Page:Sir Thomas Munro and the British Settlement of the Madras Presidency.djvu/23

 BOYHOOD 15

" Oh, Sir, this will never do ; nobody in this country wears buff waistcoats and breeches, or thread stock- ings, nor sleeps upon mattresses ; sheets and blankets are useless in this warm climate ; you must get a table and chairs, and a new bed."

' I was vexed to learn that all the clothes, of which I had taken so much care in the passage from Europe, were now to be of no service.

' He inspected the contents of the chest. The whole was condemned, together with the bed-clothes, as unserviceable, except three or four changes of linen which were to serve me till a tailor should fit me out in a proper manner,

' " It is customary with gentlemen." said the old man, '^ to make a present of all their European articles to their servants, but I will endeavour to dispose of yours to advantage : four guineas will buy a table and chairs, and cloth for the tailor, and as Captain Henderson is gone to Bengal, you must get a couch of your own ; it will not cost above two guineas." He went out with the six guineas, leaving me with an empty chest, and my head full of new cuts of sleeves and skirts, which the tailor was to make in a few days. But all my schemes were disconcerted by some unfortunate accident befalling my good friend with the credentials, for he never returned.

' This unexpected blow prevented me from stirring out above twice or thrice in a week for several months after. On these days I sallied forth in a clean suit, and visited all my friends. After Dr. Koenig came to