The  landing  in  the  close  warm  evening, — the  march  through
the  Fort  over  the  dusty  roads, — the  aspect  of  the  narrow  streets
and  oddly  fashioned  houses, — the  heat,  the  ffies,  the  smells  of
various  kinds,  some  not  the  most  fragrant, — particularly  that  of
fish  under  the  process  of  drying, — the  discomfort  of  their  first
night  on  shore,  passed  in  beds  but  ill  adapted  to  defy  the  attacks
of  their  bitter  foes  the  musquitoes,  completely  dispelled  all  the
romance  which  they  had  hoped  would  be  attendant  on  a  landing
in  the  gorgeous  East,  but  which  they  discovered,  with  no  small
chagrin,  existed  only  in  their  imaginations.  All  their  beautiful
gardens  and  gilded  palaces,  their  luxurious  couches  and  airy


TIPPOO  SULTAUN.  i33

fountains,  had  passed  away,  and  given  place  to  the  bare  and  dull
reality  of  a  barrack-room  j  not  half  so  comfortable,  they  thought,
as  their  old  quarters  in  England,  to  which  many  of  their  thoughts
wandered  painfully.
CHAPTER    XVII.
Gradually,  however,  all  became  more  and  more  indifferent  to
these  discomforts,  and  the  few  days  which  passed  in  the  barracks,
previous  to  their  second  embarkation,  were  as  fully  occupied  as
soldiers'  time  usually  is  when  preparations  for  service,  and  that
too  of  an  active  and  spirit-stirring  kind,  are  undertaken.
The  close  of  the  year  1782  had  brought  with  it  an  event  of
the  most  important  magnitude  to  the  British  interests  in  India.
