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THE DURBAR TENT.

417

purposely to resist the elements. When Ragobah resolved to form his winter encampment at Bellapoor, all his tents were pitched, and those separately appropriated to worship, eating, sleeping, the zenana, and attendants, occupied a very large scite, at some distance from the rest of the army, and guarded by select body of troops. The durbar-tent, where the peshwa gave audience and administered justice, was placed near the dhall-flag, or royal standard, distinguished from all others, like the prætorium of the Roman generals, so called from the ancient Latins, who styled their commanders prætors. Scipio Africanus first formed the prætorian cohort, stationed near his tent, and ready to attend him on all emergencies such are the hussserat, or household troops of the Mahratta peshwa, and the life-guards of the British sovereign.

My fever increasing, attended by many symptoms of the liver complaint, I was obliged not only to leave the army in Guzerat, but to return to Bombay, and embark in the first vessel for England, in hopes of re-establishing my health.

I shall therefore only add, that in consequence of orders from the newly-appointed governor-general in · council at Bengal, an embassy was sent from thence to the Ministers at Poonah, by which means a peace was concluded between the Mahrattas and the English, the Bombay detachment withdrawn, and Ragobah compelled to resign the peshwa sovereignty to the posthumous child of Narrain Row. As a compensation for this sacrifice, he was to be allowed a jaghire from the Mahratta government, and some other privileges: but becoming discontented with a private

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418

END OF THE CIVIL WARS.

station, he again asserted his claim to the sovereignty; was once more assisted by the Bombay government in an expedition sent from thence in 1779, which proved unsuccessful and Ragobah's death happening soon afterwards, terminated the civil wars in the Mahratta empire.*

* Latterly, war has been again rekindled between the Mahrattas and the Company. After three very brilliant and successful cam paigns in 1817, 1818, and 1819, the Mahrattas, as well as their allies, were completely conquered by the Marquis of Hastings, then Governor-General of India. Their empire now forms part of the British possessions, under the name of Central India. (Note of the Editor.)

SAIL FROM BOMBAY.

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CHAPTER XX.

Departure from Bombay to England-Cape Bassos and the coast of Africa-Mermaids at Mosambique and MombazMelinda-Cape St. Sebastian-Storms near the Cape of Good Hope-Whales-Bay False-Isthmus between Table Bay and Bay False-Dutch Settlement at Simmons' Harbour-Journey from thence to Cape-town-Table Mountain-Cape-townFruits, Flowers, Trees-Menagerie Inhabitants of Cape-town -Scarcity of Timber-Beauty and Variety of the PlantsCharacter of the Dutch Farmers-Vineyards-Dutch Government of the Colony-Character of the Hottentots-BoshmenWild Animals at the Cape-Birds in Southern Africa-African Lions-Villas, Gardens, and Farms near Cape Town-Tent Wine-Flowers and Vegetables-Myrtle Hedges-Constantia and its Vineyards-Grand Mountain Scenery near the CapeVoyage from thence to St. Helena-St. Helena PigeonsFortifications-Town-Beauty of the Interior Vallies-Climate-Inhabitants-Government-Provisions, Fruits and Vegetables-Birds-Trees and Plants, Indigenous and Exotic-Fish -Sail for England Coast of Guinea-Crew- Variety of Fish on the Gold Coast-Cape de Verd Islands-Fogo-Azores-Sudden Tempest-St. Mary's Island-Arrival at CorkDeparture from Ireland-Land at Hastings-Arrival at Home.

PURSUANT to the resolution mentioned in the last chapter, I sailed from Bombay to Europe, on the 1st of December 1775. With regret I left a spot, where I had spent several happy years, in a delightful society; heightened by the charms of friendship, and animated by the hope of acquiring that independence which

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first led me to its distant shores. Although illness frustrated the enjoyment of these pursuits, I endeavoured to encourage the pleasing anticipation of seeing parents, friends, and my native country, and returning to India with renewed health and an advantageous appointment.

The ships of that season had been all dispatched to Europe previous to my determination of leaving India; I was therefore under the necessity of embarking for the Cape of Good Hope in the Betsy schooner, a vessel built on an Indiaman's long-boat, and perhaps the smallest ever sent on such a voyage, having only four European sailors besides the captain and two officers; the rest of the crew were Lascars, or Indian mariners.

Soon after leaving Bombay we fell in with the north-east trade-wind, which in thirteen days carried us off Cape Bassos on the coast of Africa, which we saw at a few leagues distance. The next day we crossed the equator, and passed a range of sandy hills and lofty mountains. A steady wind befriended us to the sixth degree of southern latitude, when it was succeeded by variable breezes, calms, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. The sea was enlivened by a variety of birds, uniting with dolphins, albacores, and bonitos, in hostility against the unfortunate flying-fish.

Near the coast we saw many other sorts of fish, but did not meet with any of the mermaids so often mentioned in these seas; and especially by Mr. Matcham, a gentleman of great respectability, and at that time superintendant of the Company's marine at Bombay. I have heard him declare, that when in command of a trading vessel at Mozambique, Mombaz, and Melinda,

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three of the principal sea-ports on the east coast of Africa, he frequently saw these extraordinary animals from six to twelve feet long; the head and mouth resembling the human, except about the nose and mouth, which were rather more like a hog's snout; the skin fair and smooth; the head covered with dark glossy hair of considerable length; the neck, breasts, and body of the female, as low as the hips, appeared like a wellformed woman; from thence to the extremity of the tail they were perfect fish. The shoulders and arms were in good proportion, but from the elbow tapered to a fin, like the turtle or penguin. These animals were daily cut up, and sold by weight in the fish markets of Mombaz; nor was the flesh easily distinguished from the fishy pork with which those who have resided at Calicut or Anjengo are so well acquainted.

Although the existence of mermen and mermaids is doubted by many, the history of England, Holland, Portugal, and other countries, proves the reality of these creatures. In the fifteenth century, after a dreadful tempest on the coast of Holland, one of them was found struggling in the mud, near Edam in West Friesland; from whence it was carried to Haarlem, where it lived some years; was clothed in female apparel, and it is said was taught to spin. In 1531 another, caught in the Baltic, was sent as a present to Sigismund, king of Poland; it lived some days, and was seen by all his court. In 1560, the fishermen of Ceylon caught seven of both sexes, which were seen by several Portugueze gentlemen then at Menar, and among the rest, by Dimas Bosquez, physician to the Viceroy of Goa, who

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