ll, who has
already _done_ North and South America, and Loo Choo, will, I have no
doubt, be here by-and-bye, taking Africa in his way: and as I can make
up my three volumes of fiction without trespassing upon his matter of
fact, I refer you to his work when it appears, for a description of this
gorgeous monument of rapine, this painted sepulchre of crime.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

The unwieldy elephant,
To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed
His lithe proboscis.
MILTON.

Captain M--- remained but a few days at Calcutta, where he perceived
little difference between the society and that of England, remarking
only that the gentlemen were more hospitable, and the ladies drank more
beer. But I am trespassing, notwithstanding my promise to the contrary,
at the end of the last chapter. I will therefore be off at once, before
I am decidedly guilty of a breach of faith. The _Aspasia's_ orders were
to join the admiral, who had quitted the Bay of Bengal, and proceeded to
Bombay, to avoid the monsoon, which was about to set in; and as there
was no time to be lost, Captain M--- did not touch at Madras, but made
all possible haste to gain the tranquil side of the peninsula. The
governor-general had requested that he would call at Travancore, to
deliver a letter and complimentary present to the reigning queen, who
held her possessions tributary to our government.

The _Aspasia_ anchored off the town, and was shortly afterwards boarded
by one of the ministers of the queen, a venerable Mussulman, who brought
a boat-load of compliments and vegetables. He was accompanied by one or
two others, among whom was a very indifferent interpreter. Captain
M---, who was anxious to join the admiral, excused himself on the plea
of ill health, from delivering the present and letter in person, and
expressed his wish to the deputy that he would take them in charge,
stating, that his services were required elsewhere; he requested that an
answer to the letter might be sent on board as soon as possible. This
was explained through the interpreter, and Captain M--- then inquired
what time would probably elapse before the answer would be sent. The
reply was, in a week, or ten days.

"Ask him," said Captain M---, "whether it cannot be sent to-morrow
morning, as I am anxious to proceed?"

After an exchange of several sentences between the interpreter and the
deputy, who observed the most imperturbable gravity, the former r