Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-20
Correspondents of the N. Y. Tribune.l
BAYARD YLOR'S LETT E S :.
LIFE IN BjMBAY.
Bonn,v India. Saturday, Ian. 1. 1853.

lAdlans, and the passengers mostly 0elongi"s " ~
East India service, many peculariues oil everyday
life were already familiar TO me- had mastered the
my steries of curry; learned to say 'ian N"o'i
the verb to tiff in p instead of " lunch l became
accustomed TO being addressed as " sahlo, ana even
ventured so far into HDdusanl, as to call out Boldly
at table mani do % 6 SAT 6asun las =! Thus
the first bloom of the land was lost to me-all
those nameless slight peculiarities which surround
Won with an enchanted circle when you first plunge
Yourself into another climate and another race New
ertbeless, there was enough left 10 make my land
ing OIL Indian soil a circumstance of no ordinary
character 81, :,
Wecame slowly up the splendid hay, until with
in half mile of the town. The shores being lo~'
nothing but array of brown tiled T0ots' ana a
small Gothic spire, visible behind tile cToWd OIL
vessels at anchor. On the other hand however,. lhe
islands of Elephantd and PaEwel and the ranges oil
the Mahratta Chants, gorgeously lighted up by
the evening sun. But little time allowed for ad-
mirng them the anch dropped, and fleet OF boats
conveying anxious friends and relatives, gathered a.
bout us. The deck was covered with pyramids oil
baggage, all noise and confusion, here shouts OF
Joy and there weeping, here meeting and there part
ing many of the drama of life enacted al the
same moment. Finding myself left wholly to my
own resources, | set about eXtrlcaung myself from
the bewiIdermeni, and accepting the first native who
addressed me, embarked for the shore before the
other passengers had thought Of leaving. "Rupees,
said the of the boat, holding up three OF his
fingers. g Ek,'' Gomez answered. Up went two
fingers. " En-" And so | went ashore Tor one.
leading down to the water. The top OF 1t was
throaged with natives in white dresses and red tor
bans. Among them were the runners OF the hoteis'
and soon found the one wanted. At a small Gus
toms Office the pier, my baggage was passed I'M
examined, my declaring that had but two pounds
of Turkish tobacco. line Of cabs, buggles and
laIanquins with their bearers was drawn up on the
pier, and in order to be be as Indian as possible,
took one of the latter
II was not pleasant sensation to he at full length
in cushioned box, and impose ones whole weight
(and am by means feather) upon the shoulders
of four men. 1t is conveyance invented by pes-
potism, when mems necks were foot stools and mems
heads playthings. have never yet been able TO get
into it without feeling of reluctance, as if l were
inf1icting an injury on my bearers. Why should
they groan and stagger under my weight, when
have legs of my own ?-and yet warrant You, moth
ing would please them than for to use those
legs. They pads the shoulders, which
rests the pole to which The palanquin is suspended,
and 90 forward slow, sliding trot, scarcely bend
ing their knees lifting their feet from the ground
The motion is agreeable yet you obliged to lie
on your back, you have very Imperfect view OF the
objects you pass. You travel from end of
India to another in this style but it is expensive
and unsatisfactory conveyance, and l shall never
use it.
AS was borne along, / saw, throug OH the corners
Of my eyes, that we passed over moat and through
heavy stons gateway. / then the bottoms of
of futed Grecan Pillars-a church, as haYe
since found-then shops, very much in the European
style, except that turbaned Hindoos and mitred
Parsees stood in the doors, and finally my bear
ers came 10 halt in wooden verandah, where
was received by Mr. Pallanjee, the host of the
British Hotel. ! ushered up lofty flights of
wooden steps to the third story and Installer in
small room, overlooking wide prospect Of tiled
roofs, graced here and there with nut brab
palm. The partitions TO the rooms do not reach the
ceiling; there glass windows, but merely blinds,
and every breeze that comes sweeps through the
whole house. The servants are mostly Portuguese,
from Goa, but as India is especially the country Of
servant and MASTER every person is expected to have
one for his own use. l chose a tall Hndoo, with
red streak and two white ones (the signs of case)
his forehead, who, for half rupee daily, acts
guide, interpreter, messenger and valet de chambre
Nothing exceed the respect shown 10 Europeans
by the native servants. They go far beyond the
Arab and Turkish domestlcs of the East, the
slaves in Egypt. No Russian serf could have
greater reverence for his lord. AS natural conse-
quence of this, they oted for their fidelity the
ayahs, nurses, said 10 be the best in the world
Bombay, city, presents few points of interest
to traveller. 1t is wholly o modern growth, and
more than half European in its appearance. Ii is
divided into two parts-the Fort, as it is called, be-
ing inclosed within the old Portuguese Publications.
and surrounded by moat. II is about a mile in
length, extending along the shore of the bay. Out
side of the moat is broad esplanade, beyond which,
on the northern side, new city has grown up. The
Notifications useless means of defense, the
water OF the moat breeds musketos and feVers, and
do not understand why the walls sHould not nave
been leveed, long since. The city within the Fort
is crowded to excess. Many of the streets are mar
row, dark and dirty and the houses all of wood
il is exposed 10 much danger from fire. The popu-
laton and trade of Bombay have increased SO much
within the last few years. that this keeping up Of old
defenses Is great Inconvenience. So far are the
old practices preserved that at one particular gate
where there pow der magazine enty years ago.
person is permitted 10 smoke. Southwark of the
Fort is tongue of land-formery the island of Co
laba, but now connected by a causeway-on which
stands the lighthouse. To The northwest, beyond
thecity, rises Maabar Hill, long, low height look
ing upon the open ocean, and completely cover with
the gardens and country-houses of the native and
European merchants.
The mainland is distant from Bombay about fifteen
miles, across The bay. Steamers run daily TO Pam
well, whence there is a mail coach 10 Poonah the
old Mahrata capital, about 70 miles distant North
ward of the Island OF Bombay, however, lies the
large Island of Salsete, which is connected with it
by two causeways, and Salsette has lately been uni
ted to the mainland by bridge, the strait at the
northern point of the island being less than half
mile wide. This bridge built by the East In.
dian Railroad Company, who have already finished
thirtyve miles of the great road whchIs TO connect
Bombay and Calcutta. The rails are laid as far as
Tanna, and the trains will commence running in
month two. The Engineers are now busy in Law.
ing out that part of the line which crosses the Ghauts
after which the construction of the road will be al
tended with comparatively little difficulty The East
lnola Company guarantees per cent. annually on
the stock, for the periods of twenty years. owing to
which encouragement, (without which, indeed the
undertaking Were impossible,) shares are now at a
premium.
During the few days have been here. have made
some acqualntances among the English residents to
whom am indebted for much cordial hosnitalitv
The English in India are said to be the most bosni
table people in the world, even to those who brino
no letters of introduction. The kindness IF nv