Page:Catholic Magazine And Review, Volume 3 and Volume 4, 1833.djvu/81

Rh out to him as he arrived with the regiment. I had also to see after the supplies for the men, and seek for carriage for them when required; and this was a daily source of annoyance, as we had set out with a wretched turn out of Hackeries, or two bullock carts of the country. As we were in Bengal, no camels could be had, and the carriage bullocks were so small, that we were forced to have wheel carriage, the very worst to march with, being so liable to break down over the dreadful roads generally found throughout India. The one we travelled beggars all description.

Our servants always went on over night to prepare breakfast by the time of our arrival at our ground. Sometimes the men did not reach the camp till past ten o'clock; but it was generally nine or a little after. Of course at this season of the year it was cold, and the sun even at nine o'clock was pleasant; and even at times we were glad to go into the sunshine during the day, as the tents were too cold. Latterly one might have remained out all day with impunity, as we got into a high latitude. In fact it was so cold, that we commenced our march at half-past five, or near six. From Midnapoor we went North, and got upon what is called the New Road, running direct from Calcutta to Benares, at Bissunpoor, on the fourth day. The road lien through belts of jungle and low ground where patches of rice are here and there cleared away for it, by the poor, miserable peasants residing in the few huts and small villages by the way. Bissunpoor is a large, mud built town, and was formerly famous for its silk cloths. It is now a wretched place and nothing about it worthy of note. The road has only been made within a few years for the numerous pilgrims going to the famous Juggernath temple below Cuttack, from the upper provinces. We daily met members of these poor deluded people, on their way thither, with merely the clothes on their backs, and two small waterpots slung by a pole across their shoulders, containing the sacred water of the Ganges, as an offering to their great Lord of the Earth. These poor wretches suffer most ouon [sic] their return, being destitude of every thing, and hundreds of miles from their homes.—At each stage along the New Road, there are small travellers' bungalows, or houses; which are kept up with servants attached to them, for the use of those who may be travelling by dak, that is, by palanquin with relays of bearers at each stage, or any others who may choose to make use of them. I believe it was the Marquis of Hastings, who had also large serais, or buildings to accommodate the pilgrims and others going up and down this road, built at each stage and kept up; but these are now allowed to fall to decay. The native travellers found these walled places a great protection against the rogues who