a fellow, told him, that if he did not keep bailing along with the rest, he would pitch him overboard, asking him if he could not both bail and say his prayers at the same time. The poor fellow immediately got up, and again set to work, acting upon the suggestion of the piper, whose determined perseverance and example helped much to carry us through. We effected a landing at Panjum, about six miles from our quarters, and after dragging the canoe safe on to the beach, set off in quest of lodgings for the night, as we felt so fatigued that we could not pro- ceed further until we got refreshed. The only place that would receive us, was one of the lowest arrack- shops in the outskirts of the town, where we got some supper, along with a supply of arrack; after R 194 which some matts were laid on the floor for us to sleep upo». In a short time we lay down to procure some rest, with the intention of starting very early next morn- ing for Cabo; but our repose was soon interrupted by the annoyance of mosquitoes, along with ' the croaking of frogs that inhabited a large tank of stagnant water in the neighbourhood of the house, which put sleep out of the question ; and we were discussing the propriety of an immediate start for our barracks, when M'Leod, unknown to any of us, adjusted his pipes, and commenced one of his favorite tunes. It was of no use to attempt to stop him, he being as stubborn as a rock, and his noisy instru- ment had aroused every soul in the house, most of them in a dreadful state of alarm at being awoke at such an unusual hour, and with such a hideous noise as the pipes produced. Many of them rushed out of the house in a state of nudity, and ran into the street, screaming. Donald, in the meantime, playing away with all his might. The landlord, a Portuguese, having procured a light, made, along with a party of men, an attack on our apartment ; but we beat them off, and shutting the door, two of us sat down behind it, to keep them from making a second entrance. Several in- effectual attempts were made to force open the door, but at last a tremendous shove brought it completely off its hinges, and in came our assail- 195 ants by the dozen. A general engagement took place, during which Donald still kept blowing his pipes to encourage us, till at last the lights were put out in the scuffle, and we were captured one by one and dragged out of the house, which put a stop to the sweet sounds of the pipes. The whole party were marched off to the guard- house, and kept locked up till morning, when we were carried before the Viceroy, who, after pointing out the impropriety of our conduct, told us that he would report it to our Colonel. At first he seemed very much enraged at us ; and in his broken English declared that we were a disgrace to the army. After his first burst of passion was over, Donald applied to him to have the pipes returned, saying they were the King’s property, and he could not return to Cabo without them. They were given up to Donald, who no sooner got hold of them, than he began to argue in favor of the elegance of their music, and offered to give his honor a specimen ; which the gentleman de- clined. Donald still persisted, and told him that it was out of compliment to him that he made the offer. The Viceroy smiled; which Donald interpreting into a grant of his request, struck up, and having given him a fair proof of his powers, and of that of his instrument, asked him, if it was not an “ infernal shame for a man to be pelted and imprisoned for playing such beautiful music.” The Viceroy took a hearty laugh at Donald’s earnest remark, and told him that the untimely hour and unearthly sounds of 196 his music were the cause of his misfortune. Donald held out his hand, which the Viceroy accepted; “ G — d bless you for that,” said Donald, “ there is no such other music in this wide world, and your honor will find, when you get to heaven, that this is quite correct.” The Viceroy was convulsed with laughter. Having got fairly out of the scrape we returned to Cabo, somewhat sceptical of Donald’s opinion as to the sounds of his instrument, seeing what evil it had brought upon us. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XLIV. My Dear Friend, While in the warm latitudes on our homeward voyage, the ship was frequently visited by sharks, some of which we caught; and one in particular*, was allowed to be the largest fish of the kind any on board had seen. It measured nine feet long, and four in girth round the thickest part of its body; and adhering to it, were several small sucker- fish. It was by far the most formidable looking fish I had ever beheld, and its presence on the deck of the vessel created quite a commotion with all on 197 board. The sailors call them sea-lawyers , and were delighted at hooking and bringing him up with the merry yeo heave o’, while the landsmen showed their astonishment at his portliness. On bringing him up alongside, he kicked up a fine row and slapped his tail most furiously on the ship’s side, and on the deck, making them both ring. Their strength is tre- mendous, even out of the water, and many seemed alarmed at the appearance of this one. I had always understood that when a shark swallowed anything, that it had first to turn upon its back, and that expert swimmers, with any sharp weapon in their possession, could, by taking advantage of these movements, from that circumstance, so annoy the sharks as ultimately to enable them to escape. I would pity any one who had occasion to make attempts of that kind. I observed this one in particular, and found that it merely inclined a little to one side, and neither the time nor extent of its movements could give any such advantage as I had been led to believe. After it was killed, which occupied some little time, one of the sailors, who was fond of a joke, pre- vented it from being cut up till he would get some preliminary matters arranged, and an opportunity of carrying his whim into effect. He procured a pair of trowsers which one of our men had lost some days previous, and giving them a good soaking, crammed them into the shark; which being done, another suggested a further delay in the dissection, and a letter was written, addressed to one of the men, pur- 198 porting to be from his brother in Ireland, dated some months back ; a third brought a tobacco pouch which he had stolen some time before, and all were carefully deposited. Information was then given that the mighty monster was to be opened — good care being taken that the owners of the various deposits were present. While the operation was going on, one remarked that he had never heard what sharks exactly lived upon ; another tried to solve that difficulty ; a third stated the variety of things he had, at different times, seen taken out of them ; and their wonder was getting wound up to the highest pitch, when the fel- low who took the most active part in opening up the fish, got to the trowsers, pulled them out, and held them up, to the astonishment of the greenhorns. The man who had lost the trowsers sprang forward and claimed them as being his ; and after he had fairly proved his property, by giving almost day and date for every patch and mending they had received, they were with apparent reluctance handed over to him. His astonishment was great indeed, and he swore he would never part with them, and that when he got home he would have the circumstance taken notice of in the newspapers. After a little while the tobacco pouch was produced, and a second consternation pervaded them. It was claimed also, and given up ; when again out came the letter, which being a little soiled and wet and stained with blood, was cleaned and found to be addressed to “ * , private 199 in the 47th, now lying in the East Indies.” The man seemed perfectly astonished when he heard his name read from the back of the letter, and it was handed over to him; but being unable to decipher it himself, he requested that some one would be so kind as to do it for him. Great care was taken to avoid tearing it, and being carefully dried, he was informed of its contents, which were all connected with family mat- ters. What with joy and wonder he seemed almost frantic ; but his sorrow for those on board the ship, which must have gone to the bottom, acted as a damper upon him. The various conjectures started were amusing enough, and some seemed, and others were bewildered. One offered him a sum of money for the letter, another exceeded in amount what was first offered ; but no, — he would never part with it. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XLY. My Dear Friend, I shall now give you some idea of an army on the march in India, with the various attendants who form, in numbers, considerably more than the fighting 200 men. The baggage, munitions, &c., are borne by elephants and buffalos, which are attended by native drivers. Besides these, there are three classes of natives who accompany the army. The first class are called dobbies who are employed as washermen to the soldiers, the second are the cooks, and the third the water carriers. To a mess of twelve men, whether on the march or in quarters, there is one dobbie and one cook allowed, and to every company a waterman ; these, with their families, officers’ ser- vants, drivers, and tent pitchers, form a singular group. The washermen also dress the men’s clothes. They have a great dislike to articles of European manufacture, and when washing, you will hear them singing and swearing away at the stuff, and slash- ing it most unmercifully on the natched board, which is used for the purpose. They dip the articles to be cleaned into water, and then making them swing round, come slap upon this rough board ; which system, even with gentle usage, would soon destroy them, but when extra roughness is resorted to, a very few washings finish them. It is provoking to hear these natives calling out, at every sweep they give, “ there you go you d d European, now for you — soon do for you,” — and keeping on in such a strain until they have nearly pelted the clothes to rags. But when they take hold of anything of native manufacture they tell it that it shall be kindly used, and they give it the easiest washing that their rough system will admit of. These attendants get all the 201 victuals left at the mess, which is generally sufficient to feed both them and their families. The marches are in most cases made in the af- ternoon, when the heat of the day is over, and, if much expedition is required, during the night. The bivouaeks are made in the open air, with no cov- ering but the blue vault of heaven, and the dew often affects the men’s health very much. There are no marches so fatiguing as those in India, for the body loses its strength; and even the afternoons and nights are too oppressive for such exertion. These parties, when on their march, are often visited by jugglers, snake charmers, rope dancers, and even fortune tellers. The tricks which the jug- glers perform, are the same as those which some of their number have exhibited in Britain — playing with brass balls, swallowing a sword, and dancing on the tight rope. Their various movements with the brass balls are the result of years of constant prac- tice ; and I have been told, that when learning, they will sit from morning until evening under the shade of a tree practising; and they continue in this way till they consider themselves capable of appearing in public. These camp followers are generally Hindoos who have lost caste. Many of them are regardless charac- ters, and some of them the most expert thieves in existence. Their pilfering practices are mostly carried on during the night, by creeping into the offi- cers’ tents and carrying away anything of value they 202 can lay their hands on. They crawl about in search of plunder with such tact and caution that it requires extreme watchfulness to detect them, and if they find they are discovered they are off like a shot. One of our officers, during a march, had his tent entered in the night several times, and various articles stolen, and not being able to ascertain anything regarding how or where they had been taken, determined to keep watch with some others, and if possible to catch the thief. In the evening they lay down as usual, as if for repose. All was silence till about midnight, when a slight rustling noise was heard around the tent, which continued, with short pauses, for some time. The thief, thinking all asleep, at last crawled into the tent, keeping flat on his stomach and. feeling in every direction to get hold of some plunder, at length laid his hands upon the gentleman’s clothes, which had been put off previous to lying down. He rolled them up in a bundle, and was slowly and quietly creeping to that part of the tent by which he had entered, when the officer made a spring and landed on the top of him. The alarm raised the rest in the tent, some of whom, though lying awake for the purpose of catching the fellow, had never heard his movements, he having kept so quiet. He was bound hands and feet and made fast for the night. When day-light arrived he turned out to be one of the men belonging to the elephant baggage train; and a search was made among the things he had charge of, when an immense number of stolen articles were recovered, 203 which were claimed by various persons. The thief received a good flogging as a punishment, and was turned off from the camp, with a promise, that should he appear again, the amount of his punish- ment should be doubled. While at Goa we were visited by parties of these jugglers and fortune tellers, who gave us speci- mens of their various acquirements. The snake charmers were the first to commence operations. — One of them took out a perforated cane and began playing, when the snakes, which had litherto been lying a-sleep in baskets, crept out and seemed to be influenced by the sounds of the instrument, for after dancing and twining about in various forms, they ap- proached their masters and twisted themselves in different attitudes, first round their legs, and then their arms, and at last twined themselves round their bodies and necks, the music playing to them during the whole of the performance; but when it ceased they immediately uncoiled themselves, went to their bas- kets as before, and lay perfectly still. Whether it is their fondness for the music or the effect of repeated training, that causes them to act in the above man- ner, I cannot tell; but the general opinion among us was the former. Next came the jugglers, -who went through their performance, which excited great astonishment in those who had never witnessed such feats of dexterity before. The fortune tellers also had their turn. — A party of them approached a few of us who were 204 resting below a tree, and offered to tell us our good fortune, or rather, I believe, they said to ensure us of good luck for the rest of our lives ; and having got permission to proceed in favor of our party, they lighted a fire, into which they threw a perfumed powder, and afterwards placed upon it a pot of water. They then began dancing round the fire, sometimes stirring the water, and repeating an incantation in our favor, which was translated to us as they pro- ceeded. They kept at this for a long time, and then informed us of our various good fortunes, and asked for their reward. We all, with the exception of one, gave them some trifle of money ; but he bestowed upon them a hearty cursing, abusing them as impostors, and threatening to beat them if they did not make off. They did not go away, but com- menced their operations anew, moving round the pot, in a contrary direction to what they had for- merly done, which, we were informed, was to undo all that had been done for the man who had given them abuse, instead of the recompense they ex- pected. This, the man was no sooner informed of, than he started over to them, and snatching up a burning stick out of their fire, made them scamper off as fast as their legs could carry them, taking their pot as a prize. We, however, gave them back their pot, at which time they told us that the man who had abused them, would fall in the next engagement he vent into. Their prediction was not verified, as am not aware that he was ever wounded. It was 205 curiosity and nothing else, that induced us to listen to them. Silly as all their prognostications were, some of our men were weak enough to believe in them. But I never heard of anything transpiring that could persuade me that these fortune tellers possessed the powers they professed. