ucceeded comedy.
There was in Panjim an institution called the Caza da Misericordia,
where young ladies, for the most part orphans, remained until they
received suitable offers of marriage The description of this place
piqued Burton's curiosity, and hearing that it was not unusual for
persons to propose themselves as suitors with a view to inspecting the
curiosities of the establishment, he and some companions repaired to the
Caza. Having seen the chapel and the other sights he mentioned that he
wanted a wife. A very inquisitive duenna cross-examined him, and then
he was allowed to interview one of the young ladies through a grating,
while several persons, who refused to understand that they were not
wanted, stood listening. Burton at once perceived that it would be an
exhausting ordeal to make love in such circumstances, but he resolved to
try, and a dialogue commenced as follows:

"Should you like to be married, senorita?"

"Yes, very much, senor."

"And why, if you would satisfy my curiosity?"

"I don't know."

The rest of the conversation proved equally wooden and unsatisfactory,
and quotations from poets were also wasted.

"The maid, unused to flowers of eloquence,
Smiled at the words, but could not guess their sense."

Burton then informed the duenna that he thought he could get on better
if he were allowed to go on the other side of the grating, and be left
alone with the demure senorita. But at that the old lady suddenly became
majestic. She informed him that before he could be admitted to so marked
a privilege he would have to address an official letter to the mesa or
board explaining his intentions, and requesting the desired permission.
So Burton politely tendered his thanks, "scraped the ground thrice,"
departed with gravity, and in ten minutes forgot all about the belle
behind the grille. It was while at Panhim, that, dissatisfied with
the versions of Camoens by Strangford [76], Mickle and others, Burton
commenced a translation of his own, but it did not reach the press for
thirty-three years. [77]

We next find him at Panany, whence he proceeded to Ootacamund, the
sanitarium on the Neilgherries, where he devoted himself to the
acquisition of Telugu, Toda, Persian and Arabic, though often
interrupted by attacks of ophthalmia. While he was thus engaged, Sir
Charles Napier returned to England (1847) [78] and Sind was placed under
the Bombay Government "at that time the very sink of iniquity."