Before and after these hours the Fort, as the business section of the city is called, is deserted3. This quarter was formerly4 surrounded by walls or ramparts, which have now been removed; but in its limits is concentrated the great wealth of Bombay. There are no dwellings5 within this territory, which is consecrated6 to trade and commerce; and both Europeans and natives hasten at the early closing hour to their homes at Colaba, the Esplanade, Mazagon, Malabar Hill, and Breach7 Candy, the latter on the seashore.
In front of the Grant buildings they found the Cotton-Green, deserted now, though the stacks of bales were still there, with a few sheds and shanties8. A few half-naked coolies and policemen were loitering about the place; but it is not convenient for a thief to carry off a bale of cotton on his back, and a bullock cart in this locality would excite suspicion. In business hours this is a busy place; and the Parsee and native merchants, robed in loose white garments, not all of them indulging in the luxury of trousers, reclining on the bales, or busy with customers, form a picturesque9 scene.
"I don't think this is the right time to explore this region," suggested Scott. "We had better come down here when there is something going on."
"You are right, Scott," replied Louis; "and I dare say Miss Blanche has had enough of the palanquin, or will have by the time we get back to the hotel, for we are more than a mile from it."
"I don't think I like a palanquin as well as a carriage," replied the young lady. "If you please, I should like to walk back."
She was promptly10 assisted to alight, and the palanquin bearers were paid so liberally that they did not complain at being discharged so far from the hotel. Sayad and Moro were sent ahead to lead the way, while the other two walked behind. On their arrival at the Victoria, they found all the rest of the tourists assembled in the parlor11, to whom they gave an account of what they had seen.
They went to the saloon in which dinner was served, closely followed by their servants; and the scene there was decidedly unique to the Americans, for there were as many servants as guests. The hotel furnishes no attendants, and each visitor brings his own. But as soon as all were seated, order came out of confusion, and the service proceeded. The dishes were somewhat peculiar12; but Sir Modava explained them to the commander and Mrs. Belgrave, while Lord Tremlyn rendered a similar service to the Woolridges and Louis, and Dr. Ferrolan to the professional gentlemen of the company.
"I think you will find this fish very good," said his lordship, as the second course came on. "It is the bummaloti, sometimes called the Bombay duck, something like both the salmon13 and the trout14. It is a salt-water fish, abundant off this coast, where it is extensively taken, salted, and dried, to be sent to all parts of India."
"It is elegant," said Mr. Woolridge, who was an epicure15.
The roast beef and chickens were very good, and the fruit was highly appreciated. The dinner finished, the party returned to the sitting-room16, and found themselves very nearly alone. At the suggestion of Captain Ringgold, Lord Tremlyn consented to give the travellers some information in regard to the city of Bombay.
"When I consider what a vast extent of territory you are to explore in India," the speaker began, "I realize that not much of your time must be taken up in long discourses17, and especially not in lengthy18 introductions. Bombay, the western province of the peninsula, includes twenty-four British districts and nineteen native states, the latter governed wholly or in part by Hindu rulers. This word Hindu, I repeat, properly applies to only a portion of this country, but has come into use as a name for the entire region.
"This is the Bombay Presidency19, with a governor appointed by the crown, a Legislative21 Council, a mixed garrison22 of English and native soldiers, under a local commander-in-chief. That is all I shall say of the presidency, which is one of three in India.
"The city of Bombay occupies the south end of the island of the same name, and is one of a group of several, of which Salsette is the largest, with which Bombay Island, eleven miles in length, is connected by causeways, over which the railway passes. The business part is at the Fort, where we landed, and the bazaars24 extend from that in the direction of Mazagon, which lies to the north and east of it.
"You will find here many public buildings and commercial structures which compare favorably with similar edifices25 in any city of the world; and we shall see them to-morrow forenoon. The Princess Dock, where the great steamship26 lines land their merchandise, cost a million sterling27. Three or four miles off this dock, to the eastward28, you saw a couple of islands, the farther one of which is Elephanta, with its wonderful cave, which you will visit.
