Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-10
GAZETTE.
A DAY AT CALCU TIA.

In the NOT WeatheF-anu nine months Of the
twelve are hot-the Anglo Bsngaiee-unless he
has been late at party the nigh, before, loves
! his bed better than his heath--is reused BY the
punctaal warning OF mis- bearer, "Sahib! Sahib!
| il has struck foar," and completing, BY the as
| sistsace Of the same domestic uficer, hasty
| toilette, be mounts his Arab. and BY half past
four is taking his contitutional canter round the
dew freshened race-course. There-unIess, as
is sometimes the case, he be too languid to be
sOeial--he joins company with some of the ma
ny acquaintance he Is sure 10 fall in with: and
discusses the merits Of the last hatch OF claret,
"per petite Louise" from Bordeaux, or the last
batch Ut misses. "per Duchess Of Bedford, -
from England; the last act of Government, OF
the last dinner at Guutcrs. Or, If there be any
| that he has CHANGED to fall out with, he may on
the same spot. under the well known " Great
Tree" discuss his point Of honor without dam
ger Of interruption. During the months preced-
ing the races, the training Of the horses affords
the sporting world Of Calcutta an additional in.
ctemeu. to the healthiu practice of early rising.
A, six, or sCon after, that arch enemy OF Eu-
ropean constitutions, the sun, begins to dart,
from above the tall mansions of Courinshee, its
intoIcrable rays acrnss tie hitherto thronged
plain; and the ..Qui h'' who has any respect
for the well being of his liver, shri ks appalled,
from its increasing disk. sneaks home, de'iv' 9
his reeking horse TO the attendant svce. aud cx-
hausted with the mons sous exertion he has IN
dergone. creeps opder his mnsquIto curtain. and
duzes. a bearer tanning him. until half past eight.
a bath-the greatest luxury IN iaiia and
perhaps shampocing, wind him up for the break
fast Of tea, mufins. aud pll at half past rne;
after which, those who are fortunate enough 10
have offices repair 'hithHr in tigev or pa!ank.en;
and with white jacket on back and punkah over
head, earn, tant blen que NAL, their rupees aud
their t,ffen. This subj diary meal is favorable
midday pastme oil bath the ladies and ,nen If
the Presidency, and is the only repast at which
appetite generally presides A rich hash, or h"l
curry, follow ed BY well cooled bottle ni olaret,
or Hudson's pale ale, with variety OF eastern
fruits. are thus despatched at Q o'clock. forming
in fact a dinner. whilst the so called meal at 8
o'clcck would be better uamej supper.
IDLE men employ the above hours in visiting
billiards or the auction rooms. In the former
ceremonial, should the visiter, going his rounds,
find the gates at the T" compound"~ closed. he Is
To deduce tina, the Bebpe Sahbt is not visible. -
Should thew b. thrown open, on the contrary, he
draws favorable aosury--(whic however, may
stiil be NJ ..atived bv the Cerberus Durwant)-
dashes through the portal, draws up sharp under
the colu,nned enrarsr. jamps out, and Is received
nj the door-tthere rs not knocker in all India
by respectable but pompous and most deli
hera,e jemader, who striding before the Bhar.
kee Sahibs-lhe iyOrv tassels of his darkeneo
ante room. where another attendant, within
hearing of the delicate "Qui hi!'' Of the lady
rises wakeiully and salaams, OF sits sieepily and
mods. and finally introduces him by his name
s,,,,a.,y distorted. however, into the yet more
obscure,l sanc,um.
Here, seated in luxurious fauteuiI, and famed
by the wavugs Of the heavy-founcrd punkah,
the eyes of the visiter (albeit as yet unused
to the tender twilight Of the Theoretically closed
a,sr,nentl discover the fair objectof his visit.
H. il seated; obvious topics are dispatched, and
hapny is IT for absent arQuaintances 1t the late
ARRIVAL Of ship. or new novel Is at hand to fur'
ni,h external matter for discussion. la default
| O, this diversion. living victims are offered up al
the shrine of it'c-tatte--l won't call 1t scandal
-..o,,entivns" and "in,en,ions" are anatomlZ
ed: irra ions anaaysed: couples, as adverse az
| FIRE ard water, are welded; aud friends, as at
| tachsd as twlu-bf0,hers are para6ed win ''pts
| tolls for two under the ''Great Tree" The
,ady.s i, ory stietto. urged bv her whit" fingers
rendered still whittier bv Indian seclusion, Is not
more actively employed in torturins her 'amOour
ed muslin. than Is her lonsue in torturins and
distor,iuy facts.-I won't say characteristic
gentleman attacks the men, the lady the women
each defends the opposite sex. anil they separate
mutually satisfied with the,nselVes:-but to Out
subject.-The titfen being concluded. man! have
recourse to a siesta, to recruit their forces and
| To kill time t "a
| Towards six, the orb Of day, tending towards
the western horizon, begins TO relax the v,gor o.
his RAYS; The frightening shadows give evidence
OF his decline; aud ere he has quite deserted tho
glowing heavens, the echoes OF Gaze tia are ava
keaed BY the ra,tling--rattllng indeed! OF hun
dreds OF equipages. from the iordly coach anu
four to the less aspiringIbut dapper buggy, from
the costly Arab charger 10 the ainblng Pegu po
n.y. Ali hurry to the same point. urged by the
desire Of seeing aud being seen; and indeed those
morose few. who are netInstigated BY these all
potent motives, are obliged to resort,to the same
/ mall, as the only weil-w altered drives At dusk
the Course and Strand are deserted:-- b,
! few choice spirits, who love to breathe the COO
Enclosure round the house, - -s'
! I The Ladya ITEIRq scr