The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-02-21

reared up, fell again on his forefeet and rolled IN
the dust The victory was lost. Sir Edward,
beside himself rose precipitateIy and ran 70 she
pagoda. He found nothing but the motionless
statue, which seemed 10 regard him with surprise.
On examining it attentivciy, lie remarked that one
Of the IDOLS hands was missing In the first
moment Of his wrath, he felt ike taking oil It's
head by pistol shot but efegained his compo-
sure in thinking this useless vengeance would add
Iidieule to the humiliation Of his defeat His
avorite forever rendered unfit for SER
vice for himself he felt his arm sprsined. The
officers, to console him, cited many instances Of
the Inconvenience Of riding, in India, the Arabian
horses, which are sometimes fancifuI, and subject
to fright from idols with eight arms. Concerning
the stone thrown by an invisible hand, Sir Edward
did not wish TO speak Of it he would have passed
for fanatic, and nothing else.
The following day, Sir Etiward was again on the
road with his arm in scarf. That did not give
him much uneasiness, but he was much annoyed
aseended the hill, in very bad huEBor, at the foot
OF which the race had taken place. he saw great
number Of the natives rrowding the foot path.
The conch which the Hindoo priests use TO call
the faithful to the religious ceremonies resounded
through the forest. The women hastened, carry
ing little children astTide upon their hips the men
moved with that nimbie and plant step which the
almost entire absence Of clothing causes to appear
so conspicuous in their gait All this crowd arran-
ged themselves around brazieT, or rather bed Of
UuIUiDE CudICOdl upon WHICH tle 0eFOttt8f lutCX-
icated with opium, walked with their feet bare
Near this fire raised stake, which was crossed
at the top by pole placed in equilibrium. As Sir
Edward was passing-for this iete was held on the
road side--a Sannassy, drawing to him one end
OF the pole, suspended himself to il by the means
Of an iron hook, which he thrust in his side. At
signal given by himself, twenty arms bearing upon
the other end Of the pole, raised it in the air He
turned at first with an extraordinary rapidity I;
then, like bird that hovers, he hoated slowly from
right to left, throwing upon the wondering crowd
below masses Of flowers The blood flowed in
streams from the loins Of the Sanniassy when
SIR Edward drew near him, he looked at him
fxedly, and with an expression at the same time
triumphant and inspired The European turned
his eyes from the rePulsiye spectacle but the Sam
niassy, to compel him to raise his head, threw al
him sprig Of aselepias newly blown, and saying,
Go, my son, go where your wishes call you, and
may the way be sweet TO you,''
At this expression OF the Sanniassy, the cavalier
shuddered inyoluntarily; but after proceeding a
hundred PAGES he felt inclined to send at him the
two balls from his carbne. To bring down flying
so mad fool seemed TO him fine hit but when
he turned his head, the pole descending, deposited
in the midst OF the excited crowd the Sanniassy,
covered with blood.
Nv.
Sir Edward soon arrived at Bengal, perfectly
recovered from his accident. A life Of feasts aud
pleasures awaited him at Calcutta. II the English
more Southern, Calcutta would be celebrated
throughout the world by of those proverbs thai
/ rhyme renders popular, Sevilla maravilla
''Lisboa cousa boa" Bombay, it is known, repre-
| sents the Western front Of Asia; Madras is the
| head and heart; Calcutta is Asia entire. The
power of England is shown here in its greatest
| splendor; il that the thousands OF natives
by which il is surrounded are only there TO make
/ up the whole, and add to the eciat. To shine on
such a stage was the most ardent desire Of Sil
/ Edward, and he succeeded. Nature had endowed
him with those qualities so precious in the eyes
the world, which are The appendage Of the perfec
| gentleman he moved forward fearlessiy through
life, full Of confidence in his destiny, Of nsve
failing on any occasion to be happy which TAT
might offer to him, but also relying upon fortun
never to desert him. There are mortals spoiled b.
| fortune, who 60 through existence as birds over
come space, without eveu seeing the stones o
briers by the way For these, and Sir Edwar
was Of the number, not day but brings some new
pleasure, which does not add chapter to the ro
nance Of their life, a romance full Of episodes
variety of movement which scatter leaf after lea
upon their paths, and leaving Others less iavoTe'
to gather them up.
A few months soiourn at Calcutta had suffice,
for Sir Edward to get himself remarked and Il
| become of fashion. When he felt that h,
had attained his greatest height, he married. Hi
friends said that he wished to bury himself in al
| his glory; he let them talk, and gave himself t.
| happiness. Brilliant partes hazardous chases, hi
forgot all to taste the charms OF participated love
l He had lived long enough in the whir of wan.
| dering and agitated life for repose to appear sufh
cient compensation for the sacrifice he had made o
his independence. The young girl upon whom his
choice had fallen was English, born in India, who
joined to the graceful decacy OF the North, the
more severe style OF Asiatic beauty. The burning
climate OF Bengal had impressed upon her features
soft languor, which seemed to have developed
instead OF lessening the energy Of her character
| One remarked her as one of those courageous and
| romantic women who conhded herself without teai
to the gallop of spirited horse or the caprces o
| boisterous ocean, and sought peril and excite
ment, but without ever forgetting that before the
world it is becoming to betray nothing OF theiI
passionate emotions. Sir Edward, who loved heI
passionatey, retired with her to beautiful habita
ton situated upon the banks OF the Ganges. u
all the pleasures offered by his new residence, Sil
Edward preferred above all the walks upon the
margin of the river. Like many OF the wealthy
English settled at Bengal, he possessed one o
those boats luxuriously decorated, and with spa
cious after-cabns; they are called bholia. Wher
| the evening breeze sprung up, he gave orders Il
man his bholia. In an instant, cooks and steward.
carried board all that was necessary TO this float
! ing house; the preparations were made with tha
punctuality, that exactitude, which renders life IN
I India sweet and easy that one is tempted L
command simply for the pleasure Of being obeyed
| Most frequently Sir Edward assembled the Gange:
above Calcutta, to enjoy the view OF the site
which became more varied and picturesque as one
advanced into the country; occasionally, too, he
went in the direction of the ocean, for he liked to
see from the deck Of his bholia, gently borne on
the calm waters, the distant waves OF the sea agi-
taied by the current OF the river.
One evening he rowed towards the mouth of the
| Ganges; the moon rose, resplendent and pure
upon sky still tnged with the fire of the setting
sun. His young wife, leaning on her elbow, al
lowed her black hair to float in the breeze, which
had commenced to blow from the sea. She aban
doned herself to revery in looking at the rufles
water beneath the oars of the rowers.
/ hat are you gazing at thus, dear Augusta 2
asked Sir Edward, approaching her.
| u am looking at these waves, which flow to tn
ocean as life runs to eternity, replied She calmly
And do you not find that there is in this life
which one curses often, days, moments at leas
when one feels too happy to wish for any thin
more! What glorious night See those in
mense fg-trees which extend towards the waite
their thirsty branches; those lank palmtrees whic
cast their gloomy tufts upon the firmament. c
| Augusta. our cold climates have no days that ca
compare with the nights of the tropic; the skies
Europe have neither that transparency nor tn
depth. he stars seem to bloom Ike so many llov
ers upon that serene vault one would say is the
who shed upon the earth this cool perfume
Edward, replied Augusta, 81 have forgotte
the beautiful flowers that you brought me lh
evening"
i | remember them for you,n answered Sir 81
ward, and he clapped his hands. A Hindoo sci
want appeared upon the deck, bearing large CHI
nese vase filled with choice flowers
thanks, thanks !" cried Augusta, approachinl