Abundant Beauty by Marianne North

Author:Marianne North
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
ISBN: 9781553656265
Publisher: Greystone Books
Published: 2010-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

About sunset we came to whole forests of palmyra palms, like those of Tanjore, set as those were, in the water. They looked particularly fine against the sunset sky. Half the population was “keeping crows,” sitting on raised platforms on four bamboo sticks, with palm leaves or matting for thatch. I saw some beautifully dressed women, covered with bangles and other ornaments. The parakeets, which took the place of the crows, were gorgeous too, while the blue jay sat and glittered on every telegraph post. It got gradually dark while I was thinking of all this, and the next morning I woke up in a swamp worthy of Ceylon or Java, with cocoanuts and bananas, which did my heart good to see, and soon found my way to the huge cosmopolitan hotel in Calcutta. I had a suite of great rooms given to me, with all sorts of curious creatures running over the floor. Six huge adjutant birds were sitting on the top of the tall house opposite. I had seen them also on trees as I came along, which did not suit their long toes. They help themselves about with their beaks as old gentlemen help themselves with their walking sticks. I was followed into the hotel by a native done up in white calico, who said he wished to be my servant as long as I stayed, and the English steward said it was the custom for strangers to be possessed by one of those “ticket boys,” so I submitted; and he sat at my door, fetched my food, carried notes, and knew no English, which looked honest, though it did not add to his powers of usefulness.

Nearly everyone was out of Calcutta, and my only friends were Mr. K., the manager of Newman’s (the great bookseller), and his wife, whom I had met in the steamer coming out. I could not have had kinder or more efficient friends. I met some of the most agreeable and best-educated people at their house, and seldom have heard better talk. There was also some exquisite part-singing, reminding me of our home glee union.

A young English lady who was staying there had undertaken the employment of teaching the wife of a rajah of high rank, who had himself gone to see Europe. His poor little bride (a mere child) feared he would come back with a perfect contempt for all native ways, and she wished to educate herself and be taught the ways of Europe so as not to disgust him on his return. Miss S. was a very bright, lively girl and said it was a most amusing and interesting occupation teaching the poor little rani—the wife of a rajah—telling her about the outer world. She even took her out sometimes (well veiled and incog.) to see sights. She had a brougham of her own to take her backwards and forwards everyday to the rani’s country house, and on Saturday had a holiday. She took me one morning to see

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