Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/219

 blood—it is the only instance we have met with of a native using his fists like an Englishman.

The other affair was this: my sā'īs (groom) had bought some ganja, an intoxicating herb, which he put into his hooq[)u] to smoke, and offered it to the other sā'īses. To refuse to smoke from an offered hooq[)u], is a high offence. The sā'īses would not smoke the ganja, abused the man for buying it, and getting intoxicated daily from its effect. He said, "I will not stay in service, if you will not smoke with me." "Well, go and give warning," said the head groom. My sā'īs gave him gālee (abuse); at which the head groom took a stick and beat him. The sā'īs immediately said, "My life be on your head," and running to the well, he let himself drop down into the water; but when at the bottom, he began to halloo for assistance, the well being very deep, and the water also. He was drawn up by ropes. I do not think he meant to kill himself; and yet dropping down such a distance was a great risk. He said, if he had died of the fall, the head groom would have been hung, and he should thus have had his revenge. The next time he plays such a prank, he is to remain at the bottom of the well.

22nd.—They tell me the people in Calcutta are dying fast from a fever resembling the yellow fever. The soldiers, European, here are also going to their graves very quickly; three days ago, six men died; two days ago, six more expired; and one hundred and sixty are in the hospital. The fever, which rages, tinges the skin and eyes yellow; perhaps only the severe bilious fever of India brought on by drinking brandy and arrak, a bazār spirit extremely injurious, to say nothing of exposure to the sun. Almost every evening we meet the two elephants belonging to the hospital carrying each about ten sick men, who are sufficiently recovered to be able to go out "to eat the air," and for exercise; the poor fellows look so wan and ghastly. The sā'īs before-mentioned added the leaves of hemp (cannabis sativa) to his tobacco, and smoked it to increase its intoxicating power. Bhang, an intoxicating liquor, is prepared from the same leaves. Pariah arrak, an inferior sort of spirituous liquor,