Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 2.djvu/386

 well adapted to the climate. The erection of so expensive a church by so small a society shows great zeal in the cause of religion in the inhabitants of Allahabad.

"We have just received the news of the renewal of hostilities with China, at which I am glad. The celestials will be forced to learn the power of the enemy they have drawn upon them. The new Commissioner, Lin's successor, is to be made over to the Board of Punishment, and the admiral has been deprived of his button. There is nothing new under the sun; our expression of having 'a soul above buttons' must be derived from the Chinese. A great man, for instance, like Admiral Kwang, bearing bravely up against loss of dignity (button) and honour."

"1841, Feb. 15th.—The Bāiza Bā'ī has crossed over to the opposite side of the Jumna, where she remains until after the eclipse of to-morrow. Appa Sāhib is in Sultan Khusrū's garden, and will not move, it is said, until some arrangement is first made for him by the Bā'ī or the Government, if not, he says, he will turn fakīr."

"May.—Captain Fitzgerald, who has charge of the Bāiza Bā'ī, and her Highness, were heard of at Nagpore; she gave no trouble, but was dilatory on the march, the weather being frightfully hot."

"1842.—A kharita was received from Nassuk, some forty or fifty kos from Bombay. The Brija Bā'ī, one of her Highness's ladies, was very magrā, i. e. discontented with the hawā pāni, 'the air and water' of the place, and complained that she saw no sāhib log (gentlemen), as when at Allahabad.

"How little a man can estimate his real value! The last accounts from Cabul informed us our friend Captain B was a prisoner, and to be sold for 200 rupees! The price having been paid, he was released from captivity."

Let me record the death of a faithful servant: on quitting Calcutta, a lame shepherd applied to be taken into employ; the old man had been a sipahī, was wounded in action, and ever after remained lame. When he offered himself as bherī-*wālā (shepherd) an objection arose on account of his lameness,