The masulah-boats went to the shore very comfortably, and carriages were in
waiting for the party on the beach near where they landed. As they passed
through the streets everything seemed to be very much as it was in
Calcutta; and they saw similar palanquins, bullock-carts, and elephants.
The Malabar Hindu was not very different from those of other sections of
the country, though he had some peculiarities of costume.
When they reached the hotel, which was a very comfortable one, in English
style, it was two hours to tiffin, and most of the party preferred to pass
the time in the parlor. The live boys could not keep still, and they went
out for a walk. The sights were not novel enough to hold them; and when a
driver of a bullock-cart salaamed to them, and pointed to his vehicle,
Felix suggested that they should take a ride. Of course, they could not
speak a word of the language; and, however it may have been with other
conductors of vehicles, this one did not know a word of English.
"Mavalipoor?" interrogated the driver, when the "Big Four" had seated
themselves in the corners of the vehicle, which had a body like an omnibus
for four, with a top like the dome of a small temple. They had no idea what
the word or sentence used by the driver had been, but supposed it was
something worth seeing in the town. Two palanquins went by them at full
tilt, and they saw what was to be seen in the street.
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