| Description | John Ross apologies for not having written from on board the ship, but he was interrupted so often in his cabin during the day that this added to his bad penmanship.
They had an excellent passage and arrived in Bombay in a healthy time. The squalls they had were very trifling, though the main mast has split and a few sails were carried away. On anchoring, John was very much puzzled by the language, but he has employed a Parsee for his servant who speaks English very well. He enquired about Edwin, but found he had left Bombay, which he was very disappointed at hearing.
He stopped at a hotel to deliver his letters and the persons to whom they were written have been very kind and have promised to do all they can to help, but only one person has invited John to his house, which he has declined as it is too far from any business.
Mr Grant of Forbes House, with whom John has dined several times, has advised him to return to England as there is no demand in Bombay for a drawing master and should he go to Calcutta, which already has many drawing masters, he would soon spend what money remains after paying for his passage, as it is a very expensive place, and he would find a great difficulty in returning to England
John has pitched a tent on the esplanade opposite the sea. It is a place used by the gentry and the officers of Bombay for the benefit of the sea breeze during the hot months. He has been living in one for some time, but the wind has blown it over and exposed all his things and broke his table. He finds rupees go like the wind as the natives cheat all they possibly can. He has advertised over and over again, exhibited drawings and circulated cards, all to no avail as he has not got one pupil. He does not regret coming out to India for he shall be greatly improved by it. He has taken some sketches, which he thinks better than any he has done. The scenery is good but he has seen better on the Wye.
The fort is a dirty place and there are few if any fine house. It is amusing to note the variety of dresses and the different nations. Bombay has a mixture of all countries and the women's dresses in particular are very picturesque. Most of the men are nearly naked and it is the pride of the natives to wear silver and gold on all parts of their bodies. Some colour their foreheads with red and white stripes, likewise their breasts in stripes like ribs.
John describes a native exhibition known as a Hobson Jobson, which commenced about 10 o'clock one night. The procession began with about 100 men who rushed down the road a few yards then back again, jumping and running round a flag which was held in the air. Each of the men had large sticks which they flourished in a savage manner. Then came, in a slow solemn walk, warriors on horse back equipped with tomahawks, bows and arrows. Then followed in profound silence a warrior on horseback who they called Hassan. He is supposed to have been in battle and has received wounds of which he will die - he was covered with blood and pierced with arrows, likewise had a sword to all appearances run through his head. The procession stopped about every 1/4 of a mile and then with one accord they began to cry 'Hassan' and to thump their breasts. This continued the next evening when an immense number of parties followed and danced round gaudy paper castles and ships flags crying out louder and louder until they became quite exhausted . When they come to the sea, they walked in with their fine castles to some distance and there consigned them to a watery grave.
With regards to news from the ship, John recalls that they were obliged to flog two Irishmen on board and at one time there were about twenty men fighting on deck and the captain and the officers had great difficulty in quieting them. One poor fellow had the misfortune to tumble into the copper of boiling hot cocoa which took the whole of his skin off. They lost one man on board who died of brain fever. With the exception of these few, they were a very healthy crew and enjoyed very merry dancing on board and singing in which the captain and officers joined. John reports that he will likely go with the ship to China where he shall remain three months. |