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Article PENCILLINGS FBOM THE SKETCH-BOOK OF A MA... ← Page 12 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
sale to vessels nearing the coast . Skilfully and swiftly paddling this thing , a couple of these Indian sailors are seen working the catamaran up to the newly-arriving ship . It is but a sort of raft , constructed merely of three pieces of wood sewn together with kya or rope , the latter woven from the rough teguments of the cocoanut-tree , the
outside pieces being slightly curved , its entire length that of a common ferry-boat , and about three feet in width , without keel or rudder . At a little distance they are hardly known at first , being one moment hidden by the waves , and the next borne high on their crests . With nothing to shelter them from the inclemency of the weather , they will venture out to sea in the worst ; and if perchance they are
washed off by the angry breakers , it is but for a moment , for , being expert swimmers , they speedily regain their places . The impression produced on the mind of a new-comer on seeing them is one of surprise and comicality . Cross-legged , making a most extraordinary and monotonous chant , wearing a coloured cotton handkerchief on the head as a turban , in the folds of which they safely deposit any
letter or government despatch , they approach the vessel , then clamber up its side with the agility of the monkey tribe , and are on the deck in a trice . The European gazes on them with astonishment , wondering how they can manage in such a canoe to keep their equilibrium . Those who boarded our ship were very anxious to
exhibit their dexterity in diving to a great depth for money and any article we might choose to throw overboard for them , and cotton handkerchiefs and empty bottles they were most grateful for . I remember that the bizarre language of these poor fellows grated on our unaccustomed ears as a most outlandish jargon .
Our passage was now well nigh its conclusion ; for the next night a light was descried from the mast-head , which proved to be that of the old light-house in the Eort of Madras ; at this time we were about sixteen miles only from our destination . To each of us on board the John , this intimation was most gratifying ; for though a man will feel regret at separation from agreeable shipmates , whose company
he has for so long a time enjoyed , yet land , in whatever quarter of the globe it may be , is ever a grateful change to the weary passenger , who has been pent up for months in the narrow confines of a vessel . Adieu now to any ennui , produced by the diurnal view of ocean , with an horizon met only by the firmament ; for what would be fine , if seen occasionally , has by long use grown insipid .
So welcome , terra firma , once again ! A new impulse will now be given to both mind and body , physically and psychologically ministering to the general health . Away with hypochondriacal regrets and grumblings ! Here is India ! Especially does the young tyro , just starting on his career and with all the as yet
unrealized wonders of a foreign country in prospect , feel all this . The knowledge that this land he is on the eve of treading , is so different in many respects to that of his nativity—this , the fabled land of the East , the area of his future fortunes , gives him an additional impetus to energy and exertion . All of us , old and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
sale to vessels nearing the coast . Skilfully and swiftly paddling this thing , a couple of these Indian sailors are seen working the catamaran up to the newly-arriving ship . It is but a sort of raft , constructed merely of three pieces of wood sewn together with kya or rope , the latter woven from the rough teguments of the cocoanut-tree , the
outside pieces being slightly curved , its entire length that of a common ferry-boat , and about three feet in width , without keel or rudder . At a little distance they are hardly known at first , being one moment hidden by the waves , and the next borne high on their crests . With nothing to shelter them from the inclemency of the weather , they will venture out to sea in the worst ; and if perchance they are
washed off by the angry breakers , it is but for a moment , for , being expert swimmers , they speedily regain their places . The impression produced on the mind of a new-comer on seeing them is one of surprise and comicality . Cross-legged , making a most extraordinary and monotonous chant , wearing a coloured cotton handkerchief on the head as a turban , in the folds of which they safely deposit any
letter or government despatch , they approach the vessel , then clamber up its side with the agility of the monkey tribe , and are on the deck in a trice . The European gazes on them with astonishment , wondering how they can manage in such a canoe to keep their equilibrium . Those who boarded our ship were very anxious to
exhibit their dexterity in diving to a great depth for money and any article we might choose to throw overboard for them , and cotton handkerchiefs and empty bottles they were most grateful for . I remember that the bizarre language of these poor fellows grated on our unaccustomed ears as a most outlandish jargon .
Our passage was now well nigh its conclusion ; for the next night a light was descried from the mast-head , which proved to be that of the old light-house in the Eort of Madras ; at this time we were about sixteen miles only from our destination . To each of us on board the John , this intimation was most gratifying ; for though a man will feel regret at separation from agreeable shipmates , whose company
he has for so long a time enjoyed , yet land , in whatever quarter of the globe it may be , is ever a grateful change to the weary passenger , who has been pent up for months in the narrow confines of a vessel . Adieu now to any ennui , produced by the diurnal view of ocean , with an horizon met only by the firmament ; for what would be fine , if seen occasionally , has by long use grown insipid .
So welcome , terra firma , once again ! A new impulse will now be given to both mind and body , physically and psychologically ministering to the general health . Away with hypochondriacal regrets and grumblings ! Here is India ! Especially does the young tyro , just starting on his career and with all the as yet
unrealized wonders of a foreign country in prospect , feel all this . The knowledge that this land he is on the eve of treading , is so different in many respects to that of his nativity—this , the fabled land of the East , the area of his future fortunes , gives him an additional impetus to energy and exertion . All of us , old and