Birds of Passage

by Henrietta Clive

  Purneah made me a visit after breakfast in the garden and when they were gone it was so cool that we walked home at 9 o’clock.

  We are much obliged to you for the seeds. There were no radishes, or carrots or much to my satisfaction, no onion seed. The girls are as usual. Col Close thinks them much improved since he saw them at Ryacottah. Your pineapples are the best ever I have seen in this country.

  On June 14th Purneah sent the travellers a special invitation to visit his encampment. Charly wrote her impressions. She described his tents as ‘having no draught through them and very hot’. She found that ‘his troops, dressed in red uniforms turned up with orange, did not march well. Nor did the cavalry do much better; some went one way, and some another, without any regularity.’ She considered it to be ‘a singular circumstance that Purneah, a Brahmin, should have been employed by Tipu. Because he was very clever, he became much esteemed, and was, therefore, important to the tyrant, in governing his Hindu subjects. He was often in disgrace, but having charge of all the treasure, he was so constantly referred to for the innumerable presents and brides Tipu had to bestow, that it made him too necessary not to be restored to favour.’

  June 15th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  It is a great deal to receive two letters on two days following after a silence of three weeks. I must say that yours are long and comfortable when they do come. I am sorry to find there does not seem any prospect of seeing you here in this place so like England and Paradise that I would give anything to see you here. You bear heat much better than we do certainly and I hope to show you two stout girls when we return and I wish you to think and decide when that time is to be that we may make all our little arrangements in case it is quite out of the question that you should come.

  I do not think we ought to return before the end of August. The visible alteration in Charly in hot weather makes me wish to stay till the heat has a little subsided in the Carnatic. I think before that time we are not likely to be at all comfortable near Madras. The next consideration is how we are to return. We are all anxious that it should not be by the road we came both on account of the heat and that we may see as much variety of country as we can. Dr Hausman talks much about the Coimbatoor. Everybody tells me some place or another is worth seeing and I wish you to say what you choose we should do and then all may be settled comfortable to ourselves.

  No doubt the Ameer Bagh is very comfortable. Much more so I believe than the Garden House except the room above our apartments, which I suspect to be very warm. My little bathing room will be delightful indeed. I am persuaded it is of service to us all and I am much pleased with the Governor having invented it for me. As for the great house, I am not in any hurry to inhabit it having, as you know, no great partiality to it. The ladies say they are no judges respecting the division of the rooms and desire you to do what ever you think best. I really am not much wiser on the subject than they are.

  I do not know if Signora Anna will think her room satisfactory, which I suppose will be what was the veranda and done last year. I have found her much more difficult to satisfy in regard to apartment than I was aware she would be on the journey.

  I am very glad your garden goes on well. I think I shall make some additions to it that you will like though there is not that great anxiety I expected to meet with. The pineapples are excellent.

  We passed yesterday in a very pleasant mango tope with Colonel Close and Purneah. The troops … received us and a most comical set of figures they were. The commander of the infantry was a most majestic figure in petticoats with a large turban and a long beard. Col Close has decreed that we are to keep the shawls. He says it cannot be avoided nor they returned with any propriety that if I did not keep them they must to the treasury as they could not go back to Purneah but that I might make him a present in return which I did of two very good shawls I got here and a very handsome dress.†

  I am glad your Arab colt and mare [that belonged to Tipu Sultan] are so likely to turn out well. We heard of them on the road, but I was afraid they might not answer to you.

  This morning received your letter of the 12th and immediately sent for the elephants. There is not any fodder for them nearer than fourteen miles, but they will set out today. However Brown says that unless you get a permit from the Nawab to meet them at Amboor they will be starved in his Highnesses country. He says that if an order is sent to the care of William Davies, the Engineer at the bottom of the Padinaig Durgan Pass he will take care it meets them or to Amboor.

  So Josiah Webbe is setting out again. It is all malice he finds causes to travel himself and see strange countries and keeps the Governor to perform the part of a large mastiff guarding the great house in his absence. If you want collectors or collectoresses I think I should like to extremely … and grab over strange countries particularly near Hyderbad. I should delight in it above all things. It is hard that we poor females are not to get anything in this Asiatic world. You may be sure I will keep what you tell me quite secret.

  Colonel Close is gone to Ooscotah [Ooty] but will return here soon. He is to make out a route from that he says will be very amusing round this place and to Seringapatam where I hear Col Wellesley and he have contrived everything they can invent to make the most pleasant house comfortable. Pray tell me when my increase of income was to begin. You told Brown it was to be but we do not know from what time and I should like to know.

  Pray do not forget the permit for the elephants and the bandy with the wine. Col Mackay has sent you four jungle fools [birds]. Pray let them be taken care of for me and if they die, let them be very carefully stuffed, as I am in want of them for my collection and they are only amongst the ghauts.

  Many loves and Adieu.

