Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/116

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
96
ADVICE TO OFFICERS

CHAPTER VI.


1. MODE OF TRAVELLING.—Before the Assistant-surgeon has been two months in Calcutta,he will be glad to leave it, and most probably will be ordered to some of the large stations of the upper provinces, Benares, Cawnpore, Merut, Umballa, Lahore, or Peshawur, to do duty under the Superintending-surgeon. This is the best thing that could happen to him, his pay will be increased to 256 a month, and he will be granted boat allowance, or have a free passage provided in one of the river steamers.

2.BOATING ON THE GANGES.—The best sort of boat for the river is a small beauleah or budjerow, with eight or ten oars; this contains two comfortable cabins, and a flat planked roof, where one can take exercise. A larger boat is generally unwieldy and too heavy for the crew allowed it. Up-countrymen are always preferred to Bengalese, and Hindoos to Mussulmen. Before engaging a boat, examine if she is sound, well found in cables sails, ropes, and a good iron anchor. Boats are engaged by the month or by the trip, the latter