138
escaped from at the landing. Four of them tog eway ats moderaie sized trunk, twice ag Lishy more cling tothe other small pare ala, and when I reach the office of the hotel they are after me ones more for bucksheesh, My copper coin is exhausted and] hand them over to the tender mercies of the Clerk who iskea short work of them, for Ee tatks Bongalese lize a native, He makes one dash at them with hand, fect and ton- gua sod they fiy cut of the door ike a ilcck of black sheep.
The “Great Eastern” ia on immense cara- vangary, occupying a whelezquare. The lower floor is vaed se a Bazsay for the ssle of everything to cat, drink, or wear of Hu- ropesh or esstarn yosnufecture. The same aécek sempaxy rung the hotel and the ba- z2ar8, and, of course, euch a mammoth con- eerd payens dividerd. This hotel, though said tg be the largest and best in India, ia not cemfortable not firetclaes accordimg to our American gtandard. The rooms are Infty and spacious, but ilfurnisked sad dingy. Having seeuved one of those barn- Jike apsriments, my lirei movement is to eogrge a servant, for every cueat is expect-- ed 1G have en especial lackoy to take care of his room, bring bis ocfee, wait on him at the tabie, etc. For this position worth half a rupee (twentv ive cent+) a day, there are twenty spplicants, and each has his written “yaracter”? from aformer employer. Theas are in Maglish end soms are curious aud not catizely complimentary to tha bearers. ‘The candidates are dressed in white from head to fost, except the sash round the waist which is offancy colore. Leelectedan honest looking fellaw whose eolers sre red, white azd blis stripes, only needing ths tare to seer girded by an American flag. the repesis bis name several times, ard at last 1 catch the sound ss “New Var- mint.” Ho ig immediately installed, address- es ma as Sahib” makes a low aalasm, touch- ing his hands fo his forehead end bowing simost to the fiser, Nothing can exceed tha obsequiousmess of manners in these na- tive servant’, but mest of them are great raseale. “New Varmint” never speaks te his mastex without a ealasm so low that lovg practice algne prevents his losing his bslanee. But I am warned not to lesve vale nablee lying around loose, and T soon find that in every purchase in any shop, native ox European, the “Varmint” gets a commission.
Calcutta is just now in the height of the
