C O N T E N T S LETTER XLV. Description of an Anglo-Indian Menage.- Native Servants.- Parsees, object to extinguishing Fire.-Dustoor.-Instance of Honesty in a Native Servant.-Taking off the slippers, and prostration, Oriental marks of respect.-Native Party. -Robbers.-Coolees.-Dogs supposed to bark at Evil Spirits.-Barnaul's rigid adherence to Caste.-Servants provide for themselves.-Wages 1 LETTER XLVI. Lizards.-Snakes.-Cobra di Capello.-Adoration paid to the Naag, or serpent.-Eclipse of the moon.-Chandra, the Hindoo name.-A male Deity in India.-Surya the sun.-Worshippers.-Magnificent temple.-Descendants.-Hindoo ersonifications.-Stars.-Bhobuns, or spheres.-Southern constellations.-Supposed to be typical of the Flood 15 LETTER XLVII. Religion of the Hindoos.-In some respects they resemble the Roman Catholics.-Ancient Colony of Jews on the Malabar Coast.-Sublime description of the Deity.-Hindoos probably derive some of their Traditions from the Bible.-Singular Coincidences.-Metempsychosis.-Pre-various state of existence 26 LETTER XLVIII. Ancient religion of the Hindoos.-Bloody Sacrifices.- Brahma, Vishnu, and Seva.-Seraswati, Luchshemi, and Parvati, their wives.-Carticeya.-Ganesa.-Camdeo the Indian Cupid.-Quarrel between Mahadeo and Parvati.- Avatars of Vishnu 37 LETTER XLIX. Mythological Personifications.-Devetas.-Indra.-Yama. -Marcantem.-Casyapa.-Nareda.-Ragas and Raginis, the Genii of Music and their wives.-Guardian Spirits that preside over the Earth.-Naga.-Cuvera.-Mariatale.-Mount Calasay.-Sacred Rivers.-Hindoo Deities constantly to be met with.-Analogy between the Hindoo and Greek Fables and Deities 50 LETTER L. Various Castes and Sects at Bombay.-Vishnu Bukht and Seeva Bukht.-Bramins.-Hindoo Women.-Mussulmans. -Soonis and Shiahs.-Annual festival in commemoration of Hoseyn's death.-Hoolie.-Christmas,-Portuguese.- Parsees.-Emigrants from Persia.-Settlers in Bombay.- Zoroaster Zendavesta,-Orosmanes.-Ahrimanand Mithras -Ferishta.-Worship fire.-Atsh-khaneh and Atsh-ba-haharn.-Parsee customs.-Origin of their reverence for the dog 62 LETTER LI. Gypsies perhaps derive their origin from exiled Parsees,-t Parsees excellent ship-builders,-Teak forests. - Parsee Entertainment.-Nautch.-Ball and Supper . 76 LETTER LII. Description of the Island- of Bombay.-Fort, or Town History.-Wooden Houses.-Rice fields.-Cocoa-nut Groves. -Roads.-Native Huts.-Belvedere.-Unfortunate fate of Mrs. Draper, (Sterne's Eliza) 84 LETTER LIII Bombay Society.-Dinner Parties.-Music.-Want of Books.-European Literature little attended to.-Mode of Living.-Arrival of French Ships.-Few elderly people at Bombay. - Young people sooner taken off than the old 95 LETTER LIV. Seasons of India different from those in Europe.-Church at Bombay.-Monument to Mr, Duncan.-Few Churches in India.-Mr. Gray, Chaplain in India.-Female Infanticide 104 LETTER LV. Languages of India.-The Sanscrit.-The Vedas.-Mahab-barat.-Heetopades.-Sacontala.-Rarnayuna, and other Sanscrit works.-Mahratta Dictionary.-Bhats and Cha-runs.-Veneration entertained for them, and their extraordinary influence.-Sitting in Dherna.-Koor . 114 LETTER LVI. Pattemars.-Salsette.-Damaun.-Gulf of Cambay.-Bore.-Diu.-Puttan Somnauth.