The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-02-21
ANGLO-HINDOO LIFE.
Translated for The Crescent from the Revue du Non.
veau Monde.',l


lras LII.
On the morrow, Sir Edward, having sent his bag
gage on before embarked in boat which was to
convey him from the Island Of Bombay to the main
land once the Continent, he would meet his
horses and pursue his route far as Bengal. At
the moment of quitting the shore, Hindoo peni-
tent of the class Of those called Sanniassy, ap-
preached him; his hair was in disorder; his nails
long and hooked like the claws of the vulture his
body nearly naked, and daubed with ashes. On
his back he carried brazen vase beneath his arm,
antelope's skin; in his hand, staff, with three
branches twined together like serpents. The vase
was used for abutons upon the antelope's skin
the fakir seated himself to mediate, laid down
TO sleep the staff with the branches (tridanda) is
the emblem Of the Brahmin triad His eyes, (which
exhibited an ecstatic fury, flashed lightning. The
Sanniassy, standing before Sir Edward, addressed
him in paternal tone, which contrasted singuarly
with the menaeent expression of his countenance,
in that set form of farewell often employed by poets
Gro, my son, go where your wishes call you
and may the roads be sweet to you /" Sir Ed
ward, without even appearing to or TO hear
him, gave the order to spread the sails; the boat
inclined upon the waters, and SKINNED lightly to-
wards the opposite shore. The sailors often turned
their looks towards the strand which they were
leaving they pointed out one to the other, the
Sannaiassy, still standing in the same place, and
who appeared but black spot upon the sand.
When he had disappeared, they conversed In a low
voice, and pronounced the name OF Nilakantha.
Sir Edward soon reached the Continent. He had
a long way to traverse and he commenced it by
short journeys at first on account of the burthen-
some march Of his equipage, and afterwards to re-
leve his horses, which he valued highly. Totravel
expeditousy is difficult when to ones suite is at
tached wagons drawn by oxen and attendants on
foot. Besides, what profit to hurry, when the jour
ney, instead OF being fatguing, has all the charm
of a promenade? In the most distant peregrna-
s,oh he rYah fnlra apof
India to another, they run the risk of danger from
tigers robbers bat to prvations, they have
none to undergo. All is forseen and calculated
with marvellous care, SO that the wandering life
already filled with charms in a country Elusive
as ASA is also embellished with all the comforts
of sedentary life number of domestics SUR
round the trayeller from the early morning, tent
carried by camels has preceded him TO the halt
which he has been pleased to indicate. On his ar
rival he finds the breakfast served. Nothing Is
wanting to his repast, should it be the tops Of
mountains or in the depths Of forests English
beer and Spanish wines, handsome service and
brilliant plate await on the table. The lounge is
prepared, that he may sslumber during the heat ol
the day. Soon the baggage wagons arrive, the
chests, the palanquin; the main part of the troop
stops hours, then takes the front with sec
ond tent, which is arranged for the great halt o
the night. his is the most solemn moment. The
grooms set the pickets, to which they attach the
horses from the chests and trunks are brought
forth multitude of utensils and little articles, suf
| fcient to furnish quite house; crowd of domes-
tics, stewards, cooks, grooms, pipe-bearers, herb
cutters, wagon drivers, camel-leaders, ETC.. move
about the tent, but without noise disorder The
horses neigh at the freshness OF the evening, the
are freely grazing beneath the large trees the
camels are kneeling, cropping the tender herbage,
the dogs scent the horizon and bay in the darkness
Then by degrees, silence reigns. The master has
finished his dinner; he sleeps; all is hushed ;
nothing is heard but the whispering Of the guard,
who leaning upon their lances converse in an un-
dertone on the outskirts of the camp; and in the
distance the strange cries OF night-birds and wild
beasts who welcome the return of darkness. In
the morning, before sunrise, all are moving the
tents struck a thick dust indicates the march
OF the convoy, which is disappearing. The Hin
doc aborer who draws water from the pools to
water his rice-felds, behods with an indifferent
eye the unnumbered burthens which the European
drags after him. the embarrassing train Of utensils,
OF the use of which he is ignorant and, without
| interrupting his work, says to himself, 1t is an
officer OF the Company who is passing
Thus travelled Sir Edward. He had already
traversed twothirds of the way, without expefen-
cling any mishap his setters led in leash by dog.
| boy, appeared to be in very good condition; his
horses, though somewhat harassed, still had the
ear erect and the eye animated when, as to HIM
SELL he began TO be weary OF this long intercourse
with this admirable, but wild seenery-for Britain
mic Phiegm does not accommodate itself more
readily to solitude than French petulanee; besides
there are SO lew persons who do not regard as LOST
the time which is passed away from men Ihe
meeting with some ottcers coming from Madras,
whom or Edward found with tents pitched near
the road, came apropos to break the monotony oil
me Journey. lie encamPed by their side, at The
entrance oil PLAIN surrounded by magnificent trees;
Detween these young men, ot the same age ana
same rank, was soon established that passing init
macy winch consists IN dong acts OF fellowship, IN
speaking Of indifferent things and In making pa
rade oil their fortunes: In reunions ol this nature,
seiI-iove Is always OF the party Slr Edward ac-
customed 70 shine under all circumstances did not
permit TINS occasion to escape OF obtainmg.-the
course oeing ieasipie-a triumph which es'aolished
ms ms reputatlon among the olncers oil the army al
naaofas. one evening, when each one was boast,
my oi ms hoIses, ne proposed that ihey shouid !,
nave races ana the place appeared 70 De 100 wen
CHOSEN ior ms dea not 10 be received with eager
ness, All the oihcers We're perfectly mounted
or EDWARD also mad excellent horses, but one es-
peei9iiy, oil the Arabian breed lie got hlm from
rich Mussulman, who would not have parted with
MN at any prlce, II he had not been marked IN his
lace with a white moon-a sign which the orlen-
tais regard as bad omen. during the journey,
two sais tFersan groomsl led hm by the b[ldie'
.hey going aioot' or Edward hsa had lnnnlte
trouble TO subdue HIM, to accustom MN TO see be-