to pass through the country parts of Bengal, in which there
are few or no Moors, but only Gentoos, of whom I would have you
beware. For the secret hatred of these people for us, their rulers and
governors, is very great, so that though you should pass among them
for a Moor, you would fare little better than if they knew you to be a
Christian and a foreigner. Above all, beware of their Bramins, a
faithless, perjured race, given over to all kinds of vile, heathen
practices, such as you have no notion of. Let a Bramin once raise his
finger against you among these people and you are lost, for by means
of their manifold sorceries they have reduced the whole Gentoo
population to be their slaves."

He gave me some directions as to the road I was to travel, telling me
I should have to make a circuit so as not to pass through Calcutta,
which lay directly in the way to Fulta. The whole distance he
estimated as a little more than two hundred miles, and he advised me
to ride only at night, and conceal myself in the jungle during the
day. I asked him what I should do to procure food.

"That will require some address," he answered, "but you must avoid
entering a village. You will have to keep your eyes open as you ride
along, and when you come to some hut standing by itself with no others
near, enter boldly and demand provisions for yourself and your horse.
Beware of offering any money in payment, or they will suspect you to
be a fugitive and fall upon you; but if you hold yourself towards them
with pride and sternness, giving them only curses and blows, they will
respect and grovel before you, for such is the nature of the
Bengalese."

As soon as we were arrived at the gate of the town Meer Jaffier bade
me farewell.

"When you come before Sabat Jung you may salute him privately from
me," he said at parting. "Tell him that my nephew's violence towards
the English is far from commanding the approval of the elder and more
prudent among us, and that we earnestly desire to see your factories
restored and trade once more flourishing."

In these last expressions I knew him to be sincere. For since the
destruction of the English factories there had been a great falling
off in the revenues of Bengal, so much so that even the Nabob himself
was now inclined to repent of his action.

I thanked and saluted my protector, and giving the rein to my willing
steed, galloped forth into the night. And now it would be easy for me
to make a long