-Famous Temple there.'-Idol destroyed by Mahmoud Ghiznavi.-Country in its vicinity sacred.-Veerole Puttan.-Singular annual apparition of a bird on the shore.-Nowa Bunder.-Poorbunder.-General Walker 127 LETTER LVII. State of Poorbunder.-Ancient History.-Goomlie.-Goddess Battawarre.-Chya.-Town of Poorbunder, Population, and Inhabitants.-Successful Stotm of Chya.-Anecdotes.-Major Carnac Soondajee Sewjee.-His History.- Uana of Poovbunder induced to abolish the cruel custom of putting Witches to death.-Earthquake at Poorbunder.-Curious Cave in its Vicinity.-Sudama and Juggernautworshipped at Poorbunder.-Festival of the latter 140 LETTER LVIII. District of Okamundel, inhabited by a wild race of men.- Dwavaca.- Famous Pagoda.-Pilgrims.-Ceremonies.- -Escalade of Dwaraca.-Captain Harriott's monument and tomb.-Dada Sahib; retinue and Garree of State.-Interview160 LETTER LIX. Bate.-Demon Shunkodwar slain by Shank Narayan.- The Worship of Runchor substituted for that of Shank Narayan, and numerous pilgrims resort to his shrine.- Arrival at Mandavie.-Climate.-Description and population of Mandavie.-English Burial-ground.-Verses 171 LETTER LX. Journey from Mandavie to Bhooj.-Description of an Indian March.-Biddery.-Toomberry Rao ka.-Kerah Mosque. -Chariva Hills.-Arrival at Bhooj.-Dreadful Storm 178 LETTER LXI. Province of Cutch.-Desolate appearance.-Chigo.-Lunkhi Jubberl range of Hills.-Runn, or Ervm.-Curious Morass. -Wild Donkeys. - Trees and Flowers. - Divisions of dutch.-Inhabitants.-Bhattias. - Meyannas.-Origin of the Jahrejah Tribe.-Kao Khemgar.-Modern Jahrejahs, a degenerate race. They marry Women of other Tribes, and destroy their own Female offspring.-Observations on Infanticide . . , Page 188 LETTER LXII. Jharejahs first conquered by Sir William Keir.- Government of Cutch an Aristocracy.-Bhyauds, or Brotherhoods. -Chuppar, or Gathering of the Tribes.-Kusoombah.- District of Parkur.-Parinuggur and Weeranow.-Sodha Women in great request for their beauty.-Goreecha and Mandow Ray celebrated idols.-Curious Pilgrimage to Goreecha, who is kept interred in the sand.-Pastoral and Predatory Tribes of the Thull, or great sandy Desert 203 LETTER LXIII. Vale of Bhooj.-Fort of Bhoqjia.-Temple of the Naag.- Bhooj.- Inhabitants expert Gold and Silver-smiths,- Rao's Palace.- A-ee-na Mahl.- Menagerie. - Indian Loms.-Ex-Rao Bharmuljee, a State Prisoner 212 LETTER LXIV. Visit to the Rannee of Cutch.-Interior of the Zenana.- Female attendants.-Tombs. - Pallears.-Tomb of Rao Lacka.-Numerous Festivals. - Hindoo Hoolie.- Christmas.- Dewallee,-Mohurrem. - Taboot and Shows.- Tomb of Hoseyn destroyed by the Wahabites.-Animosity between the Soonis and Shiites.-Curious Mahometan debate 222 LETTER LXV. Climate of Cutch.-Earthquake.-Seasons.-Dusty winds.- Monsoon.-Animals.-Rats.-Cobra di Capello.-Bears, and wild Beasts.- Game.-Birds.-Horses.-Grapes from Cabul.-Fruits 236 LETTER LXVI. Arrival and Adventures of Captain Doria.-Ruttan See.- Cutchee Language.-'Mr. Gray's exertions in Cutch.- Military Life.- Constitution of the Indian Army.-Effects of Music in a Foreign Country 247 LETTER LXVII. Departure froth Bhooj, and voyage to Surat.-The Taptee.- Surat.-Ancient History.