Departure From Horncastle — Recruiting Sergeant¹ — Kauloes and Lolloes.

Leaving Horncastle I bent² my steps in the direction of the east. 179 I walked at a brisk rate, and late in the evening reached a large town, 180 situate at the entrance of an extensive firth, or arm of the sea, which prevented my further progress eastward³. Sleeping that night in the suburbs of the town, I departed early next morning in the direction of the south. A walk of about twenty miles brought me to another large town, 181 situated⁴ on a river, where I again turned towards the east. At the end of the town I was accosted⁵ by a fiery-faced individual, somewhat under the middle size, dressed as a recruiting sergeant.

‘Young man,’ said the recruiting sergeant, ‘you are just the kind of person to serve the Honourable⁶ East India Company.’

‘I had rather the Honourable Company should serve me,’ said I.

‘Of course, young man. Well, the Honourable East India Company shall serve you — that’s reasonable. Here, take this shilling; ‘t is service-money. The Honourable Company engages to serve you, and you the Honourable Company; both parties shall be thus served; that’s just and reasonable.’

‘And what must I do for the Company?’

‘Only go to India; that’s all.’

‘And what should I do in India?’

‘Fight, my brave boy! fight, my youthful hero!’

‘What kind of country is India?’

‘The finest country in the world! Rivers bigger than the Ouse! Hills higher than anything near Spalding! Trees — you never saw such trees! Fruits — you never saw such fruits!’

‘And the people — what kind of folk are they?’

‘Pah! Kauloes — blacks — a set of rascals⁷ not worth regarding.’

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