The Villagers At Metunga, And Other Places, Make As Much Hay As Their
Fields Will Supply For Their Own Use, And Have Hit Upon A Singular
Method Of Stacking It.
They choose some large tree, and lodge the hay
in its branches, which thus piled up, assumes the appearance of an
immense bee-hive.
This precaution is taken to preserve the crop
from the depredations of cattle, and, if more troublesome, is less
expensive than fencing it round. From the miserably lean condition of
many of the unfortunate animals, which their Hindu masters worship and
starve, it would appear that, notwithstanding its seeming abundance,
they are very scantily supplied with hay. It is a pity that some
agriculturist does not suggest the expedience of feeding them upon
fish, which, as they are cleanly animals, they would eat while fresh.
CHAPTER XII.
* * * * *
BOMBAY - (Continued).
* * * * *
The Climate of Bombay treacherous in the cold season - The land-wind
injurious to health - The Air freely admitted into Rooms - The
Climate of the Red Sea not injurious to Silk dresses - Advice to
lady-passengers on the subject of dress - The Shops of Bombay badly
provided - Speculations on the site of the City, should the seat of
Government be removed hither - The Esplanade - Exercise of Sailors
on Shore and on Ship-board - Mock-fight - Departure of Sir Henry
Fane - Visit to a fair in Mahim Wood - Prophecy - Shrine of Mugdooree
Sahib - Description of the Fair - Visit to the mansion of a
Moonshee - His Family - Crowds of Vehicles returning from the
Fair - Tanks - Festival of the Duwallee - Visit to a Parsee - Singular
ceremony - The Women of India impede the advance of improvement - They
oppose every departure from established rules - Effect of Education in
Bombay yet superficial - Cause of the backwardness of Native Education.
Every day's experience of the climate of Bombay assures me that, in
what is called the cold season, at least, it is the most treacherous
in the world; and that, moreover, its dangers are not sufficiently
guarded against by the inhabitants. Cold weather, such as takes place
during the period from November to March, in all parts of Bengal, is
not felt here, the days being more or less sultry, and tempered only
by cold, piercing winds.
The land-wind, which blows alternately with the sea-breezes, comes
fraught with all the influences most baneful to health; cramps,
rheumatic pains, even head-aches and indigestion, brought on by cold,
are the consequences to susceptible persons of exposure to this wind,
either during the day or the night: so severe and so manifold are
the pains and aches which attend it, that I feel strongly inclined to
believe that Bombay, and not "the vexed Bermoothes," was the island
of Prospero, and that the plagues showered upon Caliban still remain.
Though the progress of acclimation can scarcely fail to be attended by
danger to life or limb, the process, when completed, seems to be very
effectual, since little or no pains are taken by the old inhabitants
to guard against the evil.
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