These words were spoken by a father to his own children; but I would ask those of my young friends into whose hands this little volume may fall, does it not equally touch them? Do they not feel the truth of these sentences? Coming over the many thousand miles which stretch between India and this country, these letters were cherished the more by the three little children to whom they were addressed; and now that the hand is cold which traced the lines, how much more will they be prized!
Whatever may be the fate of the volume with the public, to those whom it more intimately concerns it will be a lasting remembrance of their father, and of the melancholy circumstances connected with his early death. For their sake, the Editor trusts that the present work may meet with at least a moderate share of success; and that, in the endeavour to render more familiar to the youthful mind the names and habits of some of the inhabitants of India, he may not altogether fail.
Departure from England in March--Tremendous storm off Ushant--Ship becalmed at the equator--Great heat--Danger of sleeping in moonlight in hot climates--Storm off the Cape--Great speed of the vessel--Thunderstorm at the equator--Arrival at Madras--The mungoose; its usefulness in houses--Mother-of-pearl--Contrivances for abating the heat--Fakirs--Curious disease--Salutation of Europeans by natives--Employment of time 1
Native wedding--Visit to the Newab--Jugglers 6
Voyage up the Hoogly--Waterspout--The bishop's palace--Appointment to the province of Assam--Great number of tigers at Calcutta--Mode of voyaging--Language of natives--Number of servants necessary 7
Change of appointment from Assam to Cuttack--Dangers of travelling--Mode of living--"Bore" in the Hoogly 9
Leave Calcutta--Accident on the Hoogly--Dâk-travelling--State of the road--Arrival at Midnapore--A bungalow--Trees and plants--Mode of providing animal food--Destructiveness of ants--Snakes--Monkeys--Encounter with a buffalo--Soil, climate, and productions of Midnapore--Expenses of living--List of servants 10
Thunderstorms--Mode of taking birds--Costume--Coins--Insects-- Dinner-parties--Language--Strictness of caste regulations among servants--Employment of women--Disposal of the body after death--Dustoorie--The white ant 17