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XLVI. My Dear Friend, It may not be here deemed amiss to relate a few of the many narrow and providential escapes from death, which you may well suppose to have oc- curred in the course of the struggle for the posses- sion of the Island of Java. Upon our first entering Batavia, the Rifle com- panies were quartered in a large house, situated at a short distance out of the city. We had that day received no allowance of liquor, and one of our men, of the name of Mathewson, went out a little before dark to look for a grog shop, in order to procure some. About an hour after dusk, he returned unsuccessful. As he was entering the building, he observed a man descending a trap with a slow match in his hand. Mathewson called out to him, and s 206 asked him what he was going to do with the match. The fellow directly ascended, drew a knife, and at- tempted to stab the soldier; but he as quickly drew his sword and swore that he would run him through if he either attempted to strike him or to make his escape. Mathewson then called for assistance, when a number of the men rushed out and the fellow was secured. Some of the officers having also made their appearance, a light was procured and a descent was made by the trap in ordef that a search might be instituted. Upon reaching the bottom, several barrels of gunpowder were discovered, which instantly explained the use to which the slow match was to have been put. The party reascended, and informed the commanding officer of the circum- stance, who instantly ordered the bugle to sound the alarm, when the soldiers, without delay, put on their accoutrements, took up their arms and proceeded to the street, where they were formed into companies, and marched to the main square of the city, and there lay upon their arms the whole night. Next morning the culprit was examined as to his reasons for attempting to blow up the house in which the soldiers were quartered, and who were his accom- plices ; but he would give no answer. He was then handed over to the Provost- Martial who made speedy work of it. Upon one occasion, while we were erecting our works opposite Cornelius, a party of fifty were or- dered to the batteries to assist at the works. Upon 207 returning, we had to pass along the open road ex- posed to the enemy’s shot. We made what haste we could to get out of our dangerous situation ; but be- fore we had been enabled to do so, we observed a flash from one of the enemv’s mortars : when immediately v y %■ the officer in command gave the order that we should throw ourselves flat upon the ground, w’hich we did, and it was the work of a moment only. The shell past over us, bursting very near to where we were lying and the contents flew about like hail, without doing us any injury. We then immediately sprung to our feet and made the most of our way to the wood where our Regiment bivouacked. At the time the shell was discharged, a Sepoy was passing along the road, apparently unobservant of danger, until it burst quite close to him, and, I may almost say miracu- lously, without doing him any harm. Upon hearing the report of the shell, he very cooly turned round his head, and cried out, “what a start you have given me.” The following day we were ordered to proceed again to the batteries, to complete the works, when the enemy, watching the opportunity, while we had to pass the exposed part of the road, fired off several cannon at the same instant among our party, when three of them fell — one poor fellow mortally wound- ed, a ball having taken off both his legs, a little above the knees. We carried off the wounded men to a place of safety, and on examining them, found one had received a slight contusion in the head, from whicli 208 he soon recovered, another had all the toes of one foot carried away, and the foot a good deal injured otherwise. The young man who lost his legs, died in a very short time after we set him down, the loss of blood being so great. At first he did not seem to know that his legs were off, and only found out the state he was in when raised off the ground. One of his comrades who stood beside him, received a mes- sage to be conveyed to his mother, who resided in Edinburgh. He then looked up to the officer in com- mand, at the same time offering him his hand, which he took, and enquired “ if he was satisfied with the manner in which he had done his duty.” “ Yes,” replied the officer, “ and I regret the loss of so good a soldier.” Holding the officer still by the hand, he looked round the party who stood beside him, and then turning his eyes towards heaven, asked forgive- ness for the many sins he had been guilty of — closed them — and expired. It was an affecting scene, and none seemed more impressed with it than our officer. This young man was a steady soldier, and had every prospect of getting forward had he lived, as he possessed all the qualifications requisite to enable him to discharge the various duties — a good educa- tion, sober habits, and strictly attentive to his duty. While engaged on the 10th, we were extended over a part of the field, to annoy as much as possible some of the enemy who were posted in advance like ourselves, to cover some Artillery they were planting, 209 and for a while the two sets of scattered combatants were employed picking out each other. The opposite party had a few men pretty near us, who were shel- tered by a small patch of trees, behind which, they loaded their pieces, and stept out to fire. Several of our men had fallen by their shots, when Doug- las, (the young man just alluded to,) being an excel- lent marksman, stood, with his piece ready, and declared he would bring down the first man that exposed himself to him. The expression was scarcely uttered till he had an opportunity of trying his skill, when off went his rifle, and the man, leaping up from the shock of his well aimed ball, fell. “ Now,” said he, “ I could bet any money that I have sent that ball through his head ; but we will see by and by, when we get on to the ground.” He loaded again, keeping watch- for a second chance, when another of the enemy stepped out from the opposite side of the thicket, and fell also. “ See there,” said Douglas, “ that chap’s got it through his breast.” The bugle now sounded the advance, when the enemy’s skir- mishers fell back, and we occupied their ground. — Curiosity prompted some of them to examime the dead bodies, and Douglas’s balls were found as he had said. He was allowed to be one of the best shots in the Regiment, and this circumstance added not a little to his former reputation. The Captain of our company complimented him on his superior firing, and reported the circumstance to the Colonel, who promised to promote him. 210 Several years afterwards, I accidentally met with this young man’s brother, who being informed that I was from the 78th, enquired of me if I had known him, and when informed that we belonged to the same company, he made me promise to call and see his mother, stating, how much she would be gra- tified at meeting with one who had shared in the toils and dangers of war along with her favorite son. I accordingly kept my promise, with the young man and he conducted me to his mother’s residence, where I was very kindly received and requested to take tea with them. 1 remained several hours, and many questions were asked me regarding her dear Johnny, as she always called him. She seemed truly happy when I informed her of his good conduct, and the general respect with which we held him in the company, and related many circumstances which she listened to with much pleasure. Shortly before leaving, she enquired of me if Johnny had ever told any of us the reason he had for becoming a soldier. I replied, that although I had often heard others de- tailing such matters, yet I could not tax my memory with ever having heard him touch on that subject. In most instances, I observed, it turned out to be a drunxen spree that inspired us to become heroes. — “ Poor fellow,” said she, “ his was a very different case,” and bursting into tears, told me, “ that it was her and her misfortunes that caused him to follow the drum.” After she had recovered herself, she related the circumstance to me, which could not but ‘211 increase my respect for his memory. She had been left a widow, with three sons to provide for, and had struggled on for several years to bring them up, dur- ing which time she had often a hard fight to support them. At last matters became worse, and she was about to be turned out of her house for want of money to pay her rent, and every thing belonging to her was seized by the landlord. Her son, on whom she had depended much, to enable her to weather the various storms she had buffetted, was unfortunately out of employment seeing no prospect of obtaining any, tired at going idle, and heart-broken at the distress she was in, without having the means of assisting her, he determined to save her from being turned out of her home, by offering himself as a sub- stitute for a person who had been drawn for the Perth Militia; and it was not till he had settled every thing, and received the bounty, all of which he brought to her, that she ever dreamed he had any intention of becoming a soldier. The poor woman was again overcome with her feelings, and for some time could hardly proceed with the remainder of the account she was giving me of her son. She at last briefly related the rest of her story. He had joined his Regiment, and after undergoing the necessary training with other recruits, took the first opportunity he could get of volunteering into the line, joined the 78th, and departed for India, where, poor fellow, he soon found a grave. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. 212 LETTER XL VII. My Dear Friend, The circumstance which I have just narrated, calls to my recollection, an interview I had near Dalkeith, about the same time, with an old sweet- heart of one of our grenadiers. Having occasion to travel to that part of the coun- try, and feeling thirsty, I stept into a small thatched house, in the village through which I was passing, to obtain a drink of water, which was given me, ac- companied with an invitation to sit down and rest myself; and, as the heat of the day had fatigued me, I was very glad to accept of the offer. After con- versing for some time on various subjects, some in- terrogatories were put to me in the usual way, as to whither I was travelling, whence I had come, and so on. During our conversation I happened to inform the woman of the house, a strapping good-looking- quean, that I was a pensioner from the 78th, which I had no sooner stated, than she seemed quite de- lighted, and asked me if I had been in India, — I told her I had. “ Did ye ken ane Jock Johnston in your Regiment,” she eagerly enquired. I replied that in the grenadier company there was one of that •213 name. She then questioned me as to his appear- ance, and various other circumstances, when my an- swers proved to her satisfaction, that it was the same person. From her excitement, and being a good- looking person, like him, I was led to conclude that she was his sister, and therefore, enquired, in my turn, if he was any relation to her. “ Na, na,’’ said she, “ he wasna a drap’s bluid to me, — but had it no been for his auld hag o’ a mither he wad hae been tho.’ But,” continued she, “ I’se tell ye a’ about it : — “ I was fee’d by Jock’s faether at Dalkeith, for sax months, an’ gaed hame to my place at Whitsun- day, an’ liket it weel. Jock, puir fallow, workit on the farm wi’ his faether, an’ was a sort o’ a grieve to the auld man. I was na lang hame to my place, till he began to keek owre his shouther at me, the mean- J n’ o’ whilk I kenn’d fou’ brawly, but ne’er let on, seein’ vera weel, that had ony o’ the auld folks got an inklin’ o’ sic like, it wad breed miseheef. I keepit as muckle out o’ his gait as I could, but he took ilka chance to get near me. It was nae use to tell him what his faether or mither wad say ; for he aye swore he wad hae me for his wife, an nae ither. An’ then he wad roose me about my bonnie face an’ jimpit waist, an’ sic like, till I wad threaten to compleen to his mither — no that I wad hae dune sic a thing, ye ken, but just to gliff him a wee. It was o’ nae use, for gang where I wad, or whate’er I was about, Jock was shure to be no far aff. His mi- 214 ther was a gleg body, an’ sune fand out that he was ower head an’ lugs in luve wi’ me, an’ was na lang in tellin’ him her mind; when Joek took the pet, and ran awa to Edinburgh, an’ gaed for a sodger. His faether offered to pay the smart siller, an’ get him hame again; but Jock wadna come unless his mither wad gae her consent to our gettin’ married, an’ that was out o’ the question wi’ her. She had ower muckle pride for that, sae Jock was marched aflf to some place in England, an’ we heard nae mair o’ him till he was takin’ ship for India, when he wrote his faether, an me too. I had left the auld folk lang afore this, an’ ne’er expekit to hear frae him again, tho’ mony a sair heart his gaein’ awa gied me. — He was a braw man, an’ no ane through a’ the kintry side could matfch him. In his letter to me, he said he wad ne’er for- get me, an’ forbid me to marry ony ane till he cam hame. Poor fallow, he ne’er liv’d to come hame, an’ it wasna till lang after I kenn’d o’ his death that I thought o’ takin’ ony body. But ye see the guid- man, right or wrang, wad hae me, an’ I just said to him aye night, after he had powthered my showther, that he might gie in the lines now. I hae gotten a guid man, an’ a weel doin’ man too, an’ I hae nae faut to him, but I canna forget Jock for a’ that, as I ken fou weel he wad ne’er hae forgotten me. — He was a braw man, an’ I often think o’ him.” How long the woman would have kept up her praise of Jock, as she called him, it is hard to say, had not her husband come home, whom she informed 215 of the circumstance ; but merely taking notice of the fact, that I had served in the same Regiment with her former lover. I did not think the husband re- lished even the little information she gave, and more so, on observing that she did not attempt to speak out so freely before him, regarding her tender recol- lections of Jock. Possibly he had heard it all before, and it was unnecessary to repeat it. Still I could not help remarking in my mind on the change his presence made on her loquacious praise of Jock.— Had I thought proper, I could have given her some information regarding him, that would have gone far to prove, that whatever injunctions he had laid on her, he had taken care to impose none upon himself; but thought it was much beter to leave her under the belief I found her ; — that £< he was a braw man, an’ no ane in a the kintry side could match him.” — He was certainly a fine-looking man, tall, muscular and well proportioned ; but beyond that I must “ No further seek his merits to disclose Or draw his frailties from their dread abode.” Having had a comfortable rest, I bade them good bye, and proceeded on my journey, musing over the circumstances connected with this unexpected inter- view, which, with the accidental introduction, and the mistaken idea she laboured under on many points relative to the grenadier, served me with several subjects for reflection. Yours, & c. The Commuted Pensioner. 216 LETTER XL VIII. My Dear Friend, Let an old soldier go where he will, he is sure to meet with some with whom he had served, and I have been both amused and astonished at these un- expected rencounters with fellow campaigners, in places and under circumstances singular enough. On my return from India, and while residing for a few weeks in London, I was suddenly brought to a stand one afternoon, in the Borough, on meeting the funeral of some grandee, that was moving on in slow and solemn pomp, at recognising an old com- rade in one of the advanced guard, rigged out with cloak, scarf and band, and bearing a long black pole with something like a half inflated baloon attached to it. Disguised as he was I knew him at once, and was much puzzled to understand how he had ever been able to work his features into . such a demure expression, for Ned was celebrated among us as one of the sons of Momus. But time, thought I,' works mighty changes, and here it has metamophosed as merry a fellow as ever shouldered a musket. Not having any thing particular to attend to, I turned, and followed the funeral to the church yard, and when Ned’s duties were over, went forward to 217 him, when he instantly recognised me, and giving m« a friendly shake of his hand, expressed his astonish- ment that I should have known him in his canonicals. These Ned soon doffed, and invited me to adjourn to take a glass, and talk over our adventures, which invitation I accepted. Ned told me he had been buffetted about for seve- ral years after leaving the army, and suffered many privations, but had at last got the situation he now held, which was porter in an extensive undertaker’s establishment, in the City ; and that in addition to his other duties, his master employed him occasion- ally, with others in his employment, “ By letting out their persons by the hour, To mimic sorrow when the heart’s not sad.” I told him how much I was amused at meeting him in the character of a mute, and paid him several compliments as to the manner in which he acquitted himself, being so very different in every respect from what I had been accustomed to see him ; at which he took a hearty laugh, and then set about making enquiries after many of his old comrades, whose various fates I related to him, as far as I knew. Before parting, I promised to meet him the following evening, when Ned took me to his house, and I was gratified to see that he was so comfortable, and told him that as he seemed so cheerful and happv in his little establishment, I thought he could afford occasionally to make the appearance of grief, such as T 218 I had seen him doing on the previous day. Ned admitted that it was by grieving he was happy. After my return to Edinburgh, when on my way home to my lodgings, near the head of Leith Walk, on a fine moonlight morning, somewhere about the “wee short hour ayont the twall,” I observed a group of men forming a circle on a broad part of the pave- ment, and singing the King’s Anthem. Curious to know what could occasion a body of men to be so employed, at such an unseasonable hour, I crossed over to reconnoitre, when they invited me to join them, which I had no sooner done, than I discovered that they had been “ bousing at the nappy, And getting fou and unco happy.” For most of them seemed half tipsy, some three quarters, and one, who was lying flat on his back, “ quite royal.” After remaining a while in this place, they lifted up the drunk man, some taking a leg, others an arm, one his head, and another a foot, and carried him a little further on his way home, and then laid him down again to rest themselves, singing away as before, at “ God save the King.” At the end of one of the stages, and after they had laid down their burden, being fearful that his handker- chief was too tight round his neck, I stooped down to examine it, and if requisite, to have it loosened; when, getting a distinct view of his features, I en- quired of his companions if his name was Gordon, which they told me it was. I then informed them that we had served together in the East Indies, where I left him some years ago, and had never heard of his return. They stated to me that he had only arrived in Edinburgh the day before, having been discharged with a pension of nine- pence per day, and they had met to welcome him back again, — most of them being his companions previous to his enlisting. I could not but feel sorry to see him commencing such a career on his re- turn to his native place ; and after assisting them in carrying him to his lodgings, saw him laid on his bed, I proceeded to my home. The circumstance of his having so recently left the Regiment, induced me to visit him early on the following day, to obtain some intelligence concerning my old comrades. On entering the house, I found several of his pall bearers already with him, and the whisky circulating freely enough for such an early hour. My fellow soldier was still in bed, and as his visi- tors had been plying him again with liquor, he was nearly stupid. They urged him to get out of bed, and held out a promise to send for the musical boy that had pleased him so much on the previous even- ing, which, at last, had the effect of making him get up ; but it was needless for him to attempt to stand, as that was beyond his powers, so he was proped up in an old arm chair. Having fulfilled his part of the bargain, he demanded that they should keep to 220 theirs, and the boy was sent for, in whom I expected to meet some musical prodigy ; but soon discovered that they had been amusing themselves at the ex- pense of the old soldier. The boy was placed at the extreme end of the room from that in which was seated our glorious son of Mars, and putting his fingers to his mouth, the music commenced, which was that of a sweetly -toned flute, when the soldier seemed astonished. One of the party explained the matter to me. — After the party had got merry during the preceding evening, one of them was requested to play a tune upon his flute, and the soldier, who had got consid- erably in advance of the main body in his libations at the fountain of Bacchus, could not observe whence the music came, his eye not being steady enough to make a correct survey of the room. On gazing about to discover from what source the dulcet tones issued, he observed a boy at some distance from him, beating time on his chin, with his hand, when he at once pitched upon him as the musical magi- cian, to the great amusement of all present. See- ing how he had imposed on his own senses, they kept up the joke, and the flute player was secreted more carefully, while the boy was brought further into view. He no sooner asked for a favourite air than the boy commenced to rap away upon his chin, and when the music ceased, he, of course, sat still. His remarks on this new species of music, occasioned a considerable deal of amusement; and it was again 221 repeated to him the following morning in my pre- sence, and with most complete effect. I called upon him the day after, and found him recovered from his excesses, with the exception of a headache, and we soon fell into an interesting chat, when he gave me a great deal of information regard- ing my old acquaintances, many of whom, I found, had been borne down “ That awful gulf no mortal e’er repass’d.” Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER XLIX. My Dear Friend, Among the many sufferers from the effects of war, there is one class that, I have often thought, have a claim upon the bounty of their country, but who are generally found steeped in poverty and wretchedness — I mean the wives and children of soldiers. And it cannot but be regretted that some provision could not be made for them, and not leave them to eke out their existence from the hand of charity, which has too often to be resorted to, and ultimately destroys some of the noblest feelings of our nature. But I suppose the numbers that would be thrown on the bounty of the nation, is 222 the great barrier to such an arrangement never having been effected} still their state cannot but be a subject of deep regret ; and if it were possible to provide, even in a scanty way for them, it is un- doubtedly the duty of that country to do so, whose battles, their natural protectors, are fighting. It must be admitted that much has been done for their relief, by that true soldiers’ friend, his late Royal Highness the Duke of York, particularly by the es- tablishment of the military school at Chelsea ; yet there is still much that could, and, in my humble opinion ought, to be done in their behalf. I have often had occasion to reflect on this cir- cumstance from the general state in which the women are found when the married men are compelled to leave their families behind them. One case, in par- ticular, I cannot refrain from noticing, and which may stand as an example of thousands that occur in time of war. Having promised to a poor fellow who died, in consequence of a wound he received at the taking of Java, that if ever I should return to Britain, I would make it my duty to see his wife and inform her of his fate ; I, shortly after my return to Scotland, ful- filled my mission. She had lived in Edinburgh, but after much enquiry I ascertained that she had left that city and gone to Dalkeith. Taking the first opportunity I could, I went to see her, and found her residing about three miles from the town, with her sister, who was also a widow. She had three chil- 223 dren, two boys and a girl, and their appearance, with that of every thing around them, indicated their situation to be much better than I could possibly have anticipated. After having informed her who I was, and my reason for travelling so far to see her and her family, she expressed great thankfulness for the pains I had taken to fulfil my promise, and made many enquiries regarding her departed husband, till at last her feelings so overcame her, that I almost regretted having paid the visit. When she recovered herself, I remarked that it afforded me much pleasure to see her in such comfortable circumstances. She told me that she had undergone much suffering while residing in Edinburgh, and that she had often to go and beg for her children, till one day she hap- pened to meet a lady with whom her mother had been many years servant, who, after relieving her im- mediate wants, sent her and the children to the house where they now lived. Her eldest son was taken into the family as foot-boy, and though young, had given every satisfaction. The cottage and small piece of ground attached to it were allowed them rent free; and the factor on the estate, she told me, had desired them to apply to him at any time should they require assistance; but this they had not needed. The family, on whose estate they resided, as well as many others in the neighbourhood sent them work, by which means they were enabled to live, and keep the two younger children at school. 224 As evening approached I was preparing to return to Dalkeith, where I had intended to remain for the night, and so reach Edinburgh the next day ; but they would not allow me to leave them, insisting that I should remain that night and the following day, which was the Sabbath. Finding it would gra- tify them I consented. After spending the evening in describing some of the countries of the East, and answering the various questions put to me, we retired to sleep. On the morning, I arose early and walked out into the fields, where all, except the voice of nature, was hushed — laborious man was at rest — and a peaceful quiet seemed to reign throughout the land. The dumb animals that assist him in his daily labours, were cropping the dasied mead, with a seem- ing consciousness of their day of rest having again arrived. “ The blackbird’s note comes mellower from the dale ; And sweeter from the sky the gladsome lark Warbles his heaven-tuned song; the lulling brook Murmurs more gently down the deep worn glen.” A pleasing stillness prevailed around, which imper- ceptibly stole upon my mind, and prepared me to meet the devotions of the day with becoming feelings. How different, thought I, is this from the land in which I have been sojourning for many years, and was instinctively compelled to raise my eyes towards heaven, and in secret bless the Great Giver of all good, for my safe return to the land of my nativity. 225 Having approached the cottage, I lifted the latch and entered, when I found them awaiting me, and was introduced to a respectable looking old man, the gardener on the adjoining estate. An open bible was lying on a small table near the window, and from the chairs that were place around it, I concluded that he had been reading to them a portion of the scrip- tures. Every thing appeared ready for the morning meal, but I observed the two sisters occasionally looking at each other, as if they had something to say, perceiving which, I arose, intending to retire, supposing my presence had interrupted them in their devotions ; but I had scarcely reached the door when the old man stepped up to me and said, that if he were allowed half the proceeds of this new engagement he would go on. “ Play up,” said Jack, “ or blow me, you red-faced little nigger, I’ll rub you down,” and putting the violin into his hand, he held the rope ready to lay on. “ Here it goes, cried the sailor, and taking a position to command the fiddler’s back, told him it should be “ on ce, twice, thrice.” The little man evidently saw that things were getting serious; yet still it seemed doubtful from the sulky expression of his physiognomy if he would obey, until he heard the determined tone with which the sailor was dealing out the awful monosyllables that were to precede the torture, so just as Jack was about to repeat the fatal word, and suit the action to it, he drew his bow across the strings, and in an instant four pair of trot- ters were footing it to “ Malbrook.” With the rope suspended over him, he was compelled to work out the amount subscribed for his family, when he and his wife left us, not without a hearty curse on his part, which, however, was overcome by a vote of thanks and an elegant retiring curtsey from his lady. We now left the party, and got on board the smack, which was ready to sail, and only waited the ebb of the tide, which would take place in a few hours. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner, 250 LETTER LY. My Dear Friend, Solomon tells us, “ In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding:” but two of our cabin passengers had not studied this moral lesson, or if so, had neglected its practical ap- plication, as what follows plainly demonstrates : We set sail early in a beautiful morning in the month of August, and soon reached Gravesend. From this point our progress became very slow, the winds varying from calm to light breezes. There were about thirty passengers in all and as our voy- age had every appearance of being a tedious one, Boreas having, seemingly, overlooked us ih his or- derly book, and as the calmness and beauty of the weather enabled us to keep on deck, various amuse- ments were resorted to with the view of lessening its tedium. There were upwards of twenty cabin pas- sengers, and in the steerage there were four old sol- diers, (myself included) two young men, journeymen bakers, and though last, not least, as sonsie an auld wife as you would meet in a day’s march, who afforded us much entertainment, by her humorous description o' Lunon, as she termed the great city : and our 251 amusement was much heightened by her stories being interlarded with a history of her daughter Jenny, whom she informed us had lately lain in o’ a fine laddie wean, stating, with great satisfaction, « that it was as like its faether as it could glow’r, an’ it had a red head, the very same as Saundie’s,” which, con- tinued she, “ I was real glad to observe — it corres- ponds, ye ken, an’ sets aside a’ manner o’ doubts. — Na, man, but what d’ye think ! Saundie has a kind o’ a squint wi’ his left ee, an’ I declare the bit cra- tur’s just got the self same. An’ if ever it grows to to be a man it ’ll just be Saunders ouer again,” and in this manner would she amuse us, with her various subjects of conversation, in which she displayed both humour and simplicity. But I must return to my text, and explain the proposition I set out with. It was the general practice after dinner, for the passengers to assemble and have a dance upon the quarter deck, one of the young gentlemen being always ready with his flute, on which he played in admirable style, being thereby greatly instrumental in adding to the amusement of all on board. In passing through Yarmouth Roads we were be- calmed, and were accordingly, obliged to come to an anchor. In the evening, as usual, our revels com- menced, and fun and frolic seemed to be the presid- ing genii on the deck of our trim built bark. « But pleasures are like poppies spread. You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed. 252 The scene shifted, — and from harmless mirth, drunken riot followed. Two of the cabin passengers having indulged themselves rather freely at the flow- ing bowl, had either intentionally or otherwise, given offence to one of the ladies, who immediately com- plained to the captain, and went below to her cabin. The captain remonstrated with them upon the im- propriety of their conduct, and took the chief offen- der to one side to reason with him in a friendly way, when he was saluted with a blow on the face, that brought him down flat upon the deck. The scene which followed looked serious enough, as two of the sailors seized hold of the person who struck their captain, and were about throwing him overboard, and it was with great difficulty they could be re- strained from doing so, and at last were only pre- vailed on to desist, by the captain promising the men, that when they arrived at Leith he would hand over the unruly passenger to the proper authorities there. On hearing this, the two passen- gers broke out in a strain of abuse that was really abominable, and made use of such shameful epithets towards the ladies as I was surprised to hear from men possessing so much the appearance of gentle- men. The ladies all retired below, horror struck at their language, when a consultation was held on deck by the other gentlemen, to determine what punish- ment should be inflicted on the offenders. Had the result rested with the sailors, I have no doubt that their punishment would have been very summary in- 253 deed, but the matter was settled by the Captain or- ering the boat to be lowered, and the luggage of t le offending parties to be brought on deck, which was no sooner done, than he told them to step in, which they refused: he then desired his men to get some cord, with which they bound their ancles and wrists, and then caused them to be lifted into the boat. He then addressed them, stating, « that their conduct to him, bad as it was, would not have induced him to resort to such a mode of punishment, or probably any; but when he found the peace and comfort of those under his protection invaded by their outragious conduct, and language made use of by them in the presence of ladies, that could only have been expected from the most de- graded characters, and which certainly was most dis- graceful to any who had the slightest pretensions to the character of gentlemen, he was imperatively cal- led upon, as a matter of duty, to put them out of the vessel.” He then gave the boat in charge of the mate, with instructions to land them and their lug- gage, and to take particular care that they sustained no bodily harm. The boat proceeded to the land with its cargo, and the two passengers having been unbound were set ashore with their luggage. The mate received a message from them, to inform the Captain, that on their arrival in Scotland, they would apply to a eourt of justice against him for redress, on account bemo- seized and sent ashore, and that they would 0 y 254 make it one of the most serious matters for the Cap- tain that he had probably ever met with. This, I scarcely think they would attempt, as they must, upon reflection, have been aware that their conduct fully warranted the punishment, which was only too mild for their offence. The remainder of the passage, which was rather tedious, passed off very pleasantly, and we contin- ued to amuse ourselves in various ways, and the dancing was resumed in the evenings, without any further interruption. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER LVI, Mv Dear Friend, In a previous letter I slightly alluded to the scanty provision made for soldiers’ wives and their children, when not permitted to accompany their husbands to a foreign station ; and I shall now take a cursory glance at the character and prospects of a British soldier, which, I trust, will be done in good feeling and impartially. I have always been led to consider the profession of a soldier, as one of the most important in the civilized world.. He is virtually the protector of the institu- 255 tions of his country, and, as can be proved in thou- sands of instances, their only dependence in the hour of danger. If the land is threatened by some mer- ciless and ambitious tyrant, it is to the soldier that the inhabitants look for protection. If it is convulsed with internal commotion, and the laws disobeyed and violated, the soldier, as the last resource, steps forward to restore peace, punish the guilty, and pro- tect the innocent; and with such important offices to perform, this profession has always been, and will continue to be looked upon, as one of the noblest fields for honourable ambition. I know of no profession in which so many illus- trious men have risen to eminence from comparatively an humble origin as that of the soldier. Bravery and talent lead them on step by step, till at last they reach the summit of the temple of fame. The dis- cipline and equipment of the British army at the present day, are the admiration of all; and I am happy to add, that the comforts and improvements that have been introduced into the service since I belonged to it, are both numerous and important, holding out an inducement for a better class of men, than formerly, to embrace the profession. That every laudable scheme should be attempted to improve their moral and intellectual character, is what no one will attempt to dispute; and, as my experience in the humble capacity in winch I served, afforded me an opportunity both to witness and feel the effects of the great want on these points, 1 am 256 the more anxious to see them carefully cultivated; and the question that naturally suggests itself is — What should be done ? I am well aware that, in every scheme for the amelioration of the moral condition of the soldier, the great obstacle to be overcome is intemperance ; neither am I a stranger to the difficulty attending the suppression of this evil, and feel also that it will be but gradual ; still let the attempt be persevered in, and I have no doubt that it will ultimately prove successful in the great majority of cases. Let every reasonable indulgence be granted to the sober, steady soldier ; while the drunkard must of course be punished. It is for his good, and it is requisite also for example. The two great causes of the prevalence of intemperance amongst soldiers, seem to me, to be the following. First — The too great facility of pro- curing liquors; and, second— the want of means for the proper improvement of their leisure time while in barracks. In regard to the first point, I think no one can doubt, that temptation is too much in the way of the soldier, when they consider that not only, in almost every instance, is the immediate neighbourhood of the barracks crowded with pot houses, but that even inside the walls temptations are thrown in their way by the permission of canteens. I have often thought the establishment of canteens had a very bad ten - dency on the habits of the men ; independent of the temptation they must meet with from its convenience; and it seems strange, that they should be licensed 257 by the government, and a premium paid for the pri- vilege of supplying the soldiers with an article which is equally detrimental to their health as it is subver- sive of all regularity of conduct. The farther such a temptation is removed, it were surely the better : as I believe it to be an admitted fact, that nine tenths of the punishments that take place in the army, arise from the use of intoxicating liquors, which undoubtedly tend to brutalize the character, inflame the passions, and destroy all prudent and economical habits. The effects of intemperance in civil life have been frequently pointed out, and are now well understood; and I assure you they operate in an equal, if not in a greater ratio in the military. — Having put the temptation of resorting to drink as much out of the soldier’s way as possible, the next thing to be attended to, in my view of the matter, is to provide means for the profitable employment of his leisure hours. For this purpose I would refer generally, to the various improvements which have taken, and are continually taking place in the system of education and moral improvement in civil society, portions of which can undoubtedly be ingrafted successfully into the army ; and there is one scheme which I understand has already been adopted with success in several regiments of the line, and which I yet hope to see universally adopted, I mean the in- troduction of libraries ; by which means, through a careful selection of such books as blend information and instruction with amusement, the leisure of the 258 soldier may be most judiciously spent, and will have the effect of engendering' steady habits, and teaching him to have a due respect for himself, as well as his superiors. It is a common remark, though in mv humble opinion, a very absurd one, that “ the greatest black- guard makes the best soldier or sailor;” and it is generally thought that