  Captain Brown has dismissed Sergeant Smith. He has been very often quite drunk upon the march and incapable of getting on with the tents. As Grant recommended him he had a scruple about sending him away till we came here though I have long wished it. I understand he has written to General Brathwith and Major Grant to hear him. Two days ago he came not positively drunk not yet sober and desired to see me to relate his grievances and how ill Brown had used him which of course I refused as I knew he never met with any European on the road that he was not incapable of his duty for twenty-four hours. I mention this as Brown has written to Grant about it and the man says Grant is keeping the sergeant-majorship for him at Madras.

  The permits must be for the elephants, another for the wood on the bandy to pass, and to have forage for the bullocks. They set out today and take up the red wood at Ryacottah. Captain Brown is in such a pass for fear these permits should not be sent that I have had two messages since I began to write to remind me of them.

  June 18th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I intended to have written to you yesterday but as I was not very well I thought it was as well to stay till I was better. I had fever and many aches and pains all over me. I am better today but still on my couch and not perfect – though I did a great deal to make me so. The girls are in high health and nurse me extremely. We are in hopes of rain, which is much wanted and will be of great service to us all.

  The elephants are gone. It was necessary to keep them a few hours more than was intended that Colonel Close might order forage for them on the road.

  I did not answer about the grey colour, which I think will be excellent, if not a very light grey, for the Garden House.

  Adieu. Many loves from my nurses.

  June 20th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  As I am much better today I think I cannot do better than to tell you so. Yesterday I had great pain in my stomach, back and head. It is now gone and I am recovering fast though this day has been chiefly passed on the couch and I am not returned to my usual occupations. Dr Hausman’s way is different from Thomas’s but it succeeds very well and I have recovered as soon as it was possible. Within this half hour the plants are arrived. They are not yet unpacked. I hope to see them tomorrow morning. Thomas’s news to Captain Brown this morning
was that Lord Mornington is going to England with a sapphire. Josiah Webbe to Persia. I rather think a former Governor might be rewarding himself rather too much. The girls are quite merry. Many loves to you from the damsels.

  June 23rd, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I have not written these two days because I had a mind to say I was quite well in my next letter but it is not yet the case. The pain that has plagued me so much in my stomach is not gone nor do I quite understand what it is but I am still prostrate on the couch and very idle. But a little more medicine will I hope make me well. The girls are in great health and spirits. Your plants all arrived safe except the geraniums, which were certainly drowned, as the leaves were quite moldy and touching the ground. I shall have great pleasure in watching them. I am afraid when we are gone everything in that way will go to ruin. Dr Hyzer (botanist) by his last letters to Dr Hausman does not seem likely to return here for several months and there is not any person here that is beyond a Lascar in knowledge which grieves us very much. The garden is beginning to be in order but it will all be lost for want of gardener.

  Ever, my dear Lord,

  yours very affectionately

  H. A. C.

  June 25th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I am growing better, but am not yet well and do not quite comprehend why it is so. I have not been out of pain since this day seven nights ago. But it is neither rheumatism nor flu. Dr Hausman says it will go off when I use my usual medicine (exercise) which at present I cannot do from a great stiffness and soreness in my back and head. It is very uncomfortable and wears me very much. I have had all sorts of medicine to get rid of my ills.

  I am happy to see the girls so well and they are, particularly Harriet, very robust. One is writing to you. You have a very fine cabbage going to you today.

  June 26th Part of the 19th Regiment of cavalry, on its way to join the army and under the command of Major Kennedy, arrived in Bangalore.

  June 26th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I had your letter this morning and it did me good for I am still a poor creature. The aches still continue … Hausman says exercise will cure them, but while they remain it is difficult to use it. I do not walk easily and cannot go in the bandy, but the palanquin suits me more and I go out whenever I can but the rain sometimes prevents me though it is indeed a great pleasure. I thank you much for all your expressions of pleasure at our health and comfort and, not being in great spirits, I feel this much. I do not wish to move from hence to Seringapatam till just before or on my road to Madras. We are quite quiet and at our ease here and I understand that I am more at liberty as to drives and so here than I should be there and the rains are more violent than at this place. Though I have not been well, I do not find the least fault with the place and I feel it is especially necessary for me to be as cool as I possibly can.

  I am very glad the Admiral is well and going on a secret expedition. Report here says it is to Manilla or Batoria. I think he will not refuse to bring me an odd seed or a pebble or some odd little thing if you tell him so. I should like an unknown plant from the Conquering Admiral very much. There is a great promotion in all your state, it seems, civil and military and I approve of all very much. I like William Hodgrove extremely. We have Mrs Sheriff here rejoicing at her spouse’s promotion. When Colonel Close was here he told me of the Banditi’s plot to surprise Col Q but seemed to think it would be quiet directly. However a little martial law may not be amiss before we determine what to do. I confess I should like it most particularly when it was quiet to go round by the Coimbatoor country. I will certainly get the portraits of Colonel Close and Purneah. They are expected in a day or two and will ask him about the old Ranee. I think at her age you might safely have her picture without much danger of carrying her away from her beauty and she is certainly a very interesting old personage. I cannot say much for Purneah’s beauty. He is short, rather fat with a large head, but looks clever and good humoured. His son is exactly like him and a giant but in great order and gravity. I dare say he will be like his father.

