the race meeting. Next morning the culprits were brought before
the college dignitaries; but the dons having lectured Burton, he began
lecturing them--concluding with the observation that young men ought not
to be treated like children. As a consequence, while the other offenders
were merely rusticated, Burton was expelled. [53] He made a ceremonious
bow, and retired "stung with a sense of injustice," though where the
injustice comes in, it is difficult to see. His departure from
Oxford was characteristic. He and Anderson of Oriel, one of the other
offenders, hired a tandem in which they placed their luggage, and then
with "a cantering leader and a high-trotting shaft horse" they rode
through the High Street, and so on to London, Burton artistically
performing upon a yard of tin trumpet, waving adieux to his friends and
kissing his hands to the shop girls. About the same time Edward, also
for insubordination, had to leave Cambridge. Thus Burton got his own
way, but he long afterwards told his sister, Lady Stisted, that beneath
all his bravado there lay a deep sense of regret that such a course had
been necessary.

Chapter III. April 1842-20th February 1847, Sind

8. To Bombay, 18th June 1842.

On his arrival in London, Burton, in order to have an hour or two of
peace, coolly told his people that he had been given an extra vacation,
"as a reward for winning a double first." Then occurred a quite
un-looked-for sequel. His father insisted on giving a dinner in honour
of the success, and Burton, unwillingly enough, became the hero of the
moment. At table, however, a remark from one of the guests revealed the
precise truth--with the result of an unpleasant scene; but eventually
it was deemed advisable to let Burton have his own way and exchange
the surplice for the sword. The Indian Service having been selected, a
commission was purchased for L500, and Burton presently found himself
Ensign to the 18th Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry. Delirious with joy,
he applied himself vigorously to Hindustani under a dirty, smoky
Scotch linguist, named Duncan Forbes. While thus employed he made
the acquaintance of two persons who just them enjoyed a remarkable
reputation, namely John Varley [54], the water colour painter and
occultist, and the Rev. Robert Montgomery. [55] An artist of undoubted
genius, Varley usually got fair prices for his pictures, but the
expenses of a numerous family kept him miserably poor. Then he