when a man becomes intoler- able in civil society, from his bad conduct, that he is only fit for those professions. I would like to know how such opinions would hold good as applied to the officers who command them, and whether, if it is requisite that men of honor and education are selected for their commanders, some portion of the same qualities are not required for the commanded. De- pend upon it, what is applicable to the one is also applicable, in a certain extent, to the other. In time of war, the recruiting serjeant with his “soul-stirring drum” collects throughout the land a band of the most uncontrollable spirits the country can produce — individuals, who, generally speaking, either cannot or will not apply themselves to the peaceful avocations of life ; and these restless souls, after being an annoyance to their friends and the community, are borne off to fight the battles of their country. The higher class of society procure com- missions, while those from the humble walks of life fall into the ranks, and as many excellent soldiers are produced from this heterogeneous mass argues much in favor of the army as a school of reform. — 259 Many, however enter the army of a very different cast— men of virtuous dispositions and 'cultivated minds, who are often actuated by a thirst for roman- tic adventure and chivalrous distinction, and who certainly give an improved tone to its general charac- ter. Such men, when so fortunate as to distinguish themselves in the field or by their general good sol- dier-like conduct get advanced, are pointed out in society and act as a great incentive for such a class entering the lists ; there is nothing that tends more to fire a man of respectability with military ardour, than hearing of those who have been fortunate in their career. There are thousands of mechanics in Britain that would be much better in the army than employed as they are at their low rate of wages, who with poverty, disease, and the alms-house staring them in the face, spin out a life of wretchedness and toil, and too often sink into a premature grave from the close confine- ment to which they are subject and the poor fare they have to subsist upon ; and I have no doubt the bet- ter behaved of them would feel more inclined to be- come soldiers were greater attention paid to improve their general character. Much has been done in this respect since I can recollect, but there is still an ample field for further exertion. The food and clothing of the soldier is generally much better than the mechanics I allude to can procure, and the barracks are far more comfort- able than any of the small, unwholesome apart- *260 ments into which they are huddled, and cleanliness, which is a part of a soldier’s duty, is as carefully looked after in the barracks as on the parade, and they are thereby protected from various diseases that are engendered in the habitations of the work- ing classes in the manufacturing districts of Great Britain. When the soldier is sick, he has the attendance of the medical officers belonging to the service, and a comfortable clean hospital to reside in ; and when the time of his servitude is over and the infirmities of life have crept upon him a pension is allowed him, which, though small, may do much towards protect- ing him in his old age from the evils with which poverty visits the worn-out mechanic. The pay of the army is allowed by those capable of judging, to be too low, and in comparison with the civil service, it is very obvious ; but I suppose the immense numbers required for the service, has caused such a severe scrutiny to be made on the heavy expense to the nation, that it has been pared down to the least possible amount. I have always preferred going upon foreign ser- vice, for various reasons, — two of which are, that a soldier is more respected abroad than at home, and generally finds himself better provided for. In India, especially, this is the case. When a soldier first arrives in India, and I believe it is the same in all hot countries, he finds his health in a very bad state. This I think is in a great mea- 261 sure caused by the sudden change in the food, from salt provisions which they receive on the voyage out, to fresh provisions which are supplied to them imme- diately upon their arrival, and to the practice of hav- ing parades in the morning before the dispersion of the dews. I consider that the health of the soldiers would be greatly improved were fresh provisions only gradually had recourse to and morning parades dis- pensed with. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER LVII. My Dear Friend, Having now related to you many of the sketches and anecdotes, which my service in the army had supplied me with, I shall now resume my narrative and bring 1 it to a close. . Upon my return to Edinburgh my first object was to find out my wife and family, whom I had left there, when I went to India to join my Regiment. I had no difficulty to encounter in my search, as I found her in the same house I left her in seven years before. Our reunion, after so long a separation, was gratifying 262 to us both ; and although poor in worldly circum- stances we consoled ourselves with the hope that better times awaited us, and the prospect of never again separating for any length of time on this side the grave. Many were our mutual inquiries as to what had happened during our separation, and I was under the necessity of “ fighting my battles o’er again” for her satisfaction. In answer to my in- terrogatories, she told me that she had had many a hard struggle during my absence ; but, as she had been blessed with good health, was enabled to main- tain herself and family, and keep a roof above their heads, by the exercise of her needle. I found, also that death had been busy amongst my friends and acquaintances, and amongst others my mother, mo- ther-in-law and youngest son had become the victims of the relentless tyrant. About a month after my return, I received from my agent an order for the sum of five pounds, being an allowance granted me in consideration of my wounds. Eighteen months thereafter, I received from him an order for nine pounds, less agency fees, being the first instalment of prize money ; and two years subsequently, a second instalment of five pounds, also less agency fees. A third instalment was long promised but I never received it ; and ulti- mately I was given to understand that there would be no further sum paid on that account. Thus, these two sums — nine pounds and five pounds — were all that was allowed as prize money for the taking of 263 Java, although before leaving the Island we had been informed that the share of each private was twentv- five pounds. I was never able to learn the cause of this shortcoming in our prize money. In the year 1817, a gentleman of the name of Kinloch, a native of Scotland, left the sum of one million, sterling, to certain trustees, with directions that the interest of that sum should be appropriated to the relief of wounded soldiers and sailors of Scotch extraction whose pensions did not amount to one shilling per day. Being of the number of those pointed out as entitled to relief from the Kin- loch bequest, I made application, and received an answer, stating that my name had been put upon the list; but as only five hundred could receive allowances from the fund at one time, I could not for the pre- sent reap any advantage, but as vacancies occurred, I should in my turn be put upon the pay list, and if I changed my place of residence, I was to intimate the same to the secretary. I have never reaped any benefit from this application; and although upon my leaving Scotland . I intimated my intention to the secretary, and have, since my arrival in this country, addressed two letters to him, I have as yet received no answer. From the period of my return from India until I embarked for Canada, I continued to reside in Edin- burgh, working at my trade. Business had got very bad; many men were entirely out of work, and almost in a state of destitution, and others with only such 264 partial employment as allowed them but a very scanty subsistence. Although I did not get very constant employment, I durst not open my mouth to any of my fellow workmen in the way of complaint, for if I did so, I was sure to be told I had no right to complain, as I had a pension of nine pence per day, besides my work to depend upon. This was no doubt true ; and although it was but a very small dependence, yet it might have been of very great service to me, had I not rendered its smallness still smaller by my folly. Like too many old soldiers, I was at this time not very famous for temperance, and was very apt at pension time to get into the com- pany of some thirsty souls like myself, and in their society dissipate in a useless manner a portion of that money which should have been applied to the support of my family. I did not, however, carry my folly to the extent that some of my fellow pensioners did, who were wont to continue their course of drink- ing until nothing of the pension remained, for I generally managed to take the greater part of my money to my family; still, however, I would have shown more sense and discretion if I had totally ab- stained from drink. About the beginning of the year 1832, I observed in the newspapers a notice from Government to Pen- sioners, stating that they might have their pensions commuted, receiving in lieu thereof four years’ pur- chase, and a grant of land either in Australia or in any of the North American Colonies. — 265 At the time this notice met my eye, business was far from being brisk, and I thought it might be for my advantage to embrace the offered opportunity. As Canada was more accessible for small means than Australia, that was the point towards which I thought of steering my course; but as I was in total ignorance of the nature of the country, my first object was to obtain information on that point. I therefore procured some of the many works then published treating of the Canadas, and the descrip- tions which they contained greatly increased my desire to go there, and ultimately determined me to com- mute my pension and take up my residence in Canada. Accordingly, I entered into the transaction with Government and received the sum of thirty pounds down, the remaining part to be paid upon my arrival in Quebec. I then engaged a passage for myself and family on board the Chieftain, Barque, then lying in Leith docks, taking in passengers for Canada; and in the month of June, 1832, I once more set sail from the shores of my native country. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. z 266 LETTER LVIII. Having set sail we skirted the eastern coast of Scotland, passed through the Pentland Firth, and proceeded to traverse the mighty Atlantic towards the point of our destination ; and after a passage of six weeks, from the time we left our native land, we cast anchor at the quarantine station at Grosse Isle, where we were detained for two days, and then permitted to proceed to Quebec. I shall not attempt a delineation of the effect which the first appearance of that city has upon the beholder ; suffice it to say, that I was much astonished and delighted with it. After being visited by the health officer we received permission to land. At this time that terrible scourge, the cholera, was raging with the utmost virulence, and business of every kind seemed to be in a state of stagnation. As it was not my intention to remain at Quebec, I took a cursory glance at a few of the most re- markable features about it, such as the fortifications, the plains of Abraham, the citadel, &c. Having satisfied my curiosity as well as I could during the short time I had to spare, I took my papers and went to the proper quarter, and drew the remaining part 267 Of my commutation money, and procured my location , , As he eTe " : "g pretty well advanced I returned to the wharf to take a passage on board of one o t e steam boats, for myself and family, for ontrea . M hile on the wharf I was a witness to a melancholy accident. A number of emigrants who had come passengers in a vessel which left Leith at the same time we did, and had arrived in port only a few hours before us, were collected together. Two of them appeared to be quarrel- ing and the others were attempting to quiet them. While this was going on, one of the two, either through accident or design, struck another of the party, whose passion was thereby roused and immediately put himself into a fighting attitude, he stepped back to avoid the attempts that were made by his comrades to restrain him, when unfortunately he missed his footing and fell over the wharf into the river, and was no more seen alive. The body was not found until next day, when it was discovered within a short distance of the place vrhere the acci- dent occurred. The following particulars regarding the man and his family, I learned partly at the time and partly at an after period, from one of his fellow passengers. He was a married man, with a wife and family of four children, who were entirely dependant upon his exertions for their support, and were by his sudden and melancholy death left entirely destitute. As it was the wish of the widow to return to Scot- land, a subscription was entered into by her fellow 268 passengers and a few charitable individuals in Que- bec who became cognizant of the affair. A sum was raised sufficient to have taken her home, and the time had nearly arrived, when she was to embark, when the poor widow was seized with cholera, and carried off after a few hours’ illness, leaving a family of helpless orphans. The same charitable individuals who stepped forward on the first occasion, again exerted themselves, and the children were well pro- vided for. After having arrived at Montreal, we found con- siderable difficulty in procuring a place to shelter ourselves in ; and as we were all more or less indis- posed, and not in a condition for travelling farther, we determined to remain where we were for some time and endeavour to get employment at our res- pective trades. It was, however, a considerable time before we were sufficiently recovered to enable us to look out for employment, and my money had now dwindled down to a very small sum. On this account, after my eldest son and myself had procured work, we resolved not to leave Montreal that season, but wait until the ensuing, when I would proceed by myself to my location and examine its capabilities, and if I found it would answer, I would thereafter transport my family thither. Before proceeding farther, I beg here to offer a few remarks upon the subject of the commutation of pensions which has been suggested by my own expe- rience. 269 Old soldiers are proverbial grumblers, but I will not, at the present time, stop to enquire whether or not the character is deserved, I only hope that the following observations, will not prove the truth of the adage. The scheme of commuting pensions has turned out to be fraught with misery and wretchedness to the old soldier. My experience now teaches me that the materiel of the old soldier rendered it impossible for any other result to follow such a scheme. While serving in the army, which in most cases constitute a considerable portion of the man’s life, he has had no care in providing for his own wants, every thing being found for him; he has, therefore, no thought of tomor- row, and to the provident care of money he is a total stranger. The natural consequence of all this is, that any considerable amount of money coming into his possession is squandered away as if it were never to have an end. This was strongly examplified in the case of the commuted pensioners. The portion of the money paid to them in Britain was mostly expended in paying their passage and making the necessary outfit for the voyage. Upon their arrival in Quebec they received the remaining part along with a ticket for the grant of land allowed them by Government. — Some were prevented by disease from proceeding farther; many delayed setting out from day to day, until their means became exhausted when they were unable to reach their destination ; while others com- menced a scene of riotous living which lasted until 270 all their money was expended, and themselves brought to the verge of the grave. It is thus seen that few, ever reached or took possession of the land allotted them. In my next letter I shall endeavour to show, that even had they proceeded directly and taken posses- sion of their lots, a great many of them would have been nothing benefited thereby. