Narrative of a Three Month's March in India; And a Residence in the Dooab

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. CALCUTTA. Description of Calcutta.--A Ball at Government House.--Great Variety of Costumes English Ladies in Calcutta.--Effects of the Climate.--Defective Educations of most Anglo-Indian Ladies.--Fort William.--Immense Number of Crows.--Their Voracity.--The Adjutant Bird.--Jackals.--Cathedral.--Public Establishments.--Schools.--Museum Library of the Asiatic Society.--Ghats.--The Course.--Fashionable Drive.--Description of the Calcutta Houses--their internal Arrangement and Furniture.--Annoyance from Insects.--Hookahs.--First Importation of Ice.--The Governor General's Country House at Barrackpore.--Serampore, a Danish Settlement.--Chandernagore, a French Settlement.--Numerous dead Bodies of Hindoos thrown into the Sacred River.--Ball at Government House in Honour of the King's Birthday.--Nautch at Chandernagore.--Nautch Girls.--Native Music.--Style of the Entertainment given by the rich Natives.--Preparations for the March.--Number of Servants requisite. What an extraordinary place is Calcutta! one cannot comprehend it for awhile; and the 60 DESCRIPTION OF CALCUTTA. stranger feels bewildered amidst such a variety of attractions as meet the eye. Its mansions deserve the name of palaces, and its Government House is superb. This latter, however, always struck me as standing upon too low a level, but its plan and arrangement are perfect. We were quickly established in Spence's Hotel, where we found admirable accommodations, and whence we could visit all that we were desirous of seeing. The city of Calcutta has been so often and so ably described, that no additional remarks are called for; but events concerning travellers are ever varying, and I shall try to depict some of the most amusing which fell under my own observation. A ball was given at t...