CHAPTER II. THE SPORTSMAN AFLOAT. The Coromandel coast-Fort St. George-The "Doctor"-Brandy pawnee and cheroots-An "Enfant du Regiment"-The beach of Madras-Massoolah boats and Catamarans-The French skipper-Embarkation-Crossing the surf-" La Clémentine”Departure from India-Poetical inspiration-Pondicherry—The “Watair pomps”—The south-west monsoon-Runjiah, or Jocko-Bird-stuffing-Capture of a shark The commotion on deck squall-The leaky vessel-Approach to the Nicobar islands-Arrival at the Isle of France. A 12 THE COROMANDEL COAST. CHAPTER II. THE SPORTSMAN AFLOAT. "Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground; long heath, brown furze, anything. The wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death." TEMPEST. THE sea breeze which, daily setting in about two hours after noon, and invariably continuing till the time of sunset, sweeps along, and softly woos the burning shores of the Coromandel coast, whilst it fans and revives with its cooling zephyrs the last embers of exhausted nature in the pale-faced European population of Madras, is there called the "Doctor;" for by many a feverish patient is the visit of this welcome physician anxiously anticipated, and his too speedy departure regretted with as FORT ST. GEORGE. 13 heartfelt sincerity. This sad period of separation had arrived, and the "Doctor" was fast evaporating with the last declining rays of that ball of molten fire, which in our more temperate regions goes by the name of the Sun; to catch the latest flutter of his dying breath we had ascended one of the lofty-terraced roofs crowning the noble edifices of Fort St. George, and, reclining in our camp chairs, were quietly inhaling the soothing aroma of sundry long Trichinopoly cheroots, ever and anon moistening the same with a mixture of two liquids, one contained in a black glass vessel usually denominated a bottle, the other in a red porous, classically-shaped earthen bowl, which rejoiced in the euphonious appellation of a "goglet." The long and short of the matter was, that, whilst admiring the beautiful panorama of boundless sea and long sandy shore, here and there dotted with the tall waving cocoa-tree, and that vast extent of sun-burnt plain, on some parts covered with snow-white buildings, venerable old pagodas, or tapering and graceful Minars; on others, painted with small patches of culture and vegetation, that stretched in 14 BRANDY PAWNEE AND CHEROOTS. every direction far and wide beneath us, we were-in plain language-smoking, and drinking brandy-and-water. I say we, but that would be too sweeping a clause for the occupation of the whole party: myself and one who had long been a tried friend and old brother officer were thus usefully employed; but there was a third person composing our trio, who eschewed both the fragrant cloud and pleasing beverage. When it hath been made known that the being so apparently devoid of taste, belonged to that fair portion of creation: the gentler sex, enough is said in vindication of her whose graceful form now rested against the white chunamed parapet which enclosed our lofty position, and from whence her dark eye thoughtfully scanned the busy scene below; she also was an old and valued friend, had been born and bred in my regiment; but being in early childhood left an orphan, on the death of her parents our generous chief had taken her under his roof; and well did he and his kind-hearted lady acquit themselves of the charge they had undertaken. A few short |