"The western terminus of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway is here, and with its connections it extends all over India. This is the first port usually reached by vessels29 from Europe, though Kurrachee is nearer. It is the great mail port; and I have seen landed at Dover thirty tons of post-bags, sent from here by Suez and through Europe by the Orient Express.
"Bombay now exceeds Calcutta in the extent of its commerce. The principal exports are cotton, wheat, shawls, opium30, coffee, pepper, ivory, and gums; and the chief imports are the manufactured goods of England, metals, wine, beer, tea, and silks. The prominent industries of the city and its vicinity are dyeing, tanning, and metal working. It has sixty large steam-mills. Of the vast population, now approaching a million, not more than 13,000 are British-born. The water here is excellent, for it is brought from a lake fifteen miles north of us.
"Goa is still a Portuguese31 possession, nearly three hundred miles down the coast; and a year before they captured it they took possession of this island, in 1509. They held it till 1661, when it was ceded32 to England as a part of the dowry of the Infanta Catharine, who became queen of Charles II. That is all I need say at present."
The next morning after breakfast the carriages bespoken33 were at the door. The party seated themselves in the vehicles, which were English, and quite commodious35, according to their own fancies; and it need only be said that the commander was in the one with Mrs. Belgrave, and Louis with Miss Blanche. The viscount directed the driver of his carriage to pass through Cruikshank Road to the Parsees' Bazaar23, which is just north of the Fort. Most of the Parsees and Bhorahs who do business here reside in the same section; and there were many fine houses there, though they are abundantly able to live at Breach Candy and Malabar Hill, the abode36 of the élite. The vehicles stopped at an attractive point, and the party alighted. They went into several shops, and were treated with the utmost politeness and attention.
In one of them they were invited into a small rear saloon, magnificently furnished, where they were presented by Lord Tremlyn to a Parsee gentleman. He was dignity and grace united. He was dressed in white throughout, except his cap, or turban, which was of darker material. He wore trousers, with white socks and slippers37. His shirt appeared to be outside of his trousers, like the Russians, with a sort of vest over it. He wore a long coat, shaped like a dressing-gown, reaching nearly to the floor.
He was kind enough to call in his wife and little daughter. Both of them had pleasing faces. The lady wore a rich dress and a magnificent shawl, with a head-dress of gold and diamonds. The little girl had on bagging trousers like the Turkish women, and a heavily embroidered38 tunic39, and both of them wore Indian slippers, with the toes turned up.
The ladies of the party were presented to the lady. She spoke34 English correctly and fluently, and the interview between them was exceedingly interesting to both sides. The Americans did not meddle40 with forbidden topics, as they had been cautioned not to do, such as their religion and burial rites41; but they could not help thinking of this elegant lady's comely42 form being torn to pieces by the crows and vultures in the Tower of Silence with absolute horror.
From the Bazaar the carriages proceeded through the Fort, and the public buildings were pointed20 out to them. At the Cotton-Green they got out; for the place was now alive with Parsees and other merchants, with plenty of coolies, some of whom were moving bales, and others sorting cotton. From this locality they rode through Colaba, and saw some native dwellings, as well as some fine European residences, with beautiful gardens around them. They alighted near the most southern point, and inspected a "bungalow," which they were politely invited to enter. It was fitted up with a view to comfort rather than elegance43, and the interior appeared as though it might be delightfully44 cool in the heat of summer.
"What do you call that house?" asked Mrs. Belgrave, as they returned to the road, which they call them all over the city, and not streets.
"A bungalow," replied Sir Modava.
"Why do you call it so?"
"That reminds me of the German," interposed Captain Ringgold, laughing heartily45. "'Do you know vot vas der reason vy ve calls our boy Hans?'"
"Well, what was the reason, Captain?" inquired the lady seriously.
"'Der reason vy ve calls our boy Hans is, dot is his name.'"
