The Press. — London, England, 1858-01-30 00:00:00

116 fusing to re-enter it unless the body of that cockroach she had seen was brought oat to her. The cabin bulkheads in these steamers are very slight, and conversations are easily over heard. Next to our Sisters was a newly married couple, one of whom decidedly dis approved of cockroaches by night : "George, I'm certain I heard something crawling." No response, George being in the land of Nod. " George," loader, " are you asleep ? There's a oockroaoh. Oh, dear George, do get up and kill it." Some sleepy-toned remonstrance implies he'd rather not. " George, I'll never love you any more if you don't instantly look for that cockroach." And on no response being made to this terrine threat, a sound of weeping and lamentation ensues of ever having left her dear mamma and her home far ea unfeeling wretch who doesn't care it she is happy or miserable. By this time the original instigator of the matrimonial fracas, the offending cockroach, has marched off, leaving the unhappy George wide awake, and fully aroused to the necessity of consoling and soothing the delicate object of his affections, while every gnff within earshot is shaking with laughter, and longing to cry out " Encore I" Calcutta was reached in due time, without any very striking adventures, and after a short stay, our Sisters—who thought Calcutta hot, stupid, and scandalous—started up country by dikk to Meerut The description of the journey and its incidents is given with great vivacity. Hero is one par exemple : That first day passed off very well; and when the coach man arrived up to titue in the evening, we startel, flatter ing ourselves our journey was going to be the easiest thing possible. The farther we got from Calcutta, how ever, the worse our horses became. Every six miles you arrive at a " chokee," and change horses; harnessing each fresh horse was the signal for a scene of biting, kicking, plunging, and rearing, that would have sent most lathes at house into fits. The horses seemed perfectly unbroken ; and when, by main force and the assistance of several coolies, the harnessing was effected, the creature would stand on her hind-legs for some momenta, and then insist on turning round to take a good look at us, or at the back of the carriage, so that we momentarily expected it to , upset. Sometimes they were dragged out, roaring, screaming, and biting, like tigers, and, when harnessed by superior strength, positively refused to move at all • on which some dozen coolies flung themselves on the wh eels, and, turning them round, pushed the gharrie on the hind quarters of the animal ; and if this proves ineffectual, they tie a rope to his fore-legs, and drag him on till he is com pelled to move. It appeared to be an understood thing between the quadrupeds and bipeds engaged in the struggle, that if the former was once got into notion, it must go on to the next chokee, which, atter resisting to the last, fur form's sake, it generally did at full gallop, making tap for oat time, and then yielding its place to the next in order, who went through precisely the same tnanceavres. At first it was impossible not to feel somewhat anxious as to what our fate in the melee might be: but afterwards we earns to look to these constantly-recurring scenes at the chokees as the ohiesonrce of amusement and excitement through the night, and felt quite defrauded of our rights when any mild-tempered animal allowed itself to be quietly harnessed, and proceeded on its way without giving any trouble. When a horse totally refuses to move on, these ingenious people have a mode of lighting a fire under neath the animal, and when the heat becomes painful, the creature gallops off; but I am assured ( though 1 never saw it) that the horses sometimes become so cunning as to ;West the aim of their tormentors by lying down on the fire, and so extinguishing it. After many such adventures, and a capsize or two, Meerut was at length reached. Once at Meemt, Indian life was seriously entered upon. For two " griffs," one would suppose that even Indian life as it was would present some features of interest; but after the first few days, it is quite clear that the Sisters felt it to be intolerably tedious. They did their best, however, to render it bearable. They organised dinner-parties, even ven• tured on a ball before they had been many weeks at their brother's house, and acanda- listed the whole station by such frightful in fractions of the red-tape decorum then prevalent in India—such as talking and laughing while listening to the band on the course, and wear ing cherry-coloured bows to their white satin shoes—as put some life into the poor mortals at Meerut. Their bachelor brother, who lived upon tea and Moorghie cutlets all the year round, and submitted without resistance to the peculations of his servants, soon had his household turned topsy-turvy, his hooks put in order, his weekly bills keenly scrutinised, and his table maintained with credit to his kitchen. These little reforms were not carried without difficulty. Native servants are polite, but obstinate, and regarded the " missies " with no very friendly eye. But kind words and the support of the master of the carried .erything before them, and we feel sure, became a Our Sisters seemed to pleasant life ; they rode house carried every% Keith's bungalow, w model for bachelors. Jaye led a sufficientlj THE PRESS, JANUARY 30, 1858. and drove, and dressed—and here we always know what was " most becoming "—and went to church—late, we are ashamed to say, on some occasions, when of course they created a " sensation "—and paid visits, and danced— we won't say flirted—to their heart's content ; but the heat was intolerable, and on the whole they declare the life to have been one of " dreary stagnation, - which they little thought then (1856) was soon to give way before so sudden and terrible a reaction. Another point the Sisters also impress upon our notice is the thorough dislike of Euro peans for natives. If this feeling were so prevalent as represented, may it not in some measure go far to account for much of that treachery and deadly hate recently exhibited towards us. The system of espionage, too, under which a European lived in India was as disagreeable as it was remarkable : Your most secretly laid plans are instantly known to the whole world, and highly embellished tales of all you say anti do dy round the community like wildfire, of course gathering u they go. People say the native servants pro pagate these reports, for though pretending to know nothing of English, they understand enough to make a great seal of mischief. The rapidity with whieh news circulates is startling. We were told by a friend that, half an hour after our arrival, he and all the other gentlemen in the clubs of Calcutta knew we had brought pistols out with us. It has rather a sobering effect to learn you are thus watched. I never could understand why these servants passed in and out of the room so often ; my private belief is they kept up a constant espionage over us, the results of which were retailed to our friends' servants over the evening hookah. But the uncomfortable feeling of " eyes " every- where was not pleasant ; you might lobk up any moment, and catch them peering in under the half screen sus pended in the doorways, and then a suppressed titter ran through an anteroom, giving a sensation of unlimited numbers. We used to feel thankful when Wilt) was announced by a meek-looking linitmutghar, with folded hinds and bent head, as it gave us some occupation, and, by Rood management, might be extended to an hour. Though our servants pretended not to comprehend our mother tongue, we were afterwards convinced in many ways that their ignorance was in some degree assumed, as when Nora and I spoke to each other in French they in variably quitted the room. It is nearly impossible to escape for one moment from the prying black eyes and stealthy movements of these numerous attendants. In the public rooms they are always walking noiselessly in and out, and startling you by placing a note in your hands, and addressing you when you believe the room vacant. If we attempted to escape into our own rooms, it was worse still, for, however quietly you walked in, some unseen intelligence was instantly con veyed to the Ayala., and in a few moments their white garments appeared in the verandah, and they came troop ing in from all sides. • • • • While we were dressing, these three women always sat in a row on the floor behind up, with their six big eyes following our every movement, and whispering comments on everything we did. Reflected in the glass before me, I could always see these three black faces, thrown into striking relief by their white draperies, gazing with un tiring astonishment at us. Sometimes the effect was so absurd that we could not help laughing. I remember the oushions or whiskers 30 which we rolled our hair were a source of perpetual astonishment and amazement to them. Letting down your hair was always a signal for a series of energetic nudges ; and when the marvellous cushions appeared they all showed their white teeth and shining eyes in oonoert. My politeness restrained me from making use of the only Hindoo word 1 knew relating to the subject, it being equivalent to "Get away with you!" so we were e'en compelled to submit daily to the martyr dom with a good gram, till one day, on feelingly lamenting our miseries to a lady, she called our various attendants in, and explained to them " that it was very rude to stare at people dressing, and in future they were always to sit outside the door till they were called ;" and the relief and oomfart to us were inexpressible. After spending near a twelvemonth with their brother, and having each enjoyed an attack of fever, Nora and Maud determined upon their return according to their previous resolve. Every effort but one, and that, per haps, it would be injudicious to deny posi tively, was made to induce the Sisters to remain ; but they were firm in their resolve to return