Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-10-18
AN EVENING IN CALCUTTA.

AN 6vGNINS AN S@AANS ~~A'
About six o'clock ever evening the
beau D,Onde of Calcutta, says writer
in Lippincott for October. begins to
take the air on the course, a very pleas
ant drive which ruus along the bank OF
the river. 1t is usually crowded with
carriages, but il must be confessed that
none of them would be likely to excite
the envy OF an owner of fashionable
turnout at home, unless, indeed, 1t
might be now and then for the sake OF
the occupants.
Long before the course begins to
thin it is almost dark, and then, If the
Door lounger is unattached" and is
sharing his buggy with "a friend as I'M
fortunate as himself, the general effect
of the scene before him is the most in
terestipg object for his gaze. The car
riages continue to whirl past, but one
sees hlrdly more of them than their
lamps. The river glides, cold and shin
ing, long silvery light under the OPP
posite bank, while trees and masts and
rigging relieve themselves against the
golden bars of the distant sky. But
the band ceases to play, and every one
goes home to dress.
If the traveller chooses, he may find
MANY an amusing drive in the native
parts of the town. Tall Sikhs, whose
hair and boards have never known scis-
sors or razor, and who stride along with
a swagger and high-caste dignity /;
effeminate C;ngalnse; Hindoo clerks,
smirking, coucrited, and danditied too,
ac,or ling to their own notions; almost
naked palkee- bearers, who, neverthe-
less, if there is the slightest sh wer,
put up an umbrella 10 protect their
shaven crowns up-country girls with
rings in their noses and rings on their
Oas little Bengalee beauties; Parsees,
Chinese, Greeks, Jews, and Armenians,
in every variety OF costume, are tn be
see bargaining on the quays, chatter
ing in the bazaars, loading and unload
ing the ships, trotting along under their
water skins, driving their bullock-carts,
smoking their hookahs, or squatting
in the shade.
We have had the good fortune, thanks
our interest in native manners and
customs, to make the acguaintane OF a
Hinduo merchant, a millionaire and
bon vivant on whom his religion sits
somewhat lightly. We might, if ue
had not been otherwise engaged, have
dined with him this evening. He would
have been delighted to receive us, and
would have treated us with abundant
hospitality and kindness. The dinner
would have been of composite charac-
ter, partly European. partly native. A
sort OF rissole of chicken would certain
ly have been one of the dishes, and with
equal certainty would have met with
your approval the curry, too, would
have satisfied you, even if you had inst
come from Madras or Singapore. There
would have been knives and forks for
ms our convives would not have made
much use of the latter, and some of the
dishes on which they would have exer-
cised their fingers would hardly have
tempted us. The champagne and claret
are excellent, and our host, Hindoo as
he is, is not sparing in his ibations,
and at the same time he and his coun-
trymen would have been vOciferous in
pressing us to eat and drink, filling our
glasses the moment they wer empty.
aud heaping our plates with the choisest
morsels.
After all, however, perhaps we had
no great loss in missing the dinner. We
shall enjoy the pleasant drive, and by
being little late shall escape the not
vary delightful sound of various ssringed
Instruments being tuned. Arrived, We
leave our horse AMI buggy TO the care
of some most cutthroat-loOking iDdi-
viduals, who crowd round with mucl,
noise and gesticulation, wondering who
an what we are, while the noise brings
out a sort of major-domo, who recog-
nizes us as friends OF the master, and
soon clears a way for us across the
COURTYARD, takes us up flight OF steps.
and ushers us into long and tOlerably
well-lighted room. Our host comes
forward with Outstretched hands, and
with great cordiality welcomes and pre-
sents us to ms friends. We can't un-
derstand all he says, for his English at
the best is not always Ineligible, and
he is now particularly talkative and
Jolly; it is evident he has dined. There
is great noise every one is talking
and laughing; and the talking is loud,
for il has to overcome the sounds made
by sundry musicians seated at the other
end of the room, who are striking their
tomtoms and singing most doleful
chant. The baboo bustles about and
makes vacantfor rs two sofas, the places
of honor. Little marble tables are before
them, on which are placed wine, brandy,
and soda-water. The other guests re-
sumo their seats along the two sides OF
tho room on our right and left. There
are eight or ten men and two or three
ladies; the ladies very handsomely
dressed. Lower down are several
young girls in light drapery, laughing,
talking, and smoking their hookahs.
The fair sex look rather scared
and shyly at the foreigners, but some
OF the men are evidently trying to reas-
sure them. Order being at length re-
stored, our cheroots lighted, and our
iced brandy-pawnee made ready, the
performance recommences. The corps
de ballet are not hired for the occasion,
but form part of the establishment OF
our friend the baboo. One of the girls
eooted near the musician advances slow
tn time with the music, TO within q
ss1ot q one of our sofas, md she il
y another who places herself
4 eeher sofa. Others in the
Way ptepto dance before the
80 - Dueste. They>l sAend fnr a mo.
languid and efs.,Snl stt;tnde
~ a1stbes up ffelS S>sir sni
u 1nG1mss the ff5s -;