Thanking the gentleman for his
kindness, they parted. The cartman was in a hurry now, and he urged his
humpbacked bullocks into a lively trot.
At the door the boys gave the driver two rupees, and the fellow salaamed as
though he had received a guinea. There are plenty of landaus in Madras at
three rupees a day; and the dak, as the cart is called, and palanquins are
becoming things of the past. Tiffin was ready; and a line of carriages was
at the door waiting for the tourists when they had disposed of the lunch,
and they seated themselves for a drive.
"I warn you," said Sir Modava, as the carriages drove off, "that you will
find little here to interest you, after visiting, as you have, the
principal cities of India."
"We are about tired of sight-seeing," added Mrs. Belgrave rather languidly;
and this was about the situation of most of the party.
They passed the People's Park, an inviting enclosure, with ponds and
pleasant walks, to the Black Town, which contains the homes of the natives,
though there are plenty of shops; and it is crossed by several good
avenues. They came to a street like that called The Strand in Calcutta, and
they drove the whole length of it. They passed into Fort St. George, which
seemed to be a city of itself. Leaving it, they crossed the little river
that meanders through the town, and flows into the ocean at this point.
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