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. LETTER LIX. My Dear Friend, In my last, I stated that even supposing the pensioners had proceeded without delay to their allotted farms, very few of them would have bettered their condition. This, I think, can scarcely be denied, when the following facts are taken into con- sideration. Few of them had ever been accustomed to agricultural pursuits, or knew anything at all about the nature of the soil, which rendered them totally incapable of managing or cultivating a farm ; and, it must also be remembered, that they were all more or less disabled by wounds, and not a few of them had descended far into the vale of years, and therefore ill qualified to sustain the necessary labour upon a 271 cleared farm, much less to undergo the fatigue and privations consequent upon reclaiming the wilderness of woods, in which their lands were located. Upon the whole, the transaction has been a most unfor- tunate and a very losing one for the poor pensioners; and it is deeply to be regretted that Government ever put such a temptation in their way, and induced them to give up an income which would have proved a source of comfort to them when unable longer to work for their living ; and that too for such an inadequate compensation. I cannot leave this sub- ject without expressing a hope, that were the matter properly represented, Government would yet be induced to restore the few survivers of the commuted pensioners once more to the pension list. In doing so Government would be no losers, as six years have now nearly elapsed since the transaction was entered into, so that both principal and interest of the advance must have been by this time repaid, and the lands I believe, are in almost every case unsettled upon and in their original state. Agreeably to the resolution I expressed in my last letter, I continued to reside in Montreal, working at my trade for the support of myself and family, and although I came to the city a total stranger, and unacquainted with any individual residing in it, yet I was fortunate enough, in a very short time, to procure sufficient employment to enable me to maintain them comfortably. The season after my arrival in Canada, 1 de- 272 termined to take a trip and visit the part of the country in which my land was located, with the inten- tion, if upon inspection I found it suitable for me, to settle myself there and remove my family from Mon- treal. The land allotted me was in a back conces- sion of the Township of Wentworth, situated upon the Ottawa river. Having made up my mind to take the excursion, I embarked on board a steamboat at Lachine, and in due time was landed at Carillon, from whence I proceeded on foot to view my intended place of abode. A very cursory glance at the situa- tion served to convince me of the impracticability of my scheme of settling there, the lot was literally- a wilderness without a human habitation near it. It would indeed have been the height of folly in me, unaccustomed as I had long been with country work, being disabled from wounds, and somewhat past the prime of life, to have taken up my residence in such a situation. I, therefore, came to the conclusion to return to Montreal, and discard from my mind the idea of deriving any benefit from my land. I retraced my steps to Carrillon and once more em- barked on board the steamboat on my way back. — The then Governor General, Lord Aylmer was, with his suite, on board the same boat, and he observing me to have the appearance of an old soldier put the question to me, if I had not served in the army. I answered his Lordship in the affirmative, and that I had received a pension ; but commuted it and was just returning from examining my lot of land, from 273 which I found that I could derive no benefit what- ever. His Lordship told me that I had acted a very foolish part in commuting my pension, and observed, that it was unfortunate that it had ever been put into the power of pensioners to do so, and said that he would use all his influence to have the few remain- ing commuted pensioners restored to their former situation. I returned to Montreal, and have continued to re- side there until the present time. At the breaking out of the disturbances last Fall, I again took up arms in defence of my country, and joined Lieut. - Colonel Maitland’s Battalion of Volunteers, in which I am a serjeant, and have been employed during the winter in assisting to drill one of the companies. Yours, &c. The Commuted Pensioner. APPENDIX. APPENDIX. INDIA. “India forms unquestionably one of the most remarkable regions that exist on the surface of the globe. The varied grandeur of its scenery, with the rich and copious produc- tions of its soil, are not equalled in any other country. It is also extremely probable, that it was, if not the first, at least one of the earliest seats of civilization, laws, arts, and of all the improvements of social life. These, it is true, have at no period attained to the same pitch of advance- ment as among Europeans ; but they have, nevertheless^ been developed in very original and peculiar forms, dis- playing human nature under the most striking and singular aspects. “ The strong interest which India in itself is thus cal- culated to excite, must to us be greatly heightened by the consideration of its having become so completely a province of the British empire. The government of Great Britain now directs the fortunes of a hundred millions of people placed at the opposite extremity of the globe ; and hence the well-being of the state is intimately suspended on that of this vast dependency. The connexion, too, is peculiarly a 278 strengthened by the great number of British subjects who are constantly going out to administer the affairs of that important colony. Closer personal ties, in many instances, are thereby formed with our eastern settlements than with the different provinces of Britain itself. “ India is enclosed by very grand natural boundaries. — Its whole northern frontier is separated from the high table-land of Thibet by the chain of the Himmaleh Mountains, which, by recent observation, appears to reach at least as great a height as any other ridge by which the globe is traversed. The western and eastern limits are formed by the lower course of two great rivers, — the Indus on one side, and the Brahmapoutra on the other. The southern portion consists of a very extensive peninsula sur- rounded by the Ocean. Within these limits, we shall find a religion, languages, manners, and institutions, char- acteristic of this region, and distinguishing it from all the other countries of Asia. “ India, thus defined, though some of its extremities have not been very precisely determined, may be described generally as lying between the 8th and 34th degrees of north latitude, and the 68th and 92d of east longtitude. — It thus extends somewhat above 1800 miles from north to south, and at its greatest breadth nearly 1500 from east to west. “ India is, as it were, an epitome of the whole earth. It has regions that bask beneath the brightest rays of a tro- pical sun, and others, than which the most awful depths of the Polar world are not more dreary. The varying de- grees of elevation produce here the same changes that arise elsewhere from the greatest difference of position on the earth’s surface. Its vast plains present the double har- vests, the luxuriant foliage, and even the burning deserts 279 of the torrid zone ; the lower heights are enriched by the fruits and grains of the temperate climates; the upper steeps are clothed with the vast pine forests of the north ; while the highest pinnacles are buried beneath the per- petual snows of the Arctic zone. We do not in India, as in Africa and the Polar Regions, see nature under one uniform aspect ; we have to trace her gradual, yet rapid transitions, between the most opposite extremes that can exist on the surface of the same planet. The main body, as it were, of India, the chief scene of her matchless fertility, and the seat of her great empires, is composed of a plain extending along its entire breadth from east to west, between the Brahmapoutra and the In- dus ; and reaching across from the great chain of moun- tains to the high table-land of the Southern Peninsula. It may thus possess a length of 1500 miles, with an average breadth of from 300 to 400. The line of direction is generally from south-east to north-west, following that of the vast mountain-range which bounds it on the north, and from whose copious streams its fruitfulness is derived With the exception, perhaps, of the country watered by the great river of China, it may be considered the finest and most fertile on the face of the earth. “ Of this general character of the Indian plain, the pro- vince of Bengal presents the most complete and striking example. Its wide surface is not diversified with a rock, or even a hillock. The Ganges pours through it a con- tinually widening stream, which, during the rainy season, covers a great extent with its fertilizing inundation. From this deep, rich, well-watered soil, the sun, beating with direct and intense rays, calls forth an almost unrivalled power of vegetation, and makes it one entire field of wav- ing grain. Bahar, higher up the current, has the same 280 general aspect, though its surface is varied by some slight elevations; but Allahabad, higher still, is mostly low, warm, and fruitful, exactly like Bengal. North of the river the provinces of Oude and Rohilcund, sloping gra- dually upwards to the mountains, enjoy a more cool and salubrious climate, and display in profusion the most valu- able products, both of Asia and Europe. Here the val- ley of the Ganges terminates, and is succeeded by that of the Jumna, more elevated, and neither so well watered nor quite so fertile. The Doab, or territory between the two rivers, cannot be made very productive without artifi- cial irrigation. “ In spite, however, of every human effort, some tracts are left uncultivated in consequence of political disorder and misrule ; while, in others, nature, under the combined influence of moisture and heat, makes efforts so powerful as to baffle all attempts to modify or control them. She then riots in unbounded luxuriance, and covers large tracts with that dense, dark, impenetrable mass of foliage and vegetation, crowded and twined together, which is called jungle, and which opposes an almost impassable barrier even to an army. Trees spreading on every side their gi- gantic arms, — thorny and prickly shrubs of every size and shape, — canes shooting in a few months to the height of sixty feet, — compose the chief materials of those close na- tural palisades. Even in the open plain, the banian and other single trees, when full scope is given to their growth, spread out into the dimensions of a considerable forest. “ From the cultivated regions the various classes of wild beasts are excluded with the utmost solicitude. Even the domestic species are not reared in great numbers, nor to any remarkable size or strength. There is a small cow with a hump, fit only for draught, but which the Hindoo 281 regards as a sacred object. Light active steeds are bred by the natives for predatory excursions ; while for regular military service the large and strong Turkish horse is pre- ferred. But, on the other hand, the wooded tracts, where nature revels uncontrolled, are filled with huge and dis- tructive animals. The two most remarkable quadrupeds are the elephant and the tiger. These two mighty ani- mals are brought into conflict in the Indian hunts. The elephant is then used as an instrument for attacking his fiercer but less vigorous rival. The hunter, well armed, is seated on the back of this huge animal ; and, in the first advance, the whole body of the assailants are ranged in a line. When the combat commences, the elephant endea- vours either to tread down the tiger with his hoof, crush- ing him with the whole weight of his immense body, or he assails him with his long and powerful tusks. Whenever either of these movements can be fully accomplished, the effect is irresistible ; but the tiger, by his agility, and es- pecially by his rapid spring resembling the flight of an ar- row, often succeeds in fastening upon the legs and sides of his unwieldy adversary, and inflicts deep wounds while the latter is unable either to resist or to retaliate. Even the rider, notwithstanding his elevated seat and the use of arms, is not on such occasions wholly exempt from danger. “ Immediately westward of the Jumna, the general level of the country attains a point of elevation, whence it de- scends on both sides ; and all the rivers, flowing from the high mountain-range, roll either eastward and become tri- butary to the Ganges, or westward to pour their waters into the Indus. Between these two rivers and their res- pective branches there intervenes a considerable space, which is refreshed only by a few small rivulets that spring up and disappear amid the waste. Thus is formed a 282 desert, of extent sufficient to compose a mighty kingdom, and occupying the whole breadth in that direction, from the mountains to the ocean. This entire region, about 600 miles long and 300 broad, presents an aspect nearly similar to the most dreary tracts of Arabia and Africa. According to the observations of Mr Elphinston, who cross- ed it in his way to Cabul, the eastern division consists of sand heaped often into hills of surprising elevation, and so loose that, whenever the horses quitted the path hardened by beating, they sunk above the knee. Over this wilder- ness, however, is scattered some coarse grass, with stunted and prickly shrubs ; while in the midst of the sand there grow large water-melons, affording the most delicious re- freshment to the thirsty traveller. At wide intervals are found villages, or rather clusters of mud huts, round which are reared crops of coarse grain and pulse, whose stalks, like shrubs, stand distinctly separate from each other. Yet a considerable population must be sprinkled over this im- mense desert, since Bikaneer, in its centre, presents, though on a small scale, the aspect of a city adorned with palaces, temples, and other spacious edifices. Westward of that town the soil is generally a hard clay, variegated only by mounds of sand. Poogul, a village of straw huts, defended by a ruinous mud fort, encompassed with naked hills, and amid a sea of sand without a trace of vegetation, appeared & spot so desolate that it seemed astonishing how any human beings could make it their abode. On the more smooth and level portions of this dreary tract the travel- ler is tantalized by the phenomenon of mirage, produ- cing before him the appearance of immense lakes that even reflect the surrounding objects; and the illusion con- tinues till he has almost touched the watery semblance, and finds it to consist of the same arid soil as the rest of the 283 desert. North of this great plain of India, and along its whole extent, towers the mountain-region of the Himma- leh, acsending gradually till it terminates in a long range of summits wrapped in perpetual snow. “ The Himmaleh range, where it touches on the cham- paign country, is almost every where girt with a peculiar belt or border, called the Tarryani. This term is applied to a plain about twenty miles broad, upon which the wa- ters from the higher regions are poured down in such profusion that the river-beds are unable to contain them. They accordingly overflow, and convert the ground into a species of swamp, which, acted on by the burning rays of a tropical sun, throws up an excessively rank vegetation, whereby the earth is choked rather than covered. The soil is concealed beneath a mass of dark and dismal foliage, while long grass and prickly shrubs shoot up so dense and so close as to form an almost impenetrable barrier. It is still more awfully guarded by the pestilential vapours e A haling from those dark recesses, which make it, at certain seasons, a region of death. Hence the destruction which overtakes an army that encamps for any length of time near this fatal valley, — an effect fatally experienced by the British detachments which were stationed on the frontiers of Bootan and Nepoul. Beneath these gloomy shades, too, the elephant, the tiger, and other wild animals, prowl unmolested ; while the few human beings who occupy the vicinity present a meagre, dwarfish, and most sickly aspect. In emerging from this dark and pestilential plain,' and beginning to ascend the lower mountain-stages, a much more pleasing scene opens to the view. The observer passes through smiling and fruitful valleys, overhung by romantic steeps, and covered to a great extent with the noblest forests. Amongst which are various species of 284 the more hardy oak and the pine, beside trees possessing rich juices and aromatic odours not found among the lower woods; as, that mimosa, the fluid extracted from which yields the medical substance called catechu, and a species of cinnamon or rather cassia, the virtue of which resides in its root. The views obtained from commanding points in these regions, consisting in a foreground of smiling and cultured vales, hills behind crowned with natural planta- tions, steeper and loftier ranges beyond, and in the distance the snow-clad pinnacles of the highest mountain-chain, form a combination of the most sublime and enchanting scenery. “ The Himmaleh, as it ascends above the picturesque regions which diversify its lower border, assumes a much bolder and severer aspect. The lofty ridge, the deep valley the dashing torrent, produce a resemblance to the most elevated portions of our own central Highlands. A laborious task is imposed on the traveller, w ho has suc- a'ssively to mount and descend this series of lofty terraces, along rough and narrow paths that often skirt the most tremendous precipices. The expedients, too, provided for the passage of the rivers which dash through these gloomy hollows, are of the most slender and imperfect descriptions. Tw r o planks fastened to the point of opposite cliffs, called a sanga or sankha, are, in many cases, consid- ered amply sufficient; others, caked ulas, are formed by ropes stretched across, mak : series of loose parapet, and supporting a light la e feet to rest upon. Mr Webb met with an ii- . re there were merely stretched from bank to .1 two or three ropes, round which the passenger was e - 1 > il himself, and work his way across, having a e back to rest upon; those who could not eflec- inis movement w r ere pulled across by a cord. 28 r “In consequence of this peculiar structure, these loftier regions of the Himmaleh do not present that tranquil grandeur, and those picturesque views, which render the mountain-scenery of Europe so enchanting. They are rugged, gloomy, and monotonous. The mighty summits overhang no soft pastoral valleys, nor wave with varied foliage, nor are reflected in the bosom of still and trans- parent lakes. The traveller, hemmed in between their steep precipices, sees only the dark grandeur of the chasm through which he winds. Sometimes, however, on reach- ing a high pinnacle, he finds himself in possession of a prospect bearing a character of the most awful sublimity. A spot, raised almost to an immeasurable height above the plain beneath, proves only the base, whence seven or eight successive ranges tower towards heaven, and terminate at length in a line of snowy pinnacles. “From causes that seem somewhat mysterious, the south- ern slopes of these mountains are generally smooth and rather naked, while the northern faces are shattered and rocky, yet covered with vast masses of hanging wood. Amid these wilds, tall and majestic forests of pine, larch, spruce, and silver fir, sometimes even of cypress and cedar, grow, flourish, and decay, useless and unappropriated. There are no means of conveying the timber to any spot where it can be subservient to human use or ornament. With these trees are intermingled numerous bushes loaded with the fruit which forms the luxury of the northern regions of Europe ; gooseberry, raspberry, strawberry, all unknown to the plains below. In sheltered and favourable spots, the wild rose, the lily of the valley, cowslip, dande- lion, and various other flowers, are seen bursting through the green carpet. The trees and rocks in the higher dis- tricts are richly clothed with moss and lichen, the vegeta- 286 tion of the countries bordering on the Arctic Circle; a lichen has even been observed resembling that which flourishes in Iceland, and which is imported for medicinal purposes under the name of Iceland moss. “ The animal world in this higher region undergoes a change equally striking. The elephant and tiger, the kings of the forests beneath, disappear, or are very seldom seen. Cattle and horses do not find a sufficient extent of level pasture; and hence sheep and goats are the animals chiefly reared for uses of domestic life. Depredations are chiefly committed by the wild cat, the bear, and the hog. The chamois bounds from rock to rock, and the forests are filled with deer of various species ; of which the most rare and precious is that producing the musk. It is found only in the most lofty and inaccessible heights, amid rocks and forests which the human foot scarcely dares to tread. The most intense cold is so essential to its life, that the young, on being brought down to a warm situation, uniformly perish in a few days. The forests in all the more moderate heights are filled with flocks of such fowls as are elsewhere domesticated, here running about wild, tempting the pur- suit of the sportsman; but, as they very seldom take wing, they are with difficulty reached by the gun. The peacock displays his glittering plumage only on the lower hills. The sovereign eagle is seldom descried amid the cliffs, which are inhabited by kites, hawks, and others of the minor predatory birds. Partridges and pheasants are nu- merous and of various species; the latter are even seen flying