EXT to the amazing, variety of race and costume, the point which most strikes a stranger is the entire absence of the European element. Neither the houses, nor the shops, nor the carriages are of an English appearance, and one may drive from this quarter to the landing wharf, a distance of four miles, without seeing a single Englishman on foot in the crowded streets. Prices, and living in general, are fabulously high in Bombay. It used to be said that a rupee in India answered to a shilling in England. Here it goes very little further than sixpence with us. There is no copper coin at all, at least I have seen none since I have been in the country. It may exist, but no odd sum ever enters into calculation. The elevenpence three farthings, which is so favourite an amount IF you cannot on the ocean Sail amongst the swiftest fleet, Rocking on the mightiest billows, Laughing at the storms you meetYou can stand amongst the sailors, Anchor'd yet within the bay, And can lend a hand to help them, As they launch their boats away. If you are too weak to journey Up the mountains, steep and high, As the multitudes go by; As they slowly pass along; you If have no gold or silver YOU CAN. If you cannot to the needy O'er the erring you can weep Gather up the scatter'd sheares Precious grain, both ripe and golden, Such as many a reaper leaves You may glean among the briars, Growing up against the wall, And it may be that the shadows Hide the heaviest wheat of all! Do not, then, stand idly waiting For some nobler work to do; Go and toil in any vineyard; You may find it ANYWHERE. A CALCUTTA WEDDING. Oн, there is such a din, and the natives call it music! but it is like the noise of pots and kettles, mingled with the squeaking of something worse than English penny trumpets; and all this is accompanied by a loud, horrid drum-drum -drum. All this has been going on for days, as the sign of an approaching wedding, which I heard was to be a very grand one, at which there will be fire-works. illuminations, &c. I have just seen the bridegroom pass in a midnight procession through the streets, amid a blaze of lights arranged in all manner of fantastic shapes-pyramid, crescent, stars, &c., and the stands decked with tinsel and coloured paper; numbers of these were placed around showy temple-like cars, and others were carried on men's shoulders, who walked in procession. There was an inmense car, built like a ship, drawn by bullocks, containing a band of wild drummers; then came the bridegroom on a car or throne, covered with crimson hangings, seated on a cushion, with two attendants waving over him large white feathers to fan away all insects that might venture too near for a peep. Poor fellow! I fancied he looked thoroughly ashamed at being made such a gazing stock He was dressed in crimson and gold, girded round the waist with many rolls of richly embroidered silk, and & broad-brim hat of crimson cloth covered with silver ornaments. He looked decidedly nervous, and endured it all like a victim. The bride, to whose house he is thus going, is a mere child-a little girl-who is to go with her boy-husband to see his friends at Benares, and then return to her father's house, and not see her husband again till she is twelve or fourteen years of age, and is able to cook for him and wait upon him, and then she will go and always live with him and his friends. Poor |