n execrable English, was a petition to assist the wants
of the convent.

"I expected as much," observed Captain M---, smiling, as he ran over the
ridiculous wording of the petition. "Desire the purser's steward to get
up a bag of biscuit, and put into the boat."

The bread was handed on the gangway, when the friar, observing it, went
up to the captain, and said, "Superior like rum, sar; suppose you no
rum, then like money."

"Perhaps he may," replied Captain M---; "but it is against my rules to
give the first, and if I recollect right, against those of your order to
receive the second."

Finding that nothing more was to be obtained, the friar was about to
depart, when, perceiving the cabbage lying unnoticed where he had
deposited it, he observed--"Capitown, non quer cabbage--not want?"

"Not particularly," replied Captain M---, surveying it with rather a
contemptuous smile.

"Then take it ashore, plant it again--do for 'nother ship;" and he
replaced the present in his basket, made his bow, and departed.

Reader, cabbages are scarce articles in India. I have seen them at
Pondicherry, growing in flower-pots, as curious exotics.

Two days afterwards, the _Aspasia_ came to an anchor at Bombay, and
having saluted the admiral, Captain M--- went on shore to pay his
respects in person. The ship was soon crowded with a variety of people,
who came off to solicit the washing, etcetera, of the officers. The
gun-room officers had just finished their dinner, and the cloth had been
removed, when our friend Billy Pitts entered, introducing a slim
personage, attired in a robe of spotless white, with the dark turban
peculiar to the Parsees, and bringing in his hand a small basket of
fruit.

"Massa Courtenay, here mulatta fellow want to speak to officers. Call
himself Dubash--look in dictionary, and no such word in English
language."

"It means a washerman, I suppose," observed Price.

"No, sir," answered the man for himself, with a graceful bow, "not a
washerman, but at same time get all your clothes washed. Dubash go to
market, supply gentlemen with everything they want--run everywhere for
them--bring off meat and fish, and everything else--everybody have
dubash here--I dubash to all the ships come here--got very good
certificate, sir," continued the Parsee, drawing a thin book from his
vest, and presenting it to Courtenay with a low bow.

"Well, Mr Dubash, let us see what your character may be," said
Courtenay, op