amid the snows at a great elevation. Bees swarm in all the lower districts, making their hives in the hollows of trees ; these the natives plunder by merely raising a loud noise, which causes the swarm to issue forth and leave the honey unprotected. A late traveller has enabled us 287 to form some idea of the leading features which distinguish the valleys of the Sutledge, the Pabur, the Jumna, and the Bagiruttee, or principal head of the Ganges. The glen of the Sutledge is little more than a profound and gloomy chasm, naked and precipitous, without the romantic beauty produced by swelling banks or fringing wood. The Pabur, a tributary of the Jumna, presents a pleasing variety compared to this or to any other ravine of the Himmaleh. It rolls through a vale of moderate breadth ; its banks and the slopes above are beautifully studded with fields, woods, and villages; while brown hills, tipped with rocks and snow, tower in the background. — The Jumna, again, has its borders generally bold, savage, and imprac- ticable; all its higher tracts, too, consist of mighty rocks and precipices buried under huge masses of snow. Yet the lower grounds are wooded; and along the river are seen some green narrow vales, rising into slopes covered with cultivation and verdure, which diversify even its wild- est scenes with a mixture of softness and elegance. — The banks of the Bagiruttee, a broader stream, which has worn a still deeper bed through the mountain-strata, are beyond all others repulsive, and equally destitute of beauty and life. These solitary steeps are only scantily clothed with the foliage of the sombre fir; the cliffs, shattered and splintered, are not even tinted with moss or lichen, but, bearing the dusky colours of their natural fracture, shoot up on every side into pinnacles of amazing height. But, notwithstanding the gloomy and uninviting aspect of these mountain-scenes, there are a few places in which they open out into smiling and cultivated plains of considerable extent. “ Beyond a succession of lofty eminences is seen tower- ing, amid perpetual snows, the central mass of this enor- 288 mous chain of mountains. It has been estimated to ex- tend more than a thousand miles in length, and about eighty in breadth, forming one continuous desert of preci- pices, rocks, and ice. In a few places only, a precarious track is formed by the Alpine torrent, dashing in an un- broken sheet of foam, through dark ravines, bordered by precipitous mountain-walls ascending above the douds. Down the perpendicular faces of these stupendous avenues there rain almost continual showers of stony fragments, broken off and descending in ruins from the cliffs above. Sometimes large portions of rock are detached, and roll down in heaps, effacing every path which has been formed beneath, filling the beds of the rivers, and converting them into cataracts. The whole side of a mountain has been seen thus parted, and spread in fragments at its feet. Trees torn up and precipitated into the abyss, lie stretched with their branches on the earth, and their roots turned up to the sky. Yet through these tremendous passes, and across all these mighty obstructions, the daring industry of mortals has contrived to form tracks, narrow indeed, as well as fearful and perilous, but by means of which Thibet and India find it possible to exchange their respective commodities. Nothing, it is true, resembling a waggon, not even the ordinary beasts of burden, can pass this way. The goods are placed on the backs of goats and sheep, which alone can scramble along these precipitous routes though, in other respects, these animals are ill fitted for s uch laborious employments. Goats, in descending, are often pressed down by the load, while sheep, if at all urged, are very apt to run, — a movement which is here attended with the utmost peril. “ The arrangements for facilitating a passage over these frightful cliffs are still more perilous than those employed 28S on the lower declivities. Rude staircases are constructed along the precipices, by which the traveller is invited to make his way. The road in some places is formed merely by posts driven into the perpendicular sides of the steep, over which branches of trees and earth are spread, afford- ing a narrow footpath, suspended at an awful height above the torrent, and shaking beneath the tread of the passenger. Amid these awful scenes there are two spots peculiarly sacred and sublime; those, namely, where the Jumna and the Ganges, the two rivers destined to give grandeur and fertility to the plain of Indostan, burst from beneath the eternal snows. No mortal foot has yet ascended to their original springs, situated in the most elevated recesses of the mountains. There they issue forth as torrents, amid broken masses of granite, to force their way through the deep glens of the middle Himmaleh. Above them, huge piles of rock and heaps of snow rise higher and higher, till they shoot up into the two amazing peaks of Roodroo Himala and Jumnavatari. “ The mountain-scenery which surrounds Gangoutri, where the infant Ganges bursts into view, is still more sublime and amazing. The traveller winds his way to this place, clambering over steep rocks, or creeping along the face of precipices, where flights of steps are formed by posts driven into the crevices. At length he reaches the village, consisting only of a few huts and the temple dedicated to Mahadeo. Here the naked and pointed cliffs, shooting up to the skies, with confused masses of rock lying at their feet, and only a few trees rooting them- selves in the deep chasms, make the spectator feel as if he trode on the ruins of a former world. Vast shattered precipices, which frown over the temple, have strewn the vicinity with enormous fragments of granite, destined 290 probably one day to overwhelm the edifice itself. A few old pines throw a datk shade over the troubled waters, whose roar is heard beneath, mingled with the stifled but fearful sound of the stones borne down by the current. Rocky heights shut in the prospect on every side except towards the east, where, behind a crowd of naked spires, the view is bounded by the four snowy peaks of Roodroo Himala. “ The place above mentioned, with the lower shrines of Bhadrinath and Kedarnath, and generally the whole of this region, possess a peculiarly sacred character in the eyes of the Hindoo, the scene of many of the most remarkable fictions in his wildly-poetical mythology. They are es- teemed the chosen dwelling of Siva or Mahadeo, the third personage in the Hindoo trinity, who, in withdrawing from Lunka or Ceylon, threw up, it is pretended, the Himma- leh as his place of retreat. Dewtas or spirits are ima- gined to haunt the most inaccessible glens, and by feigned sounds to allure the unfortunate passenger into their re- cesses, whence he never returns to the living world. Pil- grimage, the favourite form of Hindoo devotion, is most frequently performed into these mysterious solitudes, where many, however, in attempting to penetrate by the rugged paths buried in snow, either perish, or lose partially the use of their limbs. The perilous obstacles which bar the approach to Gangoutri, deter the greater number of the devotees, who ascend from the great fair at Hurdwar, from proceeding beyond the lower shrine of Bhadrinath. “ The Deccan or Southern Peninsula, presents none of those singular features that distinguish the great centred plain and its grand northern boundary. Hills occasionally rising to the rank of mountains, and enclosing table-lands of various elevation, diversify its surface, and secure for it 291 at once the climate and vegetation of the tropical and of the temperate zones. The most prominent features is a range of heights corresponding to the triangular form of the peninsula. The northern border consists in a tract of high country stretching across India from the Gulf of Cambay to the Bay of Bengal, chiefly along both banks of the Nerbudda, and composing the provinces of Malwa, Candeish, and Gundwana, to which has been given the appellation of Central India. From its extremities extend two parallel chains, called the Gates or Ghauts, which, at a greater or less distance, girdle the whole of the op- posite coasts of Malabar and Coromandel. The Western Ghauts, which range along the Indian Ocean, are placed generally at a small distance from the sea, and sometimes approach so close that their cliffs are washed by its waves. More commonly removed from the shore ten or twelve miles, they are seen to rear their peaks, which are crowned, not like those of the Himmaleh, with the trees of the temperate or arctic zones, but with the stately palms and aromatic shrubs which form the pride of tropical groves. The most valuable of these productions are the plant or vine bearing the pepper, — the betel, whose leaves are the universal masticatory in India, — the areca-palm, whose nut is chewed along with the betel, — the sago-palm, whence flows a rich and nourishing juice, — the cocoa-palm, so famed for its numerous and important uses. Higher than them all towers the teak-tree, whose timber, stronger and more durable than that of the British oak, forms the material of oriental navies. “ The Eastern Ghauts, rising behind the Coromandel coast, are generally of a less lofty and rugged description, and leave a broader plain between them and the sea; yet, unless in the Deltas of the great rivers, this plain bears 292 somewhat of a naked and arid character. There occur even extensive tracts of sandy soil impregnated with saline substances, with which the atmosphere is in some degree tainted. More to the north, in Orisso and the Circars, the high grounds often closely approach the sea, and con- sist to a great extent of mountain and jungle, continuing in a more uncultivated state, and peopled by more uncivi- lized races, than almost any other part of India. “ These three ranges enclose a high table-land, eleva- ted from two to four thousand feet above the level of the sea, and comprising the main body of Southern India. The south-western tract, the original seat of Mahratta power, forms a hilly country, not extremely rugged, but interspersed with deep valleys. It bears a decidedly high- land character, fitted for the residence of a pastoral people of warlike and predatory habits. The central region, composing the once powerful kingdoms of Golconda and Bejapore, comprises extensive plains, secured by their ele- vation from the scorching heats which afflict the territory along the coast. The surface is generally level, and pos- sesses much fertility, though diversified by those remark- able insulated steeps which form the almost impregnable hill-forts of India. The extreme southern district, called the Carnatic, is divided into two table-lands, the Balag- haut and the Mysore, more elevated and rugged than those of the Deccan, and on that account including a greater variety of climate, soil, and production. “ The mountain-scenery of Southern India in general, though wanting those features which invest the Himmaleh with so awful and sublime a character, is beautifully, strik- ing, and picturesque. It is more on the scale of that of Wales and Scotland,— with this peculiarity, that it never rises above the limit of the richest vegetation, and has its 293 highest summits crowned with woods and verdure. The greater part is under cultivation ; though there is distribu- ted over it a considerable portion of jungle, rock, forest; and even of sandy waste. “ The national and political condition of the different regions of India varies strikingly according to the pecu- liarities in their physical circumstances. The great cen- tral plain, for example, has generally from the earliest ages, been the seat of an empire whose greatness and splendour have eclipsed those of almost every other coun- try. Some detached portions, as Bengal in the east, and the Punjaub in the west, have been frequently separated from the main body, but, under a vigorous and warlike dynasty, they have been as often reunited. It might have been expected that India, separated from other countries bv a vast ocean and the loftiest mountain-barrier on earth, would have been secured from all except internal agitation ; but nothing could arrest the progress of the avarice and ambition which were attracted by the fame of her wealth and splendour. That ocean has been passed, — those mountain-barriers have been scaled, — and India has for ages groaned, and continues to groan without hope of de- liverance, under a foreign yoke.” 294 MADEIRA. — See Letter II, p. 6. “This island, in the Atlantic Ocean, 54 miles long and 20 broad, and 250 N. by E. of Teneriff — Capital Funchal — was discovered by the Portuguese in 1419, and being uninhabited and covered with wood received the name of Madeira. The next year a colony was settled on the island by Prince Henry, who not only furnished it with the plants and domestic animals common in Europe, but pro- cured slips of the vine from Cyprus, and plants of the sugar-cane from Sicily ; and in the commerce of Portugal, the sugar and wine of Madeira very soon became articles of considerable importance. The sugar-works have been removed; but its wine is now held in the highest estima- tion, especially after having been a voyage to the East or West Indies. The scorching heat of summer and the icy chill of winter are here unknown ; for spring and autumn reign continually, and produce flowers and fruits through- out the year. The cedar tree is found in abundance, and the dragon tree is a native of the island. Flowers nursed in the English green-houses grow wild in the fields — the hedges are in most instances formed of the myrtle, rose, jasmine, and honeysuckle — and the larkspur, fleur-de-lis, lupin, &c. spring up spontaneously in the meadows. Rep- tiles are few in number, of which the lizard is the most common ; while the canary and the gold-finch are found in the mountains. The hog too range wild among the moun- tains, where they are hunted and caught by the dog, the flesh of which is much relished by the inhabitants. Salted cod is the chief food of the poor, which is imported from America. Madeira is well watered and populous.” 295 BOMBAY .— See Letter II, p. 6. “ Bombay is an island, situated on the west coast of the deccan of Indostan, 7 miles in length, and 20 in circum- ference. At the marriage of the Infant^ C^jjerine to Charles II. it was ceded to the EnglisIj^j^jSSrt of her marriage dowry. Some misunderstanding arose as to the extent of this grant, the English conceiving it to in- clude Salsette and other dependencies ; while the Portu- guese chose to view it as not extending beyond the bare precints of the island, — in which last interpretation Britain was finally obliged to acquiesce. Thus the crown acquired for the first time a territorial possession in India ; which, however, did not yield revenue sufficient to defray its ex- penses. In 1668, the government made over the entire sovereignty to the East India Company, who, in 1687, transferred thither from Surat the presidency over their other settlements; and Bombay has ever since continued the capital of all their possessions on that side of Indostan. It contains a strong and capacious fortress, a city, dockyard, and marine arsenal. Some of the finest merchant ships are built here all of teak, supplied from the neighbouring countries, and which is allowed to be much superior to the English oak for that purpose. In 1810, the Minden, 74 gun-ship, was launched, having been built under the superintendence of a Persee. The ground is in general barren, and good water scarce ; but it has abundance of cocoa-nuts, and its markets are well supplied with every delicacy. The population of the territory of Bombay is estimated at 225,000, three-fourths of which are Hindoos, the remainder Mahometans, Armenians, and Jews, and about 8000 Persees or fire worshippers, (for a full account 290 of which, see Letter III. p. 8.) The city of Bombay next to Calcutta, may be considered the most commercial place in all Indostan; its interchange with China is very great, the export of cotton sometimes amounting to 350,000 bales per annum. It is much resorted to by traders from Persia, Arabia, Abyssinia, Armenia, and all parts of western Asia, as well as from most of the islands of the Indian Ocean, and all the eastern parts of Asia, and the commercial transactions are conducted with more integrity than is usual in Asiatic cities. It is about 180 miles south of Su- rat, and 1300 west by south of Calcutta. The lighthouse, which is a very prominent object, and visible for 20 miles out at sea, is in lat. 18. 53. N. and 72. 53. E. Ion.” TANNA See Letter V. p. 12. “ Tanna, the capital of the island of Salsette, 15 miles north east of Bombay, from which it is separated by a a narrow channel, across which a causeway was carried in 1805, which has much benefited the island. This island is about 15 miles square, and is fertile in rice, fruits, and sugar-canes. It has subterraneous temples cut out of the rock, in the manner of those of Elephanta. In 1773 the English conquered it from the Mahrattas; and it has proved a valuable acquisition to Bombay, which formerly depended: on foreign supplies for its subsistence.” 297 GOA.