home. and, visiting Delhi and Agra en route, they started at length, with two Persian cats and a parrot, on their dak journey down, reached Calcutta in safety, " shopped," as a matter of course, and were then " off" for dear old England. The home journey is described at too great a length, but we can assure our readers that they will find the book very amusing. The Sisters have each a keen eye for the ridiculous, are full of vivacity, and are very happy in sketches of character. Compressed into one volume, it would form the pleasantest light reading. The state of society it depicts forms a curious con• tract to that now existing in India. It is re markable to read of the profound sense of security which pervaded the English in India within a few weeks before the whirlwind which has since swept over the land, and deluged it with the blood of our countrymen and friends. REPRINTS. 1. Merrie England,. by Lord William Lennox (Newby), is a readable and lively series of sketches on purely sporting topics. "Chaunting for the Mil lion " is the best thing in the volume. The journal of a French nobleman of a visit at Goodwood-house is also interesting. 2. The Bentley Ballads and The Ingoldsby Legends (Bentley) are here given us in nice portable editions, well printed and got up. With the latter of the two every one is acquainted. The former contain some very clever verses by Lover, by the editor, Dr. Doran, by Father Prout, and a variety of anonymous con tributors. Father Prout's Latin translations are excellent. 3. Esnsolui (Smith and Elder).—This novel im proves on acquaintance. We require to overcome the sensation of strangeness produced by the diction before we can fully enjoy it ; but when that is done, " Esmond" comes out inferior to none of Mr. Thackeray's masterpieces. The duel with Mohun— the whole passage of the young King and his short lived hopes—and Beatrice with her lovers—are ini mitable. This cheap issue is most welcome. 4. The London Pulpit, by Ritchie (Tweedie), is a work far from complimentary to the preachers of London, whether clergymen or dissenters. We can not say we place much value either on the opinions or the criticism herein contained ; but it may pos sibly convey information to some persons, and can not, we think, deceive any. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.-JAwumtv 28. 800/S. Life of Aaron Burr. J. Parton. Mason Brothers. Town Life. By the Author of " Liverpool Life." Tweedie. Punishment and Prevention. Alexander Thompson. Nisbett and Co. English Hearts and English Hands. Ditto. Christianity in the Three Last Centuries. Ditto. The Royal Princes**, of England. Mrs. Matthew Hall. Routledge. Rivers in the Desert. The Rev. John Bailie. Seeley, Jackson, and Co. Erery•day Life. Ditto. William Paterson, Foinder of the Bank of England. S. Bannister, M.A. *. P. Liverpool, Ho! A Story. Powr Oswyn. J. F. Hops. The Pickwick Papers. Charles Dickens. Two Vols. _ Chapman and Hall. The Furey*-office List for January, 1855. Harrison — The Secret qJ Mißisterial Success. Seeley and Jackson — The Foundations of use Earth. Ditto. The Comprehensive History of England. Parts V. and VT. Illustrated. Mackie and Son. , Pnrscess's THEATRE.—We regret to hear that, in consequence of the serious indisposition of Mr. Charles Kean, the performance of Hamlet is post poned for the present at this theatre. MR. AND MRS. GSRMAN BRED'S ENTBRTAINXgNT.--• On Monday evening Mr. and Mrs. German Reed re opened the Royal Gallery of Illustration, after an absence of five months ; and, notwithstanding the attractions of an illumination night, the room was crowded. The entertainments consisted of selections from previous exhibitions. " A visit to Holly Lodge," " A Month from Home," and "My Unfinished Opera," are performances so excellent in themselves as to bear frequent repetition. MR. BURFORD'S Pasoaima.—Mr. Burford, active ever in seizing events of popular interest., and turning them to the account of his well-known exhibition, has now opened to the public a new and attractive view of the City of Delhi during the siege. The moment chosen is one of the encounters that took place between the British troops and the mutineers in the interval that occurred between the first assault and the final occupation of the city, and the spectator is supposed to look down upon the conflict from the esplanade on the south-west of the Palace. There is necessarily less of the picturesque in this work. Nevertheless the opportunity of showing the archi tectural wonders of the place has not been lost; and rising above the scene of tumult and desolation appear the minarets and cupolas of the beautiful mosques for which Delhi is renowned. The drawings on which the picture is based are by Captain Robert Smith, R.E., and Messrs. Robert Burford and H. C. Selous, who are as usual the painters, have shown singular talent in the formation of their groups and the animation imparted to all the principal figures. The exhibition has been honoured by the visits of several distinguished persons daring the week.