Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Rusher, Mr. Reading.

Russel, Mrs. Risborough.

Saunders, Mr. Jos. Colnbrook.
Scott, Miss, Risborough.

Scott, Mr. H. Amersham.
Skeene, Rev. T. Wendover.

Toms, Mr. W. Amersham. Tyler, Rev. P. Haddenham. Tyso, Rev. J. Wallingford. Tuppin, Captain, Reading.

Skidmore, Mr. E. Rickmans-Veary, Mr. J. Wycombe. 3 copies.

worth.

[blocks in formation]

Upton, Rev. W. St. Alban's.

Veary, Miss, ditto.

Waller, Mr. E. Luton.

Ward, Rev. E. Iver.
Watts, Mr. J. Henley.
Weller, J. Esq. Amersham.
Weller, W. jun. Esq. ditto.
West, Rev. E. ditto.
5 copies.
Werry, J. Esq. Bois.
White, Mr. J. Aylesbury.
Wiffin, Rev. W. H. Thame.
Wilkinson, J. Esq. Wycombe.
2 copies.

Wilks, Mrs. J. London.
Williams, Mrs. Cowley.
Williams, Mr. Wooburn.
Williams, Rev. W. Wycombe.
Woodbridge, Mr. G. Maiden-
head.

Woodhams, Mrs. Coleshill.
Woodman, Mr. Berkhamstead.
Wright, Mr. G. Uxbridge.

Yates, Rev. W. Stroud.
Young, Rev. W. B. Reading.
Young, Mr. G. Luton.
Young, Mr. C. St. Alban's.

Indian Recollections.

CHAPTER I.

"Distant at sea, the weary mariner

Beholds with joy the dim-seen temple rise

A well-known mark. He steers his course afresh,
The sails are all expanded, white and full;
The burden'd ship moves stately to her port,
By thee directed, Juggernath."-LAWSON.

ARRIVAL AT SAND HEADS--RIVER HOOGHLEY--VARIOUS RIVER CRAFT AND BOATMEN.

How delightful the sound of " land in sight" is to the passengers of an East India trader, none but those who have performed a long sea voyage can possibly conceive. We had passed through all the vicissitudes of clime, from 52° N. to 42° S., and back again to 23° N. in the Bay of Bengal, having rounded the Cape without seeing land, when one fine morning at the end of September, 1818, whilst all eyes were anxiously surveying the chart on which the ship's course was marked, and which the captain had spread upon one of the hencoops on the poop, the man at the mast-head with stentorian lungs announced the welcome tidings of

B

"Why the

"Aye, there captain, who

distant hori

"land in sight." Whereabouts? was eagerly demanded. "On the larboard bow," was the reply. All eyes were directed to the quarter named, anxious to catch a glimpse of the long wished-for shore; but patience still was to be exercised, and one by one the passengers left the deck for their respective cabins and employments, without being gratified by the view. About two hours afterwards, one of the mates, who had ascended to the mizen-top, exclaimed, after a few minutes reconnoitring," There they are at last!" "What! what!" responded many voices. Black Pagodas,” replied the mate. they are, sure enough," cried the had also directed his glass to the zon; "I told you we should make them before eight bells that chronometer is a real good one." It was not long before the towering pagodas were visible to all on deck, and the Cuttack Coast opened to view, as a large sand-bank skirted with shrubs; but these as we neared them were recognised to be cocoa-nut and palm-trees. The ship was now put on another tack to steer for the Sand Heads, and signal guns were repeatedly fired to give notice to the Hon. Company's schooners, which are constantly on the look-out, that we wanted a pilot. But as no pilot-vessel appeared in sight, the captain, officers, passengers, and crew all betrayed symptoms of impatience and ill-humour, especially as although we could descry the shores of British India, yet we were obliged to

[ocr errors]

lay-to, in order to avoid the danger of running on the sands with which the entrance to the mouth of the river Hooghley is studded, and which are called the Sand Heads. This part of the navigation is at all times, (even to old experienced commanders,) most difficult and hazardous, from the circumstance of the sand-banks frequently changing their positions; so that none but the branch pilots and their assistants, who are constantly out cruising can, with any degree of safety, conduct vessels into the river, or indeed up to Calcutta, the bed of the Hooghley, from the periodical visitation of what is called the Bore, being subject to the like variations. This remarkable "rush of waters" takes place when the spring tide begins to flow, and is sometimes awfully grand in its impetuous fury. I have often stood upon a point of land waiting its approach, and have traced its course from the bottom of Garden Reach, to Howrah Ghaut, where it rushes on shore, and then obliquely crosses to the Calcutta side. I could compare its progress to nothing but an immense Leviathan rushing up the river, in pursuit of some object of prey: the water foams, the waves are elevated sometimes many feet, and a hissing splashing sound announces its approach, and succeeds the mighty roar of its passing, leaving a swell as great if not stronger than the largest steam vessel would have done at full speed. One day a poor bullock came down to the Ghaut to drink, just as it was passing, the mighty wave raised the poor animal many feet high, and

« AnteriorContinuar »