Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/104

 CHAPTER VI.

RESIDENCE IN CALCUTTA.

1825.—A Day in March—The Furlough and Pension Funds—Bandicote Rats—The Strand—The Cutting System—Harrow-on-the-Hill—Sickness in Arracan—The Golden Feet—Arrival of Lord Combermere—Bhurtpore—La Pucelle—Marsh Fever—Change of Residence to Middleton Row, Chowringhee—Fogs up to the Second Story—Burrā Bazār—Seed Pearl.

January, 1825.—The cold weather is delightful, and a Persian carpet pleasant over the Indian matting, but a fire is not required—indeed, few houses in Calcutta have a fire-place. Ice is sent from Hoogly, and is procurable in the bazaar during the cold weather; it is preserved in pits for the hot season.

March 23rd.—I will describe a day at this time of the year. At 6 it is so cold that a good gallop in a cloth habit will just keep you warm. At 9 —a fine breeze—very pleasant—windows open—no pankhā.

3 —Blue linen blinds lowered to keep off the glare of the sunshine, which is distressing to the eyes; every Venetian shut, the pankhā in full swing, the very musquitoes asleep on the walls, yourself asleep on a sofa, not a breath of air—a dead silence around you.

4 —A heavy thunder-storm, with the rain descending in torrents; you stop the pankhā, rejoice in the fraicheur, and are only prevented from taking a walk in the grounds by the falling rain.

5 —You mount your Arab, and enjoy the coolness for the remainder of the day;—such is to-day.

April 11th.—The hot winds are blowing for the first time this year.