  I am very sorry you were prevented from writing by a headache. Harry’s complexion is like an English rose.

  Adieu.

  June 28th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  As I did not give the best account of myself in my last letter I write again to tell you that I am better but still not well and easy – and not yet going out with the lion. We have had rain and are not cooler for it, which is extraordinary.

  A few days ago a stranger was seen wandering about in a blue coat and nobody could tell who he was or where he came from. At last the commanding officer sent to desire him his name, which he sent in great form, and it turned out to be Dr Buchanan‡ sent, as he wrote word, by the Governor General in Council. He certainly did not look like a parson and I wonder he had not called here as he knew you and brought seeds to me from Dr Roxburgh to Madras.

  The 19th are arrived on their way to Chittledroog. They are waiting for the second division, which comes by Salem. The rest of the family well and in good spirits. We are going to plant out some of the myrtles in the garden. We have not had a newspaper today, which is a great disappointment, particularly as we are anxious about our fortunes in the lottery. You have never told me if you wish any more sandalwood trees. I was in hope to have found some good marble or something worth sending, but I find nothing but a coarse grey granite in large pieces, but not good enough for any tables.

  Many loves to you.

  June 29th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I wrote yesterday but as Captain Brown heard of the elephants today I write to tell you that they were four or five days longer in getting to the pass than they ought to have been and had expected to do and that he says you should have both the sepoy who was in charge of them and the chief elephant driver punished.

  I am better but have not yet got rid of pain and weakness in my back and bones.

  We march tomorrow to Chitteldroog. We hear that Dhoondiah has written to Colonel Wellesley to know what business he had to enter his domain and that if he does not immediately retreat he will come and drive him out with 50,000 men. This I suppose is a sign he is alarmed, but chooses to be valiant. Colonel Close says that Colonel Wellesley hopes I like this place because being here has been a great advantage to him in Captain Brown and sending on stores, which my bullocks have assisted, and he compliments him much upon it. It diverts me that we should be of use to the state. There are upward of 1000 (of the old respectable people chiefly) persons come into the Pettah since we came here, near a hundred of them are weavers and the streets are really filled with people. They believe they are safe now.

  Many loves from the girls.

  Very affectionately

  H. A. C.

  On June 30th regiments come and go from Bangalore to fight Dhoondiah: the first division of the 19th Regiment resumed their march and the 2nd detachment of the 19th Regiment under Major Patterson arrived.

  July 3rd, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  I intended writing to you yesterday but as Harry was not quite well I though it better to stay till she was better. It was a little bile and a trifling complaint in her bowels, which an emetic yesterday seems to have cured. She is much better today and in good spirits. I am better, too, but not quite as I should be. We have no news except the confirmation of the taking of Rannee Bednore (taken by Wellesley by escalade on the 27th June) from Colonel Close which he sent yesterday here. It seems as if Dhoondiah would soon be taken or demolished. Colonel Close has sent great supplies to the army, which he says, will be of the greatest use and enable them to go on directly.

  The trees you sent up are doing well. The myrtles are budding. I think I have found some old orange trees that have been much neglected. I am going to try if I can bud some and make trees with them and send them bya bye to you. I do not know that I am enough of a gardener to do this well but there is no harm in trying experiments. We have fine rain and are going to sit in the warmest room tonight with the thermometer at 70 at 7 in t
he evening. Many loves to you. Harry is much better this evening.

  Adieu.

  July 5th, Henrietta to Lord Clive

  It was a little shabby you must allow to send my two letters without saying a word in the cover. I return them to you. One I see you had opened. The other is rather extraordinary and as it is a request to you. I send it likewise.

  Harry is not yet well. The bile is the cause of her illness and must be got rid of before she will be well.

  Captain Warren of the 33rd who was with Colonel Close came here yesterday and has been upon the trial at Zundredroog. The proceedings are sent to Colonel Wellesley. One of the criminals poisoned himself before his trial.

  Captain Warren has given me three very pretty drawings done by himself of the town and other views near Zundredroog which you will like to see.

  Charly is quite well. I cannot say I feel myself near so much so as I was before my illness.

  Adieu.

  The travellers attended the feast of the Lascars, called the Cherut (cigar) feast on July 5th and observed the gods, some made of sealing-wax, as they were drawn about in carriages. This was followed on July 6th by a Fire-feast where they were told that people would walk through the flames to be purified. Charly observed that ‘the fire was not at all hot, having been covered with fresh charcoal, so that there was only a little smoke. The carriage in which the gods were carried by the men, first passed round the fire, then the sealing-wax gods, and then the people covered with yellow, got up for the occasion to make a show, were to walk through the fire. People of all castes, even Pariahs, picked up the ashes, with which they rubbed their foreheads, to clear off the sins of the year. The thermometer from 69 to 79 degrees.’