Emily Eden

“ Pelham dined with us, and we all went to the play. The house was very full, and we were received with great applause; but whether that means that George has begun his government well, or that they were obliged to us for our punctuality (as we arrived to a minute and kept nobody waiting) is more than I know. The actresses are professional people; but all the actors are amateurs, and not very good. ‘Timour the Tartar’ was got up with great magnificence. Fanny and I came away at ten, but George sat it all out. ”

“ Drummond is very attentive, and seems to be a very good doctor. The heat was excessive, but I had luckily had a punkah put up in my bed the day I was taken ill, and so I lay there without stirring for two days with the punkah going night and day. It hangs so close to one’s face that it keeps off the mosquitoes as well as creates a breeze; but an attack of fever is no joke in this country.
On Wednesday evening I had a sofa put out on my balcony, and was moved there, and George very good-naturedly gave up his airing and sat with me for two hours. ”

“ The society here is quite unlike anything I have ever seen before. The climate accounts for its dulness, as people are too languid to speak; but the way in which whole families plod round and round the great hall, when they are not dining, is very remarkable. ”

“ And George has just given them new scarlet and gold dresses for the cold weather, so they finished off our group very handsomely. Some of the native princes who were there, had some very magnificent jewels, and there were some genuine Chinese dresses made of the sort of embroidered silk which I have always believed in, from knowing that the Chinese were the cleverest people in the world, but never saw. We came away at 12.30 p.m., quite astonished to find ourselves up so late. That is about the time we should be going to a ball in England. I am horridly tired to-day. ”

“ In general, people at home like to meet strangers when they go out; but here, all near connections take it as an affront if they are not asked to dinner the same day. It is all very pleasant, and very superior to anything I have been used to; but it is rather odd.
Wednesday, April 13. George and I took a nice long drive, farther out of the town than we have been yet; but the heat has been awful the last three days, the thermometer at 95° in many of the houses at Calcutta. Government House, from its size and situation, has cooler corners in it: but it is an abominable climate. ”

“ George and all the household, and all our guests, went off at 6 a.m. on Monday, and left Fanny and me and Mrs. —— and her children to take care of ourselves, with —— for our ‘European.’ If ever a lady is deserted for a few days by her husband, father, &c., I observe it is a right thing to say, ‘But I hope you have a European in the house.’ For myself, I think the natives are much the more manageable of the two. However, —— is our European, and orders about him in a grand way, and in a language which it pleases him to call Hindustani. ”

“ My Singapore silk has arrived—a beautiful sort of gold and silver brocade, just made for a fancy dress; and it is lucky to have anything, for now this ball is near at hand the ladies are giving 1l. a yard for common satin for slips. We have also got a pair of beautiful bracelets Mrs. C. Elliot ordered for us at Macao, and I had imported a pair of earrings, but George has bought them of me—I suppose for his fancy dress! ”

“ I found —— was going down to Calcutta after dinner on Sunday, in his boat, so I shipped off Rosina and old Anna, and most of my servants, who were too glad to get off a day sooner, and put myself into his boat at 8 p.m., and we were at Calcutta at 10 p.m. It was such a lovely evening on the water, and I escaped getting up at 5 a.m., which invariably makes me sick for the rest of the day. I often wonder what we shall do when we are in camp, and have to get up at 4 a.m.; we are all such bad hands at it, and we have heard shocking accounts of the bore and fatigue of the process. ”

“ The Bengalees are the most servile race in India, and it is impossible to resist their crouching down with clasped hands and begging voices, so I told the jemadar to let them all go, only to make them take it by turns, and his answer was so oracular that I do not know how it will end. ”

“ It is the Mohometan Festival of the year, and lasts ten days, and besides the eternal beatings of their infernal tom-toms, or ill-tuned drums, all the servants want to go away for five days, and here, where no man will take another man’s business for a day, it is difficult to know what to do.
George’s head man and mine are the only two amongst the whole three hundred who speak English. It does not matter when the aides-de-camp are at hand to interpret: but when they all go back to Calcutta, Dr. Drummond, Miss Fane, and I shall be puzzled. Mr. ”

“ I should think it ought to count for the whole five years.
The tide served late, and we went up to Barrackpore by water. We are repairing and. furnishing, and cannot have much company. Dr. Drummond came to stay with us to-day. ”