New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-15
Nesp!llurk daily Gribm,re
NEW PUBLICATIONS..

FROM NEw-YoRK TO DELHI, BY WAY OF RIO De
JANEIRo, AUSTRALIA AND CHlNA: by ROBERT d.
MNTuKS, JR l2mo. Up 4S4. d. Appleton 70.
The interest of this volume depends, in a great
degree its presenting the observations of an In.
telligent traveller on recent events. Mr. Minturn
devoted six months to tour in India, Just before
the outbreak of the great mutiny, and the mass OF
information which he thus obtained Is used to iius-
trate the British policy in the East, OF which lie
has formed more favorable opinion than Is enter
tained by the majority of writers on that subject.
In connection with his general discussions, he pre-
seDts a variety of excellent descriptive sketches,
showing DO little discrimination and good sense, and
written for the most part in an easy and agreeable
style
After visiting Rio de Janeiro, he remains short
time in Australia, thence proceeds to China, and
arrives at Calcutta in October, 1856. His first i'm.
pressions of that great Oriental city were peculiar.
On landing IL Calcutta | WAS ut once surrounded
by a crowd of nearly naked "nlggers, painted all
over the and breast with red and white streaks,
the sign Of their having made pocah, e. done wor-
ship TO some idol that ntr rnng. These gentlemen
crowded me 80 much with their blsck, oiy oo0ies,
that found vigorous beating with my umbrella he
cessary to keep tnem at respectful distance. ihey
offered 10 convey ny luggage 10 the motel, anu ac-
cepted the services Of fellow, who at oice dstrlo-
uted the various articles TO about twenty Others one
carrying carpet-bag, another an umbrella, &c
then inserted myself in paanqrin, or a. they are
commonly called in Bengal, paisee. THIS is black
box eet long three feet high closed all around,
with sliding door IN the side, and furnished inside
with mattress and bolster AZ each end of the PAL
kee the top there s pole three feet long, pro-
iectlng III angles which the bearers rest on their
shoulders -Four bearers are under the palkee at any
one time. end two alongside as relief. To
enter the pakee YOU your back toward il and cit
down ON the mattress IN Its bottom, and then, by
dextercus " slew, bring y0ur legs aud head inside.
lou then lie down and are carried along reclining at
full length The pakee bearers have peculiar look
step which prevents the least JOLT AMI nothiog can be
more luxurious than this mode Of conveyance at least
for short distances.
Palkees formerly universally used by foreigners
in gong about tie city, but they row snpp!anted
by garrhees and buggies; the former, vehicle which
| have described when speaking Of Siugap0re the
latter wheeled gig, with top descending very
low in front 10 keep of the Everybody in Cal
cutts keeps 81 hires buggy; even the captains o
ships and some OF the mates, have their bugyes wait
ing tor them all day on the quay. The necessity
some conveyance arises from the impossiblty
walking out exposed TO the sun. In the palmy davs
Of pakecs they were rchly oroamcnted, and single
one would often cost as much as 5000 rupees, or
al 5000 aud q certain number OF pals &C bearers were
3 necessary part of every gentleman household.
OF some of the customs and habits of the resi-.
dents. he gives lively description.
Europeans in India keep very different hours from
those in China. Every house IN Calcutta Is shut up
by O'Clock, and the whole city Is asleep. In TINS
respect tie habits of foreigners depend very mueh
upon those of the natives. H. China, where the Chi
like to sit up late foreigners conform, and DO rot
GO To bed before twelve getting up very a'e In fen
gal however, all the servants leave their masters
house by ten or before 10 90 10 their own hoTes-ani
ilse very early in the morning. cus'ouis WHICH, tue