vering her from this dreadful malady; and I understand that, since that time, bleeding a person almost to death, has repeatedly been tried with success in India, for this dis

ease.

I can hardly take my leave of Trichinopoly without mentioning the loss of a minor, which we had kept for a considerable time. The minor, in its size and colour, nearly resembling the blackbird; but it has a few white feathers in the wings and tail; and although its aptness to learn may hardly seem credible to persons in this country, who are altogether unacquainted with its wonderful properties, yet it is no more strange than true, that it is remarkably teachable, as every traveller who has been any time in India well knows. This interesting little creature was given us by one of my fifers when in Masulipatam, and was, by considerable attention, taught to speak a number of words much plainer than ever I heard any parrot do; and amongst other lessons we taught him to call me by name, and that so distinctly, that while in the last mentioned place, a person coming in to inquire for Serjeant Gray, who dwelt in the same

there is

legs with both bill We never shut his

and, as the cage

house," said to me Serjeant Bsome person calling you, at which we laughed heartily. It was a great enemy to the black people, and when any of them happened to come in to our lodgings, it would run after them, and strike at their and claws like a cock. cage door night or day, hung over our bed, and as he was in the habit of calling me by name, he frequently prevented me from sleeping too long. While on our march from Masulipatam to Trichinopoly we used to let him out a few hours after the tents were pitched, to run about and chat where he pleased; and although he seldom wandered far from the tent, yet at any time when we lost sight of him, I had no more to do but to call his name, and shake a little bag in which I kept some cheese, of which he was remarkably fond, and as soon as he saw the bag he would run after me into the tent that he might get a little, which he always took out of my mouth; and at any time when he

*Serjeant Gray's family and we lived in a house by ourselves, having obtained permission from the commanding officer.

became covetous of this luxury he came into the tent himself and would fly upon my shoulder, and open my lips with his bill, in search of his favourite delicacy. I have been often so surprised with his manœuvres, that I amused my wife, and the men of the tent, for some time before I would yield to his desires; but he never ceased his importunity, in one form or other, until I gratified him. There was one day, however, that we were afraid of his safety, as, by this time, it was about retreat beating, and we had not seen him for several hours; so we went through all the tents, as he was well known to the regiment, making inquiry, but in vain, and we were filled with fears of losing his company for ever by his being starved in the desert where we were encamped, or devoured by some of the ravenous kites. My wife resolved therefore to remain upon the ground until the regiment left it in the morning, to see if she could fall in with him this way; having therefore come to this resolution, we were going to trouble ourselves as little as possible for that night, but after all she could not rest in the tent, but went about the lines calling Minor, Minor; alas! there was no appearance of poor Minor; but at last

looking up to the covering of the bandy, she perceived the little recluse peeping out of a hole in the mat that covered the back part of it; you may easily conceive with what eagerness she took hold of the runaway. He was also very fond of music, and whistled delightfully; and at any time when he wanted a tune he would catch me by the ear till 1 began playing a tune upon the fiddle; while I was thus engaged he crept close to my neck, and raised his feathers in evidence of high enjoyment; but all earthly comforts are uncertain, for this wonderful little creature was stolen from us by one of the natives in Trichinopoly, and although I used all possible means to recover him, I have never heard of him from that day to this.

CHAP. X.

Leave Trichinopoly.-Bangalore.—Melancholy death of Mrs. Brown.-Another Orphan taken charge of.-Affecting Account of.-Leaves the Regiment.Summary of Casualties.-Happiness in the Prospect of Visiting Scotland.-Friends left in India.Account of Mrs. Copwick.-Her Marriage and unhappy condition.-Promising Piety.-Doddridge's Rise and Progress presented to her.-Punama.-PadL. discharged.-Drowns Himself.-Death of Mrs. Gray.-Letter from the Serjeant G.-From Mrs. Copwick. Her Wicked Husband's Death, and her own comfortable Settlement.-The Author bids adieu to India.

March 19, 1811.-WE left Trichinopoly, to proceed to Bangalore. I had upon this march a doolie, for the first time since we came to India; and I had now travelled about 1600 miles with the Royals, since the regiment arrived in the country. We reached