-First place where the English settled in India.-Commencement of the East India Company.-Village of Pulpurra.-Parsee Burial Place.-Form of Interment.-Priests 257 LETTER LXVIII. Bheels and Coolies, the original inhabitants of Guzerat.- History.-Mewassee villages.-Robbers.-Catties worship Carua.-Banyans and Shrawuks.-Hindoos visit distant countries on pilgrimages.-Jains.-The Runn of Guzerat. -Gulf of Catnbay.-Suddur Adawlut.-Surat carts.- Mahometans' evening devotions.-Bhyauds.-Grassias LETTER LXIX. Difference between English and Indian travelling.-Journey to Kubbeer Beer.-Fording the Taptee.-Kim Chowkee.- OccuTseer.-Nerbudda.-Broach the ancient Barygaza.- Pinjrapole, or Hospital for Animals,-Derivation of Nerbudda 282 LETTER LXX, Spenser's Folly.-Voyage up the Nerbudda.-Broach.- Kubbeer Beer.-Description.-Temple and Idol of Kub-beer.-Picturesque scene.-The breaking up of an encampment.-Crossing the Nerbudda.-Namoodra.-Process of burning the Cornelians.-Bheel village.-Boodra.-Kim Chowkee-Versow.-Surat.-Native Wedding 291 LETTER LXXI. Excursion to the Island of Elephanta.-Magnificent Caves.-Great Cave, similar to the Temple at Dendera.-Tris-nurti, or Triple-headed Image.-Apartments excavated in the rock.-Stone Elephant.-Becalmed in the Harbour 302 LETTER LXXII. Departure from Bombay.- Severndroog.-Rutnagherry.- Gheriah. -Goa. -Mangalore. -Tellicherry. -Sacrifice Islands.-Calicut.-Vasco de Gama, the first European who sailed to India round the Cape.-Curious mistake of his.-Nairs, Polears, Niadis, and Pariar tribes.-Neel-gherry hills.-Exceeding salubrity.-Cochin.-Anjengo.-Travancore. - Allepee. - Native Christians and Jews 309 LETTER LXXIII. Ceylon.-Rodriguez.-Mauritius.-Bourbon.-Madagascar.-Adamastor, the Stormy Spirit of the Cape.-Dreadful Storm off Cape Rossif 321 LETTER LXXIV. Early Portuguese discoveries.-Prince Henry of Portugal.- The Gupe first discovered by Bartolemeo Diaz, and rounded by Vasco de Gama.-Raymond's and Lancaster's the first English ships that sailed round it.-Melancholy fate of Don Emanuel and Donna Leonora da Souza.- Rising and setting of the Sun, and the Moon particularly beautiful at sea.-Mossel Bay.-Cape Lagullas.-Table Bay.-Cape Town 330 LETTER LXXV. St. Helena.-St. James's Town.-First discovery.-Church.-Visit to the Tomb of Napolen, and to Old and New Longwood 338 LETTER LXXVI. Shops at St. James's Town.-Society.-Sir Hudson Lowe.- Rejoicings at St. Helena on his arrival.-General Walkep, the late, and General Dallas, the present, Governor.- Plantation House.-Sandy Bay and Lot's Wife 340 LETTER LXXVII. Island of Ascension.-The Briton.-Alarm of Pirates.- Convict Ships.-Fish, Birds, and Sea-weed.-American Ships.-Azore first discovered by John Vanderberg.- Florez and Corvo.-Lizard.-Weymouth.- Landing at East Bourne 357 APPENDIX. Itinerary of Route from England to India : Number of Days travelling and sailing.-Sums paid for Passages from Naples to India.-Posts and Days' Journeys on the Route from Calais to Naples.-Continental Tariffs.-Tables of Foreign Coins, and of their relative Value. - Hints for Travellers.-Remarks on the Overland Routes to India.- On the Communication with India by Steam Navigation. -Succession of Egyptian Kings 371