CHAP. VIII.

The Author's residence at Bombay—Derivation of name-Teak wood -Birds, reptiles, and insects--Climate-Population--Various classes of inhabitants-The GENTOO Superstition-Mode of worship-Distinction of caste-Pagodas-Festivals, fasts, processions, &c.-The Gentoo female character-The swinging ceremony-The MAHOMEDANS, their mosques and worship-Marriage and funeral processions-Juvenile merchants—Language—PERSEES—Worship, &c.— Refuse to extinguish fire-Processions at marriages, funerals. &c.Superstitious notions founded on the decay of the body-Conversion from their idolatry difficult-JEWS-PORTUGUESE ROMAN CATHOLICS-Opulence-Chapels Superstition and idolatry-Mendicants-ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS-Wealth and respectability-Their various establishments-Their history-BRITISH and AMERICAN

CHRISTIANS-Miscellaneous information.

HAVING Conducted the reader to the several stations in the Island of Ceylon, to which my fellow-missionaries were appointed, and narrated some of the most interesting events connected with their entrance on their respective spheres of labour, I shall proceed to give some account of my residence at Bombay, where circumstances appeared to justify me in remaining for a short period.

As the Governor's house at Parell was generously lent us, under the expectation that our stay at the Presidency would be short, it would have been highly indecorous to have occupied it after the departure of my companions. Several days were spent in endeavouring to meet with a suitable residence; at length one was found in a pleasant and healthy situation, about three miles from the Fort; but the rent was so extravagantly high, being 160 sica rupees (about £20 sterling) per month, that I was deterred from engaging it. On

stating the circumstances to Mr. Money, he sent for the proprietor, and induced him to lower his demand to 100 rupees (£12. 10s. per month ;) which, though a large sum, was really moderate; as the house was sufficiently large to contain the Mission property, types, press, paper, library, &c. which had been left in my care. For the reception of these, I must otherwise have hired a go-down, or warehouse, for which a considerable rent would have been demanded. Previously to taking possession, the owner required me to sign an agreementthat our pigs should not injure the vegetables, nor our children eat the fruit: this I did most readily, as our establishment at that time included neither.

But

As European gentlemen reside in India but for a limited period, they seldom build houses, or become land-owners. The houses in Bombay, and its environs, are generally the property of wealthy natives of different classes, who find this mode of employing their money productive of very considerable profit, in the enormous rents they obtain from Europeans. Several noble mansions, the residences of native merchants, are also found; some of them exceedingly magnificent, surrounded by plantations, laid out in a most tasteful style, and decorated with valuable pictures. few lofty houses are to be met with; the generality of those occupied by Europeans consist of a groundfloor only, with a yard before and behind; the whole surrounded by a wall, or fence, containing offices and outhouses, which are called "the compound." The houses are substantially built of stone and lime, and plaistered on the outside, which is usually white-washed, or coloured. Glass windows are seldom seen; Venetian blinds are substituted, as they admit both the air and light. The floors, it has already been observed, are composed of a description of stucco, called chunam; and, when properly made, is extremely hard and durable, and

admits of a beautiful polish. The houses built by the generality of the natives for their own residences are very unpleasant to Europeans, from the closeness of the apartments, and the smallness of the windows, which appear to be made for no other purpose than to admit a small portion of light.

The country-houses are called bungaloes, and are raised a few feet from the ground, that cellars and storerooms may be formed beneath. The situation of the latter has obtained for them the name of "the go-down." The bungaloes possess also a great accommodation in the virandos, which are made before and behind; and which sometimes completely surround the house. They are enclosed with Venetian shades, and form a most pleasant apartment, especially in the cool of the evening. The kitchens, or cook-rooms, as they are called, are placed at a distance from the house, to avoid the smoke and heat. None of the houses are furnished with fire-places, though in the rainy season a fire would he extremely welcome.

The Island of Bombay is seven miles in length, and twenty in circumference: it received its name from its Portuguese proprietors, and is composed of two words in their language, which signify the "The Good Bay;" in allusion to its spacious harbour, which is sufficiently extensive to receive any number of ships. The anchorage is excellent; and so secure is its situation, that vessels may ride in safety even in the most violent gales.

The extensive commerce and abundant wealth of this settlement are well known. The warehouses overflow with the produce and manufactures of Arabia, Persia, and China; its merchants employ an immense capital in the various branches of European and Oriental trade. Ship-building is also brought to very great perfection by the native Persee mechanics: several large vessels

1

have been constructed by them in their commodious docks; and the teak-tree, or Indian oak, which grows in abundance in the interior, is supposed to be more suitable for that purpose than any other wood in the world; it being more elastic than the English oak, and possessing an unctuous quality, which preserves the ironwork of ships built with it from rust. The country also produces abundance of excellent and valuable timber of other descriptions, in the manufacture of which into various articles of furniture the native carpenters evince considerable skill.

Several kinds of REPTILES and venomous insects infest the whole island.

The scorpion and the centipede intrude into most houses; the latter, (so called from its numerous feet) grows to a formidable size, and has the faculty of inflicting a wound with each of its feet. Swarms of ants infest the houses, especially in the country; and the white ant is particularly injurious to the timbers of the roofs and floors of houses, the internal parts of which they sometimes devour so completely, as to render them unsafe. A species of lizard, called the blood-sucker, is frequently met with, and excites considerable apprehensions in the minds of the inhabitants. Frogs are numerous, and very large. A respectable author mentions his having seen one which, when extended, measured twenty-two inches, and weighed between four and five pounds. Large grasshoppers, or locusts, spring about the gardens in considerable numbers, uttering a loud cricket-like note.

The BIRDS are distinguished for their richly-variegated. plumage; the crow is remarkable for its carrion-eating propensity, and its bold and intruding disposition; often taking food from the tables, and will not be easily driven away. A curious insect flies about at night, called the fire-fly; it emits a light like that of our glowworm; and if, in a dark night, a swarm of them settles

on a tree, it appears as if it were on fire. A few of them placed in a wine glass will enable a person, with no other light, to distinguish articles on a table.

Of SNAKES there is a great variety, and the bite of most of them is mortal. An author of high repute has given the following description of the principal:"1. The cobra de capella, which grows from four to eight feet long: their bite kills in fifteen minutes. 2. The cobra manila, is a small blueish snake, of the size of a man's little finger, and about a foot long, frequently seen about old walls. A species of this is found in Bombay which kills much sooner than even the former. 3. The palaira, a very thin, beautiful snake, of different colours: its head is like that of the common viper, but much thicker than the body: one was observed that was four feet long, and the body not much thicker than a swan's quill. 4. The green snake is of a very bright green colour, with a sharp head; towards the tail it is smaller than in the middle the largest part of it is no bigger than a tobacco-pipe. 5. The sand snake is small and short, but not less deadly than the others. 6. The copra de aurelia resembles an earthworm; is about six inches long, and no longer than a small crowquill. It kills by entering the ear, which causes madness and death. 7. The Manilla bomba is a very beautiful snake, of almost the same size throughout the whole length, except at the two ends, where it comes to a point. It is white on the belly, but finely variegated on the back. It lives in the sand, and is said to sting with its tail, which occasions contractions in the joints.”

These noxious reptiles are seldom troublesome except in country places, and in premises which have been long uninhabited. Houses connected with gardens, or other grounds, must be swept daily; that snakes, which sometimes find an entrance, and lodge under the mat, the drawers, or any other place which will afford shelter,