Page:Lord Amherst and the British Advance Eastwards to Burma.djvu/213

 an end. 'This sad event has plunged us all into alarm as to our own fate. We have before us a long, fatiguing, and fearful journey, through countries saturated with this dire disease.' This is almost the only complaint the courageous woman makes. One night they rest in the midst of an orange garden with 'fountains innumerable.' They reach Ambála in the early morning; they have no beds; they sleep in their palanquins. As they travel on next day, they have to pass through streams, and lie drenched in cold water. On June 29 they reach Kemaul. 'We had not been in bed since the 24th.' It is not till July 2 that they arrive at Meerut and comparative comfort, thankful to have got over all the difficulties and fatigues as well as they had done. ' Mr. Glyn received us as before in his cool, comfortable and spacious mansion. We were some days and nights recovering from the immense fatigue we had undergone, but did not otherwise suffer. The thermometer ninety and from that to ninety-four.' The officers at Meerut entertained them hospitably; there are compliments and speeches. 'Lord Amherst returns thanks. I never heard Lord Amherst speak more to the feelings or with happier effect. I was thankful when it was over,' his wife writes, 'being overcome with uncontrollable feelings myself.'

Still, the cholera! In one place there were at least 500 men victims to the scourge, and their wives were preparing to ascend the funeral pile, but were all dissuaded, and actually not a single satí took place.