— See Letter VIII. p. 21. “ This tomi is situated upon an island twenty-three miles in circuit, if island it may be called, which is separated from the land only by a salt-marsh fordable in many pla- ces. The surface is fertile, diversified by little hills and valleys, and almost sufficient of itself to supply a great city with every necessary of life. The surrounding territory, called Canara, forms the seacoast of the Deccan. It had been conquered by the Mogul, and annexed to the domin- ions of Delhi; but, in the distracted state of that empire, several independent kingdoms had arisen in the south, among which Narsinga, with its capital of Bisnagar, set the example, although the sovereign of Goa, called the zabaim, was the most powerful of these rulers. Timoia, (an Indian pirate) however, gave notice that this prince, being occupied in war with several states of the interior, had left his capital almost unprotected. Albuquerque readily embracing this suggestion, hastily assembled an expedition, and, in conjunction with his guide, arrived off Goa on the 25th February, 1510. Several of the forts which defended the approaches having been taken, and the Portuguese fleet brought up close to the walls, the citizens, who were chiefly persons connected with trade, began seriously to ponder the consequences were the place to be taken by storm, especially by an enemy whose deeds of mercy had never been conspicuous. They sent, there- fore, a deputation, composed principally of merchants, who privately intimated that the Portuguese commander might obtain admission on certain conditions, including full pro- tection to commerce and private property. Albuquerque granted these terms, and was immediately put in possession 298 of Goa. He fulfilled his stipulations in the strictest man- ner, adopting every measure calculated to preserve order and prosperity, and even continuing many of the natives in their civil employments. Having occupied the palace of the zabaim, he assumed at once the character of a great eastern potentate; sending an embassy to the King of Narsinga, and receiving, in the most gracious manner, those of Persia and Ormuz, who were then on a mission to the sovereign of Goa. But he soon found himself by no means in the secure and agreeable position he at first imagined. The zabaim, on hearing that his capital was in the possession of those hated foreign invaders, roused all his energies, and disregarded every object in comparison with their immediate expulsion. He at once concluded peace with his enemies, several of whom made common cause with him against this powerful adversary ; and an army of upwards of 40,000 men began its march under his direc- tion. Albuquerque undauntedly viewed its advance, though combined with an internal danger perhaps still more for- midable. In this distant service, the spirit of discipline was not easily maintained, and both men and officers had acquired a habit of criticising the proceedings of their general. There arose a numerous party, who argued, that with so small a number of troops, and without any prospect of reinforcement, it was madness to attempt making head against the numerous force now approaching, surrounded by a population generally hostile, and in the heart of an immense city, whose inhabitants watched for an opportu- nity of aiding in their destruction. These fears and reason- ings were by no means without foundation ; but the lofty spirit of Albuquerque indignantly repelled the idea of tamely quitting so magnificent a prize. A faction of nine hundred Portuguese insisted that so brave an army ought 299 not to be sacrificed to the obstinacy of one man, and be- gan to form plots for wresting the power from their com- mander, and carrying into effect their own counsels. But having traced this plot to its origin, he surprised the con- spirators at a secret meeting, and threw the ringleaders into prison. The remainder sued for pardon, which he could not well refuse, being unable to want the services of any of his small number of troops ; they were, therefore, with a very few exceptions, restored to their employments. The zabaim meantime advanced upon the city. The chief hope of Albuquerque depended upon his success in defending the approaches to the island; but the channel separating it from the mainland was so narrow, and in many places so shallow, that it presented by no means an insuperable obstacle. He stationed chosen troops at all the exposed points, covering them with walls and intrench- ments. The zabaim, completely baffled in his first attempts had almost resigned himself to despair; but he at length bethought himself of a nocturnal attack, favoured by the monsoon. The night of the 17th May being dark and stormy, two large bodies advanced at different points, and though unable to surprise the Portuguese, succeeded in forcing their way into the island. The whole army was soon transported over, and commenced operations against the city. Albuquerque stood his ground with his charac- teristic firmness ; but as the enemy was aided by repeated risings within the walls, while his own officers took occa- sion to renew their remonstrances as to the untenable na- ture of this new possession, he found at last no alternative but to retire into the fort, whence, by means of the river, on which it was situated, he could still communicate with the fleet. But the zabaim, having taken possession of Goa, 300 hold. By sinking large ships in the stream, he endea- voured to interrupt the communication, and at the same time provided pitch, sulphur, and other combustibles, for the purpose of setting fire to the Portuguese squadron. Albuquerque, unable to obstruct the progress of these fa- tal measures, at last felt that he must evacuate the fortress. Even this was become difficult; but he executed his re- solution with vigour and success. Having conveyed pri- vately on board all the guns, ammunition, and provisions, and seen the troops embark in profound silence, he went himself last into the flagship. He might have reached the fleet unnoticed and unmolested, had not the explosion of a magazine roused the enemy, and given rise to a severe encounter. Albuquerque, thus compelled to move out to sea, was anxious to do something which might redeem the hon- our lost in this undertaking, and revive the spirits of his men. At Pangin, near Goa, the enemy had formed a stron gly-intrenched camp, and frequently sent out vessels to annoy the Portuguese. The viceroy fitted out an ex- pedition, which, approaching in deep silence, reached the shore at the first dawn, suddenly landed, and having sounded the drums and trumpets, and raised loud shouts, the Indians awoke in such a panic, that they ran off with- out once facing the assailants. The European comman- der, at full leisure, carried off a great quantity of artillery and stores, as well as a large supply of provisions. Learn- ing soon after that a squadron was preparing to attack him, he anticipated the movement by sending .a number of ships under his nephew, Antony Noronha, who was met by the Indian chief at the head of thirty paraos; but, after an obstinate conflict, the latter was compelled to re- treat full speed to the shore. The Portuguese followed, 301 when Peter and Ferdinand Andrade, with five men, boarded the admiral’s vessel; but Noronha, mounting behind them, was severely wounded, and fell into the boat. Amid the general anxiety, and while all efforts were employed to remove the captain out of danger, the Andrades and their party were forgotten ; the ship, by the receding of the tide, was left on dry land ; they were attacked by immensely superior numbers, and could defend themselves only by prodigies of valour. When their condition was obser- ved, it was for some time doubtful how to reach them ; at length eight bold mariners pushed on shore in the long- boat, attacked and made themselves masters of the ship; but, being unable to tow it off, were obliged to content themselves with the feat of rescuing their comrades. It is pleasing, amid the ferocity of this war, to find an exchange of chivalrous courtesy. The zabaim sent messengers, ex- pressing his admiration of the valour of the Portuguese ; and a polite answer was returned. A negotiation for peace was even opened, though without success. The pride of the enemy being humbled, and the spirits and courage of the Portuguese revived by these exploits, Albuquerque sailed to Cananor, where he refitted his fleet, and received considerable reinforcements; resolving, as soon as the season allowed, to make a second attempt upon Goa. His confidence of a happier issue on this oc- casion, seems to have been founded chiefly on the fact that the zabaim was involved in war with the kingdom of Nar- singa, which was likely for some time to occupy the greater part of his forces. Unable, however, to muster more than 1500 Portuguese and 300 native troops, it was a very ser- ious undertaking to attack a large and strong capital, gar- risoned by upwards of 9000 men. Goa had been farther strengthened by a new wall and ditch, and by a stockade c 302 drawn through the water, behind which the ships were’ moored in security, and stood like so many towers. — However, Albuquerque arrived in front of the city, and though there was no appearance of his ally Timoia, he determined not to delay the assault. In the morning he opened with his cannon a tremendous fire, and the whole shore was wrapt in a cloud of smoke, illuminated only by the flashes. He landed and divided his troops into two parts, one of which was led by himself, and attacked the northern quarter ; the other, in three separate bands, proceeded in an opposite direction. One division, led by the Limas and other chosen heroes, anticipated their com- mander, and drove the enemy- within the walls. As the latter were shutting the gate, Fernando Melos thrust in a large spear, which prevented it from closing. Several others following the example, it was, after a most despar- ate struggle, forced open, and the Portuguese entered along with the fugitives. These, however, still made a resolute stand in the houses and corners of the streets, particularly in the palace of the zabaim. Here a strong body had taken post, and twenty Portuguese who rashly advanced, were almost entirely cut to pieces. John de Lima, on forcing a passage, found his brother Jeronymo, with several of his comrades, lying in the agonies of death, but the fallen chief professed perfect resignation to his fate, and entreated that there might not, on his account, be an instant’s delay. The enemy, driven from the palace, rallied on a neighbouring hill. The commander, who had been extremely surprised to find the battle raging in the city, now entered, but had still to wage a hard contest of six hours’ duration before Goa was completely in his power. Albuquerque, being left for some time in the undistur- bed possession of this capital, applied himself to secure it 303 as a permanent acquisition to his country. His views on this subject materially differed from those of Almeyda, "who conceived it wisest to keep their fleets united and at sea, only touching accasionally at friendly ports. So com* bined, they appeared to him more formidable than when dispersed over different stations and settlements, while they could at the same time overawe the native powers without giving any reasonable ground of jealousy. Al- buquerque's opinion, on the contrary, was, that a large city and a spacious port, which they could call their own, were essential to the maintainance of Portuguese supre- macy. They would then have a secure station for their fleets, a fixed point for receiving reinforcements, and a re- treat in case of disaster, without depending on the preca- rious friendship of native allies. He studied, therefore, to render Goa a suitable capital for an eastern empire. He sent and received ambassadors, whom he astonished by the display of a pomp surpassing even that of India ; and he surprised them still more by the extensive fortifications and useful works which he had already constructed. He viewed it also as an essential object to attach the natives to his government, for which purpose he adopted a somewhat singular expedient. Having numerous female captives, some belonging to the first families in the country, he treated them in the most honourable manner; but, not satisfied with this, he proceeded to arrange matrimonial connexions between them and his European followers, without leaving much choice on either side. Some such procedure is at least alluded to by De Barros, when he compares his mode of cementing the Portuguese power to that employed by Romulus for peopling his infant state of Rome. It was made an absolute condition with the brides that they should embrace Christianity; an obstacle 304 which was not found insurmountable, the prejudices of caste and religion being less deeply rooted there than in other quarters of India. A few such marriages being formed, the viceroy showed the parties peculiar favour, and bestowed on the husbands some of his best appointments. The principal families, finding themselves aggrandized by these connexions, no longer objected to them, and addi- tions were easily made to their number. De Barros tells an odd story of a great number of weddings being cele- brated at once with a splendid festival, when the lights being prematurely extinguished, it became difficult for the parties to recognise each other, and they fell into many mistakes. Next morning an investigation was proposed ; but, on mature reflection, it was judged wisest, that each should remain content with the wife who had accidently fallen to his lot, though different from the one to whom the church had united him; and the affair furnished to the army only an occasion of mirth. Having thus settled the government, the viceroy resum- ed the consideration of his more distant schemes of con- quest. Two objects engrossed his mind, — Ormuz, the splendid emporium of the Persian Gulf, which had been snatched from him almost in the moment of victory; and Malacca, a native kingdom, considered then as the key of the remotest regions and islands of Asia. The latter ob- tained the preference. The capital, though situated upon the coast of a barren peninsula, was enriched in an extra- ordinary degree by being the emporium of the commerce carried on between Indostan, China, and the eastern islands,— a trade which now gives prosperity to Sincapore. Albuquerque sailed thither with a force of eight hundred Portuguese, and six hundred natives, to oppose which the king had mustered a garrison that has been represented as 305 exceeding 30,000. Negotiations were opened, and profes- sions made on both sides of a desire for peace; but it was obvious that such an expedition could terminate only in an appeal to arms. A vigorous resistance was made by wooden machines, cannon, and a species of artificial fire peculiar to the East; but the intrepidity of Albuquerque and his followers finally triumphed. He expelled all the native troops, and became complete master of the city. He immediately began to erect a strong fort out of the materials of the shattered palaces; he settled the govern- ment on that firm yet conciliatory principle which distin- guished his policy; and opened negotiations with Siam Java, and Sumatra, from which countries it is even asser- ted that he received friendly embassies. During Albuquerque’s absence on this expedition, the zabaim mustered his forces, and sent a powerful army under successive commanders who forced their way into the Island of Goa, erected there a strong fort called Ben- aster, and pressed the city very closely. The viceroy, having at last arrived with a considerable reinforcement; obliged the enemy to raise the siege, but was completely repulsed in an attack on the garrison; and it was not till after repeated assaults that he was able to drive the enemy from their fortress, and finally established the Portuguese supremacy in Goa. The viceroy again resumed his plans of distant con- quest, but was baffled in two successive attempts upon Aden, then the chief emporium of the Red Sea. At length he equipped a great armament to achieve the most favorite object of his ambition. With 1500 European and 600 Asiatic troops he sailed against Ormuz, where his strength was considered so formidable, that the king did not venture to oppose his demand for permission to erect 306 a fort. Having performed this task with his usual dili- gence, he forthwith suggested the great convenience of transporting to this station all the cannon in the city. The unfortunate monarch, conscious of the state to which he was reduced, felt it no longer possible to refuse even this request; and the celebrated Ormuz became complete- ly a Portuguese establishment. This brilliant career was approaching to its close. Al- buquerque was now somewhat advanced in years, and his constitution, exhausted by so many toils, began to exhibit symptoms of decay. Finding his health in an infirm state, he became anxious to revisit Goa. As he passed along the coast of Cambay, letters arrived with tidings which struck him to the heart. A new fleet had come out, and Lope Soarez, the name of all others which he most detes- ted, not only commanded it, but was appointed to super- sede him as Governor of India. New officers were nominated to the principal vessels and forts, — all of them known to be most hostile to his interest. His power and influence, he felt, were at an end. The Portuguese wri- ters, always silent on every thing which might effect the credit of their sovereign, give no hint of the motives that induced him to cast off so suddenly the man who had con- quered for him a great empire. European counsellors, it may be presumed, possessed the ear of the monarch, and might whisper that the viceroy was becoming too great to continue a subject. There was not even a letter or any other mark of honour to soften this deep disgrace. The death-blow had now been given to Albuquerque, who no longer wished to live. Amid his agonies, it was suggested to him that the attachment of his adherents was so devoted as might enable him to defy the mandate pf an ungrateful master, and still remain ruler of the In- 307 dian Seas. He seems to have opened his mind for a mo- ment to the temptation, but finally repelled it, and sought only in the grave a refuge for his wounded pride and ho- nour. Violently agitated, refusing food and refreshment, and calling every hour for death, he could not be long of finding it. As his end approached, he was persuaded to write a short letter to the king in favour of his son, ex- pressed in the following proud and pathetic terms: — “ Sen- or, — This is the last letter which, in the agonies of death, I write to your Highness, of the many which I have written during the long period of my life, when I had the satisfac- tion of serving you. In your kingdom I have a son, by name Braz de Albuquerque, whom I entreat your High- ness to favour as my services may merit. As for the affairs of India, they will speak for themselves and for me.” Feel- ing that he must die before reaching Goa, his mind became tranquillized; he ascribed the present change to the or- dination of Providence, and turned all his thoughts to that other world on which he was about to enter. A light barge sent before him brought out the vicar-general, who administered to him the sacraments of the church; and on the morning of the 16th December, 1515, he expired. He was carried in pomp to the shore, where his funeral was celebrated by the tears both of the Portuguese and of the natives, whose hearts he had completely attached to him. Thus died Alphonso d’Albuquerque, who stood foremost among his countrymen, and ranks with the great- est naval commanders of modern Europe.” 308 MADRAS. — See Letter IX, p. 25. “Madras or Fort St George, a celebrated fort and city of Indostan, 100 miles north by east of Pondicherry, Ion. 80. — 25. east lat. 13. 