nt marks of astonishment and
horror to _our_ little ones, as not to be at all satisfactory to the
lady in question, who appeared not averse, had she dared, to have given
them a taste of it. The youngest and the youngest but one of the boys
were the two sufferers; the youngest had a regular dozen administered
every half hour. The two eldest were more particularly under the care
of the negro, who used his fists, I presume because they wore corduroys,
and, as Hood says, did not care for "cut behind." We had not been in
the vessel two minutes before there was a _breeze_. I heard the negro
expostulating as follows:--"You very foolish boy, what you mean? who
ever heard of putting new cloth cap into water to catch fish?" This was
the first offence. I must say that the coercion used did not appear to
originate from any feeling of regard for the children, for they were
allowed to climb, and push, and run over the sky-lights, and over the
engine, and I every moment expected that some of them would be provided
for either by the cog-wheels or the river Rhine.

It was evident at once, not only from the above accessories, but from
the Chinese trunks which contained their luggage, that they were an
Indian importation, and their behaviour subsequently proved it, beyond
all doubt, even if they had not made it known--not by talking to us, but
by talking at us, for they evidently did not consider that we were
sufficiently respectable to be admitted into their society, even in the
short intercourse of fellow-travellers.

I cannot here help making an observation relative to most of the people
who come from India. They are always dissatisfied, and would gladly
return. The reason is very obvious; they at once lose their rank and
consequence, and sink down to the level which they are entitled to in
English society. In India the rank of the servants of the Company takes
precedence; but whatever their rank or emolument may be in India, they
are still but servants of a company of merchants, and such rank is not,
of course, allowed in England. Accustomed to unlimited sway and control
over a host of fawning slaves, and to that attention as females--which,
where females are not very plentiful, is most sedulously paid--
accustomed to patronise the newcomers, who, of course, feel grateful for
such well-timed civility and hospitality--in short, accustomed to rank,
splendour, wealth, and power--it is not surprising that, upon their
return to