far too much trouble to bring it into speaking shape; and, in fact, it is quite clear to me that there is as great a level of intellect here as of country, and no person can be much cleverer than another; also that when anyone says, ‘How stupid the society is here’ they mean nothing personal to the individuals who compose it, but that such is the effect of the unfortunate situation in which they are all placed.
This being our last week here, we received last Thursday two hundred morning visitors in two hours. This Thursday we shall receive at least three hundred more, besides going to the play for the good of the house (the roof of which will not support the weight of punkahs; so I am sure it is not for the good of us) and attending the marriage of a daughter of ‘a member in Council;’ taking a sentimental leave of two old aides-de-camp and expecting an interesting meeting with two new ones; hearing the details of the packing of seventy-two camel-trunks; wearing and tearing the powers of thought by settling what is to be sent up the country, what to England, and what to be kept here; making B think it right and reasonable that Chance, and Gazelle, and