5. north, the capital of the British possessions on the east side of the Peninsula, and is a for- tress of very great extent. It is close on the margin of the Bay of Bengal, from which it has a rich and beautiful appearance, the bouses being covered with a stucco called chunam, which in itself is nearly as compact as the finest marble, and bears as high a polish. The Black Town is separated from the fort by an esplanade. In common with all the European settlements on this coast, Madras has no port for shipping, the coast forming nearly a straight line; and it is incommoded also with a high and dangerous surf. It is the seat of an archdeaconry, and of missions from different societies in Britain. In 1746 it was taken by the French, but restored by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. On the breaking out of the memorable war, in 1756, between Britain and France, an extensive armament was fitted out by the goverxhnent of the latter, to make the most vigorous efforts to acquire an ascendency in India. The person entrusted with this important mission was a Count Lally, an officer of Irish extraction, who had made several very brilliant displays of valour at the battle -of Fontenoy. He landed at Pondicherry on the 25th April, 1758, and prepared to make an immediate attack on Fort St. David, considered at that time the strongest and most important of the English settlements in the East. The garrison, after making a very injudicious defence, throwing away their shot on insignificant objects, was obliged to surrender ; the troops became prisoners of war, and the 309 fortress was razed to the ground. Lally returned to Pon- dicherry in the highest exultation, and determined to lose no time in following up his design of extirpating the Eng- lish from India. After taking possession of Arcot and several other places in the Carnatic, he deemed it expe- dient to commence a siege against Madras, which he car- ried on for upwards of two months, under great difficulties. The garrison, consisting of 1,758 Europeans and 2,420 natives, commanded by Governor Pigot and the veteran Laurence, made the most gallant defence. The siege was terminated by the appearance, on the 16th February, of a squadron of six English vessels, containing six hundred fresh troops. As soon as this fleet hove in sight, the French army, without waiting their commander’s orders, began to retreat with the utmost precipitation, and the general had not time to execute his cruel purpose of burn- ing the Black Town.” MALACCA See Letter X. p. 27. “ Malacca, or Malaya, an extensive country of India, beyond the Ganges, bounded on the N. by Siam, E. by the ocean, and S. W. by the strait of Malacca, which se- parates it from Sumatra. It is 775 miles in length and 125 in breadth ; and produces a great many excellent fruits and roots, pepper, and other spices, with some precious gums and woods. There is but little corn, and sheep and oxen are scarce ; but hogs and poultry are plentiful. The population is about 15,000, principally Malays, who are 310 deemed the most ferocious people on the face of the globe ; they are however a very fine looking race of men, rather below the middle stature; limbs well shaped; tawny com- plexion ; large eyes, and long black shining hair. They are fond of navigation, war, plunder, emigration, adven- tures and gallantry ; talk incessantly of their honor and bravery, and speak the softest language of Asia. The government is vested in a rajah, or sultan, with a great number of chiefs under him, who generally pay very little regard to his authority. Their religion is a mixture of Mahomedism and paganism. The inland parts are pos- sessed by a savage and barbarous people.” JAVA See Letter XI, p. 29. “ This island is sometimes called Great Java, to distin- guish it from Bali, by some named Little Java; and is 640 miles in length, and of various breadth, extending from 105. to 116. E. Ion., and 6. to 9. S. lat. The land is low, and in some places marshy, near the shore, which renders the air unhealthy; but it rises in a gradual slope towards the interior of the country, admitting in its ascent every variety of situation and verdure. Rice is the staple pro- duction of the island, and is exported in considerable quantity. Sugar, pepper, cotton, and coffee, are produced in abundance. Indigo, of a very superior quality, is also cultivated; and wheat, barley, oats, and Bengal grain, thrive well and might be produced in great abundance, if due attention were bestowed on their culture. The north 311 coast has a great many commodious creeks, bays, harbours, and towns, with many little islands near the shore. The inhabitants are chiefly Javanese; next to these are the Malays; and in the seaports a considerable number of Chinese are settled. The Javanese inhabit all the inte- rior parts of the island, and are in general the cultivators of the soil. They are described as a barbarous, proud, and fierce people, of a brown complexion, short, coal-black hair, large cheeks, small eyes, and large eyebrows. The men are very robust and strong limbed; the women are small, but of pleasing countenance, and in some districts they are really beautiful. The men wear a piece of calico, which is the principal manufacture of the island, wrapt two or three times round their middle; and the women wear them from the armpits down to the knees ; but all other parts are bare. The men have two or three wives, and several concubines, according to their circumstances. The Javanese appear, from remains of temples and inscriptions, to be of Hindoo descent, and their language is quite dis- tinct from that of the Malays ; but the professed religion of both is Mahomedism. The Malays principally inhabit along the coast. They are not so well featured as the Javanese; but the men are often very muscular and well made. They are generally indolent, but at the same time restless, vindictive, and treacherous. The Chinese are distinguished by their habits of industry, and generally by their wealth. Many of them carry on a considerable trade with their native country, and the several islands of the eastern archipelago. They intermarry with the Javanese and Malays, and purchase female slaves for wives and con- cubines. This island has very high mountains, particularly the Pepper Mountain on the South side ; it has, likewise, impassable forests and wildernesses; but to the North be- 312 tween Batavia and Bantam, is a very populous country, full of rice fields, and plenty of salt and pepper, besides most sorts of fruits proper to the climate. Here also are plenty of hogs, beeves, and sheep, with other tame ani- mals ; and likewise fowl, both wild and tame, in great abundance. In the woods are large tigers, rhinoceroses, and other wild beasts; and in the rivers are crocodiles. The serene season is from May till November ; and then the rains begin, which lay the low grounds under water, kill the insects, and continue till March, when they com- mence sowing, and in July the sugar and rice begin to ripen; but September and October are the best months for all sorts of fruits. Java has a river which rises in the mountains, and, dividing itself into many branches, wa- ters the circumjacent country; these afterwards reunite, and pass through Batavia, dividing it into two parts. For more than a century Java was under the dominion of the Dutch. In 1811 it was captured by the British, un- der Sir Samuel Auchmuty, when many important changes were made in its internal administration, and government also did much to promote agricultural improvements, and the country prospered and enjoyed tranquility. — Since it has been restored to the Dutch they appear, how- ever, to have reverted to their former wretched system, as they have been engaged in quelling insurrections, which there is little doubt were provoked by their arbitrary and vexatious exactions.” 313 BAT AVIA — See Letter XII. p. 33. ■‘This city is finely situated on the bosom of a spacious bay on the north-east part of Java, and capital of all the Dutch settlements in the East Indies. This city was first founded in 1619, and rose rapidly into importance, and during the eighteenth century was deemed the finest European settlement in all Asia; and although con- sidered unhealthy, from the influence of the heat of the climate on the mud and stagnant waters of the canals and streams by which it is intersected, it was vainly denomi- nated by the Dutch, the “ Queen of the East.” Batavia was very sensibly affected by the war of 1793, and became almost deserted, until its capture, with the whole of the island of Java, by the English, in 1811, when it became again the centre of an extensive com- merce. It was ceded back to the Dutch on the peace of 1814, who having relaxed somewhat from their former system of proscription and monopoly in their commercial regulations, Batavia continues a flourishing and important place. The fort is built of coral rock, brought from some of the adjoining islands, and has a fortification of brick. A part of the town wall is built of dense lava from the mountains in the centre of Java. No stone of any kind is to be found for many miles beyond the city. Marble and granite are brought from China. The harbour is ex- cellent, and there are canals in the principal streets, plan- ted on each side with trees, after the manner of the towns in Holland. The inhabitants are composed of natives from nearly all the countries and islands of Asia and the Indian Ocean, as well as most of the chief trading parts d 314 of Europe and America, amongst whom the number of Chinese is considerable. The stadthouse is the principal edifice deserving of notice. The natives of the several nations and countries who compose the population, which amounts to about 50,000, have each their churches, mos- ques, and temples, but there are none that merit any par- ticular notice.” SOURABAYA — See Letter XIX, p. 66. “ Sourabaya is the capital of a district of the same name, situate within the narrow Strait formed by the is- lands of Java and Madura, and is defended by batteries. When the French were in possession of Java, they in- tended to have made Sourabaya a port of some conse- quence, and large sums of money were expended in the works for the defence of the harbour, and General Daen- dols was going on with his plans when the island was taken by the British. The houses are generally good, and some even elegant, particularly the country seats of private individuals. Besides an arsenal, with other exten- sive works, calculated for equipments, on a very large scale, there is a mint at work, on a new silver and copper coinage, and a ship yard, where vessels of a large size are built. The population of this town is about 1800.” 315 CHINESE See Letter XIX. p. 66—7 6. The description given of the Chinese and their religion in pages 66 — 76, is from personal observation and other information obtained while in the island of Java, and it may not prove uninteresting to draw a comparison between the Chinese there and those in China. This, however, can only be done by making a few extracts from the works of those authors who have treated on the manners, cus- toms, &c., of that singular people. Religion. — “ There can scarcely be said to be any religion in China — at least as a system of divine worship or a regulation for the conduct of the people. There is no sabbatical institution, nor congregational worship ; no external forms of devotion, petition, or thanksgiving. The emperor takes the sole charge of the spiritual concerns of the people, and is the only individual in the nation who directly addresses the Supreme Being, performing at fixed periods certain ceremonies and oblations. The equinoxes are the times when the grand sacrifices in the temple de- dicated to Heaven are offered up, when every kind of bu- siness is suspended in the capital. The national, or ra- ther Government-religion, may be described as a sort of Deism. The Tien, or Great Spirit, is invested with the attributes of omnipotence and omniscience. The names by which this sovereign power is known are Whang-tien, the illustrious heaven ; Chang-tee, the supreme ruler ; Tien-tee, heaven and earth ; Che-chung, the first and the last ; Ken-puen, root and branch ; and other descriptive denominations. In addition to this supreme power, how- ever, the Chinese, like all barbarous nations, invest all the 316 elements with innumerable spirits and genii, fanciful im- ages of which they worship both in their own houses and in temples dedicated to the purpose. These temples are under the care of the Bonzes, who live unmarried, and associate in convents like Romish monks. The idol-wor- ship exhibited in these temples is characterised by every mark of the most debasing and besotted superstition. When a votary has applied to his idol for some time in vain to obtain a certain boon, he abandons the ungenerous spirit in indignation ; sometimes demolishing his image, and kicking it through the streets, with every mark of contumely ! In every possible circumstance of life, the Chinese implore the protection and aid of some idol. Should a countryman be about to raise a building, or attempt any other work in which he might lie in danger of receiving injury, he places a small stone upright, sur- rounds it with a few candles, burns two or three gilded papers, and then proceeds to work with perfect confidence. They also consult oracles previous to undertaking a jour- ney, commencing a law-suit, &c. ; and thus the Bonzes, who are the interpreters of the responses, are kept in con- stant employment. So strong, indeed, is the resemblance of the interior of a temple of Fo, the dress of the priests, and the ceremonies of devotion, to those of the church of Rome, that one of the missionaries says, “ it seems as if the devil had run a race with the Jesuits to China, and having got the start of them, had contrived these things for their mortification.” Manners, &c. — It may be readily admitted that the Chinese were amongst the first of existing nations who arrived at a certain degree of excellence ; but it is not less evident that they have long remained stationary, and have even in some points retrogaded. The following assertion 317 of Sir William J ones may almost be literally adopted : — ‘ Their letters, if we may so call them, are merely the symbols of ideas ; their philosophy is in so rude a state as hardly to deserve the appellation ; they have no ancient monuments from which their origin may be traced, even by plausible conjecture ; their sciences are wholly exotic ; and their mechanical arts have nothing in them character- istic of a particular family — nothing which any set of men in a country so highly favoured might not have discovered and improved.’ In their moral qualities, the Chinese are a strange com- pound of vanity and meanness, affected gravity and real frivolity — an utter want of all manly judgment and sense, combined with the most insidious art and cunning, the usual accompaniments of vulgar ignorance. The Tartar race are distinguished by a blunt and unstudied frankness of manner and openness of disposition ; but the true Chi- nese betray the most debasing servility of tone and man- ner — plausible, sly, and artful. They have not the slightest regard to truth, and will assert and deny anything with the most unblushing effrontery, being also entirely destitute of shame. The pain inflicted by the bamboo is the only consideration they attach to public and disgraceful corporeal punishment. They have neither sense of honour nor self-respect. ‘ A Chinese prince, or powerful mandarin,’ says a recent traveller, ‘ will commit extortion or oppres- sion whenever he can do it with impunity, and regards it as a matter of right attached to his station. A Chinese trader will cheat and defraud whenever it is in his power, and even piques himself upon his skill in overreaching, as a proof of his talent. A Chinese peasant will pilfer and steal whatever is within his reach, whenever he can hope to escape detection ; and the whole nation may be 318 affirmed to have almost nothing in view but their own self- interest and security. Their general character, in short, in point of morals, compared with the minute enforcement of duty by the penal laws, affords an irresistable proof of the utter incompetency of legislation, without the aid of religious principle, to reach beyond the mere external conduct of individuals, or to produce anything like real social virtue among human beings.’ In their feelings, the Chinese are cruel, sensual, and vindictive. Mr Barrow, M. de Guignes, and other travellers, all agree in their re- presentations of the inhuman conduct of those in author- ity. One of the arbitrary laws of China is the compelling of the natives to pull the imperial barges alongst the canals ; and Mr Barrow had several opportunities of wit- nessing the merciless exercise of this authority on the part of the military. The impressed labourers took, of course, every opportunity of deserting ; and whenever there was a deficiency of hands, the despotic officials set off to the nearest hamlet, roused the natives out of bed with the whip, made them jump into the water to assist the towing operations, lashing them with long cart- whips all the while with the most ruthless barbarity. Mr Barrow also relates another specimen of Chinese indifference to human life which he witnessed in passing down the great canal betwixt Canton and Pekin. Several persons who had crowded to the brink of the canal, had posted themselves upon the high projecting stern of an old vessel, which broke down with their weight, and precipitated the whole group into the water. Although numbers of boats were plying about at the very spot, not one was observed to go to the assistance of the drowning wretches, whose shrieks and cries were totally disregarded. Nothing is so significant of the moral condition of a 319 people as their treatment of the female sex, and no where are the women so inhumanely used as in China. They are not permitted to stir out of doors, excepting the wives of the lower orders, who are to be seen toiling at all kinds of laborious tasks, while their indolent husbands are sitting quietly smoking their pipes. In the country they are even to be seen drawing the plough and harrow, while their lazy helpmate drives them on. Amongst the other moral iniquities of the Chinese, is the crime of infanticide ; and from the contempt in which females are generally held, parents expose their female children without the slightest remorse. It is a part of the duty of the Pekin police to go their rounds with carts, at an early hour of the morning, to pick up the bodies of the infants that have been thrown out into the streets in the course of the night, and to carry them, without inquiry, to a common pit without the city walls, where they are thrown in promiscuously. It has been calculated that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 female infants yearly sacrificed in China ! What a horrible picture of national depravity does not this one fact present !” ST. HELENA See Letter XXVIII, p. 123. “ This island was discovered by the Portuguese, on St. Helena’s day, in the year 1501. It was afterwards in the possession of the Dutch till 1600, when they were expel- led by the English, and it now belongs to the East India Company. It is 27 miles in circumference, and lies in 320 the Atlantic Ocean, between the continents of Africa and South America, about 1200 miles west of the former, and 1800 east of the latter. It has some high mountains, par- ticularly one called Diana Peak, which is covered with wood to the very top. There are other hills also, which bear evident marks of a volcanic origin, and some have huge rocks of lava, and a kind of half vitrified flags. The climate of St. Helena is temperate, being exempt from the extremes of heat and cold, from thunder and lightning and hurricanes. It is moist, however, and only about one day in three is illuminated by sunshine. The interior val- leys and little hills are covered with verdure, and inter- spersed with gardens, orchards, and various plantations. Rats, however, are so numerous that the fruit of the hus- bandman’s labour is completely destroyed, and the price of provisions, from that circumstance, greatly enhanced. The most part of the necessaries of life are imported from the Cape of Good Hope and Britain, which makes living on the island very expensive. St. Helena was little known until it became the prison of Napoleon Bonaparte, the late Emperor of France. He died in May, 1821, and was buried on the island, which have rendered it a spot of historical interest.” THE END.