indoo had
deceived him, the venomous fangs having been already extracted.

"It is positively a fact," observed he to Courtenay, in ill-humour, "he
has cheated me."

"A most curious fact," replied Courtenay, shrugging up his shoulders,
and lowering the corners of his mouth. "Now, Macallan, what's the use
of your memoranda about time of biting, appearance of patient, etcetera?
Allow, for once, that there are some things which are `excessively
annoying.'"

The party soon after remounted, and proceeded to the town. The next
morning they repaired on board, and the queen having, at last, concocted
the letter of thanks, the _Aspasia_ weighed, and proceeded to Bombay.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

An you like a _ready_ knave, here is one of most approved convenience:
he will cheat you moreover to your heart's content. If you believe me
not, try him.

_The Colony, 1635_.

The _Aspasia_ continued her passage with light but favourable winds. As
the ship made but little progress, Captain M--- stood into Goa Bay, as
he passed by that relic of former grandeur and prosperity--alas! like
the people who raised it, how fallen from its "high estate." The town
still covers the same vast extent of ground; the churches still rear
their heads above the other buildings in their beautiful proportions;
the Palace of the Inquisition still lours upon you in its fanatical
gloom and massive iron bars. But where is the wealth, the genius, the
enterprise, the courage, and religious enthusiasm which raised these
majestic piles? A scanty population, of mixed Hindoo and Portuguese
blood, or of half-converted Indians, are the sole occupiers of this once
splendid city of the East. Read the history of the Moors when in Spain,
their chivalry, and their courage, their learning and advancement in the
arts,--and now view their degraded posterity on the African coast.
Reflect upon the energy and perseverance of the Spaniards, at the time
when they drove out those conquerors of their country after a struggle
of so many years--their subsequent discovery and possession of a western
world--and behold them now. Turn to the Portuguese, who, setting an
example of perseverance and activity to the nations of Europe, in
vessels in which we should now think it almost insanity to make the
attempt, forced their passage round the Stormy Cape, undeterred by
disasters or by death, and grasped the empire of the East. What are
they in the scale of nations n