course, understand one word he said; but Jack soon brought him to his
bearings, as he called it, by mooring him on the deck, and swearing
that, if he did not "skull over the Witney," he would tear him into
rope-yarns. Thus roughly treated, poor blacky bellowed out lustily for
mercy, which brought down the first officer, who asked Jack Carter (for
that was his name) what was the matter. He replied, "This here black
rascal has grappled my blanket, so I am just after boarding him, and, if
he don't shore it out, I'll sink him, or Jack Carter is no sailor." Here
he commenced hammering his head against the deck, until the knave said
something to one of his countrymen, who ran forward where his canoe was,
and put an end to the dispute by producing the Witney.

The following day we again bent our way towards India, with light hearts
and cheerful countenances. We soon reached the Pilot, cruising off the
sand-heads of Saugar, and steered our way up the river Hoogley. This
river is wide, and its current powerful. The views on each side, when
you get as far as Fultah, are romantic, and we gratified our eyes in
feasting on nature's beauties. On rounding the corner, or protruding
neck of land, on which stand the company's botanical gardens, Fort
William first appears; then Calcutta, with its innumerable shipping,
bursts upon the view, and the beholder gazes on the beautiful
fortification of the fort, and the city of palaces, with astonishment
and delight. We passed the fort in full sail, and were hailed from its
ramparts by the artillery, and part of the 10th regiment of Foot, then
in garrison there. We returned the welcome greeting with three loud
cheers, and in five minutes after came to anchor off Esplanade Ghaut,
after a voyage of more than five months.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[7] Previous to the arrival of the British in 1795, an agreement between
the Dutch and Caffres had recognized the line of the Sunday's River,
between Graaf-Reynett and Algoa Bay, as the colonial boundary. The
reader may be reminded that the British occupied the Cape Colony in
1795; restored it to the Dutch at the Peace of Amiens; and retook it in
1806.--ED.

CHAPTER VI.

The instant the anchor was gone, boats were alongside, for the purpose
of conveying the two companies ashore; and, in a couple of hours, we
were safely lodged in our quarters at Fort William. Here the five
companies of his majesty's 10th regiment of Foo