"Well, that is precisely46 why we call that house a bungalow," added Sir Modava. "It is the house usually occupied by Europeans here. They are one story high, with a broad veranda47, like the one we have just visited. Almost always they have a pyramidal roof, generally thatched, but rarely slated48 or tiled. When the body is of brick or stone, they call them pucka houses. Doubtless you wished to know the origin of the word, Mrs. Belgrave."
"That was just what I wished to know."
"They were probably first called Bengalese houses, and the present name was corrupted49 out of the adjective."
The party collected together on the seashore, for the viscount appeared to have something to say. The captain of the Guardian-Mother called the attention of the company to the shape of the small bay before them, which looked exactly like a lobster's big claw.
"The point where we are is Cape50 Colaba, and the small point is Cape Malabar," said Lord Tremlyn. "I think we have seen all our time permits, and now we will drive back through the town and the Esplanade. Perhaps you have not yet heard of the Jains. They are a religious sect2, and are more influential51 and intelligent than most of the Hindus. More than any other sect they hold the lower animals in the highest regard, amounting to a strange sort of tenderness.
"They believe that man should not injure any animal; and more than this, that human beings are bound to protect the lives and minister to the ills of all creatures, even those the most despised. When, therefore, the pious52 Jain comes upon a wounded creature of the lower order, he stops to attend to its needs, and even takes it into his house to be healed. To forward this charity, the wealthy of this sect have contributed money for the foundation and endowment of hospitals for the care of sick and wounded animals, and even of those permanently53 disabled."
"What a beautiful idea, if it is heathen!" exclaimed Mrs. Belgrave.
"We will now drive to one of these hospitals. We have to pass through the Esplanade again to reach the Black Town, as it is called, where most of the natives reside; but we will go by a different road."
In about half an hour the carriages passed through the densely54 populated region of the Hindus, and stopped at the hospital. The party alighted in a large court, surrounded by sheds, in which are a number of bullocks, some of them with their eyes bandaged, others lame55, or otherwise in a helpless condition. They were all stretched out on clean straw. Some of the attendants were rubbing them; others were bringing food and drink to them.
Passing into a smaller court, they found it contained dogs and cats in the same unfortunate and suffering condition.
"It would be a mercy to kill them, and thus put them out of misery," said Dr. Hawkes to the native officer with him.
"Do you serve your sick and disabled in that way?" asked the official.
He could not answer this appeal for the want of time, and they passed into a place for birds. Venerable crows, vultures, buzzards, and other bipeds, most of them with their plumage gone, pass the remainder of their lives in peace in this curious retreat. At the end of the enclosure a heron proudly strutted56 about with a wooden leg, among lame hens and blind geese and ducks. Rats, mice, sparrows, and jackals have an asylum57 in the Jain hospital.
"I should like to have some of our people take a lesson from this institution," said Mrs. Woolridge as they left the place.
The carriages then conveyed them to a Hindu temple.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sect
|
|
| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
consecrated
|
|
| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
breach
|
|
| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
shanties
|
|
| n.简陋的小木屋( shanty的名词复数 )；铁皮棚屋；船工号子；船歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
parlor
|
|
| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
salmon
|
|
| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
trout
|
|
| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
epicure
|
|
| n.行家，美食家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sitting-room
|
|
| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
discourses
|
|
| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
lengthy
|
|
| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
presidency
|
|
| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
legislative
|
|
| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bazaar
|
|
| n.集市，商店集中区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
bazaars
|
|
| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
edifices
|
|
| n.大建筑物( edifice的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
steamship
|
|
| n.汽船，轮船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
opium
|
|
| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
Portuguese
|
|
| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ceded
|
|
| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bespoken
|
|
| v.预定( bespeak的过去分词 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
commodious
|
|
| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
slippers
|
|
| n. 拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
tunic
|
|
| n.束腰外衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
meddle
|
|
| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
elegance
|
|
| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
delightfully
|
|
| 大喜，欣然 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
slated
|
|
| 用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
corrupted
|
|
| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
influential
|
|
| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
densely
|
|
| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
strutted
|
|
| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
asylum
|
|
| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |